Perchlorate contamination was investigated in groundwater and surface water from Sivakasi and Madurai in the Tamil Nadu State of South India. Sensitive determination of perchlorate (LOQ = 0.005 μg/L) was achieved by large-volume (500 μL) injection ion chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Concentrations of perchlorate were <0.005-7,690 μg/L in groundwater (n = 60), <0.005-30.2 μg/L in surface water (n = 11), and 0.063-0.393 μg/L in tap water (n = 3). Levels in groundwater were significantly higher in the fireworks factory area than in the other locations, indicating that the fireworks and safety match industries are principal sources of perchlorate pollution. This is the first study that reports the contamination status of perchlorate in this area and reveals firework manufacture to be the pollution source. Since perchlorate levels in 17 out of 57 groundwater samples from Sivakasi, and none from Madurai, exceeded the drinking water guideline level proposed by USEPA (15 μg/L), further investigation on human health is warranted.
Agricultural, industrial, and urban water use in the conterminous United States (CONUS) is highly dependent on groundwater that is largely drawn from nonsurficial wells (>30 m). We use a Demand‐Sensitive Drought Index to examine the impacts of agricultural water needs, driven by low precipitation, high agricultural water demand, or a combination of both, on the temporal variability of depth to groundwater across the CONUS. We characterize the relationship between changes in groundwater levels, agricultural water deficits relative to precipitation during the growing season, and winter precipitation. We find that declines in groundwater levels in the High Plains aquifer and around the Mississippi River Valley are driven by groundwater withdrawals used to supplement agricultural water demands. Reductions in agricultural water demands for crops do not, however, lead to immediate recovery of groundwater levels due to the demand for groundwater in other sectors in regions such as Utah, Maryland, and Texas.
Studies were carried out to investigate the reasons underlying farmers' motivation to conserve mango diversity particularly of indigenous varieties. At four project sites, viz., Chittoor, Malihabad, Pusa and Sirsi, 48 custodian farmers were identified. The results of the analysis indicated that it is not only the economic factors (market value, 79%), but also other factors such as personal (63%), social (52%), cultural/religious (14%), natural (48%) factors and biological traits (52%) which motivate farmers to conserve specific varieties while maintaining mango diversity. Further, while all the custodians maintained the diversity, some others (34%) also promoted and adapted the diversity. For promotion of mango diversity conservation, value addition to diversity and linking mango diversity to markets through diversity fairs, stakeholders' meeting, and roadside stalls will have to be given priority. National policy support in the form of establishing a network of custodian farmers and skill up gradation (grafting, management of genetic resources) and registration of farmers' varieties will go a long way in ensuring conservation of mango diversity on sustainable basis.
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