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The present study highlights the occurrence and the temporal variations of physicochemical properties, and heavy metals in the sludge from sewage treatment plants (STPs) located in industrial (two sites) and non-industrial (one site) cities of Haryana, India. The sludge was acidic (5.59) to neutral (7.21) with a mean EC of 7.4 dS m−1. Prominent heavy metals present in the sewage sludge from industrial sites were Cd, Ni, and Cr with maximum values of 2.83, 1449.0, and 3918.5 mg kg−1, respectively. The contamination and enrichment factor better explained the buildup of Ni, Cr, and Cu in the sewage sludge from industrial sites. The pH, total carbon, phosphorus, and other water–soluble anions, viz. SO42−, Cl−, HCO3−, and PO43−, were the most important attributes of sludge controlling the binding and removal of the metals with particulate matters during the phase separation in STPs. These attributes explained about 90% of the variation in Cd, Ni, Cr, Cu, Mn, and Zn content of the sludge from different STPs. Sludge from the non-industrial site had a low potential ecological risk index of 74.0 compared to a very high-risk index of 2186.5 associated with the industrial sites. This study concludes that besides the concentration of the heavy metals, the enrichment factor coupled with geo-accumulation or ecological risk index can effectively categorize the sludge. However, these indices need to be linked with bioaccumulation, bioaccessibility, and biomass quality under different agroecologies for guiding the safer use of sewage sludge in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we have assessed the concentrations of black carbon (BC) measured using Aethalometer during different cooking periods in five different types of kitchens and different fuels in the tribal villages of east India. The BC mass concentrations were 397.24 ± 129.28, 403.49 ± 204.02, 463.45 ± 196.83, 458.77 ± 181.81 and 445.43 ± 193.67 µgm−3 for the indoor built kitchen (K1), indoor built kitchen but stoves situated in living area (K2), outside built kitchen (K3), semi-open kitchen (K4), and open cooking (K5), respectively. It is noted that the kitchen structure also significantly influences the accumulation of BC particles. During the whole study period, the maximum and minimum BC concentrations were 996.75 µg m−3 and 58.23 µg m−3, respectively. Maximum BC concentrations of 472.84 μgm−3 and minimum concentration of BC 402.11 μgm−3 were found on use of cow dung with paddy residue and wood as fuel, respectively. The result shows that the paddy residue emitted highest BC pollutants as compared to other fuel categories. We also studied the ambient BC concentration exposure for women living in villages. Despite no connection between study area and from industrial site, we observed a more tremendous amount of BC concentration. It shows that solid biomass fuel is responsible for increasing the concentrations level of BC in the atmosphere. The health risks were higher in K3 and K4 types of kitchens than in other types of kitchens. Our results indicate a requirement for a comprehensive study to thoroughly investigate the impact of household BC pollutants on the health risk assessments in the villages of east India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study comprehensively reports the simultaneous measurement of wet deposition of total inorganic nitrogen (TIN; which is the sum of the NH4+-N and NO3−-N) at three different sites in Nr emission hotspot of Indo-Gangetic plain (IGP) over a year-long temporal scale from October 2017 to September 2018. At rural Meetli (MTL) site, urban Baraut (BRT) site and industrial Loni (LNI) site, the annual wet deposition of NH4+-N was estimated as 21.87, 19.48 and 7.43 kg N ha−1 yr−1, respectively; the annual wet deposition NO3−-N was estimated as 12.96, 12.17 and 4.44 kg N ha−1 yr−1, respectively; and the annual wet deposition of TIN was estimated as 34.83, 31.64 and 11.87 kg N ha−1 yr−1, respectively. NH4+-N was dominantly contributing species in annual, monsoon and non-monsoon-time wet deposition of TIN at all sites. The spatial gradient (variability) in percent contribution of NH4+ to total annual volume-weighted mean (VWM) concentration of all analyte ions was observed as MTL (43.23%) > BRT (37.90%) > LNI (30%). On the other hand, the spatial gradient in percent contribution of NO3− to total annual VWM concentration of all analyte ions was observed as MTL (7.45%) > BRT (6.89%) > LNI (5.32%). The extremely narrow range of NH4+-N/NO3−-N ratios (ranging from 1.60 at BRT site to 1.69 at LNI site) showed the approximately equal relative abundance of oxidized and reduced nitrogen (N) deposition across all sites. Inferences from enrichment factor analysis, principal component analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis suggested that across all sites, virtually all NH4+-N and NO3−-N depositions were originated anthropogenically. The annual wet deposition of TIN measured in this study showed ≥ 6865%, ≥ 6228% and ≥ 2274% increment than the natural N deposition rate at MTL, BRT and LNI site, respectively. These empirically measured annual wet depositions of TIN also emanated theoretical transgression of critical N load threshold across all sites therefore signifying probable undermining of long-term elastic stability and resilience of ecosystems against stressor in the study domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hindon River is a major freshwater resource predominantly for the rural population of the western region in Uttar Pradesh, India. The river receives industrial wastewaters having heavy metals concentration at potentially toxic levels. The focus of this study is to estimate the heavy metals (such as Fe, Cu, Zn and Cr) contamination in the Hindon River using Nemerow pollution index followed by environmetrics to identify their pollution source. The water samples are collected from 28 industrial discharge sites in the river to analyze metals concentration during pre- and post-monsoon months. The estimated Nemerow pollution index value is more than 3 indicating severely contaminated river water. Principal component analysis results confirm that Fe and Cu are the major contaminants in the river, which indicates the direct input of wastewater from electroplating industries. Therefore, it is suggested that a strategic eco-conservation plan should be formulated and implemented in advance to prevent the deterioration of the water quality and aquatic life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a textbook horror-story of global capitalism, on December 3, 1984, the U.S owned Union Carbide pesticide factory spewed forty tons of lethal toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) on the city of Bhopal in India. Nearly 10,000 people died and 30,000 people were disabled overnight. Continued exposure to MIC at the factory site has disabled many more in the decades since. Yet, few disability scholars have considered the histories of the survivors of the leak as a key site of crip politics. Drawing on work by Nirmala Erevelles, Jina Kim, Jasbir Puar, and Alison Kafer, this paper explores how the long history of debilitation, disablement, and survivorship since the Bhopal Gas Leak provides essential ground for re-zoning disability studies in the Global South. Braiding the theory of debility with the methodology of critical disability studies, this article posits that it is insufficient to say that the most marginalized in the Global South experience debility. Rather, it is also necessary to focus on their modes of survival in the face of the constant material and intellectual reproduction of said debilitation. The article demonstrates how poor lower-caste and Muslim workers and city-dwellers in Bhopal were subject to the debilitating logics of transnational corporate negotiations, racialized environmental de-regulation, and governmental profit-seeking in the years leading up to the leak. Through crip readings of medical research published between 1985 and 2000, I argue that this debility has been compounded through knowledge production which did not pay heed to the ways in which its victims contended with their vulnerability. In contrast to these sources, this article further examines testimonies and organizational pamphlets to contend that survivors in Bhopal offer their own model of disability justice and crip survival in the face of debilitation. In an era of vibrant disability rights organizing in the United States, the survivors of the leak emerged in global media primarily as victims of a tragedy caught in an endless cycle of injustice. Moving past the stance of pity often deployed in discussions of Bhopal, I highlight efforts of survivance that center disabled futurity, even as these activists use a different vocabulary and thereby strive to channel attention and resources to the myriad forms of crip survival in postcolonial India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation has been carried out in the copper mineralized region of Jharkhand, India. Apart from the natural deposit of copper minerals, which is found along with uranium in this region, different industrial sites of copper were accounted for, in the study. The integrated radon measurement technique has been used with dosimeter deployment interval of 90 days. The indoor 222Rn activity concentration varied at different locations from 58.4 to 100.7 Bq m - 3 with an average of 79.8 ± 14.5 Bq m - 3 . In the outdoor environment, annual average 222Rn activity concentration varies from 36.5 to 75.8 Bq m - 3 with an average of 57.9 ± 14.0 Bq m - 3 . The corresponding annual inhalation dose due to indoor and outdoor 222Rn activity concentration to the inhabitants of the region has been worked out as 1.95 mSv year - 1 to 3.28 mSv year - 1 respectively with a mean of 2.60 ± 0.38 mSv year - 1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the urban heat island (UHI) studies are carried out in densely populated cities but core industrial areas are also potential sites of heat island effect despite having a comparatively lower population. In the present study, heat island assessment has been carried out for Angul-Talcher industrial area (ATIA) which is one of the oldest industrial areas of India and is still undergoing a transformation to accommodate more industries and mining operations. As the major contributors towards influencing local meteorology were expected to be industrial (and mining) activities, the heat island was studied as "industrial heat island" (IHI) rather than urban heat island. Industrial and mining sites were the most frequent nighttime canopy-layer heat island intensity (HIN) hotspots due to anthropogenic heat of associated industrial processes as well as built structures. During the daytime, croplands experienced the most frequent canopy-layer HIN hotspots which could be attributed to low moisture of the soils during the non-farming period of the field campaign. Hourly maximum atmospheric heat island intensities were observed in the range of 7–9 °C. Monthly maximum HINs ranged from 2.97 to 4.04 °C while 3-month mean HINs varied from 1.45 to 2.74 °C. Amongst different land use/land cover classes, the highest mean canopy-layer heat island intensity for the entire 3-month-long duration of field campaign during nighttime was assessed at the mining sites (3-month mean 2.74 °C) followed in decreasing order by the industrial sites (2.52 °C), rural and urban settlements (2.13 °C), and croplands (2.06 °C). Corresponding daytime canopy-layer heat island intensity was highest for the croplands (2.07 °C) followed in decreasing order by the mining sites (1.70 °C), rural and urban settlements (1.68 °C), and industry (1.45 °C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study estimates the cancer and non-cancer health risk among the roadside vendors in Delhi, the capital city of India. Air samples of selected NMHCs and their derivatives were collected from four different sites (one traffic intersection, one industrial, and two residential) in Delhi and were analyzed on Gas Chromatograph (GC) to obtain their atmospheric concentrations. At each site, a survey among the roadside vendors was also conducted to obtain information about their bodyweight and exposure to outdoor ambient air. The study reveals that hazard quotient of 1,3-butadiene is greater than one at all the sites, with its maximum value occurring at the industrial site. The major contributors to the workplace cancer risk (WCR) are found to be 1,3-butadiene and chloroform. The overall WCR is observed to be the highest (9.4 × 10−4) at the traffic intersection site, followed by the industrial site (7.0 × 10−4). Cancer incidence data and the population data are also used to estimate the growth of cancer risk in Delhi from 2009 to 2016. Comparison of the WCR values of the four sites with the cancer risk estimated from the cancer incidence data shows that NMHCs and their derivatives are significant contributors to the overall cancer risk in Delhi. Our results suggest that NMHCs and their derivatives need to be given due consideration in the National Cancer Control Programme of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric PM2.5 pollution, has shown potential impact on the human health in general, thus it requires to look into the chemical characteristics of PM2.5 masses for designing effective policies to reduce health risks amongst public under exposure. The study carried out, here, has presented the ambient PM2.5 concentrations, concentrations of chemical components and associated health risks over rural and urban environments in the area of mineral based coal-fired industrial areas of central India for a period of one year (2015-16). Overall 260 PM2.5 samples, collected from rural, urban and industrial sites, were analyzed for various elements Al, As, Ca, Hg, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, K, Cd, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Sb, Na, Mg, K, V and Zn, ions such as Na+, Mg2+, K+, Ca2+, F-, Cl-, NH4 +, NO3 -, SO4 2- and carbonaceous matter. The annual average PM2.5 mass concentrations were found to be ~2 to ~6 folds higher than the annual National Ambient Air Quality standard (40 µg m-3). Further this study also evaluates, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks associated with ambient PM2.5 exposures (via ingestion, inhalation and dermal). The elemental species that have shown non-carcinogenic risks for both children and adults of all three sites are: Co, Mn, Ni (rural), As, Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni, V (urban and industrial sites). Similarly, the excess carcinogenic risks, in total, from Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb was found to be higher than acceptable limits (10-6 to 10-4). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is based on the industrial sites of the Indian corporates and is an endeavour to address on the possibilities, approach and vision of how an ambitious Indian corporate safety movement namely Bharat Bane Surkshit (BBS) is achievable, through an understanding of a variety of key aspects such as positive outcomes of BBS implementation, Key persons behind companies who implemented BBS, BBS Projects Rating, quality of observations and spot-correction of at-risk behaviours, criteria for selection of BBS observers, dependent safety culture as a huge risk in corporate safety management. Other aspects included are the BBS organizational procedure to behaviouralize ISO 45001, focusing on the margins of implementation of BBS to optimize it, BBS content design for HODs. adopting site BBS Policy. recommendations of the 4th BBS national conference of the Forum of Behavioural Safety, 2020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on the prevention of losses of life and business, this article is based on the industrial sites of Indian cooperates, and is an endeavour to address on the possibilities, approach and vision of how an ambitious corporate safety movement namely Bharat Bane Surkshit (BBS) is achievable, through an understanding of a variety of key aspects such as positive outcomes of BBS implementation and key persons in companies who implemented it, BBS culture rating, quality of observations and spot-correction of at-risk behaviours, criteria for selection of BBS observers, dependent safety culture as a risk in safety approach. Other aspects included are the BBS organizational procedure to behaviouralize ISO 45001, focusing on the margins of BBS implementation to optimize it, BBS content design for HODs. adopting site BBS policy, and there commendations of the 4th BBS national conference of the Forum of Behavioural Safety, 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endogeic earthworm Metaphire posthuma (Valliant, 1868) is a common biological component of the tropical soil of India and other countries. The species is reported to influence fertility and porosity of soil and bear a high composting potential. Intensive agricultural, industrial, and mining activities increase the amount of toxic metals in soil causing physiological adversity in earthworm and other biotic components in soil. Coelomocytes, the chief immunoeffector cells of earthworm, perform diverse physiological functions under the challenge of toxins and pathogens. The experimental earthworms collected separately from soils with agricultural and tannery activities were subjected to quantitation of prooxidation and antioxidation parameters for estimation of oxidative stress. Total count, cellular aggregation, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide anion, nitric oxide, activities of phenoloxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione-s-transferase, and amount of total protein were estimated in the coelomocytes of M. posthuma as experimental end points of toxicity screening. Concentrations of cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury were determined in the soil samples to assess the degree of toxic contamination. The increase in the amount of prooxidants and decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes indicated the signs of oxidative stress in the coelomocytes of the organism. Aggregation of circulating coelomocytes is considered as an immune response involved in pathogen encapsulation response as reported in many invertebrates. Decrease in coelomocyte aggregation in earthworm collected from contaminated sites suggested a state of inappropriate shift of the innate immune status. Toxin-induced oxidative stress and reductions in cell aggregation response are the signs of immunocompromisation of M. posthuma. Present findings bear a prospect of this experimental species as an indicator of soil pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development-oriented anthropogenic activities have led to intensive increase in emission of various organic pollutants, which contribute considerably to human health risk. In the present study, chemical, physical and spectral characterisation of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), collected at Faridabad city, in northern India, were examined. Seasonal variation of organic compounds [n-alkanes, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phthalic acid esters (PAEs)], and potential health risk of Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure using toxic equivalency potential (TEQ) approach had been assessed. These showed seasonal average values ranging from 156.4 ± 57.0 ng/m3 to 217.6 ± 72.9 ng/m3, 98.0 ± 21.4 ng/m3 to 177.8 ± 72.8 ng/m3, and 30.9 ± 11.9 ng/m3 to 82.5 ± 29.2 ng/m3, respectively, with the highest value for winter. It is noteworthy that unlike, n-alkanes and PAEs, PAHs were least during spring. The high molecular weight PAHs (BaP, BkF, DahA and IcdP) were found to exhibit higher TEQ values (ranging from 0.7 to 9.7) despite of their lower concentrations. The PAH diagnostic ratio, carbon preference index and total index revealed the enhanced impact of biogenic sources of emissions in comparison to diesel emission sources during winter. [Display omitted] • The maximum concentration of organic-compounds were observed during winter > spring > post monsoon. • The 5,6-rings PAHs contributed the least in post-monsoon > winter > spring (27–33%), exhibited the highest TEQ values. • ' Even-C' n-alkanes showed increased correlations: biogenic origin, supported for the same by IR-spectra. • Heterogeneity in shapes of particles differed in elemental composition, specifying characteristic feature for source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have never been produced in India, but were used in industrial applications. PCBs have been detected in environmental samples since 1966, and their sources in soils come from depositions of industrial applications, incinerators and biomass combustions. PCBs adsorb to soil particles and persist for long time due to their properties. Their close proximity may also lead to human exposure through ingestion, inhalation, dermal contact, and may exert neurotoxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic health effects. Design and Methods. Residential soil from Korba, India, was extracted using pressurized liquid extraction procedure, cleaned on modified silica and quantified for PCBs. Soil ingestion was considered as the main exposure pathways of life-long intake of PCBs. Human health risk in terms of life time average daily dose, incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) and non-cancer hazard quotient (HQ) were estimated using established guidelines. Results. The estimated average ILCR from non dioxin like PCBs for human adults and children was 3.1×10-8 and 1.1×10-7, respectively. ILCR from dioxin like PCBs for human adults and children was 3.1×10-6 and 1.1×10-5, respectively. The HQ for PCBs was 6.3×10-4 and 2.2×10-3, respectively for human adults and children. Study observed that ILCR from non dioxin like PCBs was lower than acceptable guideline range of 10-6-10-4, and ILCR from dioxin like PCBs was within the limit. HQ was lower than safe limit of 1. Conclusions. Study concluded that human population residing in Korba had low health risk due to PCBs in residential soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial parks are as popular as they are controversial, in India and globally. At their best they align infrastructure provision and agglomeration economies to jolt industrial growth. More often, they generate negative spillovers, provide handouts, sit empty, or simply do not get built. This paper disaggregates how parks are built and how they fail. It contextualizes parks in India, followed by a thick case study of an innovative scheme that appears to buck the trend. This performance is then explained by the way in which the scheme's design and action fit India's political economy. The paper concludes by considering how the analysis and the lessons learned might inform the design and implementation of industrial park programs and other public interventions, in India and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Environmental geochemical studies were carried out in and around Jajmau (Kanpur) and Unnao industrial areas (80°15′–80°34′E longitude and 26°24′–26°35′N latitude), of Uttar Pradesh to find out the extent of chemical pollution in soil due to industrial waste. Jajmau and Unnao are prominent centers for leather processing clusters of tannery industries (about 450) along the banks of river Ganga, besides other industries. Geologically the study area is beset with alluvium of Quaternary age consisting of older alluvium of middle to upper Pleistocene and newer alluvium of Holocene. The climate of the study area is semi-arid type. Fifty-three soil samples were collected from Jajmau and Unnao industrial areas from top 15cm layer of the soil and were analyzed for heavy metals by using Philips MagiX PRO-PW 2440 X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. The data reveals that the soil in the area is significantly contaminated with heavy metals such as chromium varies from 161.8 to 6227.8mg/kg (average of 2652.3mg/kg), Ba varies from 44.1 to 780.9mg/kg (average of 295.7mg/kg), Cu varies from 1.7 to 126.1mg/kg (average of 42.9mg/kg), Pb varies from 10.1 to 67.8mg/kg (average of 38.3mg/kg), Sr varies from 46.6 to 150.6mg/kg (average of 105.3mg/kg), V varies from 1.3 to 208.6mg/kg (average of 54.4mg/kg) and Zn varies from 43.5 to 687.6mg/kg (average of 159.9mg/kg). Soil contamination was assessed on the basis of geoaccumulation index, enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor and degree of contamination. Indiscriminate dumping of hazardous waste in the study area could be the main cause of the soil contamination, spreading by rainwater and wind. Distribution and correlation of heavy metals in soil along with possible remedial measures are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Kanpur city has large number of small-scale industries (SSIs), primarily comprising of textile and leather industries. This study inventorises the presence of heavy metals in the samples collected from Panki and Jajmau Industrial Areas of Kanpur city. The bulk concentration of heavy metals found in solid waste samples was Fe as 1885 and 2340mg/kg, Mn 173 and 445mg/kg, Zn 233 and 132mg/kg, Cu 20 and 28mg/kg, Cd 1.4 and 1.1mg/kg, Ni 26 and 397mg/kg, Pb 107 and 19mg/kg, Cr 1323 and 734mg/kg, respectively. Heavy metal concentration was also found to be high in soil and road dust samples viz. Ni and Pb were in higher concentration in few samples, whereas Cr was found in higher concentration in all samples than the recommended values of USEPA and specifications for compost quality contained in the Indian Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000. The heavy metal pollution so detected is indicative of contamination in ground and surface water and food chain. This raises concerns pertaining to adverse consequences to environment and human health. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Soil samples from agricultural fields (cultivated) in the vicinity of industrial area of Ghaziabad City (India) were collected. In this city, wastewater coming from both industrial and domestic sources and without any treatment is used to irrigate the food crops. This practice has been polluting the soil and pollutants might reach the food chain. Gas chromatographic analysis show the presence of certain organochlorine (DDE, DDT, dieldrin, aldrin and endosulfan) and organophosphorus (dimethoate, malathion, methylparathion and chlorpyrifos) pesticides in soil samples. Samples were extracted using different solvents, i.e. methanol, chloroform, acetonitrile, hexane and acetone (all were HPLC-grade, SRL, India), and the extracts were assayed for genotoxic potential using Ames Salmonella/microsome test, DNA repair defective mutants and bacteriophage λ systems. TA98 and TA100 were found to be the most sensitive strains to all the soil extracts tested. Methanol extracts exhibited a maximum mutagenicity with TA98 strain {540 (−S9) and 638 (+S9) revertants/g of soil} and 938 (−S9) and 1008 (+S9) revertants/g of soil with TA100 strain. The damage in the DNA repair defective mutants was found maximum with methanolic extract followed by acetonitrile, chloroform, hexane and acetone at the dose level of 40μl/ml culture after 6h of treatment. The survival was 25, 30, 32, 33 and 35% in polA strain after 6h of treatment when tested with wastewater irrigated soil extracts of methanol, acetonitrile, chloroform, hexane and acetone, respectively. A significant decrease in the plaque forming units of bacteriophage λ was also observed when treated with 40μl of test samples. Present results showed that methanolic extracts of soil were more toxic than other soil extracts. The soil is accumulating a large number of pollutants due to wastewater irrigation and this practice of accumulation has an impact on soil health. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Particle size distribution in ambient air has been studied in an urban city, Delhi. Different activity sites namely; kerbside, industrial and residential were selected for the study. The statistical analysis was carried out to study the frequency distribution and sources of different particle size fractions. The dominance of coarse particles attributed to local activities was observed at all the sites. It was observed that at kerbside sites, up to 52% of the particles were lower respiratory tract and up to 47% of the particles were upper respiratory tract particles. At residential and industrial sites, up to 40% and 31% were lower and upper respiratory tract particles, respectively. Factor analysis results indicated auto-exhaust as the dominant source of particulate matter at two of the kerbside sites. Resuspended dust was dominant at remaining two kerbside and residential sites. It was inferred using geometric standard deviation of particle size fractions that these were from different sources at residential and industrial site and from similar sources at three of the kerbside sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporal changes in groundwater quality in the industrialized area of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh have been studied. The results from 1982 to 2006 have been compared. The present study indicates that groundwater is mainly contaminated by SO42- -- concentration, which is more than that observed in groundwater in 1982. This is attributed to prolonged persistent and perennial industrial activity rather than other sources on the aquifer chemistry. High concentration of SO42- -- above the safe limit for drinking purposes causes health disorders. Remedial measures have been suggested to control pollution in the groundwater system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on quantitative soil contamination due to heavy metals were carried out in Katedan Industrial Development Area (KIDA), south of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India under the Indo-Norwegian Institutional Cooperation Programme. The study area falls under a semi-arid type of climate and consists of granites and pegmatite of igneous origin belonging to the Archaean age. There are about 300 industries dealing with dyeing, edible oil production, battery manufacturing, metal plating, chemicals, etc. Most of the industries discharge their untreated effluents either on open land or into ditches. Solid waste from industries is randomly dumped along roads and open grounds. Soil samples were collected throughout the industrial area and from downstream residential areas and were analysed by X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer for fourteen trace metals and ten major oxides. The analytical data shows very high concentrations of lead, chromium, nickel, zinc, arsenic and cadmium through out the industrial area. The random dumping of hazardous waste in the industrial area could be the main cause of the soil contamination spreading by rainwater and wind. In the residential areas the local dumping is expected to be the main source as it is difficult to foresee that rain and wind can transport the contaminants from the industrial area. If emission to air by the smokestacks is significant, this may contribute to considerable spreading of contaminants like As, Cd and Pb throughout the area. A comparison of the results with the Canadian Soil Quality Guidelines (SQGL) show that most of the industrial area is heavily contaminated by As, Pb and Zn and local areas by Cr, Cu and Ni. The residential area is also contaminated by As and some small areas by Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn. The Cd contamination is detected over large area but it is not exceeding the SQGL value. Natural background values of As and Cr exceed the SQGL values and contribute significantly to the contamination in the residential area. However, the availability is considerably less than anthropogenic contaminants and must therefore be assessed differently. The pre- and post-monsoon sampling over two hydrological cycles in 2002 and 2003 indicate that the As, Cd and Pb contaminants are more mobile and may expect to reach the groundwater. The other contaminants seem to be much more stable. The contamination is especially serious in the industrial area as it is housing a large permanent residing population. The study not only aims at determining the natural background levels of trace elements as a guide for future pollution monitoring but also focuses on the pollution vulnerability of the watershed. A plan of action for remediation is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ranipet industrial area is about 120 km from Chennai on Chennai-Bangalore highway and is a chronic polluted area identified by Central Pollution Control Board of India. It is one of the biggest exporting centers of tanned leather in India. The total number of industries located in and around Ranipet town are 240 tanneries along with ceramic, refractory, boiler auxiliaries plant, and chromium chemicals. Studies were carried out to find out the contamination of surface water bodies due to industrial effluents. The results reveal that the surface water in the area is highly contaminated showing very high concentrations of some of the heavy/toxic metals like Cadmium ranging from 0.2 to 401.4 μg/l (average of 51.1 μg/l), Chromium 2.4–1,308.6 (average of 247.2 μg/l), Copper 2.1–535.5 μg/l (average of 95.5 μg/l), Nickel 1.6–147.0 μg/l (average of 36.7 μg/l), Lead 6.4–2,034.4 μg/l (average of 467.8 μg/l) and Zinc 20.8–12,718.0 μg/l (average of 3,760.4 μg/l). The concentration levels of these metals are much above the permissible limits in surface water and are health hazards especially for the people working in the tannery industries. It was observed that the people in the area are seriously affected and suffering from occupational diseases such as asthma, chromium ulcers and skin diseases. Distribution of metals, their contents at different locations, and their effects on human health are discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though belated, there is a realisation by the Left Front-ruled West Bengal that a transition from the agricultural sector to the industrial sector is the only way to tackle the problem of unemployment, raise the standard of living in general and redress the imbalance of development between agriculture and industry. The West Bengal Government started the land acquisition programme for industrial growth in May 2006 and Singur, in the Hooghly district, was one of the areas chosen for the purpose. The Left Front Government decided to have the Tata Motors set up a new factory at Singur. It was proposed to acquire 997.11 acres of land for the purpose, which provoked widespread unrest and recurrent violence. This is an eternal problem of land acquisition in India (or anywhere else). This article deals with the issues, which have been raised by the masses regarding land acquisition and offers a comparative study of economic development during the period of agricultural economy and the industrial era in the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An air quality sampling program was designed and implemented to collect data on ambient PM10, TSP, vehicular traffic and meteorological parameters at weekdays and weekends from November 2003 to November 2004 in Kolkata. Educational institutions and most offices and small-scale industries are closed during weekends. Meteorological parameters were measured by the Indian Meteorological Department, Kolkata. Air quality monitoring was performed weekly for 24-h periods at residential (Kasba) and industrial (Cossipore) sites in an urban region of Kolkata and weekday/weekend differences were compared at both the monitoring sites. Significantly higher weekday values of PM10 and vehicular traffic were observed. The daily average PM10 concentrations on weekdays and at weekends were, respectively, 147.7 and 125.5 μg.m-3 at the residential site and 212.3 and 186.3pμg.m-3 at the industrial site. Corresponding TSP concentrations were 288.4 and 391.9μg.m-3 and 229.6 and 344.9 pμg.m³. Average traffic flow for weekdays and weekends were 2.3x 104 and 1.9x 104 vehicles at the residential site and 2.8 x 104 and 2.4 X 104 vehicles at the industrial site. There was a strong linear relationship between PM10 and TSP (R²>0.90) during weekdays at the residential site and at weekends at the industrial site. TSP had moderate (R²>0.50) linear relationship with PM10 during weekends at the residential site and good (R²>0.75) linear relationship during weekdays at the industrial site. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient showed that measured particulate pollutants had an inverse correlation with rainfall, temperature and relative humidity at both sites. Average PM,O/TSP ratio was moderately correlated (r>0.50) with average vehicular traffic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the impact of citizen activism and environmental regulations on plant location decisions in India. Use of industrial licensing system in the location and magnitude of private investments; Factors affecting the choice of the firms; Effect of wage, labor prices and union activity on location; Role of the environmental regulations and the government.

This paper reports the PAHs levels in the atmosphere of an urbanised industrial site of India. A high-resolution capillary gas chromatograph with a mass spectrometric detector (HRCGC-MS) and a high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) equipped with a fluorescence detector were used for the identification and quantitation of PAHs. The atmospheric levels of PAHs were higher (4.66 ng/m3 yearly average) than most of the concentrations previously reported in the literature. Indian sites were found more contaminated with potently carcinogenic: four and above ringed PAHs. Based on a good correlation between the levels of lead, vanadium, BaP and BghiP, the vehicular emission appears to be a major source of the PAHs. Further, the higher levels of observed PAHs could be attributed to the vertical distribution of the aerosols, the preference of the PAHs for the particulate phase and the greater availability of the substrate in the atmosphere for their sorption. This paper also discusses the need for development of a PAHs monitoring protocol and related health effect studies in developing countries such as India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the factors that should be considered by Japanese manufacturers in expanding to India. The massive youth segment in India can be viewed as a huge consumer market and an abundant workforce. The shortage of industrial sites has been intensified by the desire of vendor companies to set up near assembly manufacturers. It is important to gather first the information needed before making investment decisions.

India''s Kirloskar Brothers Ltd has set up a wholly owned subsidiary in Thailand — Kirloskar Brothers (Thailand) Ltd (KBTL). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]