Industrial Pollution

Mitigation of air pollution is the major global challenge in the current world. Quality of air is undergoing continuous
deterioration due to industrial and urban development. The present study aims at the seasonal investigation of air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and anticipated performance index (API) of six commonly found plant species namely Ziziphus
jujube (S1), Pithecellobium dulce (Sw.) DC (S2), Celosia argentea L. (S3), Ricinus communis L. (S4), Apluda mutica L. (S5) and
Terminalia catappa L. (S6) growing along the industrial area (Chembur) of Mumbai. The air pollution tolerance indices
were evaluated by using pH, ascorbic acid, total chlorophyll content, the relative water content in the fresh leaves of
plant species growing along the industrial and non-industrial area of Mumbai. The API was determined on combining the
APTI values of the plant species with their biological and socio-economic parameters. The APTI of all the industrial zone
plant species was found to be higher than the non-industrial zone plant species in all the three seasons. The rise in the
mean of the three season’s APTI of S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 and S6 plant species from the polluted industrial zone over the lesspolluted non-industrial zone was found to be 60.14, 76.59, 71.98, 82.30, 71.12, 65.52%, respectively. The higher API values
obtained for the Pithecellobium dulce (Sw.) DC, Ricinus communis L. and Terminalia catappa L. plant species from polluted
zone indicated higher air pollution tolerance and hence are recommended for green belt expansion in the Chembur
industrial area. Terminalia catappa L. is an evergreen plant which can be planted in large number to develop green zone
throughout the year around the Chembur industrial area. Similar studies can be performed globally to increase green
zones around any industrial or residential area which will provide healthy living for the next generations on the earth

Assessing the adaptable capability of tree plants to air and soil pollution is an important task, because of nowadays increasing technogenic pollution and global warming trend of climate change. Plants are well known with their ability to absorb, filtrate, localized air contaminations, and mitigate the adverse effect of pollution. The goal of study is to estimate the adaptability of Acer saccharinum L. to industrial air pollution through observation of the leaf blade structure modifications. Under conditions of industrial air contamination has been registered reduction of lamina surfaces. The leaf blade structure of Acer saccharinum L. is characterized with high coefficient of palisadness naturally (65%). In conditions of industrial pollution silver maple developed thicker cutin (p < 0.05), smaller epidermal cells (p < 0.05) and expanded photosynthetic mesophyll tissue (p < 0.0001), which strengthen the capacity of plant to overcome the adverse conditions. The high coefficient of palisadness, the preserved thickness of cuticle, accompanied with the adapt alterations of mesophyll; provide a reason to classify silver maple as species with high pliability and as a tolerant to environmental stress. Acer saccharinum L. is a suitable for building green belts around areas with adverse emissions and for urban forestry.

The paper is devoted to the study of the magnetic properties and content of heavy metals in soils from Zaporizhzhya - a powerful industrial center. The study found that low-frequency magnetic susceptibility (xlf ) of soils varies within the range61... 4087*10-8 m3/kg with a median value 271*10-8 m3/kg, and the frequency dependence of magnetic susceptibility (kfd% )is 0…13 3% with  a median value 2.0%. The low xlf  and high kfd  values, that are typical of natural soils,  are  observed on the right-bank western outskirts of the city, and low values  kfd<2% and  xlf>10-5 м3/кг  are confined to the main industrial zone where steel-mills are situated. Observed correlations between magnetic parameters and heavy metals content in soils allow us to recommend magnetic method for evaluating and monitoring of ecological conditionsin the city of Zaporizhia.
Maps that indicate spatial distribution of xlf and Pollution Load Index
(PLI) of soils have shown that  the river Dnieper prevents spreading of
dust and gas pollution on the right bank of the city.
Keywords: low-frequency magnetic susceptibilityof soils, heavy metals, pollution load index, Zaporizhia.

I saggi contenuti in questo dossier sono l’esito di un confronto pubblico sull’intreccio tra salute, ambiente e rischio emerso da una sessione tematica focalizzata su questo tema del 2° convegno nazionale della Società Italiana di Antropologia Medica (Perugia 14-16 giugno 2018) dedicato alla memoria del fondatore Tullio Seppilli. Gli autori affrontano da diverse prospettive interpretative e in riferimento a contesti plurali, il rapporto tra ambiente e tutela della salute e i modi in cui la presenza di fattori di rischio ambientale/industriale attiva risposte, talora confliggenti, da parte di attori sociali portatori di interessi diversificati. In un tale quadro di complessità, il dossier ospita contributi teorici e ricerche etnografiche che esplorano, nella loro molteplicità, le articolazioni globali della crisi ambientale con le specificità locali incarnate nelle esperienze delle persone che vivono, lavorano, si ammalano in territori danneggiati o contaminati.
The papers result from a public debate on the intertwining of health, environment and risk as emerged from a panel focused on these topics of the 2nd national conference of the Italian Society of Medical Anthropology (Perugia June 14-16, 2018) dedicated to the memory of its founder Tullio Seppilli. The authors discuss – within different interpretative perspectives and in reference to plural contexts – the relationship between environment and health protection and the ways in which the presence of environmental and/or industrial risk factors stimulate sometimes conflicting responses in social actors with diversified interests. In such a complex framework, this special issue hosts theoretical contributions and ethnographic researches that, in their multiplicity, explore the global articulations of the environmental crisis with its local peculiarities embodied in the experiences of the people who live, work and fall ill in territories damaged or contaminated.

A map is better than a million words. Free and Open Source Geographic Information System (FOSS GIS) and Free Geospatial data is poised to give a boost to geospatial thinking. Easy reach of Free and Open Source Geospatial Software, along with digital globes can enable generation of digital vectors of spatial data for society. This paper puts forth a case study of Urban Industrial sprawl and the information there on for the community, on data generated using Free Geospatial data through FOSS GIS. With software like Google maps, a digital globe, smart phones ubiquitous have become GIS enabled. There are many a popular digital globes including Bhuvan our own Indian product offering free data including 3D data (height). Digital globes like 'Open Street Maps' (OSM) and 'World Map' are Open Source Software offering a plethora of user-friendly GIS features. Parcel vectors digitised from these can be readily converted into more elaborate GIS Datasets with attribution etc. from a choice of FOSS GIS software. Rapid Urbanisation and spread of Industry go hand in hand. Mapping parcels of industry and locating related resources using Geographic Information System (GIS) helps understanding the industry and planning remedies for any possible impact on the city population. Pollution of various forms including Water, Air and Noise can be studied through the spatial distribution of infrastructure, fuming chimneys and waste disposal sites. In this study parcels of Industry at Rajahmundry are mapped along with GIS about kilns, effluents treatment plants, disposal location of liquid or solid wastage etc. An attempt is made to study the spatial impact of waste disposed from industry related to various parameters suggested by Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB). Incidences of these parameters with their geographic distribution are useful for prompting possible remedial measures. Andhra Pradesh Paper Mills Ltd (APPM) is the largest industry at Rajahmundry, along with Horlicks Factory (GSK), textile, ceramic, crucible, plastic (PVC), and aluminium industries. Environmental parameters of treated effluents of industries are observed through collected water samples from industrial sewage, open wells, and the river Godavari. Data collected is correlated with the prescribed limits of respective parameters by APPCB and are added to GIS of the city. This paper also deals with ways of creating GIS data sets on a shoe-string-budget using free data available on the internet and freely downloadable Open Source GIS software.

The 2005 Framework “Law on Environment” introduced the European model of regulation of industrial pollution in Macedonia. Using this model, based on the Directive 96/61/EC on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC), operators of industrial activities are obliged to obtain an environment permit as a legal requirement for beginning (or continuing) operation. The environmental permit is a regulatory instrument aimed at protecting the environment as a whole, through prevention, and wherever possible reduction of water, air and soil emissions, as well as measures for waste management and energy efficiency. In practice, operators of industrial activities achieve this goal by introducing the Best Available Techniques (hereafter referred to as BAT) before coming into operation. The existing installations, however, have a set a grace period for harmonization with the BAT. In Macedonia, the provisions for integrated pollution prevention and control of the “Law on Environment” cover 117 installations. Under the Law, all existing installations (operating before July 1th, 2007) are obliged to adjust their operation to the Best Available Technique by April 2014. In exceptional circumstances, the Government can extend the deadline for an individual existing installation no later than April 1th, 2019. The new installations (starting work as of December 1th, 2009) must also obtain an A Integrated Environmental Permit by 2014 as a condition for commencing operation. Out of 117 installations, during the period between December 2006 and April 2012, the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning issued only 23 environmental permits, meaning that only 19% of the necessary permits have been issued over a period of 6 years. There are two more years remaining for 94 permits to be issued and for the adjustment of the operation of all 117 installations to the BAT.

La mise à contribution des marchés financiers et des banques à la réalisation d’objectifs environnementaux s’est imposée comme un des grands thèmes associés au développement durable. Toutefois, les acteurs financiers des pays du Sud restent largement en marge du phénomène. Ce constat n’a pas échappé aux bailleurs de fond bilatéraux et multilatéraux, qui multiplient les projets visant à promouvoir les activités des banques des pays du Sud dans le financement d’investissements « verts ». Le chapitre (p.161-181) interroge les ressorts et les limites de tels projets à l’aune d’une étude exploratoire portant sur une ligne de crédit environnemental (LCE) mise en œuvre par un consortium de bailleurs de fond pour lutter contre la pollution industrielle dans le delta du Nil. L’analyse met en évidence le rôle essentiel du développement coordonné de régulations contraignantes dans l’efficacité environnementale des incitations financières de la LCE. Il montre également l’importance d’une coordination du projet par des acteurs aux compétences et aux logiques d’action environnementales plus que financière. Les performances du projet restent toutefois tributaires des ressources ponctuelles mises à disposition par les bailleurs de fond. Non seulement les capacités de tels projets pilotes à promouvoir un « verdissement » du secteur bancaire égyptien apparaissent limitées, mais contrairement au discours de la Banque Mondiale, les particularités de la LCE comme projet empêchent d’y voir la démonstration de l’efficacité environnementale d’une finance « verte » autonome.

The pulp and paper industries discharge of a large amount of effluent as wastewater in the surrounding streams thereby causing serious health and environmental problems. These large quantities of effluents need to be characterized for evolving proper treatment strategy prior to their disposal. Physicochemical characteristics of effluents from agro-based paper mills located in Uttarakhand state of India were analyzed in terms of pH, colour, TS, TDS, TSS, turbidity, BOD, COD, and AOX. The effluent samples collected from different processing units of the paper mill varied considerably across the discharge streams. The mean values pH, colour, TS, TDS, TSS, turbidity, BOD, COD, and AOX were found in the range of 2.559.8±0.05, 4102802 PCU, 1980.652785.79 ppm, 1650.672470.35 ppm, 315.44401.35 ppm, 73.22349.37 NTU, 170.32670.42, 705.522000.55 ppm, and 14.9840.82 respectively. The result shows that all the studied physicochemical parameters of effluents at different processing units of the mill are higher than the permissible standards that need proper treatment for their safe disposal.

The relationship between economic activity and environmental pollution is a topic of extensive research. Although a proportional relationship between the two is often the default assumption, emerging scholarship suggests that polluting releases are disproportionally distributed across units of production. This paper examines if proportionality or disproportionality best characterizes the production of toxic pollution in US manufacturing from 1998 to 2012. Examining US Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory data from over 25 000 facilities in 322 industries, we find consistently high levels of disproportionality across facility-level toxic releases within industries, even when controlling for facility size. Moreover, high levels of within industry disproportionality are remarkably stable over the fifteen-year study period. In other words, year by year a small handful of egregiously polluting facilities account for the vast majority of toxic releases within a given industry. Our findings suggest that disproportionality should be understood as the default pattern of pollution generation rather than an exceptional case and that policymakers should seek to reduce pollution via carefully considered targeting strategies rather than broad-stroke decision making.

The Cd and Pb spatial variations in coastal sediments and Polymesoda solida tissue of Lake Maracaibo (Venezuela) were investigated, emphasizing possible specific sources of pollution. Four samplings in 11 sites were made between October, 2009, and March, 2010. Metal was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy with a graphite furnace, after acid digestion of the samples in high pressure pumps. Results show a significant spatial variability of Cd and Pb content, resulting from natural and anthropogenic phenomena. According to the concentrations,
coastal sediments exhibited low values (0.243±0.193 mgCd/Kg dry weight and 4.117±5.259 mgPb/Kg dry weight), even below detection limits for the method (0.030 mgCd/Kg dry weight and 0.051 mgPb/Kg dry weight), in some cases. The clams (P. solida) (0.963±0.421 mgCd/Kg dry weight and 6.053±8.958 mgPb/Kg dry weight) were not considered
acceptable for human consumption, according to the maximum limits of tolerable weekly ingestion by body weight, established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. These high concentrations of metal in the clams could be the result of bioaccumulation processes of available metals in the Lake Maracaibo water column.

Soils affected by industrial emissions of a copper smelter may contain high amounts of heavy metals. Heavy metal infiltration across the soil is a potential source of groundwater contamination. Simultaneously, many ions, especially Cu 2+ and Pb 2+ , can be accumulated by plants growing within the emission range. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of high Cu and Pb soil contamination on the total nitrogen content in leaves and wood of trees growing in an area exposed to copper smelter emissions.
Samples of leaves and wood of Populus robusta L. and Betula pendula L. as well as soil samples were taken from an area affected by industrial emissions, namely from the former
sanitary zone of the Głogów Copper Smelter. The samples were collected in 2010. The particle size distribution, pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen and the total content of Cu and Pb in the
soil samples were determined. In the plant samples (foliage and trunks), the total nitrogen was assayed. The results were analysed statistically.
The following conclusions were drawn: the litter horizon of soils affected by industrial emissions contains high level of heavy metals (3450-5400 mg Cu kg -1 , 1020-1500 mg Pb kg -1 ), exceeding threshold values for industrial areas. Also the humic horizon is characterised by an increased Cu and Pb content: 174-1530 mg Cu kg -1 and 268-702 mg Pb kg -1 . The leaves of the tested species contained more nitrogen than the wood, although the birch wood contained more nitrogen then the poplar. There was no difference in the nitrogen content of the annual tree rings of both species. Despite high levels of copper and lead in the tested soils, there was no effect of this factor
on the nitrogen content of the leaves, bark and wood of the studied trees.