Pollution

The objective of this note is to present data pertaining to the basic needs and minimal requirements of water for sustenance and survival. In view of the concerns expressed by various agencies and citizen groups on the dwindling water supplies and the lack of access to clean water in many parts of the world, this note may help the reader to put in perspective the quantity of available water resources and the basic per capita water needs and minimal requirements of humans for their survival to carry on their other daily activities. India is taken as a case in point to examine the availability of its water resources for various uses. Other developing countries may make their own inventories of water available for various uses, and how they can meet the daily minimum needs of their people. The questions posed in the epilog section of this note are provided for readers to think seriously as to what can be done to ensure the sustainability of the economic growth of developing countries, and still preserve the quality and quantity of existing water resources.

The present investigation reports the results of monitoring study focusing on groundwater quality of Tiruchengode taluk, Namakkal district during Pre and Post monsoon period of 2012. This has been determined by collecting groundwater from 23 different sampling stations and subjecting the samples to a comprehensive physico chemical analysis. For calculating the WQI, the following 10 parameters have been considered i.e. Temperature, pH, Alkalinity, Dissolved oxygen, TDS, Total Hardness, Calcium, Magnesium, Chloride, Fluoride. The WQI during Pre-monsoon season varied from 135.01 to 382.75, while for Post-monsoon, it was found between 76 and 257. Significantly lower WQI for the Post-monsoon season was observed, indicating deterioration of the groundwater overall in corresponding season. The study revealed that groundwater from only 17.39 % locations was fit for domestic use, thus reveals that the groundwater of the study area needs some degree of treatment before consumption, and regular groundwater quality monitoring should be encouraged as a strategy towards groundwater quality protection and conservation.

Pollution of inland waters by agricultural, industrial and municipal wastes is a global problem and a common phenomenon in developing countries. These anthropogenic activities within the landscape facilitate the transfer of nutrients into aquatic ecosystems, sometimes leading to eutrophication which has adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems. Deposition of nutrient-rich sediments washed into rivers and stream is common during rainy season in places where the riparian buffer zones have been destroyed. River Isiukhu watershed land use comprises sugar-cane farm, forested, peri-urban and mixed agriculture from upstream to downtream. The research employed stratified random sampling. Nitrate-nitrogen was determined through ultra-violet screening spectrophotometric method while phosphate-phosphorus through ascorbic acid method. Data analyses were done using Statistical Analysis System, version 9.1. Land use had a significant effect of both nitrate-nitrogen (F=1372.25, p<0.05) and phosphate-phosphorus concentrations. Peri-urban and mixed agricultural land uses recorded higher concentrations of these two nutrients while the forest land use recorded the lowest. The study showed that the type of riparian land use land cover influences nutrient concentrations in a water body and is an important area to be focused on by watershed managers.

Copper is one of the essential trace nutrients in all high plants and animals. But it can be toxic in high concentration. It has been found that marine life is damaging due to high copper concentration in water. This study investigated that degradation of copper by a group of bacteria isolated from copper polluted areas, Dhapa, Kolkata. Copper resistant bacteria i.e. Stenotrophomonas sp. PD2 was isolated from soil of Dhapa had shown maximum copper resistance upto 200 mg L^-1 Cu(II). The influence of different parameters responsible for the bioremediation of copper by the copper-resistant bacteria, such as initial copper concentration and initial pH, contact time of the solution was studied. From experimental results it was observed that almost 95% copper can be reduced from wastewater using the isolated micro-organism.

A comparative indoor radon measurement by nuclear track detectors was undertaken in both Sakumono and Kassena Nankana area in sandcrete and Adobe houses respectively. In all, about seventy seven (77) detectors (type LR 115) were deployed for a period of three (3) months. The study was undertaken for the purpose of health risk assessments. The average indoor radon concentration in dwellings of Sakumono and its environs varied from 5.29 – 18.6 Bq/m³ but that of the Kassena Nankana Area varied from 35.3 and 244.2 Bq/m³.  About 38% of the Adobe dwellings found in the Kassena Nankana Area had indoor radon concentration values that were above the action level of 150 Bqm³ recommended by the US EPA. The annual effective dose for the whole study varied from 0.15 to 3.05 mSv/y.

This study was carried out to assess the elemental content in the clam (Galatea Paradoxa) and sediment from the lower volta basin in relation to pollution. The concentrations of eighteen elements ( Al, As, Ca, Cd, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Sc, V and Zn) were determined in sediment and whole body tissues of the clam, Galatea paradoxa, by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) without any chemical treatment. From the relatively high levels of metals in the sedimentary habitat of Galatea pardoxa, the detrital sediment was likely to be the main source of analyzed elements to the clams, either directly, or indirectly following desorption. The elements in the detrital sediments of the river had average concentrations ( in µg/g unless otherwise stated), in decreasing order of 2.25±0.21 %(Fe), 1.67±0.04 %(Mn), 0.84±0.29 %(Ca), 0.44±0.07 %(Na), 0.30±0.03 %(K), 0.24±0.04 %(Mg), 0.18±0.01 %(Al), 37.19±5.58(Cr), 36.51±6.22(V), 29.82±4.48(Ni), 12.67±1.35(Cu), 12.27±1.84(Zn), 10.25±2.22(Co), 2.48±0.16(Sc) and 1.16±0.27(As) while Cd and Hg were below detection limit. Enrichment factor (EF) values indicated moderate enrichment for As, Co and Cr. Apart from As, Co and Cr all the other elements were not enriched in the sediment. Based on geoaccumulation index values, the sediment was considered moderately to strongly contaminated with K but moderately contaminated with Mg. The pollution load index value (0.09) indicated that the sediment was generally not contaminated. In the clams, with the exception of Cd, Hg and Ni which were below detection limits, the levels of elements analyzed in decreasing order were; Fe(0.94±0.26 %) > Ca(0.44±0.04 %) > K(0.27±0.04 %) > Mg(0.16±0.03 %) > Cl(0.13±0.02 %) > Na(0.12±0.001 %) > Mn(491.18±7.53 µg/g) > Zn(92.29±13.84 µg/g) > Cu(56.42±11.20 µg/g) > Al(54.93±2.69 µg/g) > As(3.67±0.54 µg/g) > V(2.87±0.52 µg/g) > Cr(1.62±0.25 µg/g) > Sc(0.72±0.16 µg/g. Biosediment accumulation factors (BSAF) show that As, Cu and Zn were bioaccumulated and biomagnified (BSAF > 1.00) in the clams.

Water quality monitoring has been high priority to determine the current conditions of the water system. Water quality indices provide the first hand assessment in a simplified manner on the quality and possible uses for irrigation. Many indices are required for specifying the quality of water for irrigation purposes as a single parameter can be restrictive at times. The intent of this paper was to put forth a quality profile of irrigation water. As a case studied, the water of Jhelum was studied. Samples were collected during the period from October 2016 to April 2017. pH, conductivity, total hardness, nitrite, alkalinity, sodium, magnesium, DO, TDS etc were analyzed. Permeability Index (PI), Kelly’s ratio, Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Magnesium Hazard (MH) was calculated based on the analytical results. It was observed that water quality profile was good and normal for irrigation purposes.

In the present study, herbicide 2,4-D was investigated for its potency to induce oxidative stress and its effects on antioxidant systems in gill and liver tissues of (Xiphophorus hellerii). Animals were exposed to sublethal doses of 2,4-D for 96 hours except for the control group. Protein, malondialdehyde, catalase and acetylcholine esterase enzyme activity (AChE) were determined using spectrophotometric methods. The results show that protein levels were reduced in all experiments when compared to control group. Levels of malondialdehyde were increased in each group. Catalase enzyme activity was significantly decreased in all groups. In addition, an increased AChE activity was observed.

In the present investigation suggests that screening of heavy metal degradation by microfungi. Some of the microfungi were isolated from heavy metal contaminated soil samples. The percentage degradation was high in Trichoderma viride followed by Aspergillus awamori, A.fumigatus, A.niger, Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium sp, P.citrinum, Fusarium sp, F.solani and Trichoderma harzianum were screening. The specific heavy metal such as magnesium sulphate, zinc sulphate, copper sulphate and lead acetate with different concentration of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mg/l was treated with PD broth. Among the four heavy metal degradation process with the maximum percentage of magnesium sulphate heavy metal degraded by potential microfungi. However less concentration of heavy metal was maximum percentage of degradation when compared with high concentration because molecular oxidation and reduction process was very easy. The potential microfungi T.viride was excellent degradation not only the low concentration but also high concentration of heavy metal due to the that native isolates of microfungi.

The study investigated the impact of landfill leachate on groundwater quality for communities surrounding the landfill site at Abloradjei in the Greater Accra of Ghana. Four (4) boreholes at various distances, R1-50m, R2-100m, R3-250m and R4-400m, away from the position of the Abloradjei landfill site were monitored for three months. The results from the physicochemical water quality monitoring parameters of the boreholes from the various distances: R1-(17NTU), R2-(8NTU), R3-(42NTU) and R4-(12NTU) and pH at R1-6.44, R2-6.10, R3-6.33 and R4-6.78 fell outside the specified WHO (2004) Standard Guideline limit of drinking water. The results of bacteriological analysis of the water samples: R1-(3276 Cfu/100ml), R2-(884Cfu/100ml) and R3-(676Cfu/100ml), R4-(1404Cfu/100ml) also showed an inference of growth indicating some sort of possible contamination and hence the water was not safe for drinking.