The development and application of remote sensing to monitor sand dune habitats

Sand dunes are complex systems that contain several habitats, often as mosaics or transitions between types. Several of these habitats are afforded protection under European Legislation and in the UK nationally within Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Natural England has a statutory duty to report to Europe on the conservation status and condition of sand dunes; and is required to report to the UK Government on designated sites. To achieve this we have sought ways of capturing, analysing and interpreting data on the extent and location of sand dune habitats. This requires an ability to be able to obtain data over large areas of coastline in an efficient way. Natural England and Environment Agency Geomatics have worked collaboratively for over 16 years, sharing data and ecological knowledge. In 2012 work started to evaluate the use of remote sensing to map UK BAP and Annex I sand dune habitats. A methodology has now been developed and tested to map sand dune habitats. The key objective was to provide an operational tool that will help to map these habitats and understand change on sites around England. This has been achieved through analysis of LIDAR and Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager (CASI) data using Object Orientated Image Analysis. Quality Control (QC) and accuracy assessments have shown this approach to be successful and 11 sites have been mapped to date. These techniques are providing a new approach to monitoring change in coastal vegetation communities and informing management of protected sites.     

A comparative study of effects of cigarette and bidi smoking on respiratory function tests

The effects of cigarette and bidi smoking on pulmonary function tests have been studied in 90 healthy males from North India Forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV) were determined in 30 nonsmokers (as control group), 30 cigarette smokers and 30 bidi smokers. All the above pulmonary function parameters were found to be lower among smokers as compared to nonsmokers. Moreover, the decrease in the pulmonary function tests was greater in cigarette smokers as compared to bidi smokers.     

Chelation in metal intoxication XVI: Influence of chelating agents on chromate poisoned rats

The ability of selective polyaminocarboxylic acids and common drugs to reduce the body burden of chromium and restore Cr induced biochemical alterations in chromate intoxicated rats was investigated. 1,2 Cyclohexylene dinitrilotetraacetic acid (CDTA) and triethylenetetramine hexacetic acid (TTHA) were more effective than p-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) and isoniazid (INH) in enhancing urinary excretion of Cr, lowering hepatic and blood levels of Cr and restoring inhibited activity of hepatic aldolase. The chromate antidotal property of chelators seem to be related to the combination of nitrogen and oxygen as the electron donating centres.     

The geoenvironmental cycle of cadmium: a case study

Amidst the hue and cry about anthropogenic sources of pollution, there are regions in the world facing silent metal discharges purely due to geochemical factors. The present investigation relates to such a situation and deals with the non-anthropogenic discharge of cadmium into the local environment. The phosphorite rocks of the Roorkee area of India contain cadmium and, particularly as these are used in the manufacture of superphosphate, the rocks could lead to the large-scale disbursement of cadmium into the open environment. The area under study has soil rich in cadmium-containing minerals, as a result of which water is likely to leach out mobile cadmium and the ground water and crops could become contaminated. This is evident from the high values of cadmium in the tap water and food samples in the area. The Ganga and the Yamuna, the two major rivers traversing the area that originate in the central crystalline rocks of the Himalayas, show high cadmium values at Rishikesh and Dakpathar. Moreover, the sediments of these rivers have cadmium in easily bioavailable form. Food samples and milk analysed from the area show, in some cases, cadmium levels above the safety limits. This high exposure to cadmium is probably causing ailments so far unreported.     

Dissipation studies of fentrazamide (YRC-2388) in soil under anaerobic condition

Dissipation of fentrazamide in soil and water under flooded (anaerobic) conditions was studied. Fentrazamide was applied to soil at 100 g ha(-1). Soil was extracted with 0.1 N HCl?:?acetone (1?:?1 v/v) followed by partition and cleanup with silica SPE. Separation was achieved in an ODS-II column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile?:?water (70?:?30 v/v) and detection at 214 nm. Recovery of fentrazamide varied from 75.2-90.4% and 89.9-97.8% in soil and water, respectively. Fentrazamide dissipated rapidly and fentrazamide residues were not detected after 100 and 35 days of application in soil and water, respectively. Half life in soil and water was 9.06 and 3.66 days, respectively. Dissipation followed monophasic first order kinetics pattern. No fentrazamide was detected in soil, rice grain and rice straw at harvest of crop. Calibration curves for quantification were linear and relative standard deviation (RSD) was 1.78%. LOD for instrument was 0.002 μg mL(-1) and LOQ for methods were 0.005 μg g(-1) for soil and water.