Spatio-temporal analysis of fire events in India: implications for environmental conservation

Information on fires in different geographic regions of India is relatively scarce. This study quantifies spatial and temporal patterns in fire occurrences covering different states and districts in India. Two important scientific questions are answered in this study: (1) how are the fire events distributed across different geographical regions? (2) are there any specific districts where fire events clustered across space and time? To address these questions, Along Track Scanning Radiometer (ATSR) derived satellite fire counts from 1997–2006 were used and the datasets were analysed using spatial scan statistic. Spatial scan statistic provides a test statistic for most likely ‘hotspot’ spatial clusters, based on the likelihood ratio test and Monte Carlo simulation. Results from geographical analysis based on state boundaries suggested Maharastra state had the highest number of fires followed by Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Orissa, etc., during the 10-year period. Among the several districts, the spatial scan statistic identified the most likely cluster of fire events in Dausa, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, Bharatpur and Alwar in addition to several other secondary clusters, with high statistical significance. These results are based on a large sample of cases, and they provide convincing evidence of spatial clustering of fire events in the Indian region. Results relating to hotspot areas of fire risk can guide policy makers towards the best management strategies for avoiding damages to forests, human life and personal property in the ‘hotspot’ districts.     

Effects of tin on sulfhydryl containing enzymes in liver of rats

A single intraperitoneal administration of tin (II) tartrate to albino rats (2 mg $\text{Sn}{}^{\mathrm{++}}\text{100}\text{g}$ body wt) depressed the levels of hepatic glutathione reductase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, succinic dehydrogenase, reduced glutathione (GSH) and total sulfhydryl contents and led to an elevated level of tin. Serum aminotransferase levels were however, not affected but an increase in serum bilirubin and calcium levels was noticed.$\text{In}$$\text{vitro}$ studies showed that tin tartrate upto a concentration of 2 uM did not affect the activity of liver enzymes tested, when the enzyme preparations were incubated with metallic salts during the time of assay. The critical concentration of tin for these parameters was at 5 uM.     

Trace metal and stable isotope measurements (delta13C and delta15N) in the harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena relicta from the Black Sea

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes (delta13C and delta15N) and trace metals (Cd, Zn, Cu, Fe, Se, and Hg) were analysed in the tissues of 46 harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena relicta) caught in fishing nets along the Ukrainian coasts between 1997 and 1998. Mean delta13C values differed significantly between male and female harbour porpoises suggesting a trophic segregation between sexes with a more coastal distribution for females at least during their gestation and nursing periods. Hepatic Hg was correlated to delta13C measurements, reflecting a different exposure linked to coastal vs offshore feeding habitats. A geographical comparison with existing data from other regions showed general low levels of Hg, Cd, Cu and Zn in the tissues of harbour porpoises from the Black Sea compared to other Atlantic and North Sea areas.     

Distribution of radiotin (Sn) in partially hepatectomised rats and its binding with subcellular components of liver cells

Distribution of radiotin (Sn¹¹³) in target organs and in the hepatic subcellular fractions was studied in sham and partially hepatectomised rats 72 hrs after the administration of tin (II) tartrate (2 mg Sn⁺⁺, 10 uCi/100 gm body weight) intraperitoneally. The results indicate that in both the groups Sn¹¹³ was maximally accumulated in liver followed by kidney and spleen. Partially hepatectomised rat however accumulated less Sn¹¹³ in liver while an increase was observed in kidney. Subcellular studies showed significantly high affinity of tin for microsomes. A compartmental shift of radiotin from cytosol to microsomal fraction was observed in hepatectomised rats when compared to sham operated rats.     

Economics of dairy waste use as fertilizer in central Texas

Dairy manure is an unavoidable natural, but negative, byproduct of milk production. Its nitrogen, phosphate, and potash contents represent a potential substitute for commercial fertilizers on field crops. In the absence of subsidies, manure transportation and land application costs limit its utilization as a substitute for chemical fertilizer. The results from a study of the economics of manure use in Central Texas suggest that, at the current costs for loading, hauling, and spreading, dairy manure cannot be economically transported from surplus to deficit areas within the study area. The estimated breakeven transport distance for manure application to four crops varied from 28 to 41 km; however, the distances between manure-surplus and manure-deficit counties in the study region varied from 40 to 90 km. An analysis of potential subsidies paid by the government or dairy farmers showed that the breakeven distance could increase by up to 30 km. A decrease in the assumed moisture content of the manure from 50% to 40% is shown to increase the breakeven distance by 10 km. The study suggests that dairy manure loading, transportation, and land application, with appropriate subsidies or reductions in moisture content, has the potential to be profitably substituted for chemical fertilizers.     

Country report: Broiler industry and broiler litter-related problems in the southeastern United States

This report describes the development of the broiler litter problem in the southeastern United States, including the economic opportunity and environmental challenges brought to the region by the industry. Through an analysis applied to the State of Georgia, land application of litter as a disposal alternative is examined along with its associated benefits. The analysis indicates that litter could be transported economically up to 256 km for cropland application. Excessive broiler litter production in a few concentrated regions is expected to stimulate the development of alternative approaches to broiler litter management, such as electricity generation.     

2-Chlorobenzoate biodegradation by recombinant Burkholderia cepacia under hypoxic conditions in a membrane bioreactor.

The feasibility of applying bacterial hemoglobin technology to degrade 2-chlorobenzoate (2-CBA) through co-metabolism under hypoxic conditions in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) process has been studied in the laboratory. 2-chlorobenzoate removal and chloride release rates in the MBR system varied from 99 to 78% and 98 to 73%, respectively, depending on the operation conditions. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies were more than 90% at food-to-microorganism ratios ranging from 0.32 to 0.62 g/g/d, and the observed yield was 0.13 to 0.20 g biomass/g COD. The bacterial cell-floc size-distribution analysis showed that there is a significant change in bacterial floc size due to high shear stress during operation of the MBR. To characterize growth kinetics of Burkholderia cepacia strain dinitrotoluene, a mathematical model that describes co-metabolic oxidation of 2-CBA in an MBR has been developed.     

Field enhancements of packed-bed performance for low-concentration acidic and basic-waste gases from semiconductor manufacturing process

Low-concentration acidic and basic-waste gas pollutants contribute significantly in the total emission of a facility. Previous results show that the control of high volumetric flow rate (approximately 500 m3/min), low-concentration acidic (< 1 ppm by vol) and basic (< 3 ppm by vol) gases from semiconductor process vent, by conventional wet scrubbing technique is a challenging task. This work was targeted to enhance the performance of packed beds for high-volumetric flow rate, low-concentration acidic (HF, HCl), and basic (NH3)-waste gases from the semiconductor manufacturing process. The methodology used to meet the goal was the application of fine-water mist over the inlet stream before entering to the packed bed and use of the surfactant with mist/packed-bed liquid in low concentration. An experimental study was carried out in two acid-packed beds to optimize the operating conditions, such as pH of the liquid, circulating liquid flow rate, blow-down cycle, and so forth. The relationship among liquid pH, liquid ionic concentration, and the removal efficiency of the packed bed for the pollutants has been discussed considering chemical equilibrium, two-film theory, and Henry's law. For the potential utilization of scrubbing water, the dependency of the efficiency on blow-down cycle was studied, and a mechanism is suggested. The proposed water-mist surfactant system was installed in two acid-packed beds, and performance of the packed beds was compared. The background efficiencies of the acid-packed beds for HF, HCl, and NH3 were found max to be (n = 11) 53, 40, and 27%, whereas after installation of the system, they increased significantly and became 76 +/- 13% (n = 10), 76 +/- 8% (n = 7), and 78 +/- 7% (n = 7), respectively, for inlet concentrations of HF and HCl < 1 ppm and NH3 < 14 ppm. The mechanism by which the surfactants operate to enhance the removal in scrubbing process is suggested considering the hydrodynamic effect and the interfacial effect with the charge-generating characteristic of surfactants on water surface, when dissolved into water. The results show that a proposed rectification system can effectively reduce the emission rates below the regulatory level (0.6 kg/hr) at the present conditions of the facility.     

Distribution of heavy metals in sediment and water of river Gomti

Gomti river receives industrial as well as domestic wastes from various drains of Lucknow city. In the process the water and sediment of the river Gomti get contaminated with heavy metals and other pollutants. In the present study, impacts of domestic/industrial wastes on the water and sediment chemistry of river Gomti with special reference to heavy metals have been investigated in different seasons (summer, winter and rainy). For this, seven sampling sites: Gaughat, Mohan Meakin, Martyrs Memorial, Hanuman Setu, Nishatganj bridge, Pipraghat and Malhaur, in the river Gomti in Lucknow region were identified and samples of water and sediments were collected in all the three seasons. In the collected water and sediment samples, six metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were analyzed on ICP-AES (Inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy) Labtam Plasmalab 8440. High concentrations of all the metals were noticed in water and sediment in rainy season compared to summer and winter. Because in rainy season runoff from open contaminated sites, agricultural field and industries, directly comes into the river without any treatment. In both the cases, the concentration of zinc was maximum (0.091 g/ml in water and 182.13 g/g in sediment) and the concentration of cadmium (0.001 g/ml in water and 17.26 g/g in sediment) was minimum. Higher concentration of metal in water and sediment during rainy season could be due to the industrial/agricultural/domestic runoff coming into the river.