Plastic plays a major role in today’s human life; moreover, it becomes a part of our life, yet it is a most challenging threat for the freshwater ecosystems in the future. The present study ...identifies, characterizes, and quantifies the microplastics in groundwater samples around Perungudi and Kodungaiyur municipal solid waste dumpsites in South India. To evaluate and assess the microplastic abundance, characteristics (composite, size, colour, shape, and surface morphology), detection methods of plastic particles, and potential risk factors from the absorption of microplastic in groundwater. Further, the microplastic particle classification was performed using LB-340 Zoom Stereo Microscope with LED Illumination, ATR-FTIR fitted with SEM with EDX analyzer. The groundwater samples (n = 20) were found contaminated with microplastic particles in the range of 2–80 items/L with coloured particles, white (38%), black (27%), green (8%), red (18%), blue (6%), and yellow (2%). The polymer type was found to occur in the following order: nylon (70%), pellets (18%), foam (6%), fragments (3%), fibers/PVC (2%), and polythene (1%). In both sampling sites, 90% of microplastics are derived from the buried plastics and waste fragmentation which are predominantly of polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS). Micro and nano plastics abundance in groundwater is of paramount importance as it has a major impact on human health. This study throws light on the characteristics and quantification of the microplastics in groundwater that initiates further research by which microplastics enter into the environment.
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•Microplastics have found in groundwater samples around the solid waste landfills.•Microplastics abundance ranges from different sources 2 to 80 items/L.•The number of microplastics increased with the decreasing of particle size less than 500 μm.•The multi-analytical characteristics and assessing the potential risk of microplastic to human in groundwater developed.
Two weeks after the world health organization described the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak as pandemic, the Indian government implemented lockdown of industrial activities and traffic flows ...across the entire nation between March 24 and May 31, 2020. In this paper, we estimated the improvements achieved in air quality during the lockdown period (March 24, 2020 and April 20, 2020) compared to the pre-lockdown (January 1, 2020 and March 23, 2020) by analyzing PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, NO2 and O3 data from nine different air quality monitoring stations distributed across four different zones of the industrialized Gujarat state of western Indian. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)-Air Quality Index (AQI) illustrated better air qualities during the lockdown with higher improvements in the zones 2 (Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar) and 3 (Jamnagar and Rajkot), and moderate improvements in the zones 1 (Surat, Ankleshwar and Vadodra) and 4 (Bhuj and Palanpur). The concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 were reduced by 38–78%, 32–80% and 30–84%, respectively. Functioning of the power plants possibly led to less reduction in CO (3–55%) and the declined emission of NO helped to improve O3 (16–48%) contents. We observed an overall improvement of 58% in AQI for the first four months of 2020 compared to the same interval of previous year. This positive outcome resulted from the lockdown restrictions might help to modify the existing environmental policies of the region.
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•Reduction of 30–84% in NO2 during COVID-19 lockdown in western India.•Increasing O3 (16–58%) was mainly due to less NO emission.•Overall improvement of Air Quality Index (AQI) by 58% compared to 2019.•Populated cities with more industrial activities showed higher improvement in air quality (AQI: +60–75%).
The present study aims to investigate the geospatial variations in natural radioactivity, radiological risks, and the heavy mineral content along the urban costal zone of Chennai, South India. During ...the period of March 2019, ambient gamma radioactivity was measured proposed site using a Ludlum Model 19 micro-R survey meter and gamma-ray spectrometry using a Gamma-ray spectrometer with NaI (Tl) detector. The ambient gamma radiation levels at 13 urban beaches in Chennai megacity along the Bay of Bengal range from 18 to 965 nGy/h, with an average of 148 nGy/h. The natural radionuclides contributed to the effective dose in the order of
40
K >
232
Th >
238
U. The radionuclide activity concentration values confirmed that the sediments belong to the fluvial sources of beach placer or heavy minerals in the study area.
Underwater blasting, often known as submarine blasting, is used for a wide range of purposes. This includes harbor and channel widening, trench excavation for establishing oil and gas pipelines and ...communication cables, demolition operations, and substructure construction. Particularly, underwater rock blasting is the most difficult and least understood source of vibration, which may have a significant impact on the safety of neighboring buildings and structures, especially berthing structures. The main aim of the study is to design the blasting patterns and monitor the blast vibrations on substructures during real blasting. Furthermore, it is designed to monitor vibration movements and manage them in order to protect the coastal environments from the blasting effects and ensure the safety of various building structures, as well as to maintain the blasting efficiency. Dredging occurs in deep water, with depths ranging from 16 to 20 m, to remove only around 5 m of rock. As a result of the aqueous layer above the rock, this sort of blasting action demands a higher level of competence and understanding of the related activities performed above the surface of the water. The measuring and monitoring of underwater blast-generated vibration in the coastline structures at Nhava Sheva Port, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, were discussed in this study. When using underwater explosives, proper safety precautions are taken to protect workers, other vessels in the blasting zone, and buildings from blasting vibrations. With a case study, the authors provide a thorough overview of their approach to underwater blasting utilizing existing blasting technologies.
In the current scenario, microplastic, as a contaminant, is becoming an ecological threat to the freshwater ecosystem. The present study attempted to determine the quality and quantity of ...microplastic contaminants in water and soil samples at Veeranam lake in Tamil Nadu, India. It is very important to mention that the Veeranam lake in Tamil Nadu, is a major urban water source of the capital district of Tamil Nadu. Using Van Veen grab-sampling equipment and trawl methods, the study detected the presence of microplastics in 28 sediment samples and 31 water samples from the collected samples. In addition to this, the density separation was performed with zinc chloride solution using the Sediment-Microplastic Isolation (SMI) unit. The quantum of total plastic particle present in surface water were in the range of 13–54 items/km2 with a mean value of 28 items/km2. In the case of sediment samples, the amount of total plastic particle was found in the range of 92–604 items/kg with a mean value of 309 items/kg. The abundance of microplastic particles in water and sediments in various shape, colour, and composition as in the order of nylons > polythene > fibres/PVC > fragments > foam > pellets; dominant colours as white > red > black > green > blue and yellow at the sampling sites. In term of percentage of contaminant distribution, the study found that the collected water and sediment samples deposited with polymer type of plastic particles were nylon (39%), polyethylene (23%), polystyrene (19%), polypropylene (15%), and polyvinyl chloride (4%). The research work is a baseline study for the proposed site of Veeranam lake for microplastics contamination.
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•Microplastics have been identified and distributed in the freshwater ecosystems.•An abundance of microplastic particles in floating debris and lake bottom sediments averages 28 (items per square km2) and 309 items/kg.•Microplastics vary in the order of nylons > polythene > fibers/PVC > fragments > foam > pellets.
The aim of the present work is to determine the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides and the associated radiation hazards in soils of Elephant hills, Tamil Nadu, India using gamma-ray ...spectrometry. The average activity concentrations of
238
U,
232
Th and
40
K are 52, 48, and 840 Bq kg
−1
respectively. The average dose rate of 89 nGy h
−1
is nearly 1.5 times higher than the outdoor world average, but the average annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) is less than the recommended limit of unity. Pearson correlation analysis indicates that
40
K does not contribute to radioactivity in these soils.
Microplastics (MPs) around the landfill site have been few studies thus far. The most recent studies have focussed on MP pollution in freshwater, marine, and sediment environments. Conversely, soil, ...a significant sink of MPs, it has had less scientific attention until now. On the other hand, atmospheric MPs are growing pollutants that have recently been a cause for worry on worldwide. Consequently, the review is focused on the following goals: 1) to study about how microplastic is distributed in aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments; 2) to give specifics on the many techniques used to characterise and identify microplastic; and 3) to discuss about challenges to the ecosystem, animals, and humans. This review will advance our knowledge of dissemination, characterisation, and threats of microplastics around landfill systems. In order to find areas where the study of microplastic can be improved, it is required to review the current literature on the subject.
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•The impact of microplastics (MPs) on risk in the landfill is still mostly underexplored.•Occurrence and source of microplastics from a landfill environment.•Create the techniques for quantifying the microplastic contamination from the soil, water, and air samples.•Human health and ecological risk factors of landfill environment.
Roadside soil contamination is mostly caused by human-caused pollutant deposition. PTEs are among the many substances that are harmful for both humans and the environment. PTE concentrations in ...roadside soil in Chennai, southern India, have been determined in this study. To evaluate the seriousness of the threats, more environmental and geochemical indices have been applied. 83 soil samples have been obtained from the study regions and focusing on important roads. Elemental analysis has been analyzed with ED-XRF and sieve-filtered samples focused on PTEs such as arsenic, barium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, potassium, nickel, lead, thorium, titanium, zinc, and uranium. Significant metallic variations have been found in soil samples around roads by the investigation. The elements this study examined section ascending in the following sequence: Fe > Ti > Zn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Ni > Th > As > U > K. In the research area, the CD classification denotes high contamination, whereas the CF indices show mild to significant pollution. PLI indicates moderate to high pollution, whereas EF suggests excessive enrichment. Igeo demonstrates a range from uncontaminated to highly contaminated. PERI showed high levels in the northern study region, whereas GUFI shows several hot spots indicating moderate to severe pollution. The Hazard Index (HI) values for all metals were less than one, demonstrating the absence of non-carcinogenic risks for both adults and children. Multivariate data show natural and anthropogenic PTEs in roadside soil. In addition, a soil quality monitoring system is needed to mitigate continual contamination risks.
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•We identified PTEs in urban roadside soil variables with higher quantities.•PTE concentrations are examined using modern geochemical techniques.•HI was <1 suggests that negligible non-carcinogenic risk to adults or children.
In recent years, the contamination of the earth's materials with radioactive elements as naturally occurring radioactive material has been a source of concern. This study is aimed at the ...environmental radioactivity of beach sediments and the gamma dose levels along the south-eastern coastal region of the Indian subcontinent, from the Palar River mouth (Kadalur Kuppam) to the Pulicat Lake or Pazhaverkadu coast. Furthermore, to analyze the gamma dosage level, as well as the spatial variation of the activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 4 K, as well as the acid-leachable trace elements Ni, Pb, Mn, Zn, Cu, Co, Fe, and Cr in coastal sediments. In addition, radiological risk and hazard indices are assessed in the study domain. The MiniTRACE CSDF survey meter was used to determine the ambient gamma dose level and the activity concentration of primordial radionuclides (238U, 232Th, and 4 K) was quantified using gamma-ray spectroscopy with a NaI (Tl) detector, as well as trace elements studied in atomic absorption spectroscopy. The primordial radionuclides activity concentration (238U, 232Th, and 4 K) in collected coastal sediments of the proposed region were found in the range of ≤3–1953, ≤3–1180, and 41–753 Bq/kg, respectively. The annual effective dose rate was found in the order of 4 K > 232Th > 238U. Based on the geochemometric approach, the data collected for various radiological parameters were combined with radiological risk indices, and trace element concentrations were compared on a regional and global scale. The current study could provide a new research pathway in the areas of coastal monitoring, environmental health, and radiation safety measures.
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