Chemometrics in assessment of seasonal variation of water quality in fresh water systems

The spatial and temporal distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was investigated in Gomti River, a major tributary of the Ganga river (India). A total of 96 samples (water and sediments) were collected from eight different sites over a period of 2 years and analysed for 16 PAHs. The total concentrations of 16 PAHs in water and bed sediments ranged between 0.06 and 84.21 ??g/L (average (n?=?48), 10.33 ± 19.94 ??g/L) and 5.24?C3,722.87 ng/g dw [average (n?=?48): 697.25 ± 1,005.23 ng/g dw], respectively. In water, two- and three-ring PAHs and, in sediments, the three- and four-ring PAHs were the dominant species. The ratios of anthracene (An)/An + phenenthrene and fluoranthene (Fla)/Fla + pyrene were calculated to evaluate the possible sources of PAHs. These ratios reflected a pattern of pyrolytic input as a major source of PAHs in the river. Principal component analysis, further, separated the PAHs sources in the river sediments, suggesting that both the pyrolytic and petrogenic sources are contributing to the PAHs burden. The threat to biota of the river due to PAHs contamination was assessed using effect range low and effect range median values, and the results suggested that sediment at some occasions may pose biological impairment.     

Solar ponds—a mini review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - A solar pond is a simple system that collects and stores heat for thermal and electrical applications. Heat storage and heat extraction are the key...     

Strong variability in bacterioplankton abundance and production in central and western Bay of Bengal

With large influx of freshwater that decreases sea-surface salinities, weak wind forcing of <10 m s⁻¹ and almost always warm (>28°C) sea-surface temperature that stratifies and shallows the mixed layer leading to low or no nutrient injections into the surface, primary production in Bay of Bengal is reportedly low. As a consequence, the Bay of Bengal is considered as a region of low biological productivity. Along with many biological parameters, bacterioplankton abundance and production were measured in the Bay of Bengal during post monsoon (September–October 2002) along an open ocean transect, in the central Bay (CB, 88°E) and the other transect in the western Bay (WB). The latter representing the coastal influenced shelf/slope waters. Bacterioplankton abundances (<2 × 10⁹cells l⁻¹) were similar to those reported from the HNLC equatorial Pacific and the highly productive northern Arabian Sea. Yet, the thymidine uptake rates along CB (average of 1.46 pM h⁻¹) and WB (average of 1.40 pM h⁻¹) were less than those from the northwestern Indian Ocean. These abundances and uptake rates were higher than those in the oligotrophic northwestern Sargasso Sea (<7 × 10⁸ cells l⁻¹; av 1.0 pM h⁻¹). Concentrations of chlorophyll a (chl a), primary production rates and total organic carbon (TOC) were also measured for a comparison of heterotrophic and autotrophic production. In the WB, bacterioplankton carbon biomass equaled ∼ 95% of chl a carbon than just 31% in the CB. Average bacterial:primary production (BP:PP) ratios accounted for 29% in the CB and 31% in the WB. This is mainly due to lower primary productivity (PP) in the WB (281 mg C m⁻² d⁻¹) than in the CB (306 mg C m⁻² day⁻¹). This study indicates that bacteria–phytoplankton relationship differs in the open (CB) and coastal waters (WB). Higher abundance and contrastingly low bacterial production (BP) in WB may be because of the riverine bacteria, brought in through discharges, becoming dormant and unable to reproduce in salinities of 28 or more psu. Heterotrophic bacteria appear to utilize in situ DOC rather rapidly and their carbon demand is ∼50% of daily primary production. It is also apparent that allochthonous organic matter, in particular in the western Bay, is important for meeting their carbon demand.     

RESEARCH: Land Use Characteristics and Water Quality: A Methodology for Valuing of Forested Buffers

In this study, water quality and basin characteristics data from different basins of the Fish River basin, Baldwin County, Alabama, were used to develop a valuation model. This valuation model is based on the effectiveness of “contributing zones” identified and delineated using methods described by Basnyat and others (Environmental Management]1999] 23(4):539–549). The “contributing zone” delineation model suggests that depending on soil permeability, soil moisture, depth to water table, slope, and vegetation, buffer widths varying from 16 m to 104 m must be maintained to assimilate or detain more than 90% of the nitrate passing through the buffers. The economic model suggests the value of retiring lands (to create the buffers) varies from $0 to $3067 per ha, depending on the types of crops currently grown. The total value of retiring all areas identified by the contributing zone model is $1,125,639 for the study area. This land value will then form the basis for estimates of the costs of land management options for improving (or maintaining) water quality throughout the study area.     

Evaluation and standardisation of a simple HG-AAS method for rapid speciation of As(III) and As(V) in some contaminated groundwater samples of West Bengal, India

A simple HG-AAS technique has been evaluated and standardised for rapid speciation of As(III) and As(V) in a number of contaminated groundwater samples of West Bengal, India. Citric acid has been used for selective hydride formation of As(III). The sensitivity of the evaluated HG-AAS method is 7.91 mg(-1)l, standard deviation, 0.001 and detection limit, 0.4 microg l(-1). As(III) sensitivity remains constant in the sample pH range of 2.3-10.6. Concomitant mineral matrix of the water samples did not interfere with arsenic determination. Eight out of ten groundwater samples analysed for As(IlI)and As(V) contain more As(III), which lies in the range of 54-350 ppb. As(III) estimation in drinking water along with total arsenic should be invoked as a policy for a realistic risk assessment of the contaminated water.     

Potential of Anopheles philippinensis-nivipes complex mosquitoes as malaria vector in north-east India

Anopheles philippinensis-nivipes complex mosquitoes, captured in outdoor human landing catches and light traps in human dwellings from four different sites in Assam state and adjoining areas, were examined (n=1670) for the presence of circumsporozoite antigen (CSA) through enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), using species specific capture monoclonal antibodies, of Plasmodium falciparum and two Plasmodium vivax polymorphs (Pv 210 and VK 247). In ELISA, 28 pools were found positive for CSA that accounted for minimum sporozoite rate of 1.7% (95% CI 1.11-2.41). Twenty five percent (7/28) of the positive pools were reactive for P. falciparum and between the two polymorphs of P. vivax, VK 247 was predominant with 77% (20/26) of all P. vivax positive pools. Results were suggestive of most likely involvement of Anopheles philippinensis-nivipes complex mosquitoes in malaria transmission in north-east India.     

Physico-chemical characteristics of breeding habitats of Anopheles dirus (Diptera:Culicidae) in Assam,India

Larval ecology of Anopheles dirus, the main vector of forest malaria in north-eastern region of India, was studied in relation to physico-chemical characteristics of its breeding habitats in a rain forest area of Assam, India. Shady stream side pools, positive for the breeding of An. dirus, had significantly higher amounts of total hardness (P < 0.024) in comparison to negative pools of similar type. When compared with An. dirus negative breeding habitats, in hot-wet as well as in cool-dry seasons, An. dirus positive shady ground pools showed higher mean values of total alkalinity, hardness and chloride content, whereas lower pH, dissolved oxygen along with higher total alkalinity and hardness were possessed by An. dirus positive stream side pools. Specificity of breeding habitats of An. dirus in relation to its ecology has been discussed.     

Gender response and safe carrying load limit for sugar industry workers

This study investigates the safe carrying load limit in relation to gender of workers in the sugar industry. A total of 632 workers (male and female) were interviewed following a physiological and psycho-physiological methodology. All of these workers were in the age groups of 21–30, 31–40 and ≥41 years. In this study, for the physiological methodology, both field and laboratory data were collected, which included heart rate, heart rate variability, energy expenditure and maximum rate of oxygen consumption. Information regarding hemoglobin content, weight, age, lean body weight, etc., was recorded to know the physical health of the workers. In the psycho-physiological evaluation, load-carrying limits were determined by the psychophysical rating of the load by workers from the selected age groups. By considering the physiological stresses and psycho-physiological evaluation, the safe carrying load limit was determined in head and back mode for male and female workers as per their age groups.     

Dust events and their influence on aerosol optical properties over Jaipur in Northwestern India

In this study, we systematically document the link between dust episodes and local scale regional aerosol optical properties over Jaipur located in the vicinity of Thar Desert in the northwestern state of Rajasthan. The seasonal variation of AOT_{500 nm} (aerosol optical thickness) shows high values (0.51?±?0.18) during pre-monsoon (dust dominant) season while low values (0.36?±?0.14) are exhibited during winter. The Ångström wavelength exponent has been found to exhibit low value (<0.25) indicating relative dominance of coarse-mode particles during pre-monsoon season. The AOT increased from 0.36 (April_mean) to 0.575 (May–June_mean). Consequently, volume concentration range increases from April through May–June followed by a sharp decline in July during the first active phase of the monsoon. Significantly high dust storms were observed over Jaipur as indicated by high values of single scattering albedo (SSA_{440 nm}?=?0.89, SSA_{675 nm}?=?0.95, SSA_{870 nm}?=?0.97, SSA_{1,020 nm}?=?0.976) than the previously reported values over IGP region sites. The larger SSA values (more scattering aerosol), especially at longer wavelengths, is due to the abundant dust loading, and is attributed to the measurement site’s proximity to the Thar Desert. The mean and standard deviation in SSA and asymmetry parameter during pre-monsoon season over Jaipur is 0.938?±?0.023 and 0.712?±?0.017 at 675 nm wavelength, respectively. Back-trajectory air mass simulations suggest Thar Desert in northwestern India as the primary source of high aerosols dust loading over Jaipur region as well as contribution by long-range transport from the Arabian Peninsula and Middle East gulf regions, during pre-monsoon season.     

Utilization of anaerobically treated distillery spent wash for production of cellulases under solid-state fermentation

Pollution caused by distillery spent wash on one hand has stimulated the need to develop new technologies to treat the waste and on the other, forced us to reevaluate the efficient utilization of its nutritive potential for production of various high value compounds. In this study, anaerobically treated distillery spent wash was used for the production of cellulases by Aspergillus ellipticus under solid-state fermentation using wheat straw as a substrate. The interactions between distillery effluent concentration, initial pH, moisture content and inoculum size were investigated and modeled using response surface methodology (RSM) involving Box–Behnken design (BBD). Under optimized conditions, filter paper activity, β-glucosidase and endo-β-1,4-glucanase activities were found to be 13.38, 26.68 and 130.92 U/g of substrate respectively. Characterization of endo-β-1,4-glucanase and β-glucosidase was done after partial purification by ammonium sulfate fractionation followed by desalting. The partially purified endo-β-1,4-glucanase and β-glucosidase showed maximum activity at 60 °C. Saccharification studies performed with different lignocellulosic substrates showed that wheat bran was most susceptible to enzymatic hydrolysis. The study suggests that anaerobically treated distillery spent wash can be used as a viable nutrient source for cellulase production under solid-state fermentation by A. ellipticus.