Dynamics of traffic noise in a tropical city Varanasi and its abatement through vegetation

Noise level monitoring and its reduction with different width and height of vegetation belt were studied in the Varanasi city. Noise level monitoring of the Varanasi city revealed the fact that area category A (without vegetation) was highly polluted as compare to area category B (with vegetation) having less fluctuation of traffic load. Four plant species Putranjeva roxburghi, Cestrum nocturnum, Hibiscus rosasinensis and Murraya peniculata were tested for noise reduction study at different frequencies. Experiment revealed the fact that H. rosasinensis reduced noise highest at both low and high frequencies (100-500 Hz, 22 dB and 2.5-6.3 KHz 26 dB), followed by M. peniculata (100-500 Hz, 18 dB and 2.5-6.3 KHz 20 dB), P. roxburghi (100-500 Hz 15 dB and 2.5-6.3 KHz 17 dB) and C. nocturnum (100-500 Hz 9 dB and 2.5-6.3 KHz 14 dB). Significance of vegetation belt in noise reduction was established with multiple regression models.     

Isotopic evidence for in-lake production of accumulating nitrate in Lake Superior.

A century-long increase in nitrate (NO3-) in the water column of Lake Superior is a classic example of recent nitrogen accumulation in ecosystems, but its cause and relationship to historical NO3- deposition is unknown. We used stable isotope ratios of oxygen and nitrogen in nitrate (delta18O-NO3 and delta15N-NO3) to examine its sources in this large lake, which represents 10% of the world's surficial liquid freshwater. The most parsimonious hypothesis to explain the rise in NO3- is that the lake is accruing NO3- deposited directly on the lake surface because it is too unproductive to completely assimilate all of it. Data for delta18O-NO3 in external sources and the water column, however, are inconsistent with this hypothesis. Instead, the isotopic evidence indicates strongly that the accumulating NO3- is almost entirely derived from nitrification occurring within the lake. While increases in atmospheric deposition of NO3- may have played a role in its buildup in the lake, other factors such as increases in NH4+ and dissolved organic nitrogen inputs from precipitation or rivers, increases in nitrogen fluxes from the sediments, and decreases in burial rates must also be considered as potential drivers of rising NO3-. The sustained accumulation of nitrogen in Lake Superior is thus more complex and incompletely understood than previously assumed.     

Microbial decolorization and bioremediation of melanoidin containing molasses spent wash

Molasses spent wash from cane-molasses based distilleries contains a brown coloured recalcitrantpolymer melanoidin, which if disposed untreated poses a great threat to environment. Microbial decolorization and chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction was found to be dependent on specific carbon and nitrogen source. Under optimal condition of pH, carbon and nitrogen concentration for each treatment, it was found that Bacillus sp isolated from soil was capable of removing COD (85. 35%) and colour (81.10%) from distillery waste to the maximum extent after 9 days atpH 7 in the medium containing 0.5% peptone, 2% glucose and 10% (v/v), followed by Phanerochaete chrysosporium and lowest reduction was obtained by using native microbial consortium.     

A sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of arsenic in environmental samples

We developed a cost-effective and sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of arsenic at trace level using a new reagent, leuco malachite green. Here we show that, arsenic reacts with potassium iodate in acidic conditions to liberate iodine, and the liberated iodine selectively oxidizes leuco malachite green to malachite green dye. We studied the Beer’s law at 617 nm, which showed linearity over the concentration range 0.09–0.9 μg ml⁻¹ of arsenic. We show that the molar absorptivity, Sandell’s sensitivity and detection limit of the method are 6.1 × 10⁴ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹, 0.0012 μg cm⁻² and 0.025 μg ml⁻¹, respectively. We applied the developed method for the determination of arsenic in environmental samples.     

Calibration and Validation of Far Field Dilution Models for Outfall at Worli, Mumbai

The city of Mumbai, India with a population of 15 million discharges about 2225 MLD of domestic wastewater after partial treatment to adjoining marine water body. Under the Mumbai Sewage Disposal Project Scheme, sewage is being disposed to the west coast at Worli and Bandra through 3.4 kms long submarine outfalls. A field study was conducted at recently commissioned outfall diffuser location at Worli, at the onset of neap flood tide to study the dispersion patterns and measure the far field dilutions using radio and dye tracers. Estimated dilutions using different tracers were compared with outputs from an empirical model (Brooks) and a 2D numerical model (DIVAST). Validation using parameters such as BOD and FC, indicated a good match for BOD in near field compared to FC. The radiotracer ⁸²Br and Rhodamine WT generally gave good correlation with Brooks' and DIVAST models for nearfield, however at further distances predictions were not accurate.     

Bioavailability of Metals in Fly Ash and Their Bioaccumulation in Naturally Occurring Vegetation: A Pilot Scale Study

A pilot scale study was conducted to find out the different forms of metals if fly ash (FA) and bioaccumulation of these metals in the naturally growing vegetation on FA dumps. The total, acid extractable, bioavailable and water soluble fraction of metals of Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Ni, Co and Pb, and their bioaccumulation coefficients (BAC) on naturally growing vegetation were determined. FA samples had a neutral pH, low electrical conductivity, low organic C and trace amounts of N and P. The relative abundance of total metals in FA were found in the order Fe ≤ ≤ Zn ≤ Ni ≤ Co ≤ Cu. The concentration of bioavailable (DTPA) metals depend on the type and nature of coal used in thermal power stations. In the water the extract solution, only Fe and Zn were found above detection limits. After one year only four species of naturally occurring herbaceous vegetation were found growing and Cynodon dactylon (grass) covered almost entire surface of the FA. Iron accumulated to the greatest extent in vegetation followed by Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni and Co. The sequence of BAC for different metals were Fe (202) ≤ Mn (90) ≤ Zn (63) ≤ Pb (49) ≤ Ni (41) ≤ Cu (24). The experimental study revealed that Cynodon grass could be used for remediation of fly ash without any amendments, as this grass species act as metal excluder type.     

Monitoring Of Vehicles Derived Particulates Using Magnetic Properties Of Leaves

Biomonitoring of vehicle-derived particulates is conducted by taking magnetic measurements of roadside tree leaves. Remanent magnetization (IRM_{300 mT}) of more than 400 Delbergia sissoo leaves was determined and IRM_{300 mT} normalized for the leaf area. The normalized 2-D magnetization as shown by results is dominantly controlled by the tree's distance to the road. The spatial and temporal variations of vehicle-derived particulates were mapped using magnetic analysis. 2D-magnetizations values were higher for leaves collected adjacent to major road sections than for those from village road suggesting vehicle emissions, rather than resuspended road dust, as the major cause of magnetic particles of roadside tree leaves. Vehicles derived particulates are responsible for tree leaf magnetism, and the leaf magnetizations values fall significantly from high values proximal to the roadside to lower values at the distal side. This suggests the ability of trees to reduce particulates concentrations in the atmosphere. The rainfall produces a net decrease in the leaf magnetic dust loadings.     

Reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic determination of Baygon in water

Abstract

A simple analytical procedure for determination of Baygon in water is described. The Baygon residues are extracted on a C₁₈ SEP‐PAK cartridge and subsequently analyzed by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography using ultraviolet detection at 272 nm. Water samples spiked with Baygon are found to give greater than 90 percent recoveries.

Concentration levels as low as 20 ppb can be easily detected by this method.     

Biodegradation of endosulfan-contaminated soil in a pilot-scale reactor-bioaugmented with mixed bacterial culture

A novel mixed bacterial culture was enriched from an endosulfan (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10 – hexachloro-1, 5, 5a, 6, 9, 9a-hexahydro-6, 9-methano-2, 3, 4-benzo (e) dioxathiepin-3-oxide) processing industrial surface soil. The cultures were successful in the degradation of aqueous phase endosulfan in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Using the cultures, endosulfan degradation in silty gravel with sand (GM) was examined via pilot scale reactor at an endosulfan concentration of 0.78 ± 0.01 mg g^{? 1} of soil, and optimized moisture content of 40 ± 1%. During operation, vertical spatial variability in endosulfan degradation was observed within the reactor. At the end of 56 days, maximum endosulfan degradation efficiency of 78 ± 0.2% and 86.91 ± 0.2% was observed in the top and bottom portion of the reactor, respectively. Both aerobic and anaerobic conditions were observed within the reactor. However, endosulfan degradation was predominant in anaerobic condition and the total protein concentration in the reactor was declined progressively down the soil depth. Throughout the study, no known intermediate metabolites of endosulfan reported by previous researchers were observed.     

Determination of pesticide residues in IPM and non-IPM samples of mango (Mangifera indica)

Studies were conducted to analyze the residue of commonly used pesticides viz. methyl parathion, chloropyrifos, endosulfan, cypermethrin, fenvalerate, carbendazim, imidacloprid and carbaryl in mango, Dashehari variety, integrated pest management (IPM) and non-IPM samples were collected from the IPM and non-IPM orchards, Lucknow, India. We also present a method for the simultaneous determination of these pesticides in mango samples. Residues of methyl parathion, chloropyriphos, endosulfan, cypermethrin, fenvalerate were extracted from the samples with acetone: cyclohexane: ethyl acetate in the ratio 2:1:1 followed by cleanup using neutral alumina. Analysis was performed by gas chromatography-electron capture detector (GC-ECD) with a megabore column (OV-1). Residues of carbendazim, imidacloprid and carbaryl were extracted with acetone and after cleanup, analysis was performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using photo diode array (PDA) detector. Recoveries of all the pesticides ranged between 72.7 – 110.6%, at 0.1 and 1.0 μg g^{? 1} level of fortification. The residues detected in non-IPM samples of mango were found to be below the prescribed limits of maximum residue limit (MRL) while IPM samples were free from pesticide residues.