Exposure and Health Effects of Cadmium

The results of a study of photocatalytic degradation of phenol using aqueous oxygenated TiO₂ (anatase) suspensions in a batch Pyrex photoreactor are reported. The influence on the photodegradation rate of various parameters as pH, phenol and TiO₂ content, oxygen partial pressure, anions present in the dispersions was investigated. A complete oxidation of phenol was observed. Intermediate compounds, catechol and quinone, were detected. It was observed that the photodegradation also proceeded with sunlight radiation. A mechanistic and kinetic model, which accounts for the results obtained, is given. Likely reasons for inactivity of the rutile modification for this reaction are also given.     

Transport of metanil yellow in the rat plasma and interaction of its metabolite,p‐aminodiphenylamine with serum proteins

Binding affinity of metanil yellow and its breakdown product p‐aminodiphenylamine to serum proteins has been studied employing chromatographic separation on Sephadex G‐200 and by paper and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Metanil yellow has more affinity towards albumin than to globulins. The complexing is presumably through electrostatic forces. p‐Aminodiphenylamine on the other hand, preferably binds to globulin fractions of serum protein. However, a stable binding with BSA alone was also observed. The binding was quite stable and was accompanied by a shift in absorbance from 430 nm to 500 nm. Aspartic acid moiety of protein was found to be one of the units involved in the binding of p‐ADPA to proteins.     

Cesium inhibition of motor activity in comparison to Lithium and Rubidium †

The biochemical and toxicological significance of cesium is scarcely understood, and could be evaluated in comparison with lithium widely used as a psychotropic drug. Two male Wistar rat groups of 200–220 g are administered independently, lithium, sodium, rubidium and cesium chloride, in doses of 3mEq/Kg/day (0.024 Eq/L drinking water) during 29 days. Motor activity was measured after the injection of 70 mg pargyline/Kg animal i.p. as inhibitor of MAO A + B with an activimeter of Tedeschy type. Accumulative movements per minute are presented in function of time. Total brain proteins, alkaline and acid phosphatases and blood parameters, haematocrit, haemoglobin and erythrocytes, were determined.

The maximal increase of motor activity was seen in rats treated with RbCl 2 h after the pargyline administration and the diminution was Rb>Li>Cs. Cesium induced a decrease of the total serum protein concentration from 6.39 ± 0.1 to 5.8±0.5mg/100ml serum in controls. Acid and alkaline phosphatase were decreased in cesium treated rats. The three determined blood parameters, haematocrit, haemoglobin and erythrocytes, show also a decrement with cesium treatment compared to the control ones.     

Catalytic decomposition of hypochlorite ion in petrochemical plant waste water

During the incineration of the chlorinated hydrocarbons originating as the side products in vinyl chloride plant, hypochlorite ion appears as a pollutant in plant waste water. To remove it to the permitted level of 2 mg/l the process of the catalytic oxidation by cobalt (II, III) oxide, followed by sodium sulphite treatment has been chosen. It was shown that the above choice gives satisfactory results. The influence of some parameters such as retention time, effluent pH and temperature versus removal efficiency have been determined.     

Dissipation and effect of chlorophenoxy herbicide on plant pigments and carbohydrates of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The dissipation pattern of the chlorophenoxy herbicides (2,4‐D and 2,4,5‐T) residues in sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus L.) has been studied along with its effect on the changes of plant pigments (chlorophyll‐a,b, total chlorophyll, carotene and anthocyanin), sugar and starch in different parts of the plant. The residues of 2,4‐D and 2,4,5‐T remained for larger period of time (10 days) at higher concentrations than the lower concentration. The concentrations of chlorophylls and carotene were found to be reduced with the application of both 2,4‐D and 2,4,5‐T. But the chlorophyll concentrations were slowly normalized accompanied with the reduction of the herbicide residues. For anthocyanin, there was no significant effect. In case of carbohydrate, the sugar concentration was found to be raised by all doses in leaf and stem. The change in starch content in different plant parts did not follow an uniform pattern at different doses of herbicides.     

Photodegradation of the organophosphorus herbicide “anilophos”

Photodecomposition of the organophosphorus herbicide anilophos [S‐(N‐(4‐chlorophenyl) N‐isopropyl carbaniloyl methyl] 0,0‐dimethyl phosphorodithioate has been studied in methanol. It underwent oxidation, hydrolysis and dimerisation on irradiation with U.V. light and produced a number of photoproducts which were characterised by ¹H‐NMR and Mass spectroscopy.     

Photodegradation of the organophosphorus insecticide ‘Phorate’

The photolysis of Phorate(I) (0,0‐diethyl S‐ethyl thiomethyl phosphordithioate) has been studied as a thin film on a glass surface and in a solution of methanol‐water (60:40) by ultraviolet light (λ > 290 nm). The rate of disappearance of Phorate in the solution show first order Kinetics with a rate constant of 4.9 × 10^–5 S ^–1. The half‐life of (I) exposed on a glass surface is found to be 5 hours. The structure of the major photoproducts were characterised by ¹H NMR and mass spectroscopy.     

Compilation of EINECS: Descriptions and definitions used for substances,impurities and mixtures

The European INventory of Existing commercial Chemical Substances (EINECS) lists all substances which were on the European Community Market between 1 January 1971 and 18 September 1981. Substances on EINECS are known as ‘existing’ substances. The EINECS inventory was drawn up by the European Commission to meet the requirements of article 13 of Directive 79/831/EEC [1]. EINECS was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities in 1990 [2]. This paper describes how individual substances, impurities and mixtures were defined and dealt with when registered for the EINECS inventory. It is the first in a series of such papers.     

Residues of 14C‐γ‐HCH in paddy after dusting,and the fate of γ‐HCH during refining process of rice bran oil

Paddy (rice) plants were dusted with 10% HCH containing ¹⁴C‐Γ‐HCH, at the rate of 2.5 kg a.i./ha and ¹⁴C‐residues were determined in different fractions of rice. Rice bran (0.187 ppm) had more of ¹⁴C‐residues than grain (0.026 ppm) and husk (0.042 ppm). The rice bran oil contained 0.129 ppm HCH residues. While degumming, dewaxing, alkali refining and bleaching had no effect, deodorisation alone eliminated 99.5% of added ¹⁴C‐residues in rice bran the oil during refining process.     

Evaluation of fodder quality of straw of different landraces of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under cultivation in the Kumaun Region of Indian Central Himalaya

Thirty landraces of rice collected from various locations, across an elevational gradient (1150–2400 m asl), in Kumaun, Central Himalaya and VL-206 (a high-yielding variety recommended for rainfed mountain area) have been evaluated, both in terms of quantity and nutritional quality of straw. Data were collected to estimate the percentage share of fodder in the overall biomass produced. The total biomass harvested at maturity was taken as productivity. In view of the severe scarcity of fodder in hill regions, particularly during winter months, straw was also examined for quality-linked biochemical parameters and dry matter digestibility (DMD) of fodder. The Crude Protein (CP) values ranged from 2.21% (Nandhani) to 6.33% (Dalbadal), and in saceo DMD (nylonbag technique) was highest in Kaladur (48.84%) and lowest in Kantolia (32.25%). While the CP in VL206 was within the range recorded for various landraces (3.61%), DMD value (27.29%) was lower than that of all the landraces tested. In saceo DMD data indicate that the fodder quality of landraces is better than that of the introduced variety. The values for neutral detergent fibre (NDF) ranged from 63.64% (Sabhawati) to 78.46% (Chhotiya) among the rainfed landraces, while in the irrigated landraces, Thapchini had more NDF (87.50 %), as compared to Kantolia (73.88%) and VL206 (74.91%). Values for the acid detergent fibre (ADF) varied from 42.70% (Danbasmati) to 54.58% (Nandhani) in the rainfed group; ADF was slightly higher in Thapchini (49.41%) in comparison to Kantolia (47.19) and VL206 had the highest (56.80%) ADF content. The observed differences with respect to straw productivity, chemical composition and in saceo DMD in various landraces, even when grown under similar conditions at one place, clearly indicate the richness of the gene pool of rice being maintained, through cultivation, in the Kumaun hills. It may be mentioned that agriculture in the hills is biomass based, and livestock form an integral component of subsistence farming.