Worldwide air pollution is responsible for large numbers of deaths and cases of respiratory disease. There are many substances in the air which may impair the health of plants and animals. Air pollutants arise from both man-made and natural processes. Point sources include major industrial facilities like chemical plants, steel mills, oil refineries, and power plants, and non-industrial stationary equipment like hazardous waste incinerators. A detailed study was conducted in the surroundings of the Chavara industrial area in Kollam district, South India, during the summer and winter seasons of the year 2011, to assess the status of air pollutants (TSPM, RPM, SO 2 , NO 2 and Free Cl 2 ) and the air quality of the industrial zone and its surroundings, which are also residential areas. The results of the study show that the concentrations of gaseous pollutants, SO 2 and NO x were within the national ambient air quality standard limits of Central Pollution Control Board and Ministry of Environment & Forests, India. The study stations in the northern, eastern and southern directions of the industrial area recorded chlorine contamination. The presence of PM 10 and chlorine in the residential area in the vicinity of KMML industrial zone may cause different health problems in the residents, especially in children and aged people. The air quality index in the study stations was assessed, and the results showed that the residential areas surrounding the KMML industrial area have moderate air quality. Some measures are also suggested to improve the air quality in the surroundings of the KMML industrial area.
In the present aquarium study, Oreochromis mossambicus Peters were exposed to two different concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) (4.9 and 6.6 mg/l), and the changes in lipid peroxidation (LP) products and antioxidants in test fishes were determined in time intervals of 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. The results showed that with respect to the H2S concentration and duration of exposure, alterations were observed in the concentration of LP products and antioxidants in the various organs of the test fishes. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased in the liver, gill, kidney, and brain on exposure to H2S up to 48 hours, and then the MDA content showed steady value up to 98 hours experimental period. Brain and kidney of fishes showed the maximum increase in concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH) on H2S treatment. The gradual decrease in concentration of GSH in the tissues of H2 S-exposed fishes after 48 to 96 hours compared with the control shows the loss of adaptive mechanisms and the oxidation of GSH to glutathione disulphide (GSSG). Slight increase in the activity of GSH-S-transferase and decrease in activity of GSH peroxidase demonstrated the incapability of the vital organs in neutralizing the peroxides generated in the oxidative stress condition.
This article includes a review of the literature on marine debris in an Indian context and introduces a replicable, scientific, and inexpensive collection method to build capacity and inform policymakers. We share baseline data resulting from ten cleanups using these methods in India. This method was introduced in a 2019 workshop to train Indian researchers, leading to local-led collections in three states and two Union Territories (8 beaches, 2 riversides) yielding 33,474 individual pieces of debris weighing a total of 599.15 kg. Plastic was the most frequently found material at all ten collection sites, comprising from 45% to 89% of all items found. The research establishes a baseline data collection at ten locations, with debris density at sites ranging from 0.38–3.86 items/m2. Application of the Clean Coast Index yields resulting rankings of moderate (1 site), dirty (2 sites), and extremely dirty (7 sites). Researchers also identified 2461 brands in analysis at six sites, 76% of which were Indian in origin. Replication of the methods in other Indian regions among the community of thirty-three practitioners was below target for collection (41%) and brand audit (8.3%) with 25% of teams sharing data with the community of practitioners and 12.5% sharing results with local policymakers. The analysis indicates debris is overwhelmingly composed of plastic from residential activities. The methods empower practitioners to collect and report on debris, ground-truthing global debris estimates, and illuminating the missing plastic problem.
Soil quality is one of the most important factors in sustaining the global biosphere and developing sustainable agricultural practices. Land use and management practices greatly impact the direction and degree of soil quality changes in time and space. Understanding the effects of land use and management practices on soil quality and its indicators has been identified as one of the most important goals for modern soil science. Soil quality mapping study represents a method for assessing and mapping soil quality changes in time and space in small units. For the present study, changes in the physical, chemical parameters and nematode density of the soils in the rural and urban areas of Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, were determined. The soil samples were collected from seven different categories of contaminated soils namely coastal area, sewage disposal area, industrial area, roadside area, agricultural area, market area and gasoline station area, and also from two control stations in rural and urban areas. The soil physico-chemical parameters and nematode density were determined. Geostatistics combined with GIS was applied to analyze the spatial variability of soil physico-chemical characteristics and nematode density. This soil quality mapping study provides a basis for identifying tension zones and serves as a triggering mechanism for implementation of soil contamination mitigating strategies.
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