Influence of mercury from fly ash on cattle reared nearby thermal power plant

Cattle grazing nearby coal-fired power stations are exposed to fly ash. The present investigation aims to assess the environmental and health impacts of fly ash containing mercury emitted from thermal power plant. The health effect of fly ash were studied using 20 lactating cattle reared within a 5-km radius of s thermal power plant for the possible effect of fly ash such as the alterations in hematological and biochemical parameters of blood, milk, and urine. Results indicated that the hemoglobin levels (6.65?±?0.40?g/dl) were significantly reduced in all the exposed animals. Biochemical parameters viz., blood urea nitrogen (27.35?±?1.19?mg/dl), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (43.39?±?3.08?IU/l), albumin, and creatinine were found to be increased, whereas serum glutamate pyruvic transaminase (29.26?±?2.02) and Ca²⁺ were observed to be statistically insignificant in exposed animals. Mercury concentrations estimated in the blood, milk, and urine of exposed (n?=?20) and control (n?=?20) animals were 7.41?±?0.86, 4.75?±?0.57, 2.08?±?0.18, and 1.05?±?0.07, 0.54?±?0.03, 0.20?±?0.02?μg/kg, respectively. The significant increase (P?<?0.01) in the levels of mercury in blood, milk, and urine of exposed animals in comparison to control indicated that the alterations of biochemical parameters in exposed cattle could be due to their long term exposure to fly ash mercury which may have direct or indirect impact on human populations via food chain.     

High bromine oxide concentrations in the semi-polluted boundary layer

Bromine chemistry in the marine boundary layer is recognized to play an important role through catalytic ozone destruction, changes to the atmospheric oxidising capacity (by changing the OH/HO₂ and NO/NO₂ ratio) and oxidation of compounds such as dimethyl sulphide (DMS). However, the chemistry of bromine in polluted environments is not well understood and its effects are thought to be inhibited by reactions involving NO_x (NO₂ & NO). This paper describes long-path Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) observations of bromine oxide (BrO) at a semi-polluted coastal site in Roscoff, France. Significant concentrations of BrO (up to 7.5 ± 1.0 pptv) were measured during daytime, indicating the presence of unknown sources or efficient recycling of reactive bromine from bromine nitrate (BrONO₂), which should be the major reservoir for bromine in a high NO_x environment. These measurements indicate that bromine chemistry can play an important role in polluted environments.     

Sustainable approaches for steroid synthesis

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Steroids are important scaffolds for the synthesis of molecules of pharmaceutical interest and constitute a distinct family of natural products. The demand for...     

Correction to: Groundwater geochemical facie: implications of rock-water interaction at the Chamba city (HP), northwest Himalaya,India

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The correct presentation of Eq. 10 is shown in this paper.     

Trace Level Determination of U, Zn, Cd, Pb and Cu in Drinking Water Samples

The concentration of uranium has been assessed in drinking water samples collected from different locations in Bathinda district, Punjab, India. The water samples are taken from hand pumps and tube wells. Uranium is determined using fission track technique. Uranium concentration in the water samples varies from 2.23± 0.05 to 87.05± 0.29 μg/L. These values are compared with safe limit values recommended for drinking water. The uranium concentration in almost all drinking water samples is found to be more than the safe limit. Analysis of some heavy metals viz. Zn, Cd, Pb and Cu in water is made. The concentration of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chlorine and total hardness along with the pH value and conductivity of the water samples are measured. Some of the samples show stunningly high values of these parameters.     

Microbial bioremediation of Azo dyes: An environmentally sustainable technology

Azo dyes, which are the most commonly used dyes in the textile industry, are aromatic compounds with N═N– groups. The treatment of these pollutants has been receiving considerable attention due to their persistence and release of dyes into the environment. The existing treatment approaches are not only expensive but also result in the production of concentrated sludge, which creates a secondary disposal issue. Under particular ecological conditions, a variety of microbes, including bacteria, fungi, algae, and yeasts, can not only decolorize numerous dyes but can also degrade them. In this respect, microbial degradation is a successful, cost-effective, biologically friendly, and ecologically sustainable treatment strategy. This review paper discusses research articles identified in the ScienceDirect bibliographic database for the last 10 years (from January 1, 2010 to June 29, 2022). Only the most appropriate research articles were included in the review process which was identified by searches with keyword phrases Azo-dye degradation with bacteria, fungi, algae, yeast, and microbial consortia. The review paper also emphasizes the constraints that persist and the future scope for the degradation of dyes via genetic engineering.     

Identification of hot spot and safe zones of ambient air quality in North Maharashtra region,India

The continuous infrastructural and economic development exerted pressure on the environmental conditions of the North Maharashtra region. The air quality of North Maharashtra region was analysed for the identification of hot spots and safe zones of ambient air quality. The result shows air pollution at some part of North Maharashtra region. The levels of particulate matter were above the prescribed limits especially at Bhusawal, Dhule and Jalgaon Urban centres. The traces of polyaromatic hydrocarbons were also observed in the urban centres of study area. The binary ratios of the persistent prevailing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)'s show great correlation with the vehicular exhaust in the study region. The higher levels of pollutants in the study region were recorded in the post-monsoon season. The present study is first of its kind in the North Maharashtra region and an attempt has been made to analyse the anthropogenic sources and concentration of air pollutants in the area. The air pollutants reduce the defence system of human body and lead into severe health consequences like damage of lung tissues with escalation in the existing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.     

Groundwater geochemical facie: implications of rock-water interaction at the Chamba city (HP), northwest Himalaya,India

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The present study describes geochemical facie and implications of rock-water interaction at the groundwater of Chamba city. The influence of rock...     

Selective sensing of mercury(II) using PVC-based membranes incorporating recently synthesized 1,3-alternate thiacalix[4]crown ionophore

The construction and electrodes characteristics of poly(vinylchloride) (PVC)-based polymeric membrane electrode (PME) and coated graphite electrode (CGE), incorporating 1,3-alternate thiacalix[4]crown as ionophore for estimation of Hg(II) ions, are reported here. The best potential response was observed for PME-1 having membrane composition of: ionophore (6.2 mg), PVC (100.0 mg), 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether (2-NPOE; 200.0 mg), and sodium tetraphenyl borate (NaTPB; 2.0 mg); for CGE-1 with the membrane composition: ionophore (3.5 mg), PVC (40.0 mg), 2-NPOE (80.0 mg), and NaTPB (2.0 mg). The electrodes exhibits Nernstian slope of 29.16 mV/decade with PME-1 and 30.39 mV/decade with CGE-1 for Hg(II) ions over wide concentration range, i.e., 1.0?×?10^?1 to 5.0?×?10^?6?M with PME-1 and 1.0?×?10^?1 to 5.0?×?10^?7?M with CGE-1. Lower detection limits were found to be 9.77?×?10^?6?M for PME-1 and 7.76?×?10^?7?M for CGE-1 with response time varying from 10 to 20 s. Also, these electrodes work within pH range of 2.0–6.0 for PME-1 and 1.5–6.5 for CGE-1. Overall, CGE-1 has been found to be better than PME-1. CGE-1 has been used as indicator electrode for the potentiometric titration of Hg(II) ions with EDTA as well as successfully applied for determination of Hg(II) content in wastewater, insecticide, dental amalgam, and ayurvedic medicines samples with very good performance (0.9974 correlation coefficient in the comparison against volumetric method).