Application of Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) to recently reclaimed badlands along the Adula and Mahalungi Rivers,Pravara Basin,Maharashtra

The rapid erosion of soil by wind and water has been a problem since man began cultivating the land. Moreover soil erosion, as a hazard, has always been associated mainly with agriculture in the tropical and semi-arid areas. Soil loss through rill, gully and sheet erosion is a major environmental problem in India. Among all the predictive equations developed to estimate soil loss, the most accepted, used, convenient and suitable technique, for smaller areas like hillslopes and fields, is the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). This method has been applied to the cultivated fields on either side of the gullied banks of the Adula and Mahalungi rivers, to estimate soil loss from fields under different crops. Rainfall data from the IMD has been used for the purpose. Field slope measurements, textural analysis of soil and determination of soil organic matter have also been carried out. Finally the soil loss has been computed from the generated data. The results have been used to ascertain whether the soil loss in the area is within or beyond the tolerance limit. It has been found that the soil loss in these areas have exceeded the tolerance limit and hence require due attention.     

Cancer risk estimation from dietary arsenic,a new approach from longitudinal cohort study

Inorganic arsenic is a carcinogen and consumption in low dose may lead to cancer. We estimated the cancer risk of the participants from arsenic endemic regions of West Bengal, India. The probable cancer risk was estimated following the assessment of daily inorganic arsenic intake through drinking water and diets of 20 participants for three consecutive years who had been using low arsenic water in the Indian context (median arsenic concentration in the study Years-I, II and III were 22, 16, 13 µg/l respectively). Probable cancer risk of the population was 2.80 × 10^?4, 2.94 × 10^?4, 3.12 × 10^?4 in the three respective study years (Year-I, II and III); just higher than the US EPA risk level of concern. The arsenic species content of the paired raw, cooked rice and urine was estimated in the as is taken basis. The major diet component, rice contained 72–86% inorganic arsenic whereas urine contains 70% organic arsenic on an average. The cancer risk assessment has been proposed to be modified by inclusion of urine arsenic release, considering the fact of arsenic release through urine. The risk became 1.28 × 10^?5, 1.13 × 10^?5, 1.01 × 10^?5 in the study Year-I, II and III respectively, considering urinary arsenic release, attributed the consideration of urine arsenic release into probable cancer risk estimation.     

Investigation of Environmental-Concern Trace Elements in Coal and Their Combustion Residues from Thermal Power Plants in Eastern India

Natural Resources Research - The bituminous-to-sub-bituminous quality feed coals of thermal power plants contain several environmental-concern trace elements (As, Se, Ni, Cr, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd, Co and...