Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution - Volume 10, issue 3

Article Type: Other

Citation: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. i-iv, 2013

Authors: Rupiasih, N. Nyoman | Sumadiyasa, Made | Ratnawati, A.A.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Humic acid (HA) is a pollutant formed in aquatic environment. Water hyacinth (WH) is a common aquatic plant in tropical regions and easily grows in heavily polluted water. The objective of this work is to investigate the capability of WH to remove HA from aquatic environment and its effects on pH, chlorophyll (Chl) content and degradation. The absorbtion was measured using UV-Vis spectroscopy. WH was grown in various media such as distilled water (DW), river water …(RW) and HA solution with different concentrations, from 12 to 60 ppm. The absorbtion of two wavelengths, 250 and 275 nm of each sample medium were recorded after 1, 3, 5 and 8 days of exposure. The difference in concentration between control and treated media was found to be significant (p < 0.05). The study shows that WH can absorb HA from aquatic environment and help to maintain the stable condition of their aquatic environment. HA helps in increasing the concentration of Chl-a, Chl-b and total Chl of WH leaves. HA have more effect on Chl-b. Also, it has been found that HA act as a catalyst in degradation process of Chl pigments in the aquatic environment. Show more

Keywords: Humic acid, organic pollutant, water hyacinth, chlorophyll, degradation, UV-Vis, pH

Citation: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 1-9, 2013

Authors: Adhikari, K. | Chakraborty, B. | Gangopadhyay, A.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Transforming parametric concentrations into qualitative scores irrespective of unit has made the Water Quality Index a comprehensive and easy to use tool to the decision makers. As criteria of water quality vary with purpose of use of the ground water, selection of water quality parameters, involved in working out quality index for specific use, also differs. Use of Ground Water Quality Index (GWQI) technique to assess irrigation water quality is innovative in this study. Electrical conductivity …(EC), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and residual sodium carbonate (RSC), judged as the three most important parameters to determine irrigation quality of ground water, have been used to work out GWQI in this study. Preparation of iso index maps using water quality scores, derived through GWQI tool, vividly portray the irrigation water quality status of the study area where most of the area fall under excellent and good categories. The marked difference in water quality with respect to season in some areas of southeastern and southwestern parts of the study area may be correlatable to the recharge and discharge zones of ground water respectively. Show more

Keywords: Water quality parameters, ground water quality index (GWQI), iso index maps, recharge zone, discharge zone

Citation: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 11-21, 2013

Authors: Safiullah, S. | Mahamud-Ul-Hoque, M. | Sabur, M.A. | Haque, M. Emdadul

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Coconut water samples collected from both high and low ground water arsenic contaminated area were analyzed and it was observed that concentration of arsenic varies from 0.000 to 0.170 ppm. Arsenic concentration in the coconut water of Char Bhabanathpur (Sonargaon), one of the most arsenic affected zones in Bangladesh, ranges from 0.005 to 0.170 ppm with an average value of 0.070 ppm, whereas zero or sometimes trace arsenic concentrations were observed in the coconut water of …both Manikganj and Dinajpur Sadar. In our study, we notice that the concentration of arsenic in coconut water is related to the age of coconut where the concentration of arsenic increases linearly from baby coconut to matured coconut. The arsenic concentrations in soil adjacent to the coconut trees in Char Bhabanathpur area shows a positive correlation with the arsenic concentrations in coconut water but interestingly the trend does not exist in case of other two study areas. This indicates that bioaccumulation of arsenic at least in case of coconut has a strong relationship with the biogeochemistry of the relevant soil. Show more

Keywords: Arsenic, coconut water, bioaccumulation, biogeochemistry

Citation: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 23-28, 2013

Authors: Bashir, Muhammad Tariq | Ali, Salmiaton Binti | Adris, Azni | Haroon, Razif

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Water fluoridation is a common practice in different parts of the world, mostly as a means of decontaminating water. It has been used in developed, as well as in developing countries. In recent years, however, other countries have minimized, even eliminated its use due to health issues. In Central Asia, usage of fluoride is profoundly extant, thus occasioning the citizens' exposure to various health risks. An excessive level of fluoride causes various health issues, mostly on …dental and skeletal fluorosis which often leads to vulnerabilities in the bones and teeth. Studies also indicate that excessive levels of fluoride have been known to contribute to poor neurological development among children, hip fractures to older adults, as well as osterosclerosis. Moreover, the review has concluded that fluoride contamination in ground water is very high in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In contrast, fluoride levels are below threshold value of 1.5 mg/L in Bangladesh. Fluorosis cases have been observed in Nepal but available data is quite unsystematic and incomplete, thus rendering them of no statistical significance. In India, districts such as Kerala, Gujrat, Bakresh (West Bengal), Khudra (Orissa), Manikaran (Himachal Pradesh), Unkeeher (Maharashtra) and Tattapani (Chattisgarh) are currently facing a high level of fluoride. In Pakistan, fluoride data of 29 major cities are reviewed and 34% of the cities show fluoride levels with mean value greater than 1.5 mg/L where Lahore and Quetta are having the maximum values of 23.60 mg/L and 24.48 mg/L, respectively. Sri Lankan dry zone is polluted with fluoride having maximum value of 8.00 mg/L. Considering these verities, health authorities urgently need to establish alternative means of water decontamination in order to prevent associated health problems. Show more

Keywords: Fluoride, fluorisis, health effects, bones deformation, adsorption

Citation: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 29-37, 2013

Authors: Sangita, S. | Panda,, S.K. | Satapathy, D. | Kar, R.N. | Panda, C.R.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Multivariate statistical techniques such as cluster analysis (CA), principal component analysis (PCA) and factor analysis (FA) were applied for the evaluation of dynamic variations in water quality of Dhamra estuarine region from 2009 to 2010. The concentrations of salinity, conductivity, turbidity and inorganic nutrients varied significantly in different seasons from estuarine region to deep marine region. The intensity of microbial activities and the influx of organic sewage are reflected in high BOD content. …A strong positive correlation of salinity with conductance, chlorophyll-a with total phytoplankton, phytoplankton with inorganic phosphate and total viable count (TVC) with temperature have been established. Further, TVC was having negative correlation with salinity. Hierarchical cluster analysis, grouping 14 parameters into two significant clusters based on their similarity and their interrelationship identified phosphate as the major nutritional requirement for phytoplankton growth. The factor loading further indicates the influence of salinity gradient and nutrient availability for the distribution plankton. FA generates six latent factors explaining 82.67% of the total variance illustrating various interrelationships of biotic and abiotic factors. Show more

Keywords: Nutrient enrichment, biological characters, temporal variation, water quality, water pollutants, Multivariate statistical analysis

Citation: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 39-50, 2013

Authors: Mai, V.T. | Hoanh, C.T. | Van Keulen, H. | Hessel, R.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In this study, a spatial dynamic model was developed, to simulate nitrogen dynamics in Van Hoi commune, Tam Duong district, Vietnam, for different soil and land use types, under different irrigation and fertilizer regimes. The model has been calibrated using measured nitrogen concentrations in soil solution in March and August 2004 and validated for data from March and August 2005. Lateral flow was low in this level area. Percolation was the main process leading to high …nitrogen leaching losses to ground water. Calculated annual leaching losses varied from 88 to 122 kg N ha^{-1} in flowers, 64 to 82 in vegetables of the cabbage group, 51 to 76 in chili, 56 to 75 in vegetables of the squash group, and 36 to 55 in rice. Show more

Keywords: Vegetables, rice, lateral flow, percolation, simulation, PCRaster

Citation: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 51-61, 2013

Authors: Ram, S.S. | Majumder, S. | Kumar, R.V. | Chaudhuri, P. | Chanda, S. | Santra, S.C. | Maiti, P.K. | Mukhopadhyay, U.K. | Sudarshan, M. | Chakraborty, A.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In the present paper the effect of traffic generated dust pollution on phylloplane microflora of Polyalthia longifolia was studied. More dust and absence of micro-flora especially fungi was observed in the leaves from roadside site unlike that of non-roadside site. Elemental profiling of dust on leaves has shown the presence of trace elements like Al, Si, Cl, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn and toxic elements like As and Hg. Presence of such elements …in dust may be attributed to retardation of micro-flora on leaf surfaces exposed to traffic generated dust particulates. Show more

Keywords: Air pollution, dust, phylloplane microflora, SEM-EDX

Citation: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 63-69, 2013

Authors: Hoque, Raza Rafiqul | Gohain, M. | Das, Apurba Kumar | Devi, Upasona | Kusre, B.C.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Bharalu Tributary originates in the foot-hills of Khasi Hills and meets the Brahmaputra River flowing northwards through Guwahati city. Trace metals viz., Pb, Ni, Cr, Cd, Cu and Zn were estimated in the bed sediment of Bharalu and their concentrations were found to be 39.54 ± 31, 40.62 ± 19, 32.00 ± 18, 0.93 ± 1, 65.45 ± 33 and 435.08 ± 246 μg g^{-1} respectively. Levels of Cd, Pb and Zn in the …bed sediments were 3, 1.5 and 5 times, respectively, higher than the concentrations in shale. Enrichment factors (EF%) of the metals showed substantial loading of the sediments with trace metals. Muller's Geoaccumulation index (Igeo) of the metals was calculated which showed that the river was moderate to strongly polluted. Pearson's correlation showed stronger associations for the metal pairs – Pb-Cd (r = 0.90), Ni-Cu (r = 0.68), Ni-Zn (r = 0.61), Cu-Zn (r = 0.87) and Pb-Cu (r = 0.75) – indicating similar sources. A multivariate statistical tool, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), was used to define the possible input sources of the trace metals and three main sources viz. industrial discharge, vehicular contribution and waste dumping were identified. Show more

Keywords: Bharalu, trace metals, sediments, Igeo, PCA

Citation: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 71-79, 2013

Authors: Ahluwalia,, Poonam | Setia, Ashima | Nema, Arvind K.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Electronic waste (e-waste) has become the fastest growing component in solid waste stream. Lack of data regarding characterisation of these e-waste categories and their hazard potential poses further challenge for setting up or planning of proper recycling and disposal facilities for them. The present study aims to assess relative hazard potential of popular e-waste categories such as laptop computers, mobile phones, radio sets, electronic calculators and electronic toys, which form a substantial amount of total e-waste. …Samples of these e-waste categories were collected, dismantled and leached to specifically identify various plastic and metal fractions from each category. Leachates (by simulating conditions of landfilling) were prepared under different pH conditions and analysed for contents of hazardous metals. The current study could provide a basis for modelling different intervention options and predicting their effects. The findings could be utilised to support efforts to arouse and enhance public awareness regarding environmental protection by publicity and education to guide consumer preferences to support products that are manufactured with and ultimately generate little hazardous or solid waste. Show more

Keywords: E-waste, characterisation, relative hazard potential, landfilling, heavy metal contamination

Citation: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 81-93, 2013