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Contaminant
Source Identification Using Dating and Ann Techniques
-- S V N Rao, Bhishm Kumar and
S Manju
Two
approaches involving source identification using dating and
artificial neural network (ANN) are demonstrated within a
conceptual modeling framework. The first approach helps in
reconstructing historical contaminant loading at a given location,
using concepts of dating or age of the contaminant material
moving with groundwater at an observation well. The second
approach using ANN is superior as it helps identifying both
source strength and its explicit location in a finite difference
grid system. Both the cases are demonstrated using synthetic
data by assuming contaminant sources at random locations and
by generating concentration profiles at observation wells
with the help of existing groundwater flow and transport simulators.
©
2008 The Icfai University Press. All Rights Reserved.
Heavy
Metal Concentrations in the Soils and Shrubs Near a Metal
Processing Plant in Peninsular Malaysia --
Chua S Y and Hashim N R
Industrial
areas pose pollution risks because the emissions of heavy
metals from these sources are normally high. This study was
conducted to determine the concentrations of selected heavy
metals (zinc, chromium and copper) in the soils and leaves
of a shrub species, Melastoma malabathricum around
a metal processing plant. Soil samples were taken in three
directions away from the source. After soil digestion using
the aqua regia method, the total concentration of each heavy
metal was determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer
(AAS). Leaf samples were taken from one plant per location
whenever available. Prior to heavy metal determination using
AAS, the foliar samples were prepared using the dry ash method.
Results showed that heavy metal concentrations were lowest
in the northeast direction, where the wind was blowing for
most of the time, but for only a short distance (<600 m)
from the source. It is suggested that inputs from other sources,
e.g., vehicles and agricultural activities also increased
the total heavy metal concentrations in the soils. When compared
to general heavy metal concentrations in soils (Alloway, 1990),
the zinc and copper concentrations in this study were in the
low range (below critical soil total concentration), but chromium
concentrations were varied (low to high range). The results
for foliar heavy metal concentrations showed no clear pattern
between the soil total and plant concentrations for zinc.
For chromium and copper, foliar heavy metal concentrations
were higher than the soil total concentrations for three locations
(5 km northeast, 5 km north and 100 m east). Two locations,
however, showed the opposite patterns. When compared to the
general foliar heavy metal concentrations (Alloway, 1990),
foliar zinc concentrations in the study were below the critical
concentration as did most of the foliar copper concentrations,
but foliar chromium concentrations were higher than the critical
concentrations where toxicity effects might have been likely.
But the sampled M. malabathricum plants did not show
any visible sign of foliar injury. Nonetheless, M. malabathricum
showed a capacity for Cr, Cu and Zn uptake regardless of the
soil total concentrations of these heavy metals. This study
provides important information on the state of heavy metal
pollution in lowland soils and plants of Peninsular Malaysia.
©
2008 The Icfai University Press. All Rights Reserved.
Mercury
Exposure in Coastal Communities of Kedah and Kelantan, Malaysia
-- Tengku Hanidza T I, Tunku Khalkausar
T F, Yasutake A, Sharifuddin M Zain, Hafizan Juahir and Rosta
Harun
A
cross-sectional study of mercury concentration in hair was
conducted in two rural coastal communities of Yan (state of
Kedah) and Bachok (state of Kelantan) from March to May 2006.
For the comparative groups, the urban communities of Alor
Setar (Kedah) and Kota Bharu (Kelantan) were chosen. This
study was carried out in collaboration with the National Institute
for Minamata Disease (NIMD), Minamata, Japan. A total of 201
hair samples were collected from the residents. Samples were
analyzed by the NIMD, using the oxygen combustion-gold amalgamation
method. The geometric means for total mercury in each district
were 1.38 ppm (Yan), 1.20 ppm (Alor Setar), 1.24 ppm (Bachok)
and 1.07 ppm (Kota Bharu). Two persons, each from Alor Setar
and Kota Bharu, had high total mercury (washed sample 223.58
ppm and 803.16 ppm respectively). However, further analysis
for methyl mercury showed that the levels were within 1.36
ppm and 1.91 ppm, respectively. Of the ten exposure parameters
tested, only age (p < 0.001) and fish consumption
(p < 0.01) appeared to have significant effect on
hair mercury levels.
©
2008 The Icfai University Press. All Rights Reserved.
Studies
on Surface Water Quality Evaluation and Soil Nutrient Status
of Bellary Nala Catchment, Belgaum --
B K Purandara and N
Varadarajan
Belgaum
is considered as the second capital of Karnataka. The process
of urbanization here is very fast, bringing more and more
villages into the city arena. However, there are limited facilities
for sewage treatment and recycling. Sewage water from the
city is diverted through Bellary nala which flows through
the major part of the city. In some parts of the city farmers
use this sewage water for agriculture purpose. Sewage water
when used for agriculture, poses the threat of soil and water
contamination in the locality. Some of these (chemicals) contaminants
remain in the root zone, whereas some are transported downward
with water, particularly where more water infiltrates into
the soil than is used by the crop. To understand the impact
of some of these chemicals, it is important to investigate
the processes that control their movement from the soil surface
through the root zone down to the groundwater table. In this
connection, a preliminary investigation was conducted in the
year 1999 and again 2004 to evaluate the water quality parameters
of Bellary nala and the nutrient status of the soil where
sewage water is used for agriculture. The study indicated
that water is highly contaminated in terms of its major constituents
particularly during the summer months. DO - BOD estimation
also indicated that the Bellary nala water needs some treatment
before being used for agriculture purpose. In order to get
preliminary information, groundwater status in the adjoining
areas of the catchment data has been collected and analyzed
which indicated that the impact of sewage water is negligible
except in few patches like Kudchi and Shahpur areas of the
city.
©
2008 The Icfai University Press. All Rights Reserved.
Study
of Hydrological Characteristics and Level of Metals Present
in Four Sites of Sewage Released into Holy River Saryu of
Ayodhya-Faizabad -- Sanjeev
K Srivastava and G C Pandey
The
holy river Saryu has been facing serious pollution problem
as the input of sewage, industrial, agricultural and domestic
wastes are contaminating the river resources. Therefore, it
was envisaged to analyze the hydrological characteristics
and level of metals of holy river at four major sites (A-Kakarahi
Bazar, B-Retia, C-Jamthara Ghat and D-Sahebganj Nalla) of
Ayodhya-Faizabad. A laboratory study was conducted to understand
the hydrological characteristics (pH, Temperature, EC, Free
CO2, TDS, DO, BOD, COD, Total Hardness, Nitrate-N,
Phosphate-P and Sulphate as SO4) and the level
of metals (Cu, Cd, Zn, Fe, Pb, Mn and Cr) of city sewage water
which was released into holy Saryu river through four major
discharging sites. The results revealed that out of the four
sites, site-D was more polluted, as all these parameters were
found to be beyond the permissible limit. Since the municipal
sewage treatment plants are not available, therefore it is
suggested that before releasing the sewage, treatment plants
should be properly made to maintain ecological balance of
the holy river for the growth and survival of the organisms
including human health.
©
2008 The Icfai University Press. All Rights Reserved.
Rainwater
Chemical Characteristics for Climate Change Studies --
Hariprasad P, Valli Manickam and Murali Krishna I V
Rainwater
chemical composition was studied in eight selective mandals
for two years during monsoon season. Rainwater was collected
at mandal head quarters during 2006-2007. The Total Anions/Total
Cations (TA/TC) ratio indicated that the chemical nature of
rainwater was alkaline. Alkalinity may be due to anthropogenic
origin as the area shown high corrections of calcium and magnesium
due to industrialization.
©
2008 The Icfai University Press. All Rights Reserved.
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May'
08