Effects of water shortage in Kabul River network on the plain areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,Pakistan

Kabul River is a shared resource of Pakistan and Afghanistan and is a major source of economy for both countries. It is used for irrigation, power generation, fishery, hunting, and recreation. This study explored human-induced impact on Kabul River and its associated wetlands. For an in-depth study, the area situated between the two tributaries of Kabul River, i.e., Shalam and Naguman Rivers, was selected. The focus of the study was to find out reduction in the wetland areas, its causes, and associated impacts. For this purpose, a survey was conducted in 10 villages selected randomly in 10 union councils. The study revealed that anthropogenic activities, such as wetland farming, grazing residential encroachment, and industrial development, have caused severe alteration in the wetland of the study areas. The results revealed that before the 1990s, 33.55% area of the study area was wetland. Due to regular decrease in the flow of the Kabul River System and human encroachment, it has engulfed 68.40% of the total wetland leaving behind only 10.60% wetland. This can be termed as a big ecological disturbance. In the long run, this will have negative effects on both the countries. It is therefore recommended to give proper attention to this important wetland, positioning between Shalam and Naguman Rivers and to conserve it. One of the solutions is to regulate the natural flow of Kabul River.     

Performance evaluation of 1-D numerical model HEC-RAS towards modeling sediment depositions and sediment flushing operations for the reservoirs

Sediment inflow to the reservoir is a key factor to calculate life of the reservoir. Flushing is a very useful technique in order to enhance the life of reservoir. From the literature review, 14 reservoirs were considered where flushing has already been practiced and only 6 reservoirs were found successful in flushing. The others were found partially flushed. In this research, data of three successfully flushed reservoirs namely Baira reservoir (India), Gebidem reservoir (Switzerland), and Gmund reservoir (Austria) were used to run 1-D numerical model HEC-RAS. In the first phase, the longitudinal profiles of delta were modeled and calibrated with observed sediment depositions. In the presence of available data of discharges and respective reservoir levels, the modeled deltas were used for flushing the deltas. With the help of modeled delta and corresponding flushing discharges, sediment deposition and flushing durations were computed. The simulated flushed durations were 31, 102, and 180 h for Baira, Gebidem, and Gmund reservoirs, respectively. The simulated flushed durations were found close to observed durations. Hence, the use of 1-D numerical model HEC-RAS is encouraged for modeling of sediment deposits and flushing operations.     

Foliar application of lead and arsenic solutions to Spinacia oleracea: biophysiochemical analysis and risk assessment

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Atmospheric contamination by heavy metal(loid)s is a widespread global issue. Recent studies have shown foliar pathway of heavy metal(loid) uptake by...     

Biogeochemical transformation of greenhouse gas emissions from terrestrial to atmospheric environment and potential feedback to climate forcing

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Carbon dioxide (CO2) is mainly universal greenhouse gas associated with climate change. However, beyond CO2, some other greenhouse gases (GHGs) like...     

Influence of metallic species for efficient photocatalytic water disinfection: bactericidal mechanism of in vitro results using docking simulation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - TiO2-based heterogeneous photocatalysis systems have been reported with remarkable efficiency to decontaminate and mineralize a range of pollutants...     

Organochlorine pesticides in the surrounding soils of POPs destruction facility: source fingerprinting,human health,and ecological risks assessment

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The elimination of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) obsolete pesticides stockpiles, particularly the organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), is one of...     

Genotypic Variation in the Phytoremediation Potential of Indian Mustard for Chromium

The term “phytoremediation” is used to describe the cleanup of heavy metals from contaminated sites by plants. This study demonstrates phytoremediation potential of Indian mustard (Brasicca juncea (L.) Czern. & Coss.) genotypes for chromium (Cr). Seedlings of 10 genotypes were grown hydroponically in artificially contaminated water over a range of environmentally relevant concentrations of Cr (VI), and the responses of genotypes in the presence of Cr, with reference to Cr accumulation, its phytotoxity and anti-oxidative system were investigated. The Cr accumulation potential varied largely among Indian mustard genotypes. At 100 μM Cr treatment, Pusa Jai Kisan accumulated the maximum amount of Cr (1680 μg Cr g⁻¹ DW) whereas Vardhan accumulated the minimum (107 μg Cr g⁻¹ DW). As the tolerance of metals is a key plant characteristic required for phytoremediation purpose, effects of various levels of Cr on biomass were evaluated as the gross effect. The extent of oxidative stress caused by Cr stress was measured as rate of lipid peroxidation. The level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was enhanced at all Cr treatments when compared to the control. Inductions of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants were monitored as metal-detoxifying responses. All the genotypes responded to Cr-induced oxidative stress by modulating nonenzymatic antioxidants [glutathione (GSH) and ascorbate (Asc)] and enzymatic antioxidants [superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR)]. The level of induction, however, differed among the genotypes, being at its maximum in Pusa Jai Kisan and its minimum in Vardhan. Pusa Jai Kisan was grown under natural field conditions with various Cr treatments, and Cr-accumulation capacity was studied. The results confirmed that Pusa Jai Kisan is a hyperaccumulator of Cr and hypertolerant to Cr-induced stress, which makes this genotype a viable candidate for use in the development of phytoremediation technology of Cr-contaminated sites.     

Organochlorine pesticides in surface soils and sediments from obsolete pesticides dumping site near Lahore city,Pakistan: contamination status and their distribution

Surface soil and sediment samples were collected from the surroundings of Lila stream, which passes through the obsolete pesticides dumping area Kalashah Kaku near Lahore city, to evaluate the residual levels of 19 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), their distribution and potential sources. OCPs followed the order: ∑ DDT>∑ HCH>dicofol>endrin>heptachlor>dieldrin. Ratios of β to γ-HCH highlighted an old source of technical HCH in the study area, whereas the predominance of p, p′-DDT and p, p′-DDE indicated presence of technical DDT in surface soils. Factor analysis based on principal component analysis identified the origin of OCPs from industrial activities in Kalashah Kaku and waste dumping from Ittehad Chemical Industries via open drains into Lila stream. Greater levels of DDTs and HCHs above quality guideline pose potential exposure risk to biological organisms, safety of agricultural products and human health in the surrounding of Lila stream.     

Qualitatively and quantitatively assessing the aggregation ability of sludge during aerobic granulation process combined XDLVO theory with physicochemical properties

Inexact mechanism of aerobic granulation still impedes optimization and application of aerobic granules. In this study, the extended Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey, and Overbeek(XDLVO) theory and physicochemical properties were combined to assess the aggregation ability of sludge during aerobic granulation process qualitatively and quantitatively. Results show that relative hydrophobicity of sludge and polysaccharide content of extracellular polymeric substances(EPS) increased, while electronegativity of sludge decreased during acclimation phase. After 20 days' acclimation, small granules began to form due to high aggregation ability of sludge. Since then, coexisted flocs and granules possessed distinct physicochemical properties during granulation and maturation phase. The relative hydrophobicity decreased while electronegativity increased for flocs, whereas that for granules presented reverse trend. Through analyzing the interaction energy using the XDLVO theory, small granules tended to self-grow rather than self-aggregate or attach of flocs due to poor aggregation ability between flocs and granules during the granulation phase. Besides, remaining flocs were unlikely to self-aggregate owing to poor aggregation ability, low hydrophobicity and high electronegativity.     

Residual effects of tobacco biochar along with different fixing agents on stabilization of trace elements in multi-metal contaminated soils

The residual effect of tobacco biochar(TB ≥ 500°C) mono and co-application with Cahydroxide(CH),Ca-bentonite(CB) and natural zeolite(NZ) on the bio-availability of trace elements TE(s) in alkaline soils has not been deeply studied yet.A pot study that had earlier been investigated TB mono and blended with CH,CB and NZ on the immobilization of Pb,Cu Cd,and Zn by Chinese cabbage.Maize crop in the rotation was selected as test plant to assess the residual impact of amendments on stabilization of Pb,Cu Cd,and Zn in mine polluted(M-P),smelter heavily and low polluted(S-HP and S-LP,respectively) soils.The obtained results showed that stabilization of Pb,Cd,Cu and Zn reached 63.84% with TB + CB,61.19% with TB + CH,83.31% with TB + CH and 35.27% with TB + CH for M-P soil,36.46% with TB + NZ,38.46% with TB + NZ,19.40% with TB + CH and 62.43% with TB + CH for S-LP soil,52.94% TB + NZ,57.65% with TB + NZ,52.94% with TB + NZ,and 28.44% with TB + CH for S-LP soil.Conversely,TB + CH and TB alone had mobilized Pb and Zn up to19.29% and 34.96% in M-P soil.The mobility of Zn reached 8.38% with TB + CB and 66.03%with TB for S-HP and S-LP soils.The uptake and accumulation of Pb,Cd,Cu and Zn in shoot and root were reduced in three polluted soils.Overall,the combination of TB along with CH,CB and NZ has been proven to be effective in Pb,Cd,Cu and Zn polluted mine/smelter soils restoration.