Effect of textile industrial effluent on tree plantation and soil chemistry

A field study was conducted at Arid Forest Research Institute to study the effect of textile industrial effluent on the growth of forest trees and associated soil properties. The effluent has high pH, electrical conductivity (EC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and residual sodium carbonate (RSC) whereas the bivalent cations were in traces. Eight months old seedlings of Acacia nilotica, Acacia tortilis, Albizia lebbeck, Azadirachta indica, Parkinsonia aculeata and Prosopis juliflora were planted in July 1993. Various treatment regimes followed were; irrigation with effluent only (W1), effluent mixed with canal water in 1:1 ratio (W2), irrigation with gypsum treated effluent (W3), gypsum treated soil irrigated with effluent (W4) and wood ash treated soil irrigated with effluent (W5). Treatment regime W5 was found the best where plants attained (mean of six species) 173 cm height, 138 cm crown diameter and 9.2 cm collar girth at the age of 28 months. The poorest growth was observed under treatment regime of W3. The growth of the species varied significantly and the maximum growth was recorded for P. juliflora (188 cm height, 198 cm crown diameter and 10.0 cm collar girth). The minimum growth was recorded for A. lebbeck. Irrigation with effluent resulted in increase in percent organic matter as well as in EC. In most of the cases there were no changes in soil pH except in W5 where it was due to the effect of wood ash. Addition of wood ash influenced plant growth. These results suggest that tree species studied (except A. lebbeck) can be established successfully using textile industrial wastewater in arid region.     

Cybil induced hepatobiochemical changes in wistar rats

Cybil, 25%EC formulation of Cypermethrin, induces biochemical changes in the liver of wistar rats after oral intubation of the same at acute (one day) and subacute (7, 14 and 21 days) levels. The changes were tallied with the controls run simultaneously. LD50 of Cybil was estimated to be 622mg/kg body weight The acute dose is 80mg/kg body weight exposed for one day i.e. 24 hours and subacute dose is 4mg/kg body weight exposed for 7, 14 and 21 days. When compared with the control values, both the doses enhanced the level of glycogen, cholesterol, total lipid and acid phosphatase activities, while decreased activity of alkaline phosphatase. Alterations in glycogen, cholesterol, total lipid, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase resulted in the impairement in liver physiology.     

Comparative studies on accumulation of Cr from metal solution and tannery effluent under repeated metal exposure by aquatic plants: its toxic effects

The present study demonstrates comparison of Cr accumulatingpotential by the plants of Najas indica Cham. (submerged),Vallisneria spiralis L. (rooted submerged) and Alternanthera sessilis R. Br. (rooted emergent) under repeatedmetal exposure and its effect on chlorophyll and protein concentrations. These plants were treated with different concentrations of Cr under repeated exposure in controlled laboratory conditions to assess the maximum metal accumulationpotential. The plants of V. spiralis accumulated significantly high amount of Cr under laboratory conditions incomparison to N. indica and A. sessilis. The maximumaccumulation of 1378, 458 and 201 g g^-1 dw Cr was found in the leaves of V. spiralis, N. indica and A. sessilis, respectively at 8 mg L^-1 after 9 day of Cr exposure. These plants have shown a decrease in chlorophyll andprotein concentrations with increase in Cr concentrations. In view of high accumulation of Cr in V. spiralis, the plantswere treated with different concentrations of tannery effluent collected from Common Effluent Treatment Plant, Unnao (UP). Theplants of V. spiralis treated with 100% tannery wastewatershowed the maximum accumulation (57.5 g g^-1 dw) of Cr in the roots after 10 days of exposure. The plants were foundeffective in removing Cr from solution and tannery effluent.     

Monitoring of Ganga Water and Sediments Vis-à-Vis Tannery Pollution at Kanpur (India): A Case Study

The leather industry, besides being a major contributorto the Indian national economy, is unfortunately alsoone of the major polluters. The present articlediscusses the influence of the wastes on thephysicochemical characteristics of the Ganga water andsediments. Two sampling sites have been chosen atKanpur, the first before and the second after thepoint where tanneries are located. The samephysicochemical parameters which have been determinedin the wastes have been monitored at these two sitesfor two seasons. The results reveal that mostparameters increase as the river traverses betweenthese two points. The increase in values of parameterssuch as BOD, COD, Cl^-, and total solids could bedue to the domestic wastes just as much as to thetannery wastes. Phenols and sulfides, can also comefrom other sources, but their probability of comingfrom tanneries is higher. However, chromium is oneparameter which can primarily be identified tooriginate from the tanneries. The speciation of thesediments for chromium reveals that the leakage ofchromium into the Ganga is taking place at the secondsite. There is almost a ten fold increase in chromiumat the second site as compared to the first. At thefirst site the surface chromium is primarily in theresidual fraction while at the second site it is inthe Fe–Mn oxide fractions.     

Phytomonitoring of urban-industrial pollutants: A new approach

Biological effect monitoring of urban-industrial pollutants was carried out using an air pollution tolerance index (APTI) of plants. For the purpose four leaf parameters — namely, ascorbic acid, total chlorophyll, relative water content and leaf extract pH — were combined together in a formulation signifying the APTI of plants. The index indicated the plant response at the cell membrane and chloroplast levels. SitesP ₁,P ₂ andP ₃ were selected in western parts of Varanasi, India, near the junction of a national highway and a railway track. The control site was selected in the University campus. In the prevailing wind direction from siteP ₁, pollution zones I, II and III were marked. None of the four above mentioned plant parameters indicated a consistent response to pollutants. However, the APTI showed the most sensitive and consistent response of plants to urban-industrial pollutants. The APTI of plants showed a marked gradation as the pollutant load decreased from zone I, II and III to the control site. The APTI can be used as a good indicator of the impact of pollution on plants.     

Dissipation of some organochlorine insecticides in cropped and uncropped soil

Dissipation of four organochlorine insecticides, viz. aldrin, HCH, chlordane and heptachlor was studied in a sandy loam soil with and without crops during a period of 10 cropping seasons. Dissipation of all chemicals followed first-order kinetics (r(2)=0.537 - 0.976) with almost similar persistence in cropped and uncropped soils for all the insecticides. The average half-lives, (t(1/2) values) for total residues of aldrin, HCH, chlordane, and heptachlor in cropped treatments were 80.7, 58.8, 93.2, and 110 days. Their respective values in fallow plots were 78.4, 83.8, 154, and 116 days. None of the parent compounds or their isomers could be detected below the 20 cm depth at the termination of the experiment. Highest residue concentrations were observed in the surface 10 cm layer in fallow plots, but in the deeper (10-20 cm) layer in cropped plots. Analysis of plants and grains showed significant residues of all the chemicals. Degradation of these compounds in cropped and uncropped plots is discussed with regard to their volatilization, microbial degradation, leaching, and plant uptake.     

Irrigation development and its environmental consequences in arid regions of India

The present paper examines the nature and dimensions of environmental transformation induced by canal irrigation in the arid region of India. The case study pertains to the Indira Gandhi Canal comand area in Rajasthan where the density and area of vegetation cover have increased due to afforestation, and the cultivated area has expanded due to irrigation. Consequently, there has been a perceptible improvement in the structure and fertility of sandy soils, but it would require a herculean effort on the part of the canal authority and local people to reduce soil erosion and siltation in the lower parts of stage I and the entire command area of stage II. Moreover, the water table has been rising rapidly throughout the command area of stage I. About half of the command area and adjoining Ghaggar basin in Ganganagar District will be facing the danger of waterlogging by the turn of the century. The incidence of irrigation-induced alkalization is higher in the lower parts of stage I. Soil alkalinity has appeared within five years of the introduction of irrigation in the interdunal basins and is manifested as a strong salt regime or calcareous pans near surface. This calls for immediate reclamation of the affected area and prevention of its expansion by altering the strategy of irrigation development, by changing cropping patterns, and by providing soil drainage.     

PROBLEMS OF WATER RESOURCES PLANNING IN INDIA1

ABSTRACT Water resources planning in India since the First Five-Year Plan (1951-1956) has been a very important part of national development planning. However, records show that the results of such planning in the last three decades have fallen short of expectations because of various complex factors. Most of the limiting factors are administrative, political, legal, and philosophical, involving premature comprehensive planning, arbitrary selection of plan targets, administrative “red-tape,” ineffective coordination among water resources related departments, and water ownership conflicts among various states and with neighboring countries. Other constraints are related to a lack of adequate dependable data, the inadequacy of project feasibility studies, and a lack of social and political discipline necessary for adequate mobilization of financial resources.     

THE BISCAYNE AQUIFER CONTAMINATION: CLEANUP AND PREVENTION1

ABSTRACT: The Biscayne Aquifer is the sole source of drinking water for approximately three million residents of southeast Florida. Nine hazardous waste sites on the EPA National Priority List overlie this aquifer. Extensive investigation of an 80 square-mile area in metropolitan Miami detected low to moderate levels of toxic contaminants in the ground water, with volatile organic chemicals the most prevalent. The Centers for Disease Control concluded that contamination of the aquifer within the study area poses a serious potential threat to public health. Recommendations for source control and cleanup have been partially carried out. The top few feet of soil at the Miami Drum site have been excavated and relocated; ground water encountered during excavation has been withdrawn and treated, and the Northwest 58th Street Landfill has been closed. Recovery and treatment of ground water from the contaminated area was the recommended cleanup measure and has been approved by EPA and state and local agencies. A preventive action program for the Biscayne Aquifer region was also recommended for implementation by local agencies. This program consists of regulations, waste management practices, construction and treatment guidelines, and public information activities and materials. Implementing this program will help keep the Biscayne Aquifer water drinkable far into the future.