Histoenzymological study on the toxicity of copper sulphate in the digestive glands of Lymnaea luteola

During 24 and 48 hr of exposure, the digestive glands of Lymnaea treated with a lethal concentration of 0.038 mgl(-1) CuSO4 revealed intense activity of acid phosphatase in perilobular margin. On the other hand, same area of the gland showed moderate activity of ATPase during 24 and 48 hr of exposure. However, alkaline phosphatase showed average activity in perialveolar region and perilobular margin during 24 and 48, and 72 hr of exposure respectively The changes in the activity of these enzymes were nonsignificant in alveolar margin and perialveolar region of the gland. It is interesting to note moderate activity of acid phosphatase in perialveolar region during 24 hr of exposure.     

Dissolution studies on TiO2 with organics

In this work the effect of organic reducing reagents, namely, ascorbic acid, oxalic acid and L-cysteine on dissolution of commercial TiO(2) has been investigated. Kinetic studies showed that a maximum of about 45% of TiO(2) was dissolved by ascorbic acid in 4h when oxide:acid molar ratio was kept at 1:2. The dissolution of TiO(2) increased with increase in ascorbic acid and oxalic acid concentration up to 0.15M in 4h (corresponding to molar ratio of oxide to acid of 1:3) and further addition did not affect the dissolution. Nearly 45% TiO(2) dissolution was obtained with ascorbic acid alone while oxalic acid yielded 40% dissolution. When oxalic acid was added along with ascorbic acid in equi-molar concentrations, dissolution of TiO(2) was enhanced to 60% in 2.5h but when cysteine was added to ascorbic acid the dissolution was about 50% in just 1h.     

The effects of sludge burning on the PCDD/PCDF content of ashes from pulp and paper mill hog fuel boilers

The results of a study designed to quantify the levels of PCDD/Fs in boiler and control device ashes resulting from burning sludge of bleached mill origin, admixed with bark, are summarized.     

Assessment of deposition of MEMC (seed dressing fungicide) in exposed rice grain through study of seedling growth parameters

Rice seed grains exposed to 240 ppm of seed dressing fungicide, MEMC showed increase in deposition of mercury with increase in period of observation (0h to 48h) in 765+/-5 mg of intact endosperm. The gradual increase in mercury deposition in intact endosperm caused simultaneous decrease in mercury content of the seed coat. Exposure periods of 5 to 20 min with 240 ppm of MEMC showed 5.5 to 8.72 microg of mercury deposition in 765+/-5 mg of intact endosperm. Increase in period of exposure (3 to 20 min) to 240 ppm of MEMC and also increase in chronic treatment to lower concentrations (1.5 ppm to 24 ppm) to seed grains have shown similar results in seedling growth parameters. Lower period of exposure or exposure to lower concentrations, both showed a significant inhibition of root growth, however the shoot growth showed stimulation. But higher exposure period or exposure to higher concentrations brought inhibition of both root and shoot growth. The exposure period showing 50% of root growth inhibition of 72h old seedling was calculated to be 10 min So also the chronic treatment showing the 50% of root growth inhibition was calculated to be 9 ppm. Ten min exposure of rice grain to 240 ppm of MEMC showed deposition of 7.11 microg of mercury in 765+/-5 mg of intact endosperm at 48h of observation (optimal phase of germinating process). Regression analysis indicated that by the time of 72h the intact endosperm and developing seedling might have acquired with a minimum amount of 10.23 microg of mercury from the seed coat. Finally it can be said that 10.23 microg of MEMC might be bringing 50% root growth inhibition in 72h old seedlings and 16.71 microg of mercury causing 50% inhibition of both root and shoot growth of 120h old seedlings.     

Assessment of cervical range of motion,cervical core strength and scapular dyskinesia in violin players

Background. Playing the violin can lead to asymmetric postures which can affect the cervical range of motion, cervical core strength and scapular stability. Objective. The objective of the study was to assess the cervical range of motion, cervical core strength and scapular dyskinesia in violin players and non-players of the same age group. Methods. An inclinometer was used to assess the cervical range of motion, pressure biofeedback was used to assess cervical core strength and scapular dyskinesia was also assessed in 30 professional violin players (18–40 years) compared with 30 age-matched non-players. Analysis was done using an unpaired t test. Results. Significant change was seen with respect to extension (p?=?0.051), cervical core strength (p?=?0.005), right (Rt) superior angle 0° (p?=?0.004), Rt superior angle 45° (p?=?0.015) and Rt inferior angle 90° (p?=?0.013). Conclusion. This study shows a significant difference in extension range of motion and cervical core strength of violin players. Also, there was scapular dyskinesia seen at 0° and 45° right-side superior angle of the scapula and 90° right-side inferior angle of the scapula.     

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.     

Incident investigation of mono-nitro toluene still explosion

At one of the nitro-toluene facilities, an o-nitro toluene still was in standby mode. During the standby mode feed to the still had been stopped, the column was not de-inventoried, steam flow to the reboiler was not shut off and the condenser was on total reflux. After 22 days of standby mode, steam was shut off for 5 days for annual plant maintenance. Eight days after the re-start of steam, the still exploded, hurling debris as far as one mile. The internal packing was expelled from the column and landed on the ground burning. The incident was investigated to establish the contributing factors leading to explosion. Accelerating Rate Calorimetery was extensively used to determine the onset temperature for exothermic activity in the presence/absence of a number of materials to establish the underlying cause of the accident. It was found that foulant collected in the column over a period of years accelerated the ’runaway reaction’.     

Indexing method for assessment of pollution potential of leachate from non-engineered landfill sites and its effect on ground water quality

Dumping of solid waste in a non-engineered landfill site often leads to contamination of ground water due to leachate percolation into ground water. The present paper assesses the pollution potential of leachate generated from three non-engineered landfill sites located in the Tricity region (one each in cities of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula) of Northern India and its possible effects of contamination of groundwater. Analysis of physico-chemical properties of leachate from all the three landfill sites and the surrounding groundwater samples from five different downwind distances from each of the landfill sites were collected and tested to determine the leachate pollution index (LPI) and the water quality index (WQI). The Leachate Pollution Index values of 26.1, 27 and 27.8 respectively for landfill sites of Chandigarh (CHD), Mohali (MOH) and Panchkula (PKL) cities showed that the leachate generated are contaminated. The average pH values of the leachate samples over the sampling period (9.2 for CHD, 8.97 for MOH and 8.9 for PKL) show an alkaline nature indicating that all the three landfill sites could be classified as mature to old stage. The WQI calculated over the different downwind distances from the contamination sites showed that the quality of the groundwater improved with an increase in the downwind distance. Principal component analysis (PCA) carried out established major components mainly from natural and anthropogenic sources with cumulative variance of 88% for Chandigarh, 87.1% for Mohali and 87.8% for Panchkula. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) identifies three distinct cluster types for the groundwater samples. These clusters corresponds to a relatively low pollution, moderate pollution and high pollution regions. It is suggested that all the three non-engineered landfill sites be converted to engineered landfill sites to prevent groundwater contamination and also new sites be considered for construction of these engineered landfill sites as the present dumpsites are nearing the end of their lifespan capacity.     

Alternative soil quality indices for evaluating the effect of intensive cropping, fertilisation and manuring for 31 years in the semi-arid soils of India

Soil quality assessment provides a tool for evaluating the sustainability of alternative soil management practices. Our objective was to develop the most sensitive soil quality index for evaluating fertilizer, farm yard manure (FYM), and crop management practices on a semiarid Inceptisol in India. Soil indicators and crop yield data from a long-term (31 years) fertilizer, manure, and crop rotation (maize, wheat, cowpea, pearl millet) study at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) near New Delhi were used. Plots receiving optimum NPK, super optimum NPK and optimum NPK + FYM had better values for all the parameters analyzed. Biological, chemical, and physical soil quality indicator data were transformed into scores (0 to 1) using both linear and non-linear scoring functions, and combined into soil quality indices using unscreened transformations, regression equation, or principal component analysis (PCA). Long-term application of optimum inorganic fertilizers (NPK) resulted in higher soil quality ratings for all methods, although the highest values were obtained for treatment, which included FYM. Correlations between wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and the various soil quality indices showed the best relationship (highest r) between yield and a PCA-derived SQI. Differences in SQI values suggest that the control (no NPK, no manure) and N only treatments were degrading, while soils receiving animal manure (FYM) or super optimum NPK fertilizer had the best soil quality, respectively. Lower ratings associated with the N only and NP treatments suggest that one of the most common soil management practices in India may not be sustainable. A framework for soil quality assessment is proposed.