Cement Dust Effect from Bokajan Cement Factory on Residents of Vicinity Area: A Study in Assam, India

Cement manufacturing industries are one of the most common reasons of air pollution, surface and ground water pollution and noise pollution and is also indirectly affecting the people residing near the cement plants. This study was carried out to quantify the cement dust emission from Bokajan Cement Corporation of India’s cement factory falling on the residences and to determine its effect on some selected household activities and general well-being of the people residing near it. An experimental method was carried out to estimate the accumulated cement dust in households. The findings showed that household activities performed by the residence were dependent upon the dust exposure, which means more the dusts are more are the cleaning and maintenance. It was also found that cement dust highly affected general wellbeing of the respondents living in southern direction and lowest affect was observed among the respondents of the east direction.

Efficiency assessment of faecal sludge treatment plant (FSTP): An analytical study

The success of Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) has increased the number of toilets in India. Treatment of septage and faecal sludge is now a big challenge to main the sanitation and hygiene in the society. Therefore, in the present study an attempt has been made to explore the concept and efficiency of Faecal Sludge Treatment (FSTP) technology. The paper also includes the study of characteristics of faecal sludge and biochar produced from faecal sludge. The efficiency of plant for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) was observed 99.88%, 99.91% and 99.88, respectively. After the treatment all the studied parameters of treated water was found below the standards set by MOEF for FSTP discharge. After dewatering and drying, the faecal sludge is analyzed for calorific value, ash, fixed carbon, volatile matter, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulphur. Calorific value of faecal sludge ranged from 3339.00 Kcal kg-1 to 3542.00 Kcal kg-1 with an average value of 3419.67 Kcal kg-1. Then the faecal sludge is pyrolysed to produce the energy and biochar. Biochar was analyzed for pH, colour, moisture, bulk density, potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, lead, zinc, cadmium, copper, nickel, chromium, and mercury. All the parameters of biochar were found below the standard limits of Solid Waste Management Rules (SWM), 2016 except bulk density (2.07 g cm-3), potassium (1.02%), and nitrogen (3.09%). On the basis of biochar results, it may be concluded that the sludge produced can be used as manure in agriculture and gardening. Therefore, FSTP is a suitable, sustainable eco-friendly technology for the treatment of faecal sludge and also reduces the chances of soil and ground water pollution.

Characterization of Phosphate Solubilizing Bacterial Endophytes and Plant Growth Promotion In Vitro and in Greenhouse

Phosphate is one of the most important nutrients for plant growth and development, and only 0.1% of the phosphate in soils is available to plants. Currently, the use of excess phosphate fertilizer has caused surface and ground water pollution and water eutrophication, resulting in algal blooms in lakes and oceans. Therefore, it is imperative to explore alternative ways to solve these problems for sustainable agricultural production and improvement of soil fertility, while protecting the environment. Microorganisms from the rhizosphere and within plants are able to solubilize insoluble soil phosphate, making it available to plants. Five high phosphate solubilizing bacteria from our bacterial endophyte library were chosen for this study and identified as Pantoea vagans IALR611, Pseudomonas psychrotolerans IALR632, Bacillus subtilis IALR1033, Bacillus safensis IALR1035 and Pantoea agglomerans IALR1325. All five bacteria significantly promoted tall fescue growth in vitro. Greenhouse experiments showed that IALR1325 significantly promoted pepper and tomato growth, and IALR632 was the best in promoting tomato growth. In addition, all these bacteria had extracellular acid phosphatase and phytase activities. One of the mechanisms for phosphate solubilization by bacteria is pH reduction caused by gluconic acid production. Our results indicate that P. agglomerans IALR1325 is a promising bacterium for future applications.

Surface and Ground Water Pollution: Causes and Effects of Urbanization and Industrialization in South Asia

Water pollution in South Asia is an alarming issue that has immersed recently. Developing countries, particularly those in South Asia, are fast adopting industrial pollution control standards similar to those in developed countries. So both surface and groundwater are already scarce however, individuals and industries continue to pollute the already limited supply of water. On the other hand, the pollution of rivers is more severe and critical near urban stretches due to huge amounts of pollution load discharged by urban activities. Unplanned urbanization and industrialization occurring in these countries like Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, etc. may be largely responsible for this grave situation. Therefore these human activities including industrialization and urbanization contributed immensely in no small measure to the degradation and pollution of the environment which adversely has an effect on the water resources such as surface and groundwater that is a necessity for life. This paper tries to discuss basically the causes and effects of urbanization and industrialization in surface and groundwater pollution and equally to address the controlling issues and challenges in South Asia.

Implications of industrial effluents on surface water and ground water

The industrial discharge carries significant level of contaminants to the surface water and ground water. Whereas the quality of freshwater is very vital because is highly use by human for drinking, bathing, agriculture and other needs. The presence of contaminants from industries within the water may reduce the yield of crops and the growth of plants; it is also harmful to the aquatic living organisms, it alters the surface water and ground water quality. Industrial pollution is one of the major factors causing degradation of the environment, affecting the water we use, the air we breathe and the soil we live on. Hence, the pollution of water is arguably the most serious threat to current human welfare. This paper review elucidates reasons of contamination of surface water by the industrial effluents, highlights major causes of ground water pollution; the work also indicates some industrial discharges and their contaminants.

GEOECOLOGICAL MONITORING OF UNDERGROUND WATER POLLUTION IN THE AREA OF OIL PRODUCTION AND OIL REFINING INDUSTRY

Relevance of the work: Currently, the oil production and refining industry has a huge impact on underground water. The negative impact of petroleum products on the environment, including the pollution of underground water, is quite relevant not only around the world, but also specifically in our region. The purpose of the work: to reveal the influence of the oil-producing and oil-refining industries on underground water, to reveal the sources of pollution, pollutants in the areas of the oil-producing and oil-refining industries, as well as the conditions for the protection of underground water. Method of work: analysis of literary sources, scientific research. The results of the work and the scope of their application: Groundwater pollution is local or regional in nature, it occurs under the influence of man-made and natural processes. It is established that the flow of petroleum products and oil into underground waters is possible due to the leakage of raw materials at the stage of preparation for transportation and transportation of petroleum products, at the stage of operation and drilling of wells, etc., and the most dangerous pollutants are ground water pollution. The danger of contamination of underground waters with oil and petroleum products is dangerous because in this regard, various bacteria develop in underground waters that can cause various mutations, diseases; underground water is a strategic reserve of drinking water; it is almost impossible to clean underground water when oil wells break through; self-purification of underground water occurs for a long time. To reduce the negative impact, it is necessary to carefully monitor the performance of equipment, adhere to certain standards at oil production and oil refining enterprises.