The role of nitrilotriacetate in copper uptake by tobacco

In growth chamber experiments we studied the effect of nitrilotriacetate (NTA) on Cu uptake by tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). Plants were exposed for 6 d to 126 microM Cu and 500 microM NTA in nutrient solutions without and with 10 g L(-1) montmorillonite. Approximately seven times less Cu was dissolved in the montmorillonite solutions than in the nutrient solutions alone. In the absence of NTA, montmorillonite effectively competed with plant roots for Cu, although Cu remained bound to the roots. Nitrilotriacetate increased Cu uptake and translocation into shoots of tobacco by a factor of 3.5 from the nutrient solution and by a factor of 26 from the montmorillonite nutrient solution. Neither growth reduction nor any other visible sign of Cu toxicity was found in the presence of NTA with Cu concentrations of 190 mg kg(-1) in the shoots. In the absence of NTA, high Cu concentrations in root samples led to a brownish discoloration of the roots.     

A monitoring study of workers handling pesticides in warehouses and godowns.

Monitoring observations made on 60 operators involved in pesticide application work in godowns and warehouses and 60 matched control workers are reported. Occupational exposure history and medical history are noted. Biochemical investigations, plasma and RBC cholinesterase estimations are included along with medical examination of the workers. Workers were found to be mostly exposed to Celphos, DDVP, Malathion, Pyrethrum, etc, and the use of protective devices were very limited. Cases of significant reduction in plasma and RBC cholinesterase activity were found. Frequency of symptoms like dizziness, headache, lachrymation, burning sensation in eyes, nausea and anorexia, etc, were much more in the exposed workers. No cases of clinical poisoning attributable to occupational exposure to pesticides were reported by the workers.     

SURFACE WATER QUALITY IMPACTS OF TILLAGE PRACTICES UNDER LIQUID SWINE MANIJRE APPLICATION1

ABSTRACT: Field studies were conducted to investigate the effects of tillage practices on the saturated hydraulic conductivity, and quantity and quality of surface runoff water resulting from the application of the liquid swine manure as a fertilizer. As part of the study, infiltration experiments were conducted on silt-loam soil with no-tillage (NT) and disk tillage (DT) practices. Liquid swine manure was applied on test plots, and the rainfall was applied by the portable rainfall simulator. The infiltration data was analyzed for the saturated hydraulic conductivity (K8) and runoff volume determinations. The surface runoff water was analyzed for total N, total P, ammonia, and nitrate concentration determinations. The study indicated that the tillage had significant effects on K_s, and quantity and quality of runoff water. The K_s values of the NT plots were found to vary from 0.693 to 1.734 mm/min, with a mean of 1.494 mm/min, while they varied from 1.056 to 2.543 mm/min, with a mean of 2231 mm/mm in the DT plots. The total N, total P, ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen concentrations were lower in runoff generated from DT plots, compared to that from the NT plots. The chemical concentration levels were significantly different in runoff waters collected one-day after manure application than in those collected 40-days after the manure application. Study suggested that the DT practice must be preferred over the NT practice if liquid swine manure is used as the fertilizer. The study is further continued to assess the long-term impacts of swine manure application and tillage on the quantity and quality of surface runoff water.     

Transparency in global sustainability governance: to what effect?

ABSTRACT

Transparency in environmental governance is no longer an uncontroversial answer to problems of accountability and effectiveness. How to design effective transparency systems and in what policy contexts they are effective remain contested issues. This special section, consisting of this introduction and four research articles, interrogates complex and potentially conflicting links between transparency, accountability, empowerment and effectiveness in environmental governance. Building on existing literature and the four contributions, we discuss persisting diversity in varieties of transparency, the evolving dynamics of commodity chain transparency, and the consequences of emerging novel forms of digitalized transparency. As we show, the contributions to this special section interrogate in novel ways the transformative potential of transparency, through shedding light on the performative effects of transparency in ever more complex environmental governance contexts. These contexts may include, inter alia, the growing ubiquity of traceability in transnational commodity chains, the need for ever more anticipatory (ex-ante) forms of environmental governance, and an ever-broadening quest for digitally monitored environments. In particular, the impacts of the real-time ‘radical’ transparency engendered by use of novel digital technologies remain under-analyzed in the sustainability domain. We conclude by raising several critical concerns that deserve further scientific research and policy debate.     

Pollution abatement in the indian pulp and paper industry

Summary In this paper, pollutants in air, water and as solids which stem from the paper industry are discussed, and pollution abatement measures are suggested. The Pulp and Paper Industry is highly capital, material and energy intensive and return on investment is very low. This paper reviews some emerging international principles which are effective in reducing both effluent treatment costs per tonne of paper and the mill discharges, to levels where their environmental impacts become far less significant than at present.Mr Avijit Dey is a graduate in Chemical Engineering from Jadavpur University and at present is Design Engineer in the Paper and Process Cell of Development Consultants Ltd, 24-B Park Street, Calcutta 70016, India. Dr B. Sen Gupta is Reader in the Chemical Engineering Department of Jadavpur University, Calcutta. He obtained his BChE and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Jadavpur University and an ME in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. His research interests involve pulp and paper technology, water conservation and management, and pollution control.     

Relationships among employees' work and nonwork responses

This study was concerned with an examination of the relationships among employee responses to the work setting. Responses in the work and nonwork spheres were examined, and an attempt made to determine the stability of the relationships across organizations. Data were obtained from 651 employees of five midwestern organizations using four data sources—structured interviews, on-the-job observations, supervisory ratings, and personnel records. The analysis indicated that, in general, employee reactions in the work and nonwork spheres loaded on separate factors, and that the relationships among employee responses were relatively stable across organizations. Some directions for future research on this issue are suggested.     

COMPUTER APPLICATION TO DOUBLE-MASS ANALYSIS1

ABSTRACT: Double-mass analysis for checking consistency of a hydrological record is considered to be essential before taking it for analysis purpose. Because of increasing computer application in hydrological analyses, in the present paper, a simple and efficient method for the double-mass checking has been developed. The problem has been formulated in FORTRAN IV language and the basic steps and a computer output of the program are presented in a flow chart and a table.