Seasonality of carbonaceous aerosol composition and light absorption properties in Karachi, Pakistan

Characteristics of carbonaceous aerosol(CA) and its light absorption properties are limited in Karachi,which is one of the most polluted metropolitan cities in South Asia.This study presents a comprehensive measurement of seasonality of CA compositions and mass absorption cross-section(MAC) of elemental carbon(EC) and water-soluble organic carbon(WSOC) in total suspended particles(TSP) collected from February 2015 to March 2017 in the southwest part of Karachi.The average TSP,organic carbon(OC),and EC concentrations were extremely high with values as 391.0±217.0,37.2±28.0,and 8.53±6.97 μg/m~3,respectively.These components showed clear seasonal variations with high concentrations occurring during fall and winter followed by spring and summer.SO_4~(2-),NO_3~-,K~+,and NH_4~+showed similar variations with CA,implying the significant influence on atmospheric pollutants from anthropogenic activities.Relatively lower OC/EG ratio(4.20±2.50)compared with remote regions further indicates fossil fuel combustion as a primary source of CA.Meanwhile,sea salt and soil dust are important contribution sources for TSP.The average MAC of EC(632 nm) and WSOC(365 nm) were 6.56±2.70 and 0.97±0.37 m~2/g,respectively.MAC_(EC) is comparable to that in urban areas but lower than that in remote regions,indicating the significant influence of local emissions.MACwsoc showed opposite distribution with EC,further suggesting that OC was significantly affected by local fossil fuel combustion.In addition,dust might be an important factor increasing MACwsoc particularly during spring and summer.     

Tree species diversity and its relationship to stand parameters and geomorphology features in the eastern Black Sea region forests of Turkey

We studied the effects of stand parameters (crown closure, basal area, stand volume, age, mean stand diameter number of trees, and heterogeneity index) and geomorphology features (elevation, aspect and slope) on tree species diversity in an example of untreated natural mixed forest stands in the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. Tree species diversity and basal area heterogeneity in forest ecosystems are quantified using the Shannon-Weaver and Simpson indices. The relationship between tree species diversity basal area heterogeneity stand parameters and geomorphology features are examined using regression analysis. Our work revealed that the relationship between tree species diversity and stand parameters is loose with a correlation coefficient between 0.02 and 0.70. The correlation of basal area heterogeneity with stand parameters fluctuated between 0.004 and 0.77 (R2). According to our results, stands with higher tree species diversity are characterised by higher mean stand diameter number of diameter classes, basal area and lower homogeneity index value. Considering the effect of geomorphology features on tree species or basal area heterogeneity we found that all investigated relationships are loose with R < or = 0.24. A significant correlation was detected only between tree species diversity and aspect. Future work is required to verify the detected trends in behaviour of tree species diversity if it is to estimate from the usual forest stand parameters and topography characteristics.     

Phytoaccumulation prospects of cadmium and zinc by mycorrhizal plant species growing in industrially polluted soils

The natural vegetation growing along a wastewater channel was subjected to analyze the uptake of Cadmium (Cd) and Zinc (Zn) and their subsequent accumulation in aboveground and underground plant parts. Species which were mycorrhizal and growing in soils receiving industrially contaminated wastewater were collected along with their rhizospheric soil samples. The nearby uncontaminated control (reference) area was also subjected to sampling on similar pattern for comparison. Both Cd and Zn concentrations were significantly higher in soils of the study area as compared to the reference site. Five plant species i.e. Desmostachya bipinnata, Dichanthium annulatum, Malvastrum coromandelianum, Saccharum bengalense, and Trifolium alexandrinum were analyzed for metal uptake. The maximum phytoaccumulation of Cd was observed in Desmostachya bipinnata (20.41 μg g⁻¹) and Dichanthium annulatum (15.22 μg g⁻¹) for shoot and root tissues, respectively. However, Malvastrum coromandelianum revealed maximum Zn accumulation for both the shoot and the root tissues (134 and 140 μg g⁻¹, respectively). The examination of cleared and stained roots of the plants from both the areas studied revealed that all of them were colonized to a lesser or a greater degree by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The Cd hyperaccumulating grasses i.e. Desmostachya bipinnata and Dichanthium annulatum, from study area had smaller root:shoot (R/S) ratio as compared to those growing on reference area indicating a negative pressure of soil metal contamination. The lower R/S ratio in the mycorrhizal roots observed was probably due to increased AM infection and its mediatory role in soil plant transfer of heavy metals. Furthermore, comparatively lower soil pH values in the study areas may have played a key role in making the overall phytoavailability of both the metals. Consequently variations in Cd and Zn tissue concentration among species were observed that also indicate the phytoaccumulation potential of the native species.     

Concentration of heavy metals in water and chub, Leuciscus cephalus (Linn.) from the river Yildiz, Turkey

The concentration of heavy metals (Cu, Fe and Zn) were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in the river water and the edible muscle tissues of chub, Leuciscus cephalus, from river Yildiz, Turkey, and in the waste water The following results were found in the water of the river Yildiz: Cu 0.03-0.53, Fe 0.91-1.96 and Zn, 053-1.49 microgl(-1), in the waste water Cu 0.20-0.52, Fe 1.22-2.29 and Zn 0.92-1.46 microgl(-1) and in the edible muscle of chub: Cu 1.00-3.79, Fe 7.21-17.04 and Zn 4.12-18.33 microg g(-1) wet weight respectively. Among the heavy metals studied Pb, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni and Mn were not detected in the river water, waste water and chub samples. Heavy metal contents in these samples were evaluated and the highest concentrations of Cu, Fe and Zn were found in the muscle tissue. The levels of the heavy metals were detected in decreasing order as iron> zinc> copper. All the samples contained comparatively lower amounts of metals as suggested by international and national regulatory bodies. Thus, we recommend periodic monitoring of these metals in the fish consumed by local people.     

Stimulating environmental performance via green human resource management,green transformational leadership,and green innovation: a mediation-moderation model

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study aims to evaluate the environmental performance of&nbsp;small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through green human resource...     

The potential perils of Sal forests land grabbing in Bangladesh: an analysis of economic,social and ecological perspectives

Environment, Development and Sustainability - The increased demand for foods and commercialization of the commodity markets has resulted in enormous interest in arable land resources, leading to a...     

Preconcentration and determination of lead and cadmium levels in blood samples of adolescent workers consuming smokeless tobacco products in Pakistan

The present study was aimed to evaluate the cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) levels in the blood samples of adolescent boys, chewing different smokeless tobacco (SLT) products in Pakistan. For comparative purpose, boys of the same age group (12–15 years), not consumed any SLT products were selected as referents. To determine trace levels of Cd and Pb in blood samples, a preconcentration method, vortex-assisted liquid–liquid microextraction (VLLME) has been developed, prior to analysis by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The hydrophobic chelates of Cd and Pb with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate were extracted into the fine droplets of ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, while nonionic surfactant, Triton X-114 was used as a dispersing medium. The main factors affecting the recoveries of Cd and Pb, such as concentration of APDC, centrifugation time, volume of IL and TX-114, were investigated in detail. It was also observed that adolescent boys who consumed different SLT products have 2- to 3-fold higher levels of Cd and Pb in their blood samples as compared to referent boys (p?<?0.001).     

Lead availability and phytoextraction in the rhizosphere of Pelargonium species

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Availability of lead (Pb) in soil is a major factor controlling the phytoremediation efficiency of plants. This study was focused on investigating the...