Studies on the Pollution of the Kalinadi by Industrial Wastes Near Mansurpur Part 1: Hydrometric and Physico-Chemical Characteristics of the Wastes and River Water

Stream pollution by industrial wastes is posing a problem in Uttar Pradesh. In the present investigations an attempt has been made to study the ecological features of a section of the Kalinadi so as to find out the cumulative or detrimental effect of pollution on fish and fisheries by the effluent discharge of sugar factory and distillery wastes near Mansurpur (District Muzaffarnagar), U. P. This paper is part I of the project. The liquid wastes produced by the sugar factory vary from 66 × 10⁶ to 88 × 10⁶ litres/day excluding condenser water and contain variable quantities of cane fibres, cellulose, lime, waxes, fermented sugar juice, mollasses, and some quantities of sulphate, phosphate, and nitrogen, the oxygen being nil with high values of B. O. D. and C. O. D. The liquid waste from the distillery is called spent wash. The spent wash (62 × 10⁴ litres/day) is highly coloured and acidic (pH 4.3 … 2.9). The B. O. D. and C. O. D. values were very high in the order of 28,526 mg/1 … 45,146 mg/1 and 52,516 mg/1 to 66,862 mg/1. Thus total waste of about 17.3 × 10⁶ litres with no oxygen and high B. O. D. (9,600 mg/1 … 10,116 mg/1) is let off into the Kalinadi. Hydrometric observations on the Kalinadi show that the pollutional hazard is appreciable during the low flow period of the river. The wastes affect the river in a number of ways:

• - The deposition of cellulose fibres, organic and inorganic matter affects the substratum adversely. The blackish brown colour of the wastes affects the light penetration by limiting the growth of phytoplankton.
• - There appears to be no potential danger to the river from the electrolyte pollution as the specific conductivity lies below limiting values.
• - Changes in pH in river water due to the acidic nature of the wastes do not affect directly the fauna and flora, but the acidic condition becomes lethal in the presence of low oxygen and high temperature values.
• - The high load of organic matter present in the wastes draws heavily on the oxygen budget of the river and adversely changes the water and bottom quality of the river for a stretch of 10 km, which adversely affects the environmental condition of both fish and fish food.
• - The presence of sulphuric acid in distillery waste and hydrogen sulphide in river water is toxic to fish and fish food.
• - The decomposition of organic matter in an anaerobic condition and in another favourable environment, as with a low redox potential, the presence of sufficient organic matter and a constant supply of sulphur-reducing bacteria, produces more hydrogen sulphide which may be detrimental or sublethal in the presence of a low oxygen saturation and high temperature.
• - The oxygen level increases at each succeeding station through reaeration and dilution with the lowering of B. O. D. and C. O. D. The oxygen-sag curve is like a typical spoon with handle-shape.

     

Assessing the Hazard of Environmental Pollution by Landfills of Industrial and Municipal Wastes

Water Resources - The environmental effect of landfills of solid municipal wastes is considered, including their effect on groundwater. The accumulation of municipal wastes causes considerable...     

The Biological Quality of the Water of the Czechoslovak Part of the Oder River

The biology and purity of the water in three profiles of the Oder River in its upper stream on the Czechoslovak territory were investigated in the course of 1979… 1980. Zoobenthos, physical and chemical parametres, and microbiological germs were analysed. The bioseston was considered only briefly. On the basis of the presented material the Oder enters the Ostrava industrial agglomeration as a betamesosaprobic stream (Class I b of water purity), in spite of the fact that many sources of pollution can be found in this section of the river. Physical and chemical parameters can be assessed in a similar way. The Oder River belongs to Class III of water purity according to microbiological ratings.     

Studies of aquatic fungi. Part 16: A quatic fungi of the River Pisa and its tributary,the River Skroda

The work was undertaken to investigate the mycoflora of the river Pisa and its tributary, the river Skroda. Samples of water were collected once a month over four years (1984 … 1987) for hydrochemical analysis and studies of the fungus content. Forty-three species of fungi were found in these rivers. The following fungi unknown in Poland were found in the Pisa river: Achlya megasperma and Rhipidium partenosporum.     

Water Quality Assessment Based on Chemical and Biological Characteristics: An Example of Classification of Characteristics for the Cheremushnyi Creek–Yenisey River Water System

A six-class scale for a complex classifier of water quality is applied to the Cheremushnyi Creek–Yenisey River water system. The classifier incorporates a chemical index of water pollution and biological characteristics with autotrophic and heterotrophic periphyton groups and macrozoobenthos used as biological indicators. The oligochaeta index and Woodiwiss biotic index are shown to have low indicator capacity. Bioassay studies were based on recording acute and chronic toxic effects for three test species at different trophic levels. The level of biologically safe dilution is proposed as a quantitative index of toxicity. Saprobity and toxicity (saprotoxobity) characteristics are given for individual species. Water of the Cheremushnyi Creek–Yenisey River water system is referred to the IV–VI quality class.     

Studies on the Behaviour of Water-endangering Substances in Plants for the Biological Cleaning of Municipal Waste Waters. Part 1: Bromoxynil

The behaviour of the herbicide bromoxynil (3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile), labelled with ⁸²Br, is investigated in an activated sludge plant on the laboratory scale with municipal wastewater. Only 5% of bromoxynil present in a concentration of 5 mg/l are degraded after preadaption of activated sludge for some weeks. The known hydrolysis products 3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzamide and 3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzoic acid were identified as degradation products. In addition, 1.9±0.9% of the quantity of ⁸²Br appeared in the solution as Br^? by debromination. Moreover, a pronounced adsorption of the active substance on activated sludge occurs. Its activity amounts to about 130% of the initial activity of the solution.     

Using Standardized Groundwater Index and Standardized Precipitation Index to Assess Drought Characteristics of the Kaoping River Basin,Taiwan

Water Resources - In the present study, long-term monitoring data were collected from the study area of the Kaoping River Basin, Taiwan. Specifically, data from six selected groundwater level...     

太湖宜溧河水系沉积物的重金属污染特征

用ICP方法分析了太湖宜溧河水系沉积物中主要重金属含量,以太湖宜溧河口下层沉积物作背景样品,用均根法对沉积物中重金属进行了污染综合指数计算,并根据划分的污染等级对宜溧河水系沉积物污染状况进行了分析和评价。结果表明：宜溧河及其入湖口沉积物平均呈轻污染状态,北部支流未受污染,南部支流和太湖沿岸呈轻污染,干流河段污染最为严重,呈偏中度污染水平,在个别测点综合评价已达到重度污染状态。全水系Cu,Zn,Cd和Pb的污染指数略高。其中仅有Cd含量高出我国土壤一级自然背景值,表现为Cd污染型,其原因能与该地区水泥制造业和有色金属冶炼的污染排放有关。     

Biocides in Relation to Water Pollution. Part 2: Bioassay Studies of Few Biocides to a Fresh Water Fish,Channa gachua.

The present paper deals with the determination of LT_m values of zolone, rogor, sumithion and abate for Channa gachua by conducting static bioassay experiments. The TL_m values for zolone came out to be 0.08275 mg/l, 0.08225 mg/l, 0.0815 mg/l and 0.0810 mg/l; for rogor 5.155 mg/l; 4.955 mg/l, 4.65 mg/l and 4.475 mg/l; for sumithion 12.60 mg/l, 12.50 mg/l, 12.30 mg/l and 12.20 mg/l and for abate 217.25 mg/l, 225.575 mg/l, 221.575 mg/l and 217.25 mg/l for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours, respectively. Relative susceptibility indicates that this fish is not susceptible to zolone and less to rogor, sumithion and abate, respectively. Present studies also show that increased temperature and pH increase the toxicity of all the biocides, but increased hardness of water decreases the toxicity of biocide solutions. The safe concentrations for zolone, rogor, sumithion and abate came out to be 0.02437 mg/l, 1.3733 mg/l, 3.6907 mg/l and 66.678 mg/l, respectively.     

Biocides in Relation to Water Pollution Part I: Bioassay Studies on the Effects of a few Biocides on Fresh Water Fish,Channa gachua

• - In the present paper the toxicity of four biocides, endrin, thiodon, malathion and phosvel, has been measured by performing static bioassay experiments with Channa gachua as test fish to establish the median Tolerance Limits (TL_m and TL₅₀).
• - The results of bioassay experiments indicate that the fish is harmed even at a very low concentration of these biocides. The values of TL_m are 0.0076, 0.0073, 0.00695 and 0.0068 for endrin; 0.01120, 0.01088, 0.01069 and 0.01064 for thiodon; 9.20, 8.10, 7.90 and 7.60 for malathion and 32.90, 32.10, 31.65 and 31.15 mg/l for phosvel for the time interval of 24, 48, 76 and 96 hours, respectively.
• - As indicated by TL_m's, endrin is most toxic and phosvel least. Thiodon and malathion came in a descending order between endrin and phosvel.
• - During bioassay studies, the effect of some variables, like temerature, pH and fish-size, on TL_m's has also been observed. They gave the following results.
• a) An increase in temperature increased the toxicity of all the biocides.
• b) An increase in pH decreased the TL_m as such, making the biocides more toxic to Channa gachua.
• c) For larger fishes, the biocide solutions were less toxic, but the same solutions were more toxic to fishes of a smaller size.
• - The safe harmless concentrations of endrin, thiodon, malathion and phosvel are - 0.00289 mg/l, 0.00337 mg/l, 1.88365 mg/l and 9.16736 mg/l, respectively.

     

River Water Pollution in Developed and Developing Countries: Judge and Assessment of Physicochemical Characteristics and Selected Dissolved Metal Concentration

To compare water quality in rivers of developed and developing countries, a study based on physicochemical parameters and dissolved metals levels was conducted. Water samples were collected from selected sites in Dhaka, Bangladesh; Hokkaido and Osaka, Japan; Erdenet, Mongolia and West Java, Indonesia. Analysis of least significant differences revealed that most water quality parameters were within comparable low levels in both developed and developing countries. The dissolved metals concentrations were found to be similar and below those of water standards except for manganese and cadmium at every sampling point, and lead in Erdenet, Mongolia. Some metals showed high enrichment factors in the rivers of Osaka, Japan and Erdenet, Mongolia, indicating accumulation possibility of metals in the river‐bed sediments. High concentrations of dissolved organic carbon, Escherichia coli and dissolved metals suggested greater water pollution in some rivers of developing countries than in the rivers of Japan. Principal component analysis showed strong correlations between “dissolved organic carbon and chemical oxygen demand” and “conductivity and total dissolved solids” at each sampling point, and E. coli, nitrate (NO), nitrite (NO), and pH levels were found to be higher in the rivers of Dhaka and Erdenet. In addition, there were high levels of Al and Zn in West Java, Pb in Erdenet, and Mn, Fe, and Cr in the rivers of Dhaka and Japan. Based on pressures and impacts, it is evident that dissolved metal, organic, and fecal pollution in the rivers of developing countries are in somewhat dreadful condition in comparison with the rivers of developed country.     

Studies of Aquatic Fungi. Part XXII. Mycoflora of the River Węgorapa and its Tributary,the River Goldapa-Jarka

The work was undertaken to investigate the mycoflora of the river W?gorapa and its tributary, the river Goldapa-Jarka. Samples of water were collected in two years (1987-1988) for hydrochemical analysis and studies of the content. Thirty-seven species of fungi were found in these rivers. The following fungi, which had been unknown in Poland, were found in these rivers: Hapalopera fragilariae, Rhizophlyctis petersenii, Olpidiopsis vexans, Aphanomyces ovidestruens and Pythium inflatum.     

Studies on the Toxieity of Pulp and Paper Factory Wastes to the Fish Notopterus Notopterus (PALLAS)

Studies are performed on the toxicity for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours in the static test with dilutions of 10 … 32 vol.% of wastewaters from the pulp and paper production as well as of the mixed wastewater. The pulp waste shows the highest toxic effect, the LC₅₀ of the three types of wastewater being between 15 and 27% in dependence on the test conditions. A general increase of the toxic effect is caused by a rise in temperature from 26 °C to 36 °C and an increase of the pH value from 7.5 to 8.2. The increase of the oxygen concentration from 5.2 to 7.2 mg/1 results in a reduction of the toxicity of the pulp and mixed wastes, the size of fishes having a significant effect only for the pulp waste. Concentrations of wastes of 6 … 9% may be regarded to be harmless for long periods of time.     

Studies of the Biochemical Composition of Freshwater Plankton Part 2: The Amino Acids Contents in Green and Blue-Green Algae

The composition of bound amino acids was studied in selected types of green and blue-green plankton algae by means of a new elaborated method, using paper chromatography at the triple development of the chromatogram in the set-up: butanol: acetic acid: water at the rate of 4 : 1 : 5. Algologically and bacterially pure cultures of the green algae Ankistrodesmus falcatus, Haematococcus pluvialis, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Pediastrum boryanum, Scendesmus obliquus and of the blue-green algae Anacystis nidulans, Microcystis pulverea and Microcystis aeruginosa were cultivated in inorganic and in organic medium. The contents of amino acids in green algae were qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated in relation to their physiologic condition (phase of logarithmic growth, phase of stagnation) and to the method of nutrition. The results were compared with the contents of amino acids in blue-green algae obtained in monocultures from freshwater at blue-green algae water blooms. The composition of bound amino acids was studied in selected types of green and blue-green plankton algae by means of a new elaborated method, using paper chromatography at the triple development of the chromatogram in the set-up: butanol: acetic acid: water at the rate of 4 : 1 : 5. Algologically and bacterially pure cultures of the green algae Ankistrodesmus falcatus, Haematococcus pluvialis, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Pediastrum boryanum, Scendesmus obliquus and of the blue-green algae Anacystis nidulans, Microcystis pulverea and Microcystis aeruginosa were cultivated in inorganic and in organic medium. The contents of amino acids in green algae were qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated in relation to their physiologic condition (phase of logarithmic growth, phase of stagnation) and to the method of nutrition. The results were compared with the contents of amino acids in blue-green algae obtained in monocultures from freshwater at blue-green algae water blooms. The following amino acids were found in the organismus of primary production: alanine, aspartic acid, arginine, cysteine, glutamic acid, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, proline, serine and glycine, threonine, tryptophane, tyrosine and valine. The following amino acids were predominant from the quantitative aspect: glutamic acid, threonine and serine and glycine. The composition of amino acids in green algae cultivated in an inorganic medium did not differ significantly from cultures cultivated in an organic medium. Differences in the quantitative composition of the individual amino acids were ascertained with green algae in relation to their physiologic condition.     

Pollution mechanisms in a Ramsar wetland: Delta of the River Evros,Greece

The pollution mechanisms affecting the protected wetland of the river Evros delta, were investigated during an one year survey (1992–1993). The eastern part of the wetland was mainly influenced by river transported pollution which is generated in the greater catchment basin of the river Evros, in Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece. In this part of the wetland, the highest concentrations of organic matter were found during summer, but nutrients concentrations increased during the early winter months. Nitrogen concentrations remained high throughout spring but SRP concentrations decreased considerably during the same period. In the western part of the wetland, the watercourses were mainly influenced by local activities (agriculture and animal breeding) but pollutant concentrations were lower than in the river stations. These preliminary results indicate that river transported pollution is the major factor for the quality degradation of the wetland's waters.     

On the Kinetics of Denitrification. Part 4: Studies on Denitrification with the pH Auxostat

Continuous denitrification was investigated in the system acetate medium—mixed culture with the pH auxostat. The cultivation method was applicable under defined conditions. The maximum specific growth rate obtained was 0.37… 0.38 h^?1. A comparison with data from the chemostat was performed.     

Analysis of Time Series of the Ufa River Water Pollution by Benz[a]pyrene

Mathematical analysis of time series is shown to be applicable to assessing the factors governing benz[a]pyrene concentration in the Ufa River water. The contributions of the deterministic and random components to the total benz[a]pyrene concentration. Seasonal increase (October–January, March–April) and decrease (February, May–September) in benz[a]pyrene concentrations in the Ufa River are established.     

Studies on the Toxicity of a few Pesticides on Colisa fasciatus and Notopterus notopterus with Reference to Histopathology and Histochemistry. Part 1: Bioassay Studies

An attempt has been made to study the toxicity of two commonly used pesticides aldrin (organochlorine) and ethyl-parathion (organophosphorus) to the fish Colisa fasciatus (Anabantidae) and Notopterus notopterus (Notopteridae). During bioassay studies, the behaviour of the fishes was recorded. The aldrin concentration used lies between 0.021 mg/1 and 0.042 mg/1 for C. fasciatus and 0.00056 mg/1 and 0.00135 mg/1 for N. notopterus. The ethyl-parathion concentration used lies between 1.8 mg/1 and 3.7 mg/1 for C. fasciatus and 0.49 mg/1 and 1.00 mg/1 for N. notopterus.

• – The effect of lethal aqueous concentrations of pesticides on the Fishes prior to death are usually manifested by excitation, erratic swimming ability, difficulty in respiration, increasing in ventilation rate, jerky movements of body and fin fast, up- and downward movements, convulsions, loss of equilibrium, loss of the original colour of the body skin and the excess secretion of mucus by the gills and the body wall.
• – the TL_m values for 24, 48 and 96 hours of exposition are determined for both species of fish and both pesticides at the following variables:

• ? three levels of temperature,
• ? three levels of dissolved oxygen,
• ? three levels of pH,
• ? three fish sizes.

• – statistical analysis of variance shows, that all variables have a significant effect on the TL_m values of both pesticides for both fish species;
• – Aldrin (chlorinated hydrocarbon) is more toxic than ethylparathion (organophosphate) at all variables;
• – Colisa fasciatus is the more resistant species than Notopterus notopterus.
• – the relationship between the total number of the fishes N₀, survival numbers N and time t can be expressed by a mathematical formula as:
• – the harmless concentration to C. fasciatus ranged from 0.0049 mg/1 to 0.0161 for aldrin, 0.54 mg/1 to 0.99 mg/1 for ethyl-parathion and to N. notopterus from 0.00012 mg/1 to 0.00045 mg/1 for aldrin, 0.10 mg/1 to 0.21 mg/1 for ethyl-parathion;
• – the aldrin should be diluted at least 4000 times and ethyl-parathion 320 times of its actual concentration.

     

Phycoperiphyton Development on an Artificial Substrate in the River Wye System,Wales, U. K. Part 2: Population Dynamics

The temporal and spatial fluctuations of the main algal phyla and the constant species colonising Perspex slides were studied. Higher algal counts were noted during the warmer periods of the year and lower ones during the winter months. The Bacillariophyta dominated the other algal phyla and greatly affected the total biomass. The Chlorophyta were represented by a few species which were regarded as plankton fall-out. The diatom species showed various, inconsistent relationships with different environmental variables. It was concluded that not only the environmental variables affected the colonisation and growth of benthic algae, but also others, such as smoothness of the surface of the Perspex slides, duration of colonisation period, accumulation of silt and detritus on the slide, the competition for limited spaces and selectivity of the Perspex slides for certain species. Several species colonising both the Perspex slides and stone surfaces either failed to correlate significantly between themselves or were not correlated at all. Several others were only correlated significantly at some stations and not correlated at others. It was therefore concluded that the Perspex slides affected the algal species in an unpredictable manner at the different sampling sites and so rendered the method unreliable for reflecting true ecological changes.