Enhancing disaster management by mapping disaster proneness and preparedness

The focus of most disaster management programmes is to deploy resources-physical and human-from outside the disaster zone. This activity can produce a delay in disaster mitigation and recovery efforts, and a consequent loss of human lives and economic resources. It may be possible to expedite recovery and prevent loss of life by mapping out disaster proneness and the availability of resources in advance. This study proposes the development of two indices to do so. The Indian census data of 2001 is used to develop a methodology for creating one index on disaster proneness and one on resourcefulness for administrative units (tehsils). Findings reveal that tehsil residents face an elevated risk of disaster and that they are also grossly under-prepared for such events. The proposed indices can be used to map regional service provision facilities and to assist authorities in evaluating immediate, intermediate, and long-term disaster recovery needs and resource requirements.     

Impact of dust storm on phytoplankton bloom over the Arabian Sea: a case study during March 2012

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Dust storms affect the primary productivity of the ocean by providing necessary micronutrients to the surface layer. One such dust storm during March...     

Optimizing removal of ibuprofen from water by magnetic nanocomposite using Box–Behnken design

Purpose  

The present research aims to optimize the removal of ibuprofen (IBP), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic drug from the aqueous solution using a synthesized magnetic carbon–iron nanocomposite, and to investigate the individual and combined effects of the independent process variables.     

Characterization of atmospheric aerosols for organic tarry matter and combustible matter during crop residue burning and non-crop residue burning months in Northwestern region of India

Aerosol (total suspended particulate) samples collected at three diverse locations (urban-commercial, semi-urban and rural-agricultural) in Patiala, India were analyzed for loss on ignition (LOI) and organic tarry matter (OTM) content in ambient air during crop residue burning (CRB) episodes and non-crop residue burning (NCRB) months in 2006–2007. Results showed high levels of LOI and OTM during wheat and rice crop residue-burning periods at all the sites. Higher levels were obtained during rice crop residue-burning period as compared to the wheat residue-burning period. At semi-urban site, LOI varied between 53 ± 36 μg m^?3 and 257 ± 14 μg m^?3 constituting 38–78% (w/w) part of the aerosols whereas levels of OTM varied between 0.98 ± 0.11 μg m^?3 and 7.93 ± 2.76 μg m^?3 comprising 0.42–3.28% (w/w) fraction. At rural-agricultural area site, levels of LOI varied between 86 ± 40 μg m^?3 and 293 ± 70 μg m^?3 comprising 27–84% (w/w), whereas OTM levels varied between 1.31 ± 0.64 μg m^?3 and 10.09 ± 6.56 μg m^?3 constituting 0.83–2.42% (w/w) fraction of the aerosols. At urban-cum-commercial site, levels of LOI and OTM varied between 48 ± 23 μg m^?3 and 281 ± 152 μg m^?3 and 2.53 ± 1.23 μg m^?3 and 17.40 ± 8.50 μg m^?3, constituting 24–62% (w/w) part of the aerosols, respectively. Results also indicated that OTM and LOI were integral parts of aerosols and their concentrations were influenced by the crop residue burning practices with incorporated effect of vehicular activities in Patiala.     

Evaluation of heavy metal contaminants in prepared noodles: source allocation and health risk assessment

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In recent years, special attention has been given to emission research that led to the deposition of toxicants from road traffic. Thus, it is...     

Prediction of focal image for solar parabolic dish concentrator with square facets—an analytical model

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Solar parabolic dish concentrator is one of the high-temperature applications of more than 400 °C for thermal and electrical power...     

Adsorption of malachite green and chrysoidine-Y by Sn-pillared clay

The aim of this research was to pillar the bentonite clay (Bt) with polyhydroxy tin chloride. The synthesized Tin-pillared interlayer clay (Sn-PILC) was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared spectra (FT-IR), Brunauer-Emmer Teller (BET) analysis, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Adsorption capacity of raw-Bt and tin pillared interlayer clay (Sn-PILC) was examined for two dyes, namely, Malachite Green (MG) and Chrysoidine-Y (CY) from their aqueous solutions. The effects of physicochemical parameters like solution pH, dose, and dye concentration were investigated. The maximum adsorption efficiency at equilibrium dye concentration for Sn-PILC was 66.229 mg g^–1 for MG and 63.792 mg g^–1 for CY. Sn-PILC obeyed Langmuir isotherm for both the dyes whereas raw-Bt followed Freundlich isotherm. On the other hand, both adsorbents followed PFO as well as PSO kinetic model, indicating physisorption assisted by chemisorption. Thermodynamic studies were performed to determine the adsorption behavior of Sn-PILC for both the dyes. Regeneration studies revealed 80% efficiency up-to five adsorption-desorption cycles.     

Urban soil quality of Raipur,Chhattisgarh, India

Soil quality in urban areas in India is degraded due to multiple anthropogenic activities. The objectives of this work are to determine the concentration variations, toxicity, and sources of carbons, metals, and ions in the surface soil of Raipur, the industrialized capital city of Chhattisgarh state, India. High concentrations of Al, K, Ca, Ti, Fe, and elemental carbon (EC) were registered. Relatively lower concentrations of V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Ba, Pb, organic carbon (OC), and carbonate carbon (CC), as well as ions (viz. F^–, Cl^–, NO₃^–, SO₄^2–, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺), were also recorded. EC was found to be one of the major pollutants, although enrichment factors pointed to high contamination with SO₄^2–, K⁺, Mg²⁺_, Cr, Mn, and Pb; and extreme contamination with NO₃^– and Ca²⁺. The spatial and temporal variations, enrichment factors, toxicity, and sources of the chemical species detected in the soil are discussed.     

Anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in tropical bioaugmented zero water exchange aquaculture ponds

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Bioaugmented zero water exchange aquaculture production systems (ZWEAPS) maintained with minimal or no water exchange prevent the ammonia accumulation...