Oxidative stress induced by HCH in Hydrilla verticillata (l.f.) Royle: modulation in uptake and toxicity due to Fe

The effect of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) singly and in combination with iron was studied on chlorophyll, malondialdehyde, cysteine, total -SH contents and potassium ion leakage in the plants of Hydrilla verticillata. The effect of HCH was also studied on glutathione (reduced and oxidised) content and superoxide dismutase activity. The results showed an increase in malondialdehyde content and potassium ion leakage with increase in HCH concentrations, however, the presence of Fe played a protective role. The chlorophyll content was decreased with increase in HCH concentrations and exposure period. However, the chlorophyll content at 2 and 5 microg ml(-1) was significantly higher in HCH-treated plants as compared to HCH + Fe after 168 h, showing protective role of Fe. The results showed significant increase up to 1 microg ml(-1) in cysteine content with increase in concentrations in both the treatments. The total -SH content was increased with increase in concentrations in both the treatments. In HCH-treated plants, non-significant change was noticed in reduced glutathione (GSH) content however, oxidised glutathione (GSSG) content was increased significantly after 168 h, indicative of oxidative stress. In addition, superoxide dismutase activity was increased non-significantly with increase in HCH concentrations. The accumulation of HCH singly and in presence of Fe was concentration- and duration-dependent. The accumulation of HCH was decreased in presence of Fe at higher concentrations. In contrast, the accumulation of Fe was increased in presence of HCH at higher concentrations. The results showed that malondialdehyde content and potassium ions leakage are the primary responses of toxicity.     

Monograph on desilting basins sizes estimation for hydropower projects

At times, various analytical and empirical approaches used to estimate the initial sizing of a desilting basin in a hydropower project would give very different results and the designer has to take a call judiciously. The purpose of this study is to develop a monograph based on Teaching–Learning-Based Optimization and Gravitational Search algorithm for a practical range of depth of desilting basins. The parameters commonly used in hydropower projects for estimation of desilting basins sizing and its efficiency are used in this study. The outcome is further verified using a list of mega hydropower projects. This study will be useful in fixing the best optimized dimension of desilting basins.     

The design of blanket wash solvents with environmental considerations

The search for new solvents is often driven by (a) the need to replace solvents whose continued use pose a threat to environmental health and safety, (b) the needs of new applications and processing requirements, (c) a response to changing environmental regulations and (d) a response to market demands. For example, many traditional solvents are on the environmental ‘hit list’ and are to be phased out within the next few years. In particular, cleaning solvents, which are used as blanket washes in the lithographic printing industry present a number of environmental concerns including health and safety. To respond to these concerns and more importantly to respond to rapidly changing operational requirements and market forces, there is a need for efficient and systematic strategies for ‘just in time’ optimal design of solvent alternatives. A good strategy has to consider simultaneously, performance objectives, system interactions and environmental constraints. The object of this paper is to identify and discuss the issues in the design of cleaning solvents (blanket washes) in the printing industry and how environmental and health factors can be accounted for. We do this in the context of a framework for product design. As a proof-of-concept, blanket wash solvents are designed.     

Earthworms: nature’s chemical managers and detoxifying agents in the environment: an innovative study on treatment of toxic wastewaters from the petroleum industry by vermifiltration technology

Earthworms are justifying the beliefs of Great Russian scientist Dr. Anatoly Igonin who said they are????disinfecting, detoxifying, neutralizing, protective and productive??. Studies indicate that some species of earthworms can ??bio-accumulate, biodegrade or bio-transform?? any toxic chemicals including ??heavy metals??, ??organochlorine pesticide??, ??herbicides??, and the lipophilic organic micro-pollutants like ??polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons?? (PAHs). Worm vermicasts, due to the presence of ??hydrophilic?? groups in the ??lignin contents?? and ??humus??, also provide wonderful sites for ??adsorption?? of heavy metals and chemical pollutants in wastewater. Vermifiltration of wastewater using waste-eater earthworms is a newly conceived novel technology with several economic and environmental advantages. The earthworm??s body and the their ??vermicast?? work as a ??biofilter?? removing BOD₅ by over 90?%, COD by 60?C80?%, TDSS by 90?C95?%, and toxic chemicals and pathogens from wastewater. This was a pioneering work done on an extremely ??toxic wastewater?? from the petroleum industry. It contained mixture of ??aliphatic?? and ??aromatic?? volatile petroleum hydrocarbons (C 10?CC 36) and ??organochlorines?? originating from the cooling liquids, waste engine and gear oil, waste transmission and brake fluid, grease, spilled petrol, and diesel oil. The aliphatic fraction contained cycloalkanes as well as a complex mixture of saturated toxic hydrocarbons. The aromatic fraction mainly consisted of PAHs, which are more toxic and persistent than the aliphatic part. The chemicals of concern were the total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), dichloromethane (DCM), dichloroethane (DCE), and t-butyl methyl ether (tBME). The tBME compound has raised global concern recently due to its high mobility and persistence in the environment and possible carcinogenicity. About 1,000 earthworms (species Eisenia fetida) were released in the soil of vermifilter bed. They not only tolerated and survived in the toxic petroleum environment but also bio-filtered and bio-remediated the dark-brown petroleum wastewater with a pungent smell into pale-yellow and odorless water indicating disappearance of all toxic hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbons C 10?CC 14 were reduced by 99.9?%, the C 15?CC 28 by 99.8?%, and the C 29?CC 36 by 99.7?% by earthworms.     

Pet Waste Management by Chemical Recycling: A Review

The paper reviews the problem due to the use and disposal of synthetic polymers to the environment and its solutions; in particular poly (ethylene terphthalate). Wide spread application and non-biodegradability of the PET creates huge amounts of waste and disposal, tend to a serious problem. The most important cause for recycling and reprocessing the waste PET has arisen from the awareness and concern for environmental pollution. To manage this various methods of polymer recycling has been proposed. Among them chemical recycling, i.e. hydrolysis, methanolysis, glycolysis and aminolysis are reviewed in detail. Appropriate technology and waste disposal procedures based on the socio-economic aspect to solve this problem are suggested.     

Concentration of organochlorines in Ganges River dolphins from Patna,Bihar

Concentrations of DDT, HCH, aldrin and endosulfan were determined in river dolphins from the River Ganges, Patna. Among the organochlorines studied in the dolphins, DDT concentration was highest followed by HCH. This shows exposure of dolphins to these organochlorine pesticides. Presences of organochlorines to higher degree in tissues suggest that the river dolphins be at greater risk due to pesticidal contamination of the river system.     

Survival of the cleanest? Evidence from a plant-level analysis of pollutant emissions in Canadian pulp and paper industry, 2005–2013

Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - We capitalize on access to plant-level data in examining the changes in emissions of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), and...     

Impact of industrial air pollutants on some biochemical parameters and yield in wheat and mustard plants

The present study was carried out to determine the impacts of SO₂, NO _x , SPM and RSPM, the most common air pollutants, generated mainly due to industries and vehicles, on some biochemical parameters and yield in wheat and mustard plants during 2006. The concentration of SO₂, NO _x , SPM and RSPM was determined at the polluted sites across the seasons, which ranged between 14.29–18.10, 20.81–22.43, 483.65–500.85 and 160.67–171.18 μg m⁻³, respectively. The wheat and mustard plants grown at polluted sites showed significant reduction in chlorophyll ‘a’, chlorophyll ‘b’, total chlorophyll, carotenoid, ascorbic acid, pH, relative water content and yield. The data were further analyzed using a two way ANOVA. It is concluded that the ambient air pollutants have a potential adverse impact on biochemical parameters, which further leads to a reduction in the yield of wheat and mustard crops.     

Revegetating fly ash landfills with Prosopis juliflora L.: impact of different amendments and Rhizobium inoculation

A revegetation trial was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of growing a legume species, Prosopis juliflora L., on fly ash ameliorated with combination of various organic amendments, blue-green algal biofertilizer and Rhizobium inoculation. Significant enhancements in plant biomass, photosynthetic pigments, protein content and in vivo nitrate reductase activity were found in the plants grown on ameliorated fly ash in comparison to the plants growing in unamended fly ash or garden soil. Higher growth was obtained in fly ash amended with blue-green algae (BGA) than farmyard manure or press mud (PM), a waste from sugar-processing industry, due to the greater contribution of plant nutrients, supply of fixed nitrogen and increased availability of phosphorus. Nodulation was suppressed in different amendments of fly ash with soil in a concentration-duration-dependent manner, but not with other amendments. Plants accumulated higher amounts of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and Cr in various fly ash amendments than in garden soil. Further, inoculation of the plant with a fly ash tolerant Rhizobium strain conferred tolerance for the plant to grow under fly ash stress conditions with more translocation of metals to the above ground parts. The results showed the potential of P. juliflora to grow in plantations on fly ash landfills and to reduce the metal contents of fly ash by bioaccumulation in its tissues.