Pollution

Nitrate is a major pollutant of groundwater in semiarid, agricultural dominated areas. An attempt has been made to understand the level, distribution of nitrate in the groundwater in parts of Vellore district, Tamil Nadu. Thirty three groundwater samples were collected and analysed for major physic-chemical as well as nitrate concentration. Nitrate concentration exceeded the permissible limit of 45mg/l in Thirty nine percent of samples. Spatial distribution diagram of Nitrate shows a higher concentration in the southwest and central part of the district. Fertilizer as well as the failure of proper sewage systems is identified as the major cause for nitrate contamination.

Black Carbon (BC) in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in Ashaiman, a semi-urban area of Ghana, were determined in 2008 using IVL PM2.5 and PM10 particle samplers. The aerosols were sampled on Teflon filters for three months, and the particulate mass PM2.5 and PM10 determined by gravimetrical method. Aerosol filters were analyzed to determine BC concentration levels using the black smoke method. PM2.5 mass concentrations determined averaged 23.26µg/m3 (3.85 - 46.43 µg/m3) and that of PM10 was 96.56µg/m3 (37.10 - 293.06 µg/m3). For fine particulates (PM2.5), the contribution of BC have been found to be about 18% of the total mass, while for particulate matter PM10, it has been found to be about 4% , its averaged 2.83µg/m3 (1.67-4.89µg/m3) for PM2.5 and 3.98µg/m3( 1.99-12.44µg/m3) for PM10. The results were compared with some literature values and World Health Organization guideline values. The mean 24-h BC values for the particulate mass varied daily and shows that the semi-urban background during the period, not only involved combustion activities which are largely responsible for the PM2.5 particulate matter but also involved in other man-made or natural activities that resulted in the high value of PM10.

The disposal of industrial waste is becoming hassle all over the world. In recent years, industrial effluents have been regarded as common source of pollution due to lack of technical treatment methods and inappropriate disposal modes generated by industries. Water pollution is a major pollution that affects the environment much and one of main source of this pollution is industrial effluent. Industry waste is a major hazard that affects the drinking water and hence it should be treated effectively before release. In this work we have tried a biological treatment to treat alcohol and chemical effluent since it ecofriendly. The present work is done to analyze the effectiveness of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 1934) against alcohol and chemical industry effluent in its possible biological treatment. Results of the above project work showed the level of turbidity (O.D), pH and Physio-chemical parameters found to decreases from high to moderate or optimum level and resulted water can be used for agricultural purpose.

This research work involves ten representative soil samples from the industrial area of Mysore city, Karnataka, to determine the total heavy metal content and general properties related to fertility of the soil. For digestion of heavy metals tri-acid mixture method was used. The results showed that, the iron content is higher at the range of 2.5gm/kg to 6.03gm/kg in rainy season and 3.3gm/kg to 6.0gm/kg in pre-monsoon season, for copper it ranges from 13.55mg/kg to 20.15mg/kg and 14.5mg/kg to 18.9mg/kg for rainy season and pre-monsoon season respectively. Chromium is also present in the concentration of 6.3mg/kg to 18.3mg/kg in rainy season and 6.9mg/kg to 22.5mg/kg in pre-monsoon season, zinc concentration varies from 61.9mg/kg to 109.4mg/kg and 64.3mg/kg to 112.3mg/kg for rainy season and pre-monsoon season respectively and presence of nickel varied from 9.1mg/kg to 16.05mg/kg in rainy season and 11.4mg/kg to 17.2mg/kg for and pre-monsoon season. From this study, finally we concluded that, the heavy metal concentration is little more in pre-monsoon season than that of rainy season and the heavy metal concentration is in the sequence of Fe>Zn>Cu>Cr>Ni. It reveals that presence of heavy metal has been observed from the different industries with different processes in which the industries have involved so many operations during production of materials and improper disposal of waste materials.

Hazardous-waste management, is defined as the collection, treatment, and disposal of waste material that, when improperly handled, can cause substantial harm to human health and safety or to the environment. Hazardous wastes can take the form of solids, liquids, sludges, or contained gases and they are generated primarily by chemical production, manufacturing, and other industrial activities. Proper management and control can greatly reduce the dangers of hazardous waste. There are many rules for managing hazardous waste and preventing releases into the environment. Even so, a lot can go wrong when we try to contain hazardous waste. Even the most technologically advanced landfills we build will leak someday. Tanks used for storing petroleum products and other chemicals can leak and catch fire; underground storage tanks weaken over time and leak their hazardous contents. Transportation accidents, such as train crashes and overturned trucks, can occur while transporting hazardous substances. There are also cases of intentional and illegal dumping of hazardous waste in sewer systems, abandoned warehouses, or ditches in remote areas to avoid the costs and rules of safe disposal. This paper discusses the importance of hazardous waste management, outlining legal requirements and the need to comply with standards; Environmental concerns surrounding hazardous waste management, characteristics of hazardous waste. The paper reflects on some major sources of hazardous wastes; Routes of transport of hazardous waste to the environment and exposure to humans, Health and Environmental impacts of industrial hazardous waste; Treatment of hazardous waste categorizing the four major methods: the physical including encapsulation, wetting and physical separation, the chemical, the biological including biodegradation, bioremediation (in-situ and ex-situ) and the thermal methods. The paper also provides faith-based reflections on waste and waste management issues and suggests various waste management techniques outlining various activities that can be practiced at the personal, home and institutional level in sustainable waste management. The paper emphasizes that waste and especially hazardous waste is not only a local issue; other countries all over the world have to deal with this challenge in order to achieve sustainable development. Participants are encouraged to take part in world events that address waste issues such as; World Environment Day (June 5th), Earth Day (April 22nd), World Health Day (April 7th), World Standards Day (October 14th), and International Coastal Clean-up Day (September 20th).

This work assessed the heavy metal pollution impacts of vehicular and other human activities on vegetables such as lettuce and cabbage on display for sale along some busy roads in Accra using instrumental neutron activation analysis and atomic absorption spectrometry. The background levels of Ni, Cr, Cd and Pb in lettuce and cabbage harvested from a vegetable farm were determined. The amount of the metals deposited on the vegetables after deliberate exposure along a busy road for three days were also determined. Background levels of elements in the vegetables in mg/kg were, Cr (4.06) > Ni (2.93) for lettuce and Ni (2.59) > Cr (2.32) for cabbage. The levels of Cd and Pb in both exposed and unexposed samples were below the detection limits of the analytical instruments used. The levels of the elements detected increased in both vegetables after deliberate exposure with the third day recording the highest levels. The total amount of elements deposited on the vegetables after exposure for three days in mg/kg were, Ni (1.87) and Cr (1.16) for lettuce and Ni (2.38) and Cr (1.8) for cabbage. Rates of contamination of the vegetables by metals in mg/kg/day were, Ni (0.62) > Cr (0.56) for lettuce and Ni (0.79) > Cr (0.6) for cabbage. The estimated daily intakes of the elements through consumption of the contaminated vegetables were all below the upper tolerable intake levels of the elements and pose no health risk.

Water quality issues are a major challenge that humanity is facing in the twenty-first century. Here, we review the main groups of aquatic contaminants, their effects on human health, and approaches to mitigate pollution of freshwater resources. Emphasis is placed on chemical pollution, particularly on inorganic and organic micro pollutants including toxic metals and metalloids as well as a large variety of synthetic organic chemicals. Some aspects of waterborne diseases and the urgent need for improved sanitation in developing countries are also discussed. The review addresses current scientific advances to cope with the great diversity of pollutants. It is organized along the different temporal and spatial scales of global water pollution. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have affected water systems on a global scale for more than five decades, during that time geogenic pollutants, mining operations, and hazardous waste sites have been the most relevant sources of long-term regional and local water pollution. Agricultural chemicals and wastewater sources exert shorter-term effects on regional to local levels. Pollution control is a term used in environmental management. It means the control of emissions and effluents into air, water or soil. Without pollution control, the waste products from consumption, heating, agriculture, mining, manufacturing, transportation and other human activities, whether they accumulate or disperse, will degrade the environment. In the hierarchy of controls, pollution prevention and waste minimization are more desirable than pollution control.

With increasing population river pollution is becoming very serious day by day. Developing countries do not have much facility for sewage treatment and hence most of the raw sewage falls into the rivers directly. This activity loads pathogens to the river and thus the public health is severely affected. However, rivers like Ganga have bacteriophages which naturally kept the water clean from time immemorial. This nature’s gift can be employed to bring out an eco friendly technique which can disinfect water without any adverse side effects as seen in the case of chemical disinfection. Also, there is a natural check of life and death cycle which controls the phage population and hence makes this biological technique an easily controllable process. Also such natural tools are cheaper comparatively and can be harnessed to keep rivers clean.

Remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil has been a major problem in all over the world and recently use of plants to clean such soils has been on the investigation. In this work, the ability of Brassica juncea to accumulate lead metal as well as its potential application for phytoremediation was assessed. Brassica juncea is an easily cultivated and high-biomass crop which could accumulate high concentrations of lead (Pb) from polluted soil. Lead is an environmental and food chain contaminant because of its potentially deleterious effect on living organisms. This research study was conducted in pot experiment with different concentration of lead treated soils. After 60 days of growing period, plants were harvested and divided into root, stem and leaves. The Pb accumulates in all parts of plants (roots, stems and leaves). It was found that accumulating efficiency increased with the increase in the concentration of applied lead metal solution. The maximum concentration of lead metal was accumulated in the roots than those in the stems and leaves. The research indicates that Brassica juncea is a promising species for the metal tolerance and hyperaccumulation.

The present study was carried out to determine the Physico-chemical variations in coastal Waters of Mandapam, Thoothukudi, and Kanyakumari along the south east coast of India. The sampling of coastal water was carried out during April 2013 to March 2014.The environmental factors viz. temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, inorganic nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, silicate, and chlorophyll -a were analyzed in the coastal waters. The Physico-chemical parameters have showed substantial and spatial variations. Physico-Chemical parameters can determine the species diversity and abundance in the particular area. Nutrient concentrations were higher during monsoon season and low during summer. Knowledge of nutrients relating to their influential sources, utilization levels and their availability will be of great value to assess the output potential of marine ecosystem.