Potential histopathological and molecular changes in rat vas deferens inhaled by Boswellia papyrifera and Boswellia carterii

Boswellia papyrifera and Boswellia carterii released from smoke contaminate indoor environment and consequently adversely affect humans as evidenced by respiratory disturbances. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of these plants on pathological and biochemical changes in vas deferens of albino rats. Animals were administered 4 g/kg body weight B. papyrifera and B. carterii daily for 120 days along with controls. Significant changes were observed in epithelial cell types and some cells showed signs of degeneration. The ultrastructural studies revealed marked changes in cytoplasmic organelles. Microvilli were missing and lysosomes were found in the cytoplasm. In addition, all treated groups plasma fructose and other biochemical parameters were decreased indicating reduced energy necessary for motility and contractility of spermatozoa. Many spermatozoa were disorganized and agglomerated. Data suggest that smoke from these plants adversely affects vas deferens.     

Constrains on mangrove forests and conservation projects in Pakistan

Mangroves forests are facing serious stresses which jeopardize their sustainability and their existence in Pakistan. Theses coastal forests are found in the Indus delta in Sindh and the coastal areas of Sonmiani, Kalmat and Gawatar bay in Balochistan. A significant reduction in the fresh water supply and increased marine water pollution in from industries as well as over harvesting of mangroves and fishes by the local peoples, sedimentation, population stress and coastal erosion are usually considered to be the immediate causes of mangrove loss in Pakistan. Various Projects have been under taken in the past and in current scenario to conserve the resources of mangrove areas. Strong planning with the collaboration of the local institutes at the grass-root levels will be helpful to strengthen their capacity and to achieve the targets easily, and they will also help in achieving the conservation goals in a sustainable manner. It is predictable that large-scale plantation of this mangroves species in these areas would increase the resources in coastal areas, resulting economic benefit to the local people.     

Removing ammonia from air with a constant pH,slightly acidic water spray wet scrubber using recycled scrubbing solution

Slightly acidic solutions are a practical means of removing ammonia from air Scrubbed NH₃ accumulates in solution as NH₄⁺ and should be an excellent fertilizer Increased air velocity decreased NH₃ removal and increased NH₄⁺ collection Previous research on wet scrubbers has only studied highly acidic scrubbing solutions because of their high ammonia capture efficiencies; however, the high acidity created practical problems. Lower acidity solutions would reduce corrosion, maintenance, and cost; however, designers may need to use strategies for increasing scrubber effectiveness, such as using lower air velocities. The objective of this study was to determine if a spray scrubber with slightly acidic and higher pH scrubbing solution (pH from 2 to 8) could effectively remove NH₃ from NH₃ laden air (such as animal building exhaust air), and also collect this valuable resource for later use as a fertilizer. A bench-scale spray wet scrubber treated 20 ppmv NH₃/air mixture in a countercurrent contact chamber. First, the solution pH was varied from 2 to 8 while maintaining constant air velocity at 1.3 m·s⁻¹. Next, air velocity was increased (2 and 3 m·s⁻¹) while solution pH remained constant at pH6. At 1.3 m·s⁻¹, NH₃ removal efficiencies ranged between 49.0% (pH8) and 84.3% (pH2). This study has shown that slightly acidic scrubbing solutions are a practical means of removing ammonia from air especially if the scrubber is designed to increase collisions between solution droplets and NH₃ molecules. The NH₃ removed from the air was held in solution as NH₄⁺ and accumulates over time so the solution should be an excellent fertilizer.     

Evaluation of pollution load of Lahore Canal by quantification of various pollutants through physicochemical characterisation

The work describes the physicochemical analysis of the water samples collected from Lahore Canal to evaluate pollution load at different points of the canal. Different physical and chemical pollutants such as temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved and suspended solids, turbidity, chlorides, sulphates, nitrates, oils and grease, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand and biological oxygen demand (BOD) were analysed. The data was analysed through analysis of variance, which showed that the p values for dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD), BOD, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solid (TDS), total suspended solid (TSS), turbidity, oil and grease, sulphates, and nitrates are <0.05, while p value of temperature, pH, and chlorides are 1.000, 0.984, and 0.070, respectively, which are >0.05. Further regression analysis revealed that the simple line regression modal is fit for turbidity and TSS, electrical conductivity and TDS, COD and DO, BOD and DO, and BOD and COD. The studies reveal that Lahore Canal is receiving a considerable amount of physical and chemical pollutants at different points.     

Determining seasonal greenhouse gas emissions from ground-level area sources in a dairy operation in central Texas

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agricultural production operations are recognized as an important air quality issue. A new technique following the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Method TO-14A was used to measure GHG emissions from ground-level area sources (GLAS) in a free-stall dairy operation in central Texas. The objective of this study was to quantify and report GHG emission rates (ERs) from the dairy during the summer and winter using this protocol. A weeklong sampling was performed during each season. A total of 75 and 66 chromatograms of air samples were acquired from six delineated GLAS (loafing pen, walkway, barn, silage pile, settling basin, and lagoon) of the same dairy during summer and winter, respectively. Three primary GHGs--methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrous oxide (N2O)--were identified from the dairy operation during the sampling periods. The estimated overall ERs for CH4, CO2, and N2O during the summer for this dairy were 274, 6005, and 7.96 g head(-1)day(-1), respectively. During the winter, the estimated overall CH4, CO2, and N2O ERs were 52, 7471, and 3.59 g head(-1)day(-1), respectively. The overall CH4 and N2O ERs during the summer were approximately 5.3 and 2.2 times higher than those in the winter for the free-stall dairy. These seasonal variations were likely due to fluctuations in ambient temperature, dairy manure loading rates, and manure microbial activity of GLAS. The annualized ERs for CH4, CO2, and N2O for this dairy were estimated to be 181, 6612, and 6.13 g head(-1)day(-1), respectively. Total GHG emissions calculated for this dairy with 500 cows were 2250 t of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per year.     

Comparison of seasonal phenol and p-cresol emissions from ground-level area sources in a dairy operation in central Texas

Although there are more than 200 odor-causing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), phenol and p-cresol are two prominent odor-causing VOCs found downwind from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). The VOC emissions from cattle and dairy production are difficult to quantify accurately because of their low concentrations, spatial variability, and limitations of available instruments. To quantify VOCs, a protocol following US. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method TO-14A has been established based on the isolation flux chamber method and a portable gas chromatograph (GC) coupled with a purge-and-trap system. The general objective of this research was to quantify phenol and p-cresol emission rates (ERs) from different ground-level area sources (GLASs) in a free-stall dairy during summer and winter seasons using this protocol. Two-week-long sampling campaigns were conducted in a dairy operation in central Texas. Twenty-nine air samples were collected during winter and 37 samples were collected during summer from six specifically delineated GLASs (barn, loafing pen, lagoon, settling basin, silage pile, and walkway) at the free-stall dairy. Thirteen VOCs were identified during the sampling period and the GC was calibrated for phenol and p-cresol, the primary odorous VOCs identified. The overall calculated ERs for phenol and p-cresol were 2656 +/- 728 and 763 +/- 212 mg hd(-1) day(-1), respectively, during winter. Overall phenol and p-cresol ERs were calculated to be 1183 +/- 361 and 551 +/- 214 mg hd(-1) day(-1), respectively, during summer. In general, overall phenol and p-cresol ERs during winter were about 2.3 and 1.4 times, respectively, higher than those during summer.     

Seasonal and spatial variations of ammonia emissions from an open-lot dairy operation

There is a need for a robust and accurate technique to measure ammonia (NH3) emissions from animal feeding operations (AFOs) to obtain emission inventories and to develop abatement strategies. Two consecutive seasonal studies were conducted to measure NH3 emissions from an open-lot dairy in central Texas in July and December of 2005. Data including NH3 concentrations were collected and NH3 emission fluxes (EFls), emission rates (ERs), and emission factors (EFs) were calculated for the open-lot dairy. A protocol using flux chambers (FCs) was used to determine these NH3 emissions from the open-lot dairy. NH3 concentration measurements were made using chemiluminescence-based analyzers. The ground-level area sources (GLAS) including open lots (cows on earthen corrals), separated solids, primary and secondary lagoons, and milking parlors were sampled to estimate NH3 emissions. The seasonal NH3 EFs were 11.6 +/- 7.1 kg-NH3 yr(-1)head(-1) for the summer and 6.2 +/- 3.7 kg-NH3 yr(-1)head(-1) for the winter season. The estimated annual NH3 EF was 9.4 +/- 5.7 kg-NH3 yr(-1)head(-1) for this open-lot dairy. The estimated NH3 EF for winter was nearly 47% lower than summer EF. Primary and secondary lagoons (approximately 37) and open-lot corrals (approximately 63%) in summer, and open-lot corrals (approximately 95%) in winter were the highest contributors to NH3 emissions for the open-lot dairy. These EF estimates using the FC protocol and real-time analyzer were lower than many previously reported EFs estimated based on nitrogen mass balance and nitrogen content in manure. The difference between the overall emissions from each season was due to ambient temperature variations and loading rates of manure on GLAS. There was spatial variation of NH3 emission from the open-lot earthen corrals due to variable animal density within feeding and shaded and dry divisions of the open lot. This spatial variability was attributed to dispirit manure loading within these areas.     

Associations between Water Physicochemistry and Prymnesium parvum Presence,Abundance, and Toxicity in West Texas Reservoirs

Toxic blooms of golden alga (Prymnesium parvum) have caused substantial ecological and economic harm in freshwater and marine systems throughout the world. In North America, toxic blooms have impacted freshwater systems including large reservoirs. Management of water chemistry is one proposed option for golden alga control in these systems. The main objective of this study was to assess physicochemical characteristics of water that influence golden alga presence, abundance, and toxicity in the Upper Colorado River basin (UCR) in Texas. The UCR contains reservoirs that have experienced repeated blooms and other reservoirs where golden alga is present but has not been toxic. We quantified golden alga abundance (hemocytometer counts), ichthyotoxicity (bioassay), and water chemistry (surface grab samples) at three impacted reservoirs on the Colorado River; two reference reservoirs on the Concho River; and three sites at the confluence of these rivers. Sampling occurred monthly from January 2010 to July 2011. Impacted sites were characterized by higher specific conductance, calcium and magnesium hardness, and fluoride than reference and confluence sites. At impacted sites, golden alga abundance and toxicity were positively associated with salinity‐related variables and blooms peaked at ~10°C and generally did not occur above 20°C. Overall, these findings suggest management of land and water use to reduce hardness or salinity could produce unfavorable conditions for golden alga.     

Short-term dynamics and long-term relationship between natural gas consumption and economic growth in Nigeria: an ARDL approach with breaks

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This paper investigates the short-term dynamics as well as the long-term relationship between natural gas consumption and economic growth in Nigeria,...