Pollution

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.

Heavy metals on fly ash surface has tendency to leach and contaminate the ground water, which will affect the human by entering food chain. Present study has been carried out to assess the ground water contamination in the surrounding villages closer to two thermal power plants in Delhi, India. Ground water samples from different location within the 2 Km radius of both thermal power plants were collected and analyzed for heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni and Pb). This study indicates that the bore well and pond water within the study area is contaminated with higher concentration level of these heavy metals. The concentrations of these selected heavy metals are crossing the prescribed standard of drinking water quality in India. Supernatant of ash ponds contain heavy metals, needs remediation before discharging into the environment.