DDT residue in soil and water in and around abandoned DDT manufacturing factory

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) belongs to one of the most hazardous groups of chemicals called persistent organic pollutants. Many organochlorine pesticides including p,p(')-DDT are long lasting due to their non-degradability can travel to distant places and being fat soluble can accumulate in animals and human bodies. Due to the persistent nature of p,p(')-DDT, its adverse environmental and health impacts, the present study was undertaken to examine the residual p,p(')-DDT in and around abandoned p,p(')-DDT manufacturing factory in Amman Gharh, Nowshera, NWFP. Samples of soil, sediments and water were collected in and around the factory area, nearby p,p(')-DDT stores, main factory drain leading to river Kabul and nearby villages. Standard procedures were used for the collection, transportation and storage of samples for analyses. Extraction of each sample for p,p(')-DDT analyses was carried out in triplicates using Soxhelt extraction. p,p(')-DDT contents in the samples were analyzed by capillary GC with electron capture detector. Most of the samples collected up to half kilometer distance from the site of the DDT factory were found contaminated. Further the level of p,p(')-DDT decreased with increasing depth from top to bottom and with distance from the site. The results indicate that there is no immediate threat to underground water reservoirs.     

Influence of ATD versus PMHS reference sensor inputs on computational brain response in frontal impacts to advanced combat helmet (ACH)

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study analyzed the influence of reference sensor inputs from anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) versus postmortem human subjects (PMHSs) on simulations of frontal blunt impacts to the advanced combat helmet (ACH).

Methods: A rigid-arm pendulum was used to generate frontal impacts to ACHs mounted on ATDs and PMHS. An appropriately sized ACH was selected according to standard fitting guidelines. The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) head was selected for ATD tests due to shape features that enabled a realistic helmet fit. A custom procedure was used to mount a reference sensor internally near the center of gravity (CG) of the PMHS. Reference sensor data from the head CG were used as inputs for the Simulated Injury Monitor (SIMon). Brain responses were assessed with the cumulative strain damage measure set at 10%, or CSDM(10).

Results: Compared to ATD tests, PMHS tests produced 18.7% higher peak linear accelerations and 5.2% higher peak angular velocities. Average times to peak for linear accelerations were relatively similar between ATDs (5.5?ms) and PMHSs (5.8?ms). However, times to peak for angular velocities were higher by a factor of up to 3.4 for PMHSs compared to ATDs. Values for were also higher by a factor of up to 13.1 when PMHS inputs were used for SIMon.

Conclusions: The preliminary findings of this work indicate that small differences in ATD versus PMHS head kinematics could lead to large differences in strain-derived brain injury metrics such as CSDM.     

Circuit-theory applications to connectivity science and conservation

Conservation practitioners have long recognized ecological connectivity as a global priority for preserving biodiversity and ecosystem function. In the early years of conservation science, ecologists extended principles of island biogeography to assess connectivity based on source patch proximity and other metrics derived from binary maps of habitat. From 2006 to 2008, the late Brad McRae introduced circuit theory as an alternative approach to model gene flow and the dispersal or movement routes of organisms. He posited concepts and metrics from electrical circuit theory as a robust way to quantify movement across multiple possible paths in a landscape, not just a single least-cost path or corridor. Circuit theory offers many theoretical, conceptual, and practical linkages to conservation science. We reviewed 459 recent studies citing circuit theory or the open-source software Circuitscape. We focused on applications of circuit theory to the science and practice of connectivity conservation, including topics in landscape and population genetics, movement and dispersal paths of organisms, anthropogenic barriers to connectivity, fire behavior, water flow, and ecosystem services. Circuit theory is likely to have an effect on conservation science and practitioners through improved insights into landscape dynamics, animal movement, and habitat-use studies and through the development of new software tools for data analysis and visualization. The influence of circuit theory on conservation comes from the theoretical basis and elegance of the approach and the powerful collaborations and active user community that have emerged. Circuit theory provides a springboard for ecological understanding and will remain an important conservation tool for researchers and practitioners around the globe.     

Study of seasonal variations and health risk assessment of heavy metals in Cyprinus carpio from Rawal Lake,Pakistan

This study was carried out to find out the comparative distribution of heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Co, Cr, Cd and Pb) in various tissues (muscles, gills, liver, stomach and intestine) of Cyprinus carpio from Rawal Lake, Pakistan, during summer and winter. Relatively higher concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe and Zn were found in the stomach samples, while the highest Pb and Zn levels were noted in muscle and intestine samples, respectively. Correlation study exhibited diverse relationships among the metals in various tissues. Generally, the metal concentrations found during the summer were comparatively higher than the winter. Potential non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks related to the metals in C. carpio were evaluated using the US Environmental Protection Agency approved cancer risk assessment guidelines. The calculated daily and weekly intakes of Pb, Cd, Cr and Co through the fish consumption were significantly higher than the permissible limits. In relation to the non-carcinogenic risks to human, Pb, Cd, Cr, Co and Zn levels were higher than the safe limits; however, carcinogenic risks related to Cr (3.9?×?10^?3 during summer and 1.1?×?10^?3 during winter) and Pb (2.6?×?10^?4 during summer and 1.5?×?10^-4 during winter) clearly exceeded the safe limit (1?×?10^?6). Consequently, the consumption of C. carpio from Rawal Lake on regular basis was considered unsafe.     

Persistence and risk assessment of spiromesifen on tomato in India: a multilocational study

Supervised field trials were conducted at four different agro-climatic locations of India to evaluate the dissipation pattern and risk assessment of spiromesifen on tomato. Spiromesifen 240 SC was sprayed on tomato at 150 and 300 g a.i.?ha^?1. Samples of tomato fruits were drawn at 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 15 days after treatment and soil at 15 days after treatment. Quantification of residues was done on gas chromatograph–mass spectrophotometer in selective ion monitoring mode in the mass range of 271–274 (m/z). The limit of quantification of the method was found to be 0.05 mg kg^?1, while the limit of determination was 0.015 mg kg^?1. Residues were found below the LOQ of 0.05 mg kg^?1 in 10 days at both the doses of application at all the locations. Spiromesifen dissipated with a half-life of 0.93–1.38 days at the recommended rate of application and 1.04–1.34 days at the double the rate of application. Residues of spiromesifen in soil were detectable level (<0.05 mg kg^?1) after 15 days of treatment. A preharvest interval (PHI) of 1 day has been recommended on tomato on the basis of data generated under All India Network Project on Pesticide Residues. Spiromesifen 240 SC has been registered for its use on tomato by Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. The maximum residue limit (MRL) of spiromesifen on tomato has been fixed by Food Safety Standard Authority of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India as 0.3 μg/g after its risk assessment.     

A monitoring study of workers handling pesticides in warehouses and godowns

Abstract

Monitoring observations made on 60 operators involved in pesticide application work in godowns and warehouses and 60 matched control workers are reported. Occupational exposure history and medical history are noted. Biochemical investigations, plasma and RBC cholinesterase estimations are included along with medical examination of the workers. Workers were found to be mostly exposed to Celphos, DDVP, Malathion, Pyrethrum, etc, and the use of protective devices were very limited. Cases of significant reduction in plasma and RBC cholinesterase activity were found. Frequency of symptoms like dizziness, headache, lachrymation, burning sensation in eyes, nausea and anorexia, etc, were much more in the exposed workers. No cases of clinical poisoning attributable to occupational exposure to pesticides were reported by the workers.     

An analysis between financial development,institutions, and the environment: a global view

Financial development is important for the growth of a country which indirectly affects the environment adversely through industrialization. However, in the presence of strong institutions, this adverse effect can be reduced. The main concern of the present study is to estimate the relation between CO₂ and financial development (FD) in the presence of economic institutions as an interactive term. A sample of 101 countries has been selected for econometric analysis for the period from 1995 to 2017. The cross-section dependence test statistics for dependency, CIPS and CADF for panel unit root test, Westerlund test to ascertain the long-run affiliations, and FMOLS to extract the long-run coefficients have been applied. Dumitrescu and Hurlin test is also employed to know about the causal nature of the panel series. The findings show that financial development has a positive relationship with CO₂. However, after inclusion of economic intuitions, the adverse impact of financial development on the environment is reduced. The study also confirms the presence of environmental Kuznets curve in the context of income and financial development. The findings imply that financial development can help to improve environment quality if it is accompanied with strong institutional framework such as assurance of property rights, government integrity, and liberalization in financial sector.

     

Analyzing farm households’ perception and choice of adaptation strategies towards climate change impacts: a case study of vulnerable households in an emerging Asian region

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Poor agricultural communities are particularly more disruptive to changes in climate. In southeast Asian countries, Pakistan is extremely vulnerable...     

Unlocking the inherent potential of plant genetic resources: food security and climate adaptation strategy in Fiji and the Pacific

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are the center of origin and diversity for several root, fruit and nut crops, which are indispensable for food...     

Green Synthesis and Antioxidant Study of Silver Nanoparticles of Root Extract of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sageretia thea</Emphasis> and Its Role in Oxidation Protection Technology

Development of environmentally friendly synthesis of nanoparticles is one of the important areas of research in nanotechnology. In present study silver naopartticles (AgNPs) of root extract of Sageretia thea (S. thea) were synthesized at room temperature. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV. Visible spectroscopy (UV), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Formation of AgNPs was confirmed by visual examination the colour change from yellow to brick red due to surface Plasmon resonance band at 435 nm. SEM and TEM analysis of synthesized AgNPs revealed spherical morphology with average particle size 25 nm. Crystalline nature of the AgNPs in face centered cubic structure is evident from the selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and XRD pattern. The presence of elemental Ag was confirmed by EDX analysis at 3kv. Different functional groups which responsible for reduction and stabilization of reaction medium was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. The biosynthesized AgNPs showed strong DPPH and dye protection radical scavenging assay while modest hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging assay as compare to crude extract. The present investigations suggest that biosynthesized nanoparticles have a high potential for use in the preparation of drugs used against various diseases and also a promising candidate for many medical applications.