How do Capital Goods Index, Metal Index and Oil and Gas Index explain the rising Auto Index?

The automobile sector holds a noteworthy position in the Indian economy. Resurgence of the sector from the shortterm slump it experienced in 2019 and the advent of electronic vehicle revolution is certain to bring about remarkable changes in the industry. Additionally, sector’s image as a bellwether of economic conditions makes it an all the more intriguing sphere to study. The paper examines the relationship between auto index, capital goods index, metal index and oil and gas index. All the indices have followed an upward trajectory in the past years. The aim is to study if these movements are related to each other through tools of Johansen Tests of Cointegration and Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). The result confirms a long-run direct relationship between the auto index and capital goods index. However, such a relationship of the auto index with the other two indices in the study remains uncertain. The data does not clearly support a conclusion in their case. Keywords: Automobile sector, Indian economy, auto index, capital goods index, metal index, oil and gas index, VECM

Preliminary Study of Heavy Metals of Cymodocea rotundata in Doreri Bay Manokwari Regency

Sources of activity in Dorei Bay come from the Sanggeng market, the Wosi market, the port, the PLTD (Diesel Power Plant), hospitals, hotels, and residential areas. The seagrass system has a function as a food provider, as primary productivity in waters, dampers the arrival of waves, a place for growth and development of biota and sediment traps. Research and information on the accumulation of heavy metals in seagrass, especially Cymodocea rotundata are still very limited, especially in Doreri Bay. This study aims to describe the accumulation of heavy metals in seagrass Cymodocea rotundata, including leaves, roots, and rhizome, comparing the accumulation of heavy metals in seagrass Cymodocea rotundata each location as well as knowing the pollution index of each location. The research was conducted in Doreri Bay, Manokwari, West Papua in August 2018. The sampling locations for Cymodocea rotundata seagrass were around the waters of Pelayaran, Wosi, Yankarwar, Anggrem, and Nusmapi Island. The results showed that the highest Cu concentrations were described from each location, which ranged from 18.75 to 28.64 (mg.kg-1), followed by heavy metal Pb ranging from 0.46-19.31 (mg.kg-1), then logm weight of Cd ranged from 1.11-4.97 (mg.kg-1) and the lowest Cr6 + concentration in each location ranged from 0.20 -0.52 (mg.kg-1). The percentage of metal concentrations in the roots and rhizomes is 50%, it can even reach 82.64%, namely Pb metal at Yankarwar Beach. Meanwhile, the metal concentration in the leaf area ranged between 17.36-50.00% and the highest proportion was found in Pb metal at the Pelayaran location and Cr6 + metal at the Wosi location. The calculation results of the Metal poluttion Index (MPI) for heavy metals Pb, Cd, Cu, and Cr6 + show that the highest heavy metal index of 5 locations is on Anggrem Beach and the lowest is at Pelayaran Beach

THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON METAL MINERAL COMMODITIES IN INDONESIA AND THEIR MITIGATION IN MINING ACTIVITIES

The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, has affected all mining sectors. The price of mining materials index is very low due to the Covid-19 pandemic and also when compared to other pandemics such as SARS, HN1, and Ebola. The price of the metal index such as iron, aluminum, nickel, zinc, copper) almost all fell and only high gold metals are increasingly expensive. The large mining companies continue their production and they use health protocols. For the continuity of mining operations, the company creates stages and strategies in mining operations (teamwork schedule, employee location, working time, number of workers, evacuation of employees). For the continuity of the company's operations, the company plans: responding to an emergency situations (pandemic), build the company's resilience, recover the company from impact, develop an action plan and build the foundation of the company to rise in the new normal time. The company conducts mitigation and protection individually and in groups and creates health campaigns digitally. In mining operations, the company develops its operational activities by implementing health protocols such as avoiding many people and making mine operational plans that follow health protocols. Keywords: Covid-19 pandemic, mineral commodity, index value, health mitigation.

Heavy metal index and geographical information system (GIS) approach to study heavy metal contamination: a case study of north Chennai groundwater

Fifty-four groundwater samples were collected from the highly industrialized area of north Chennai. These groundwater samples were tested for Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and Cr in pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods of 2015–2016. Most of the samples in the area were found to have high concentration of heavy metals. Geographical information system was used to develop contour maps for the analysis of heavy metals, and it has been found that most of the Ambattur area was affected by the heavy metals in both the seasons. ANOVA tests were carried out on the hydro-chemical data for both the monsoon periods, and it was found that there was a common source of origin for most of the heavy metals, which was also confirmed by the correlation and principal component analysis. T-test indicates that there was a common source of origin of heavy metals in the study area, viz. industrial and domestic pollutants, that were found to be the main source of heavy metals in both the monsoon periods. Principal component analysis gave three important factors (principal components) for both the seasons. Pre-monsoon groundwater samples showed a common cause of origin of heavy metals than the post-monsoon samples. Heavy metal pollution index indicates that almost all the samples were not fit for drinking purpose in both the monsoon periods and metal index also indicates the non-usability of the water for drinking purpose.

Evaluation of Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) and Metal Index (MI) of the groundwater in the Mesta River Basin, SW Bulgaria

Ground waters may undergo a process of contamination in various ways, but the presence and amount of heavy metals in them can be indicative of their purity and usage. Apart from that, the heavy metals are among the most widely spread pollutants in nature, and their presence in groundwater indicates the existence of natural or anthropogenic sources of contamination. Ground waters polluted with heavy metals can also be very toxic and harmful to human health, and very damaging to the environment as well. In this article, the concentrations of eight toxic heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Al, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cr) were analyzed in the ground waters of the Mesta River Basin. A number of data for the concentrations of those heavy metals were used in order to calculate the following two indices describing groundwater purity: the Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI), and the Metal Index (MI). Both indices describe the overall quality of groundwater in direct relationship to the sum total of heavy metal concentrations. On one hand, minimal concentrations of heavy metals are necessary for the faultless functioning of organisms and indispensable to various biochemical processes, but on the other hand, in high concentrations, they might lead to dysfunctions in the cells of healthy organisms, and problems within their enzyme system. And these effects are entirely dependent upon the nature of the heavy metals involved. The research carried out so far shows that, according to HPI, about 65% of the shallow ground waters in the Mesta River Basin can be classified as being of excellent quality. The values obtained for the HPI are in the range of 3 to 64 (id est under the critical value of 100), or the groundwater is not contaminated with heavy metals. The MI varies within the range of 0.3 to 2.6, and therefore the groundwater from the zones with active water exchange can be characterized as being of slight to medium poor quality (41%), and the groundwater within Class II (or classified as pure with values of MI between 0.3 and 1.0) comprise approximately 59% of the overall catchment area.

Assessment of Surface Water Pollution With Heavy Metals

Water pollution represents the direct or indirect change of its normal composition as a result of human activity in such extent that is affecting all other possibilities to use the water in its natural state. This study was carried out to investigate the seasonal variability and distribution of heavy metals in the waters of Somesul Mic (Romania), Bic (Republic of Moldova), and Prut (Romanian-Moldovan natural border) rivers. Water samples were collected from nine sampling sites in Autumn 2016, Spring and Summer 2017. Dissolved metals concentrations were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The metal index (MI) was calculated to assess the contaminations of the Somesul Mic, Bic, and Prut rivers. MI values revealed that Somesul Mic and Prut rivers are pure to moderately affected by metal pollution, while Bic river is slightly to strongly affected by metal pollution.

Evaluation of Soil Quality in Parts of Israel and Nigeria

The levels of physiochemical parameters and some heavy metals in top soil and sediment from parts of Israel and Nigeria were determined using standard methods and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer by GBC Avanta Version 2.02. The results showed ranges of mean levels of pH 5.78±0.4 – 8.08±0.001 in Israel and 5.3±0.1 – 6.70±0.2 in Nigeria; Organic matter 0.04±0.09% - 13.49±0.03% in Israel and 1.10±0.7% – 2.69±0.9% in Nigeria; Total Nitrogen 0.03±0.01% - 0.96±0.1% in Israel and 0.05±0.7% - 0.14±0.2% in Nigeria; Available Phosphorus 1.40±0.06 ppm – 70.18±0.06 ppm in Israel and 14±0.1 ppm – 64.6±0.2 ppm in Nigeria; Potassium 0.64±0.6 meq/100 g – 5.74±0.02 meq/100 g in Israel and 0.07±0.05 meq/100 g – 0.08±0.04 meq/100 g in Nigeria. The highest C/N ratios were 65.25 and 53.67 in Israel and 13.89 and 12.80 in Nigeria which implies high decomposition and mineralization in Nigeria. The levels of all the heavy metals were below their standard limits. The mean levels of physicochemical parameters of soils from Israel and Nigeria showed significant difference (p<0.05). The soil metal index of the heavy metals ranged from 0.013 – 0.070 in Israel and 0.004 – 0.058 in Nigeria. Cadmium was found to be the heavy metal with highest enrichment factor value of 87.871 in Israel and 5853.66 in Nigeria. The soils from Israel were found to be alkaline while those from Nigeria were acidic, nutrient deficient and need application of land amendment materials.

Seasonal assessment of drinking water sources in Rwanda using GIS, contamination degree (Cd), and metal index (MI)

The quality of drinking water source remains as a major concern in areas of developing and underdeveloped countries worldwide. The treatment and supply of drinking water in Rwanda are carried out by Water and Sanitation Corporation, a state-owned public company. However, it is not able to supply water to all households. Consequently, the non-serviced households depend on natural water sources, like springs, to meet their water requirements. Nevertheless, the water quality in these springs is scarcely known. Therefore, this study assessed and compared metal elements in drinking water sources in the dry and rainy seasons in 2017 using the contamination degree, metal index, and geographic information systems to reveal the spatial distribution of water quality within the considered water sources of springs in Rwanda. The samples were collected monthly from nine water sources of springs and the measured elements are aluminium, calcium, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc. The metal index indicated that during the dry season and rainy season, the sites of Kibungo (1.10 and 1.26) and Kinigi (1.01 and 1.54) have assessed a metal index which is higher than 1. Thus, the water quality of those sites was getting the threshold of warning. The analysis indicated that pollutants are easily transported into water bodies during the rainy season in urban and rural areas to a greater extent than during the dry season .