Environmental Pollution and Protection

Number 4, 2018

9
Acetylcholinesterase Activity in Fish Exposed to Mercury in Guanabara Bay, RJ, Brazil

Authors: Ana Paula de Castro Rodrigues, Rodrigo Guerra Carvalheira, Vanessa Gomes, Ana Rosa Linde Arias, Nádia Regina Pereira Almosny, Zuleica Carmen Castilhos, Edison Dausacker Bidone

Abstract

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Number of views: 472

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is an important regulatory enzyme that controls the transmission of nerve impulses across cholinergic synapses. This study evaluated AChE activity as an effect biomarker for ecological risk assessment related to mercury contamination in fish from Guanabara bay, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. A total of 30 fishes were collected, 14 specimens of Genidens genidens and 16 specimens of Haemulon sp. at three sampling stations. AChE activity varied from 0.18 to 1.29 μmol min-1 mg-1 protein for G. genidens and a negative correlation between AChE activity in muscles and mercury concentrations in kidney was found (-0.55; p<0.05; n=14). For Haemulon sp. the enzyme activity showed a smaller range (0.06 to 0.22 μmol min-1 mg-1 protein) and a negative correlation between mercury concentrations in muscles and AChE activity was found (r = -0.570; p<0.05; n=16), suggesting a decrease on enzymatic response in specimens with higher mercury bioaccumulation.

9
Agent Orange: A Controversy without End

Authors: Alvin L. Young

Abstract

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Number of views: 556

Confusion and misinformation are common when discussing Agent Orange, a tactical herbicide used in the Vietnam War. This is partially the result of inaccurate news coverage or false information that is purposely spread to deceive veterans. Sensationalized reporting has frequently left the public with a distorted view of what occurred in Vietnam and of the minimal risks related to the use of herbicides in an operational combat environment. However, such a discrepancy between perceived risks and actual risks has also been enhanced by a public policy where historical records and science have been ignored while favoring a policy of “presumptive” compensation promoted by the Agent Orange Act of 1991. The Act has resulted in a narrow focus on tactical herbicides as the key factor in explaining the health risks of Vietnam veterans, ignoring other important risk factors that occurred in the war in Vietnam, namely, widespread endemic tropical diseases and parasites, psychological and physiological impacts of war, and health and lifestyle. Thus, it is not surprising that the controversies surrounding the use of Agent Orange in Vietnam have raged for 40 years. Indeed, more than a million United States veterans and billions of dollars have been spent by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in providing compensation and health care for unrelated diseases where the vast majorities are not deployment-related health problems or related to herbicide exposure, but rather to aging and quality of life issues.

Number 3, 2018

19
Land Use Regression Approach to Model NO2–Concentrations in a Swedish Medium-City

Authors: Mateus Habermann, Monica Billger, Marie Haeger-Eugensson

Abstract

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Number of views: 472

In order to visualize the geographical distribution of air pollution concentration realistically, we applied the Land Use Regression (LUR) model in the urban area of Gothenburg, Sweden. The concentration of NO2 was obtained by 25 passive air samplers during 7-20 May, 2001. Explanatory variables were estimated by GIS in buffers ranging from 50 to 500 m-radii. Linear regression was calculated, and the most robust were attained to the multiple linear regression. Additionally, the LUR model was compared with a dispersion model. The final model explained 81.7% of the variance of NO2 concentration with presence of sum of traffic within 150 m and altitude as predictor variables. Mann-Whitney Test did not exhibit significant difference between yearly concentrations of NO2 measured by regulatory measurement sites and measurements from passive samplers, thus LUR model was extrapolated for later years and mapped. The extrapolation indicated more elevated levels of pollution for the years 2003, 2006 and 2010. The results highlight the contribution of traffic on air quality and suggest that LUR modelling may explain the variations of atmospheric pollution with good accuracy. In addition, the model puts focus on spatial and temporal variability needed to describe retrospective exposure to air pollution in studies that evaluate health effects.

Number 2, 2018

13
Inhibition of Soil Methane Oxidation by Fertilizer Application: an Intriguing but Persistent Paradigm

Authors: Virendra Kumar Mishra, Reetika Shukla, Prabhu Nath Shukla

Abstract

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Number of views: 489

Methane (CH4) is one of the most important greenhouse gases and is oxidized by the methanotrophic bacteria in the soil. Present work is an effort to review the available information in this regard and present them in a systematic way. In this review, we concluded that low NH4 + concentration can be supportive to the methane oxidation and growth of the methanotrophs. However, their high contents suppress the methanotrophic bacteria by inhibiting the enzymes particularly methane monooxygenase (MMO) involved in the methane oxidation. There are a range of the soil and environmental factors such as type of soil and vegetation, methane availability, amount and exposure time of ammonium, and type of methanotrophic community dominating in an ecosystem, which affect the response of the methanotrophic bacteria towards the fertilizer application. However, still there are several gaps in our knowledge as complex interaction of edhapic factors affecting the availability of ammonium is unraveled.

Number 1, 2018

10
Spatial-Temporal Variability and Characterisation of Aerosols in Urban Air Quality of Ahmedabad, India, based on Field and Satellite Data

Authors: Rajesh Iyer, Abha Chhabra, Prakash Chauhan, Tejas Turakhia, Mohit Porwal, Divya Patel

Abstract

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Number of views: 573

Particulate matter (PM), or aerosol play an important role in Air Quality. Ahmedabad is an urban, industrialized and one of the fastest growing city in Western India. This study presents spatio-temporal variability in mass concentrations of different Particulate Matter as well as their characteristics during different seasons based on field measurements in different micro urban environments of Ahmedabad. The meteorological parameters such as wind speed, temperature, relative humidity and atmospheric pressure played a very important role in the seasonal variation of the PM concentrations. The PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 were found to be highest with 229.4 μg/m3, 82.20 μg/m3 and 53.53 μg/m3, respectively in winter season. These PM concentrations are higher than the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for PM10 and PM2.5. The aerosol characteristic based on field measurement of spectral Aerosol Optical Depth indicates significant contribution by coarser mode particles. The Inhalable, Thoracic and Alveolic PM concentrations which are significant for human health impacts of ambient air quality were observed in the increasing order of monsoon

12
Acoustic Over-Exposure versus Human Health: A Case Study of Dangote Flour Mill, Calabar, Cross River State

Authors: Obiefuna, J. N, Kubua J. B, Obiefuna, C. J

Abstract

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Number of views: 625

This research investigated the effects of industrial noise pollution on the health of staff members in Dangote Flour Mills, Calabar. Two hypotheses were formulated in null forms and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Noise data was collected using a sound level meter. Sound level readings were taken at different temporal periods of morning, afternoon and evening. Questionnaire was also administered to elicit relevant data on impact/perception. Data collected were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson product moment correlation co-efficient. The finding revealed that there is a significant variation between noise level at different temporal periods in Dangote flour mills. Besides, there is also a significant effect of high noise level on the health status of members of staff. Based on these findings, appropriate recommendations were made which include that the federal and state governments should enforce policies against certain level of noise pollution in industries in the state. The management of the company should ensure that the WHO regulations on industrial noise pollution are implemented and adhered to within the working environment. Workers and/or staff of the company should wear ear protective devices to reduce the effect of the noise on them. Finally, it was also recommended that the management of the company should endeavour to get machines with the least noise level when making purchases of equipments for processing in order to reduce the effect of noise on the workers.