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Heavy Metal Pollution of Soil and Crops in Rural Gujarat, Next to an Industrial Area: A Correlation Study Full text
2023
Salauddin, A. | Sandesh, C.
Heavy metal contamination is one of the significant concerns of environmental pollution. The present study was conducted to find out the correlation between soil and crop/food matrices grown at the exact location for Al, As, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, Na, P, Zn, and Pb elements near the industrial areas of Narol, Changodar, Vatva, Makarpura, Nandesari, and Ankleshwar in Gujarat, India. Soil samples were collected from 64 sampling sites in an industrial area. Twenty of these sites contained crop/food matrices used for the correlation study. The ranges of concentration of Cr (17-74.4 mg.kg-1), Cu (9.6-82.4 mg.kg-1), Ni (10.6-55.9 mg.kg-1), Pb (4.5- 20.7 mg.kg-1), Zn (21.5-112.4 mg.kg-1), and Al (7075-44557.5 mg.kg-1) for Soil and for crop Cr (0.3-0.6 mg.kg-1), Cu (0.3-8.6 mg.kg-1), Zn (1.1-43.5 mg.kg-1), Fe (12.6-69.4 mg.kg-1), and Al (5.8-102.2 mg.kg-1). According to the study, there is a strong correlation between the soil and crop/food matrices at the different locations, like 0.97 for Fe and Ni, 0.94 for Mg, 0.95 for Mn, and 0.55 for Pb and Zn, and very little correlation between K, P, and Ca, while a negative correlation between Al, Cr, Cu, and Na. The DTPA extractable method was used for the elemental analysis, and analysis was done using the ICP-OES instrument following microwave-assisted digestion. The results show that metal contamination transforms from soil to crop/food matrices, which represents a serious concern and requires action to address the metal contamination by industrialization.
Show more [+] Less [-]Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) Analysis Indicating Increased Microbial Diversity in Landfill Area Near Conserved Wetland Full text
2023
Chakraborty, M. B. | Patgiri, S. R. | Rahman, A. S. | Dasgupta, A. | Pegu, G.
The ecological balance of an ecosystem has a relation to its biodiversity. Although it has been established that biodiversity and ecological stability are related, generalization about the exact nature of this relation remains elusive and more so in microbial diversity. A growing volume of studies has indicated that anthropogenic activities impact biodiversity, but it is difficult to generalize the impact of anthropogenic activities on microbial diversity. Landfilling by municipal solid waste is one such activity where microbes play a major role, and leachates are released from the landfill, altering the soil’s physical and chemical nature. Change in factors like carbon source, pH, and toxicity of the soil is most likely to affect the indigenous microflora of the soil. The present study was undertaken to compare the microbial diversity of soil receiving landfill leachate with that of the soil not receiving any landfill leachate to assess the impact of the landfilling activity on microbial diversity. The landfill site selected for the study was that of Kamrup Metro District of Assam, located at Boragaon, near the Ramsar wetland called Deeporbeel. By using the Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) method, it has been found that the microbial diversity of the soil receiving leachate was higher than that of the soil not receiving any leachate from the landfill.
Show more [+] Less [-]A Review of Research on Materials for the Separation of Oil/water Mixtures Full text
2023
Meng, Xu | Song, Chengzhi | Yan, Junfeng | Dong, Yanyan | Hou, Aiqin | Xie, Kongliang | Liang, Liping
Water pollution caused by oil spills at sea and industrial and daily wastewater discharges are causing serious damage to the ecological environment, not only in terms of economic losses but also in terms of human health and survival, a problem that needs to be addressed urgently. Oil/water separation is a global challenge, and while these problems are frequent, various oil/water separation strategies have been extensively investigated in recent years. The efficiency of the materials prepared is a key factor, as are the environmental friendliness and low cost of the methods and raw materials used in the experiments. This work reviews methods and materials applied in oil/water separation in recent years, including natural textile materials, metal meshes, synthetic membranes, particulate adsorbent materials, foams, sponges, aerogels, smart controllable special wettable separation materials.
Show more [+] Less [-]Measurement of Black Carbon Absorption Coefficients Using an Aethalometer and Their Association with Visibility Full text
2023
Hamasha, Khadeejeh M.
Black carbon (BC) is a pollutant aerosol affecting climate and human health. Light absorption coefficients of black carbon (Babs) were measured using an aethalometer model AE33 at wavelengths 370, 470,520,660,880, and 950 nm. Babs for the seven wavelengths at seven sites in Jordan fluctuated with time and peaked at rush hours. The daily average values for all sites were inversely proportional to the wavelength. The average daily visibility values in the seven Jordan sites varied between 72 km and 211km. In the Irbid site, the daily average visibility values for 7-13 Nov. 2021 varied between 43 km and 107 km. BC varied from hour to hour and from day to day. The daily average values of BC in Irbid for the period of 7 -13 Nov. 2021 varied between 2.24 μg.m-3 and 4.66 μg.m-3. BC peaked at the rush hour and had the lowest values on Friday. About 90% of the measured BC was from fossil fuel sources and 10% from biomass-burning sources.
Show more [+] Less [-]Determination of the Dynamics of Thunderstorms Through the Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate and Environmental Lapse Rate Full text
2023
Hashim, Shiemaa A. | Kadhum, Jasim H. | Abbood, Zainab M. | Al-Taai, Osama T. | Nassif, Wedyan G.
This research aims to determine the types of thunderstorms formed in the thickness of the cloud (determine the Dry adiabatic lapse rate (DALR) and Environmental lapse rate (ELR)) in the case of precipitation during the day. Data were taken by Temperature, Dew point, Atmospheric Pressure, and Height from re-analysis by the (ECMWF) for the heights (0-18000) m, the levels of pressure (1000-100) mbar, low cloud cover data, and the characteristic days ((18, 24, 27) February, 28 April, and 25 November) of the year 2018 for Baghdad station were chosen to obtain the largest possible number of clouds and their diversity to use them in calculating the cloud cover and weather stability in terms of calculating the daily change, temperature, dew point in addition to calculating the low cloud cover with altitude and atmospheric instability. The Sigma Plot program was used in this research to determine the base of clouds and thunderstorms. The change in temperature, Dew point, clouds base, and altitude was determined, then the cloud thickness, types, and classification were calculated. The clouds found are strong thunderstorm clouds characterized by thickness and height, such as the clouds of Nimbostratus (Ns) and Cumulonimbus (Cb).
Show more [+] Less [-]Plant Growth Promoting Efficacy of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from the Terrestrial Plants of North India Full text
2023
Patyal, Urvasha | Kumar, Vikas | Singh, Manoj | Singh, Kulbir
Enhanced crop health, which is crucial for sustainable agriculture, is facilitated by a unique endophyte or endophytic community that is frequently linked to a variety of crops. Plant growth-promoting (PGP) characteristics of endophytes can directly or indirectly boost crop growth. Endophytic fungi have been proven to create a high percentage of new compounds, making them a particularly potential source of physiologically active chemicals. In this study, we have isolated two endophytic isolates, i.e., Paecilomyces sp. (Isolate AT1) and Aspergillus flavus (Isolate AT3), from different host plants, namely Melaleuca citrine and Carica papaya. These endophytes have shown significant plant growth-promoting potential toward different assays such as IAA production, phosphate solubilization, amylase production, cellulose-degrading assay, and ammonia production. These endophytic fungi also exhibit visible antimicrobial action towards selected crop pathogenic fungi (Aspergillus sp. and Penicillium sp.). Additionally, these fungal strains are reported for the first time from these plants, as we have found no reports in the literature. The research aims to explore the growth-promoting efficacy of endophytic fungi to boost plant growth.
Show more [+] Less [-]Assessment of Noise Pollution and Health Impacts of the Exposed Population in an Urban Area of Chhattisgarh, India Full text
2023
Kumar, Vishal | Ahirwar, Ajay Vikram | Prasad, A. D.
The present study aimed to evaluate the possible impact of noise pollution. This study was conducted in Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh state, India, to analyze the relationship between noise pollution and health complaints. A total of 18 locations were selected for monitoring noise pollution levels in the morning (9:00-10:30 AM) and evening (7:00-8:30 PM). Noise maps were prepared for both the time interval, and it was found that the highest equivalent noise level (Leq)of 81.31 dBA was observed at location L3 whereas the lowest Leq of 63.25 dBA was observed at L16 in the morning and in the evening 77.33 dBA at L3 and 60.14 dBA at L16 were observed. A questionnaire survey was performed on the population (n = 400) exposed to noise and analyzed through a variance-based partial least square (PLS) structural equation model (SEM). From the survey, it was found that most of the respondents are exposed to higher noise levels and are facing health issues of “pain in the ear,” “rise in blood pressure,” “loss of sleep,” “whistling and buzzing” in their ear, “headache,” “heaviness” and “efficiency problem.” A total of 109 hypotheses were proposed and analyzed through bootstrapping with a subsample size of 5000 in SmartPLS software. 18 hypotheses were found to be significant in the proposed model. SEM analysis revealed an interrelation between noise pollution and health effects. It is recommended that strict regulation in nearby sensitive areas must be imposed and an awareness drive on a large scale shall be conducted to enlighten the city’s population regarding noise effects as well as various measures for controlling.
Show more [+] Less [-]Radiation Tolerant Life Forms and Methods Used to Remediate Radioactive Wastes from Soil Full text
2023
Verma, Richa | Shrivastava, Anamika
The expanding nuclear industry has led to increasing radioactive waste in the environment. Exposure to these wastes causes considerable irreversible damage to the organisms, some of them being even lethal. Conventional methods like incineration, wet oxidation, and acid digestion have been used for radwaste treatment to control this. Apart from them, other organic methods like bioremediation are being widely applied by scientists. Many bacteria, fungi, algae, and plants are observed to possess remediating properties. Hence, these are now used on a large scale to treat the radioactive matter as quickly and effectively as possible. Techniques like bioaccumulation, enzymatic reduction, bioprecipitation, or phytoremediation methods such as phytoextraction and phytostabilization involving such organisms with remedial abilities have successfully removed the radioactive matter to an extent from the contaminated site. Further research is needed to increase the efficiency of the techniques and help remove radionuclides in an environment-friendly manner.
Show more [+] Less [-]Effect of Elevated Ozone on Soybean (Glycine max L.) Cultivar: Role of Orange Juice and Synthetic Ascorbic Acid Full text
2023
Chaudhary, Indra Jeet | Nigam, Bhavna | Rathore, Dheeraj
Ozone is a hazardous gas for the environment and negatively affects plant and human health. These days, phytoextracts are commonly used as a source of bioactive compounds for reducing the detrimental environmental effects on plants. In the presented study, soybean cultivar JS-335 was used to assess the protective role of synthetic ascorbic acid (SAA) and orange juice (25% orange juice, enriched ascorbic acid) under ozone stress conditions. The results showed that under ozone stress, soybean cultivar JS-335 reduced growth and biomass and negatively affected the biochemical properties of plants due to these changes, finally causing yield losses. Foliar-applied OJ >and SAA improved plant growth and development and increased crop yield. It was discovered that a 25% OJ coupled with ascorbic acid and other essential nutrients and biomolecules was almost as effective as a 100 ppm SAA in reducing the harmful effects of ozone stress on soybean plants. As a result, it was determined that OJ, a less expensive source of ascorbic acid, can improve ozone resistance in plants in ozone-prone areas.
Show more [+] Less [-]Spatial Model of Post-Earthquake Spring Performance in the Watershed Areas Full text
2023
Akhbar, Akhbar | Naharuddin, Naharuddin | Malik, Adam | Akhbar, Rahmat Kurniadi | Massiri, Sudirman Daeng
The 7.4 Mw of tectonic earthquake caused liquefaction in Pasigala on September 28, 2018, happened due to the fault movement of Palu-Koro. It affected the water availability every spring. The research aim is to determine the spatial model of water production every spring after the natural tectonic disaster, especially in Palu and Poboya watersheds-a model built based on the integration between the spatial data overlaying and the statistical regression correlation. The sites are purposively selected at six springs spots and divided into four clusters (Poboya, Uemanje, Ranjuri Beka, Mantikole). The model assessment was generated based on the springs’ performance from x variables (catchment area, land cover, aquifer, free-ground water depth, fault, number of springs users) and the y variable (water discharge). The result shows that Poboya’s performance is bad-disturbed, while Uemanje, Ranjuri, Beka, and the performance of Mantikole are disturbed. The bad performance of springs requires conserving watershed areas through forest and land conservation, tree enrichment planting, wise land management, and good water use.
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