Geographical distribution of cancer in India with special reference to stomach cancer

There are regional variations in the occurrence of different types of cancers in India. A cancer intensity map has been prepared in order to identify the dominance of different types of carcinomas in various geographical regions. The study shows that the pattern of cancer distribution is apparently linked to a great extent with the type of nutrition habits and socio‐economic and cultural environment in each region. Various types of nutrition habits are discussed in order to study the relationship between the type of diet and the incidence to stomach cancer in India.     

Biodiversity of Jal Mahal Lake and Kalakho Lake,Rajasthan, India with special reference to avifauna

This paper reports ecological studies with special reference to avifauna at Jal Mahal Lake (urban) and Kalakho Lake (rural), Rajasthan. Both lakes provide habitats for various migratory and resident birds. More than 180 species of birds, some listed in the Red Data Book, belonging to 49 families were recorded. The birds commonly sighted included some endangered, uncommon, vulnerable, threatened and near threatened species. The overall status of avifaunal species recorded was much better at the less polluted Kalakho Lake than at the Jal Mahal Lake. The human activity around the Jal Mahal Lake and agricultural practices in the dried up area seem to be responsible for the decline in the number of bird species. Drastic regulations are warranted to save these wetlands.     

Spatial heterogeneity and diversity of vegetation at the landscape level in Inner Mongolia, China, with special reference to water resources

Inner Mongolia, China, was divided into five different areas (landscapes) based on the annual overland flow of water (AOF): <2, 2–5, 5–10, 10–50, and >50 mm. Two maps of plant communities with a 1-cm² grid and the AOF were overlaid (scale: 1 cm = 15 km). Each plant community that occurred in each 1 cm × 1 cm cell (S-cell) was recorded, and the number of occurrences of each community type was counted for groups of four neighboring S-cells (L-cell). These data were statistically analyzed using the power law for each of the five landscapes. The per L-cell community richness and diversity for dry (AOF < 2 mm) and subhumid (AOF > 50 mm) landscapes were low compared to those of the three mesic landscapes (2–50 mm AOF). Community spatial heterogeneity was low in mesic landscapes. The dry and subhumid landscapes consisted of a small number of community types and exhibited monotonous spatial change, while the mesic landscapes consisted of rich plant communities that were spatially intermingled because natural conditions, such as climatic and edaphic conditions, in the landscapes are complex and divided into small areas, and, furthermore, historical anthropogenic activities such as livestock grazing, especially in landscapes with AOFs of 2–50 mm, have divided the landscape into small fragments.     

Metal contamination in water and bioaccumulation of metals in the planktons,molluscs and fishes in Jamshedpur stretch of Subarnarekha River of Chotanagpur plateau,India

Subarnarekha River is a rain‐fed peninsular river passing through industrial city Jamshedpur, an important industrial centre of Jharkhand, India. Heavy metal concentrations like Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni and Cu in water, sediment and in different food webs were determined using inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrophotometer for two sampling sites that are found stressed with high contamination due to urbanization and anthropogenic activities. Present study mainly focuses on the metal concentration in water, sediment, plankton with bioaccumulation factor (BAF) in body parts of molluscs and fishes. The study revealed that Zn and Pb were found in highest concentration in plankton (Zn: 20.6 g/kg, Pb: 6.0 g/kg), molluscs (Zn: 4.6 g/kg, Pb: 0.6 g/kg) and in fish (Zn: 6.1 g/kg, Pb: 3.0 g/kg) as biomagnification. Calculated BAF indicated that in fish species Zn has highest BAF value followed by Pb, which may be harmful for human consumption.     

Environmental impact of mining activity on the pollution of the Medjerda River, north-west Tunisia

 In the Fej Hcine mining area of north-west Tunisia, the Medjerda River and its principal tributary, El Melah, are polluted by heavy metals and arsenic. The geochemical studies undertaken have indicated pronounced falls in the concentrations of metals since the mining activities ceased, although the river sediments still contain higher levels than the local host rocks, particularly arsenic and zinc. At the Tunisia/Algeria border, arsenic concentrations in the Medjerda waters can exceed 1 mg/l. Leaching tests on samples of ore, flotation tailings and an arseniferous mass indicate that whilst Zn, Pb, Cu and Cd concentrations do not exceed 1 mg/l in the leachate solutions, arsenic levels reach 5, 344 and 9,400 mg/l respectively. The study has shown that the pollution originates not only from the mining activities but also from the mineral occurrences present in the mining district and from another source within Algeria. Received: 18 May 1998 · Accepted: 24 June 1998     

Heavy metals in emergent trees and pioneers from tropical forest with special reference to forest fires and local pollution sources in Sarawak, Malaysia

Leaf samples of tropical trees, i.e. Dryobalanops lanceolata (Kapur paji), Dipterocarpaceae and Macaranga spp. (Mahang), Euphorbiaceae were analyzed for 21 chemical elements. The pioneer Macaranga spp. exhibited higher concentrations for the majority of elements compared to the emergent species of Dryobalanops lanceolata, which was attributed to the higher physiological activity of the fast growing pioneer species compared to emergent trees. Lead showed rather high concentrations in several samples from the Bakam re-forestation site. This is suggested to be caused by emissions through brick manufacturing and related activities in the vicinity. A comparison of Dryobalanops lanceolata samples collected in 1993, 1995 and 1997 in the Lambir Hills National Park revealed that certain heavy metals, i.e. Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Ti showed higher values in 1997 compared to the previous years, which could indicate an atmospheric input from the haze caused by the extensive forest fires raging in Borneo and other parts of Southeast Asia.     

Monitoring of the mediterranean sea pollution (med pol) and data quality assurance

The concerted effort to monitor contaminants and to assess pollution in the Mediterranean Sea was agreed upon by the riverine States with a Programme named MED POL, part of the Barcelona Convention signed up in 1975. For near 25 years, this Programme has been the cornerstone of the Mediterranean Action Plan and has been instrumental to develop the capabilities of the countries to measure and assess marine pollution. Through cooperation with the IAEA Marine Environment Laboratory, in Monaco, which has acted as analytical and training centre for MED POL, hundreds of analysts of the Mediterranean region were trained, equipment was installed and assisted, and analytical techniques to measure pesticides, petroleum hydrocarbons, PCBs, heavy metals, organometallic compounds, and radionuclides in marine samples were tested and adopted. Throughout the years a Quality Assurance programme, which included frequent intercomparison exercises and production of marine reference materials, has also been implemented to improve the comparability of the data. Today, near two thirds of the Mediterranean States implement national marine monitoring programmes to assess water quality and contaminant concentrations. Results of the MED POL programme were embodied in the adoption by the Mediterranean countries of anti‐pollution measures (e.g., emission standards and/or water quality criteria related with mercury, cadmium, radioactive substances, bathing waters, shellfish waters). Trends in marine pollution are shown with data on mussels from the North west Mediterranean and show a reduction of pollutant discharges from land based sources in this area. However, basin wide integrated management of the Mediterranean Sea still requires regional coordinated efforts and increased analytical accuracy in pollution monitoring. The Analytical Quality Assurance has, therefore, a core role in the collaborative assessment of the contamination of the Mediterranean Sea.     

Chronic arsenicosis in cattle with special reference to its metabolism in arsenic endemic village of Nadia district West Bengal India

Thirty Milch cattle were selected randomly from a village of Nadia district of West Bengal, India containing high arsenic in water and soil samples. Milk, feces and hair samples were collected to analyze arsenic status in animals. Water and straw samples were also estimated for arsenic. Milk products prepared from milk of cattle rearing in arsenic prone village were also collected to quantify total arsenic and speciation of arsenic in milk and feces samples were also carried out. It was observed that high amount of arsenic was present in milk, feces, hair of cattle and water and straw samples in arsenic prone village. Milk product also contained significant amount of arsenic than that of milk product of control village. Speciation study revealed arsenite fraction was mainly eliminated through milk, whereas organoarsenic species were mainly excreted through feces.     

Gill and head kidney antioxidant processes and innate immune system responses of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) exposed to different contaminants in the St. Lawrence River, Canada

Biomarkers of oxidative stress metabolism and the innate immune response were examined in gill and head kidney tissue of wild-caught yellow perch (Perca flavescens) collected from four sites ranging in type and degree of metal pollution in the St. Lawrence River, Quebec, Canada. Sites were ranked as follows: Île Dorval < Îles aux Sables < Îlet Vert < Beauharnois. Biomarker measurements did not correspond completely to the perceived pollution gradient. Total protein content was highest at a site 4 km downstream of municipal effluents (Îlet Vert) exposed to moderate and high levels of heavy metals and faecal coliforms, respectively. Thiol content was highest at the reference site (Île Dorval) with the lowest contaminant levels. Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity was highest in fish from the site furthest downstream that was exposed to moderate metal contamination (Îles aux Sables). Glutathione reductase (GRd) activity was high in both gill and head kidney tissue of fish from the reference site (Île Dorval) and highest in the kidney of fish from the most contaminated site (Beauharnois). Catalase activity was highest in head kidney tissue in fish from this latter site. Ceruloplasmin activity was lowest in head kidney from fish collected at the reference site and highest at Beauharnois. Lysozyme activity was lowest in head kidney tissue from fish at the reference site and highest in tissue from fish at Îlet Vert, downstream of municipal effluents. These results suggest that the direction and magnitude of oxidative stress biomarker response and innate immune function biomarker response vary between tissues and among complex mixtures of contaminants, complicating interpretation of results. Results further suggest that bacterial loading, as measured by faecal coliforms, affects the oxidative stress metabolism and the innate immune response.     

Mercury in the River Nura and its floodplain, Central Kazakhstan: I. River sediments and water

The River Nura in Central Kazakhstan has been heavily polluted by mercury originating from an acetaldehyde plant. Mercury in the riverbed is mainly associated with power station fly ash, forming a new type of technogenic deposit. A systematic survey of the bed was carried out to establish the location, extent and nature of the contaminated sediments, and to evaluate the potential for sediment transport. The bed sediments were found to contain very high concentrations of mercury, particularly in the first 15 km downstream of the source of the pollution. Average total mercury concentrations in this section of the river are typically between 150 and 240 mg/kg, falling rapidly with increasing distance downstream. The estimated total volume of silts in the riverbed between Temirtau, the origin of the pollution, and Intumak Reservoir, located 75 km downstream, has been calculated as 463500 m3, containing an estimated 9.4 tonnes mercury. Forty-six percent of the total volume of contaminated silts containing almost 95% of the mercury are located in the upper 25 km of the river, however. The data clearly support the hypothesis that large quantities of polluted sediment are not transported long distances downstream but are removed from the aquatic environment in times of flood and deposited on the low-lying lands adjacent to the river. This process, however, does not stop mercury moving further downstream in the water column.     

Analytical procedures and clinical reference materials in monitoring human exposures to trace metals with special reference to Cr, Pb and T1

This paper presents some special guidelines concerning sample collection and handling of clinical specimens for Cr, Pb and T1 analyses. The analytical methods used are briefly discussed. The available clinical reference materials (certified or not) for these three elements are reviewed and future developments are suggested.     

Sustainability policies to reduce pollution in energy supply and waste sectors in the V4 countries

Sustainability is directly connected with less natural resources consumption and consequently, with less pollution. However, carbon dioxide emissions could be controlled through policies that are designed starting from empirical results. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of electricity prices for non-household consumers, innovation and economic development on pollution in energy supply and waster sectors in V4 countries (2010–2021). The analysis is based on fixed-effect panel threshold and dynamic GMM models and revealed a U pattern for energy supply sector and an inverted U for waste sector. Higher electricity prices for non-households and more renewables consumption in waste sector are necessary, while more patents in environment-related technologies have expected impact on pollution only at higher levels of GDP. These empirical findings are subject to policy proposals.     

Quantitative multimolecular marker approach to investigate the spatial variability of the transfer of pollution from the Fensch River to the Moselle River (France)

The lipidic fraction from 8 sediments sampled at the confluence between the Fensch River (FR) and the Moselle River (MR) have been analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in order to investigate the transfer of organic micropollutants from the FR to the MR. Molecular markers have been quantified and classified into five categories: natural, petrogenic, pyrogenic and sewage water markers and non-specific molecules. This classification coupled with the quantification of the molecules allows the comparison between anthropogenic and natural inputs and the source apportionment of anthropogenic molecules that are not covalently bound to sedimentary organic macromolecules. The transfer and the fate of organic micropollutants in river sediments seem to be controlled by the water flow. Low water flow conditions induce the settling of fine particles, which could limit the biodegradation. This leads to the preservation of the original anthropogenic fingerprint that is rich in low molecular weight molecules. In high water flow conditions, sediments are mainly composed of coarse particles, limiting the preservation of organic matter, which leads to a persistent anthropogenic fingerprint, mainly composed of high molecular weight compounds.     

Impacts of pollution derived from ship wrecks on the marine environment on the basis of s/s “Stuttgart” (Polish coast, Europe)

In 1943 the German hospital ship s/s Stuttgart (Lazaretschiff “C”) was sunk close to the port of Gdynia (Gulf of Gdańsk — Polish coast). This and other actions (undertaken after the war to remove the wreck) led to pollution of the sea bottom with oil derivatives.During our studies (2009) 11 surface sediment and water samples were collected as well as sediment core samples at 4 locations in order to determine the concentration levels of priority pollutants belonging to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB). The concentrations of 16 PAH and 7 PCB were analysed with GC-MS. ΣPAH varied between 11.54 ± 0.39 and 206.7 ± 6.5 mg/kg dry weight in the surface sediments, and from 0.686 ± 0.026 to 1291 ± 53 mg/kg dry weight in the core samples. Contamination in the core samples collected may reach a depth of at least 230-240 cm (deepest sample studied). The PAH-group profiles in all surface sediment samples suggest a pyrolytic source of PAH, while the results obtained for core samples indicate a mixed pattern of pyrolytic and petrogenic inputs of PAH. Results obtained may suggest also that fuel residues being present at sea bottom is not crude oil derived but results from coal processing (synthetic fuel). The sum of PCB in surface sediments ranged from 0.761 ± 0.068 to 6.82 ± 0.28 μg/kg dry weight (except for sampling point W2, where ΣPCB was 108.8 ± 4.4 μg/kg dry weight). The strong correlation between PAH and PCB levels, and the fact that PCB are present only in the surface sediments, suggest that the compounds in these sediments got there as a result of emission from urban areas, entering the aquatic environment via atmospheric deposition. PCB levels in the sediment core samples were generally very low and in most cases did not exceed the method quantification limit.     

Bryophytes as indicators of trace metals pollution in the River Brenta (NE Italy)

The performance of aquatic bryophytes for detecting metal pollution was tested along the River Brenta, in NE Italy. Nine sampling sites were selected, three of them along short tributaries with no anthropic influence upstream, the others along the main bed of the river. Two sites were deliberately placed downstream from a previously known pollution focus. The multivariate analysis (classification and ordination) of the matrix of 10 metals and 38 samples revealed: (i) a good discrimination between 'clean' and potentially polluted sites; (ii) two contamination syndromes, one by As and, to a lesser degree, Pb, and the other by Cr, due to agricultural and industrial activities, respectively; and (iii) the previously known pollution focus was clearly detected. The magnitude of contamination was estimated by means of a comparison between local backgrounds and concentrations of metals measured. The distance of aquatic bryophytes from the center of the river was negatively correlated with metal concentrations, which suggests that this factor should be taken into account in the implementation of sampling protocols.     

Water temperature surveys in the vicinity of power stations with special reference to infra-red techniques

The use of three techniques for measuring water temperature is described in the context of field trials, at Berkeley Nuclear Power Station, made in 1967. Two of the techniques measure only the surface temperature of the water, the third using thermistors can record the temperature at varying depths.The techniques are complementary, but the infra-red line scan method has the great advantage of presenting a global picture of the surface temperature in a readily-digested form.Field experiments using these techniques can be most helpful in validating model studies and possible digital computer programs for examining the spread of warm water from power station cooling-water systems.     

Assessing the improvement of the Bilbao estuary water quality in response to pollution abatement measures

To evaluate the success of almost 20 years of pollution abatement in the Bilbao estuary watershed in northern Spain, we analyzed temporal trends in pollution discharges and water quality from 1993 to 2003. Over that period a great portion of the raw wastewater discharge was intercepted and treated, leading to a significant reduction in the pollution load to the estuary (51.8% in biochemical oxygen demand, 70.9% in ammonia nitrogen and 81.9% in faecal coliforms). Temporal trends of mean annual levels of water quality variables showed statistically significant increases in dissolved oxygen saturation (between 2.04 and 4.11%/year) and decreases in ammonia nitrogen (between -4.15 and -175.75 microM NH3/year) and faecal coliforms concentrations (from 2.55 x 10(5) to 2.13 x 10(4) CFU/100ml). The improvement of the Bilbao estuary water quality reported in this paper is primarily attributed to the pollution abatement measures accomplished by the local water authority. Finally, as a result of these pollution control efforts, European bathing water quality standards were met at local beaches.     

Subjective perceptions,symptom intensity and performance: a comparison of two independent studies,both changing similarly the pollution load in an office

The present paper shows that introducing or removing the same pollution source in an office in two independent investigations, one in Denmark and one in Sweden, using similar experimental methodology, resulted in similar and repeatable effects on subjective assessments of perceived air quality, intensity of sick building syndrome symptoms and performance of office work. Removing the pollution source improved the perceived air quality, decreased the perceived dryness of air and the severity of headaches, and increased typing performance. These effects were observed separately in each experiment and were all significant (P < or = 0.05) after combining the data from both studies, indicating the advantages of pollution source strength control for health, comfort, and productivity.     

Assessment of mercury and methylmercury pollution with zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) in the Ebro River (NE Spain) impacted by industrial hazardous dumps

Large amounts of industrial waste containing high concentrations of mercury (up to 436 microg/g) are dumped in a reservoir adjacent to a chlor-alkali plant in Flix (Catalonia, Spain), on the lower Ebro River. In order to assess the spatial redistribution of mercury from the point source and its bioavailability to the aquatic food web, zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) were collected at several sites. The highest total Hg (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations ever reported for zebra mussels were found (THg: 0.02 to 0.81 microg/g ww; MeHg: 0.22 to 0.60 microg/g ww). At the most polluted site, close to the waste dump, the mean values were 20 times greater than the local background level. Concentrations decreased with increasing mussel size at all sites. The MeHg/THg ratio was ca. 60% (range: 50-80%). A comparison of similar size classes clearly indicated the hot spots of Hg bioavailability to the aquatic food web and downstream transport.     

Organochlorines and mercury in livers of great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) wintering in northeastern Mediterranean wetlands in relation to area, bird age, and gender

Wild birds are exposed to pollutants in their habitats. Top consumers of aquatic environments such as the fish-eating great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) are especially affected due to the bioaccumulation of toxic substances in their tissues. This study analysed the livers of 80 great cormorants from Greece to estimate the concentration of organochlorines and mercury and to examine their possible toxic effects and origin. The results showed that mercury (geometric mean 8089 ng g⁻¹ dw), p,p′-DDE (2628 ng g⁻¹ dw), ∑ HCHs (47 ng g⁻¹ dw) and HCB (116 ng g⁻¹ dw) concentrations can be considered high compared with those found in great cormorant livers elsewhere except in highly polluted areas, whereas ∑ PCBs occurred in relatively low concentrations (1091 ng g⁻¹ dw). β-HCH was the dominant HCH isomer. Pollutant levels were generally unrelated to area, age and gender. However, p,p′-DDE and p,p′-DDD showed intersite differences, whilst the proportion of PCBs with 8 chlorine atoms were significantly higher in adult than 1st year great cormorants. Pollution did not reflect local patterns but rather these along the Baltic and Black Seas, whilst differences in p,p′-DDE concentration and ∑ DDTs/∑PCBs ratios between Evros, Axios or Amvrakikos, found on common migration route, suggested different bird origins. Most birds had toxic mercury concentrations; 83.7% above 4000 ng g⁻¹ dw and 16% above 17,000 ng g⁻¹ dw. Other pollutant levels were too low to have adverse effects.