Large-scale green synthesis of Cu nanoparticles

This article reports a novel, eco-friendly herbal method to synthesize Cu nanoparticles in large scales. Cu nanoparticles are an alternative to Ag and Au nanoparticles and have potential applications in many industrial areas. Many synthetic routes have been documented for the preparation of copper nanoparticles, but very few routes are eco-friendly and large-scale. We report here the preparation of Cu nanoparticles from aqueous CuSO₄ using non-toxic and inexpensive materials like curd, milk, and herbal extracts such as tamarind and lemon juice as capping agents. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy show that produced particles are nanocrystalline copper 20–50 nm in size with a face-centered cubic structure. Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy evidences the role of organic acids in the capping process. The novelty of this work is the synthesis of Cu nanoparticles from CuSO₄ without electricity and using non-toxic, cheap capping agents.     

GIS analysis for the marine environmental data off Karnataka coast

Geographic Information System (GIS) is used to develop the Oceanographic Information System (OIS) for marine environmental data off Karnataka coast. Its goal is to provide a set of tools for oceanographic and bathymetry data assessment and products like graphs, query system for the users. The most significant interfaces are the GIS based Map-query and Contour visualization. The interfaces are user-friendly and oriented towards bridging the gap between user's knowledge and the technical knowledge required to operate the software system. The OIS also provides users with other analysis tools like query based reports and graphs. OIS can be used as a powerful tool to synthesize not only all the data off Karnataka coast but for comprehensive interpretation and forecasting of marine environmental ecosystems for any region. This system has been applied to the Karnataka Coastal Environment, India and it is very useful for the clients and policy makers.     

A numerical study of hypothetical storm surge and coastal inundation for AILA cyclone in the Bay of Bengal

The head Bay region bordering the Bay of Bengal is highly vulnerable to tropical cyclones. Catastrophic risks from storm surge and associated inundation are quite high due to high population density in coastal areas, socio-economic conditions, and shallow bathymetry. It features the world’s largest deltaic system comprising of ‘Sunderbans’ bordered by West Bengal and Bangladesh. In a geomorphologic sense, the head Bay region is a low-lying belt comprising several barrier islands and river drainage systems, numerous tidal creeks, and mud flats having a high risk for widespread inundation. In addition, the high tidal range together with low-lying topography leads to high risk and vulnerability from storm surge inundation. During May 2009, a severe cyclonic storm Aila struck West Bengal causing enormous destruction to life and property along coastal belts of West Bengal and Bangladesh. It was the strongest pre-monsoon cyclone in the past two decades that had landfall in West Bengal. This work reports on a numerical study for hypothetical storm surge and associated inundation from Aila using the ADCIRC model. The study covers a comprehensive qualitative analysis on water level elevation and onshore inundation for West Bengal and Bangladesh regions. The estimated peak storm surge was about 4 m in the Sunderban region that propagated into all major riverine systems, inundating the river banks as well the inland areas. Numerical simulations indicate an average inland penetration distance of 350 m with a maximum of 600 m at various coastal locations in West Bengal and Bangladesh. The study emphasizes the need and importance of inundation modeling system required for emergency preparedness and disaster management.     

Performance and validation of a coupled parallel ADCIRC–SWAN model for THANE cyclone in the Bay of Bengal

An accurate prediction of near-shore sea-state is imperative during extreme events such as cyclones required in an operational centre. The mutual interaction between physical processes such as tides, waves and currents determine the physical environment for any coastal region, and hence the need of a parallelized coupled wave and hydrodynamic model. The present study is an application of various state-of-art models such as WRF, WAM, SWAN and ADCIRC used to couple and simulate a severe cyclonic storm Thane that developed in the Bay of Bengal during December 2011. The coupled model (ADCIRC–SWAN) was run in a parallel mode on a flexible unstructured mesh. Thane had its landfall on 30 December, 2011 between Cuddalore and Pondicherry where in-situ observations were available to validate model performance. Comprehensive experiment on the impact of meteorological forcing parameters with two forecasted tracks derived from WRF model, and JTWC best track on the overall performance of coupled model was assessed. Further an extensive validation experiment was performed for significant wave heights and surface currents during Thane event. The significant wave heights measured along satellite tracks by three satellites viz; ENVISAT, JASON-1 and JASON-2, as well in-situ near-shore buoy observation off Pondicherry was used for comparison with model results. In addition, qualitative validation was performed for model computed currents with HF Radar Observation off Cuddalore during Thane event. The importance of WRF atmospheric model during cyclones and its robustness in the coupled model performance is highlighted. This study signifies the importance of coupled parallel ADCIRC–SWAN model for operational needs during extreme events in the North Indian Ocean.     

Win-win opportunities and environmental regulation: testing of porter hypothesis for Indian manufacturing industries

This paper studies the effect of environmental regulation on the productive efficiency of water polluting industries in India. The panel data of 92 firms belonging to sugar industry of India during the period 1996-99 are used to test the Porter hypothesis of having win-win opportunities for the firms subjected to the regulation. The main empirical result is that the technical efficiency of firms increases with the degree of compliance of firms to the environmental regulation and the water conservation efforts there by supporting the Porter hypothesis.     

Assessment of genotoxic effects of lead in occupationally exposed workers

The genotoxicological effects in 200 lead acid storage battery recycling and manufacturing industry workers in Hyderabad along with matched 200 controls were studied. The genetic damage was determined by comet, micronucleus (MN), and chromosomal aberration (CA) test in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). The MN test was also carried out in buccal epithelial cells (BECs). Pb in ambient air, blood Pb (B-Pb) concentrations, and hematological parameters were measured. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA) formed were also studied. The results of the present study showed that there was a statistically significant (P?P?GPx, and CAT levels were significantly decreased while GSH and MDA levels increased in exposed group when compared to control group. The present study suggests that environmental health standards should be enforced to control Pb contamination from battery industries to reduce human health risk.     

Weather integrated malaria prediction system using Bayesian structural time series model for northeast states of India

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Malaria is an endemic disease in India and targeted to eliminate by the year 2030. The present study is aimed at understanding the epidemiological...     

Organizational adoption of sustainable manufacturing practices in India: integrating institutional theory and corporate environmental responsibility

Organizations are increasingly engaging in socially and environmentally sustainable initiatives. This paper focuses on the institutional isomorphism mechanisms to analyse the organizational adoption of sustainable manufacturing practices like eco-design, source reduction, and environmental management practices. This paper empirically examines the role of institutional influence in the organizational adoption of sustainable manufacturing practices among firms in India. The results of this study confirm the significance of the three institutional isomorphism mechanisms in influencing sustainable responses, but not all mechanisms influence the organizational response equally. In particular, the results show a strong influence of self-regulatory normative isomorphism on the implementation.