Department Of Environmental Science And Technology
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Item Self-assembled nanomaterials for cleansing and bioremediation(Elsevier, 2022-08-12T00:00:00) Kumar, Ravishankar; Vaidh, Sachin; Parekh, Dharni; Vasoya, Nikita; Shah, Milika; Vishwakarma, Gajendra SinghThe development of sustainable and effective solutions for Environmental remediation and cleansing is one of the areas of research and development nowadays. In this regard, conventional treatment systems fail to eradicate aquatic pathogens, toxic metal ions, and industrial waste. The research and development in this area have given rise to a new class of process that is based on self-assemble Nanomaterials (NMs). This Chapter discusses many of those self-assembled NMs like metal-based metal-free, biopolymer-based, and others that have been studied for water and wastewater purification and treatment and removal of various pollutants like heavy metals, dyes, pesticides. It also discusses the design and performance of the different types of nano assemblies that have been utilized in this concern. In addition to that, the chapter also focuses on the different process parameters such as temperature, pH, catalyst-loading, and reaction time that need to attain the maximum efficiency. � 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Item Meta-analysis of uranium contamination in groundwater of the alluvial plains of Punjab, northwest India: Status, health risk, and hydrogeochemical processes(Elsevier B.V., 2021-11-23T00:00:00) Sahoo, Prafulla Kumar; Virk, Hardev Singh; Powell, Mike A.; Kumar, Ravishankar; Pattanaik, Jitendra Kumar; Salom�o, Gabriel Negreiros; Mittal, Sunil; Chouhan, Lokesh; Nandabalan, Yogalakshmi Kadapakkam; Tiwari, Raghavendra PrasadDespite numerous studies, there are many knowledge gaps in our understanding of uranium (U) contamination in the alluvial aquifers of Punjab, India. In this study, a large hydrogeochemical dataset was compiled to better understand the major factors controlling the mobility and enrichment of uranium (U) in this groundwater system. The results showed that shallow groundwaters (<60 m) are more contaminated with U than from deeper depths (>60 m). This effect was predominant in the Southwest districts of the Malwa, facing significant risk due to chemical toxicity of U. Groundwaters are mostly oxidizing and alkaline (median pH: 7.25 to 7.33) in nature. Spearman correlation analysis showed that U concentrations are more closely related to total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, Na, K, HCO3?, NO3? Cl?, and F? in shallow water than deep water, but TDS and salinity remained highly correlated (U-TDS: ? = 0.5 to 0.6; U-salinity: ? = 0.5). This correlation suggests that the salt effect due to high competition between ions is the principal cause of U mobilization. This effect is evident when the U level increased with increasing mixed water species (Na-Cl, Mg-Cl, and Na-HCO3). Speciation data showed that the most dominant U species are Ca2UO2(CO3)2? and CaUO2(CO3)3?, which are responsible for the U mobility. Based on the field parameters, TDS along with pH and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) were better fitted to U concentration above the WHO guideline value (30 ?g.L?1), thus this combination could be used as a quick indicator of U contamination. The strong positive correlation of U with F? (? = 0.5) in shallow waters indicates that their primary source is geogenic, while anthropogenic factors such as canal irrigation, groundwater table decline, and use of agrochemicals (mainly nitrate fertilizers) as well as climate-related factors i.e., high evaporation under arid/semi-arid climatic conditions, which result in higher redox and TDS/salinity levels, may greatly affect enrichment of U. The geochemical rationale of this study will provide Science-based-policy implications for U health risk assessment in this region and further extrapolate these findings to other arid/semi-arid areas worldwide. � 2021 Elsevier B.V.Item Multi-parametric groundwater quality and human health risk assessment vis-�-vis hydrogeochemical process in an Agri-intensive region of Indus basin, Punjab, India(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2021-06-14T00:00:00) Jaswal, Vijay; Kumar, Ravishankar; Sahoo, Prafulla Kumar; Mittal, Sunil; Kumar, Ajay; Sahoo, Sunil Kumar; Nandabalan, Yogalakshmi KadapakkamThe groundwater quality of the Indus basin of Punjab, India, is a serious concern due to the existence of toxic contaminants. Although, this contamination has been documented in some studies, some part of this basin is scantily explored. This is true for the Fazilka district of Malwa region, Punjab. In the present study, a total of 78 groundwater samples were collected from this district to evaluate their suitability for drinking and irrigation purpose, to understand the current hydrogeochemical processes involved and assess the human health risk status of the region. The results of the water quality index (WQI) revealed that majority of the groundwater samples were of poor quality with U, F?, SO42?, and NO3? exceeding the BIS limit in 60%, 94%, 43%, and 19% of samples, respectively. The groundwater geochemistry is mainly influenced by rock-water interaction. Ca-Mg-Cl water type is identified as the dominant hydrogeochemical facies, followed by Ca-Mg-SO42? and Na-Cl types. The Mg2+ and Na+ were identified as the major cations, while SO42? and HCO3? existed as the dominant anions. Furthermore, the results of Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Hierarchical cluster and Pearson correlation matrix (PCM) analyses corroborated the elevated level of U, F?, SO42? with geogenic activity supplemented with agrochemical activities. The annual effective intake dose of U exceeded the WHO recommended mean annual effective dose of U (100 �Sv y?1) for all age groups with infants recording the highest dose of U (151 �Sv y?1). Moreover, the non-cancer risk of U and F? exceeded the USEPA limit (HQ-1) in majority of the sites. The high cumulative risk of non-carcinogenic contaminants (HI-4.6) in the entire study area is a matter of grave concern. � 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.Item Water Security and Human Health in Relation to Climate Change: An Indian Perspective(wiley, 2021-05-09T00:00:00) Kumar, Ravishankar; Sahoo, Prafulla Kumar; Mittal, SunilIndia, the second-most populous country in the world, and with a booming economy, is now facing difficulties in ensuring water security in terms of both quantity and quality. It is an outcome of the increased pressure on water recourses due to rapid growth in population, industrialization, rampant urbanization, and extensive agricultural practices. Trends indicate that India will become �water-stressed� by 2025 and �water-scarce� by 2050. Climate change has affected the quantity of surface water and groundwater resources in India by the melting of glaciers and narrowing of the rainfall pattern with several flood and drought events. Also, the water quality of available surface and groundwater resources is being deteriorated by contaminants like arsenic, fluoride, iron, nitrate, lead, cadmium, and uranium. Further, climate change is also increasing the rate of deterioration of water quality by affecting the level of dissolved oxygen, carbon, nitrate, and other parameters of water due to increased temperature. Climatic warming and the unpredicted rainfall pattern have also increased the frequency of both water-borne (like cholera, diarrhea) as well as vector-borne diseases (like malaria and dengue). The Government of India has taken several successful initiatives like rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge projects, the construction of arsenic-free wells in arsenic-affected areas, and launched several other schemes such as National Rural Drinking Water Mission, Namami Ganges, and River Basin Management. In this direction, to improve the quality of river water, the government has also established �River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation� under the ministry of Jal Shakti. India can turn these challenges into opportunities by good governance, proper management, hydro-diplomacy with neighbor countries, adopting new technologies (deficit irrigation, detection of pipe leakage Danish technology), and making stringent rules and regulations. This chapter provides an overview of India's water-related issues including scarcity, water quality, and water-related diseases, their influence by climate change, and possible mitigation measures for water security. � 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved.Item Hydrochemical characteristics and human health risk assessment of groundwater in the Shivalik region of Sutlej basin, Punjab, India(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2021-05-10T00:00:00) Mittal, Sunil; Sahoo, Prafulla Kumar; Sahoo, Sunil Kumar; Kumar, Ravishankar; Tiwari, Raghavendra PrasadShivalik region is one of the agri-intensive regions in Punjab, India, wherein groundwater quality is a major human health concern. In this study, a total of 57 groundwater samples were collected from the Rupnagar district of this region (one sample per 36 km2) to evaluate its quality, the role of hydrogeochemical processes in its contamination, and further their potential human health hazards. The results indicate that the major water chemistry is governed by carbonate weathering followed by silicate weathering. The Fe, Mg, Mn, Se, and HCO3- concentrations exceeded the BIS drinking water standards in 86, 51, 11, 9, and 79% of the samples, respectively. Piper and Durov plots indicated the dominance of Ca-HCO3- water types, followed by Ca-Mg-Cl- and Ca-Cl-. Furthermore, multivariate analyses indicated the geogenic origin for Fe, Mg, Mn, Se, SO42-, and anthropogenic sources (agrochemicals, cement factories, and fly ash) for NO3-, Cu, and Cr. The estimated carcinogenic risk of As and Cr falls under the very low (10-6) to low (10-5) risks category. Furthermore, the cumulative risk of non-carcinogenic contaminants (F-, U, NO3-) (HI-0.93) is at an alarming level and also close to the boundary line of USEPA limits (HI-1). There is an urgent need to undertake suitable policy measures for sustainability of groundwater quality. � 2021, Saudi Society for Geosciences.Item Ground/drinking water contaminants and cancer incidence: A case study of rural areas of South West Punjab, India(Bellwether Publishing, Ltd., 2019-12-26T00:00:00) Kaur, Gursharan; Kumar, Ravishankar; Mittal, Sunil; Sahoo, Prafulla Kumar; Vaid, UpmaThis study was carried out in the rural areas of South West Punjab, India, to evaluate the groundwater quality and cancer incidence. The epidemiological study was carried using standardized questionnaire method, and the groundwater samples were analyzed for heavy metals by ICP-MS and AAS. The results showed that the cancer prevalence was highest in the age group of > 60, followed by >45�60 years old in both males and females. The average cancer rate in females (272 cases/lakh) was ?3 times higher than the India�s national cancer average of 80 cases/lakh. The mean concentration of As (27.59 �g/L), Pb (48.3 �g/L), U (96.56 �g/L), NO3� (67.32 mg/L), and F� (4.7 mg/L) exceeded the drinking water limits of WHO/BIS. Health risk analysis indicated that As, Pb, U, and F� with NO3� are the major groundwater contaminants, which may be one of the potential cause of cancer incidences. Multivariate analyses reveal that anthropogenic activities are source of NO3�, whereas U, As, and F� are mainly of geogenic origin. The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk followed in the order of As > Pb and U > F�>NO3�>Cu > Zn, respectively. Further, correlations between cancer incidence and groundwater quality have been discussed. � 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.Item Source apportionment, chemometric pattern recognition and health risk assessment of groundwater from southwestern Punjab, India(Springer Science and Business Media B.V., 2020-02-06T00:00:00) Kumar, Ravishankar; Mittal, Sunil; Sahoo, Prafulla Kumar; Sahoo, Sunil KumarThe groundwater quality of southwestern Punjab, India, is a serious cause of concern due to the presence of chemical contaminants in it. However, limited studies of groundwater quality, sources of chemical contaminants and their health risks are available for the region. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the source, distribution and potential health risk assessment of groundwater quality in three districts of southwestern Punjab, India. The spatial distribution of groundwater chemical contaminants and their potential health risks have been illustrated using inverse distance weighting interpolation technique. The concentration of fluoride (F?; ranged from 0.08 to 4.79�mg�L?1) exceeded the WHO limit (1.5��g�L?1) in 80 and 50% samples collected from Bathinda and Ludhiana districts, respectively. The uranium (U) concentration ranged from 0.5 to 432��g�L?1 and shows ~ 85%, 75% and 10% of samples collected from Bathinda, Barnala and Ludhiana districts exceeded the WHO drinking water limit (30��g�L?1), respectively. The groundwater quality of the Bathinda district is a matter of concern due to elevated levels of alkalinity, hardness, fluoride, uranium and nitrate (NO3?). The principal component analysis shows close association between F? and U, which indicates their geogenic origin. Further, they also seem to be subordinately influenced by diffuse anthropogenic activities. The clustering of Cu and Pb with NO3? and SO42? indicates their anthropogenic origin. The non-carcinogenic health risk assessment indicates that F?, NO3? and U are the major health risk pollutants in the study area. The carcinogenic health risk of As and Cr exceeded the USEPA limits (10?6) in the entire study area, but observed to be more serious for the district Bathinda (10?3�10?5). The spatial distribution maps illustrate that the health risk for Bathinda district inhabitants is higher than Barnala and Ludhiana districts. � 2020, Springer Nature B.V.Item Geochemical assessment of groundwater contaminants and associated health risks in the Shivalik region of Punjab, India(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2020-08-07T00:00:00) Mittal, Sunil; Kumar, Ravishankar; Sahoo, Prafulla Kumar; Sahoo, Sunil KumarThe present study investigates the groundwater suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes in the Shivalik region of Punjab, India. The results revealed that the concentration of Se, U, and F? exceeded BIS acceptable drinking water standards in 18%, 9%, and 16% samples, respectively. Multivariate analyses indicate the geogenic origin for As, U, Fe, F? and SO42?, and anthropogenic for NO3?, Cu, and Cr. The carcinogenic risk of drinking water is in very low (10?6) to low (10?5) category, while cumulative non-carcinogenic risk (HI-1.2) is slightly higher than USEPA limits (HI-1). The groundwater quality was found suitable for irrigation purpose. � 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.Item Role of soil physicochemical characteristics on the present state of arsenic and its adsorption in alluvial soils of two agri-intensive region of Bathinda, Punjab, India(Springer Verlag, 2016) Kumar, Ravishankar; Kumar, Rabindra; Mittal, Sunil; Arora, Meenu; Babu, J. NagendraPurpose: Arsenic (As) contamination of groundwater has received significant attention recently in district Bathinda, due to consequent health risk in this region. Soil is the one of the primary medium for arsenic transport to groundwater. Thus, there is an essential requirement for understanding the retention capacity and mobility of arsenic in the soils to ensure sustainability of the groundwater in the locality. Arsenic interaction with various physicochemical properties of soil would provide a better understanding of its leaching from the soil. Materials and methods: Fifty-one soil samples were collected from two regions of Bathinda district with extensive agricultural practices, namely, Talwandi Sabo and Goniana. The soils were analyzed for arsenic content and related physicochemical characteristic of the soil which influence arsenic mobility in soil. Adsorption studies were carried out to identify the arsenic mobilization characteristic of the soil. SEM-EDX and sequential extraction of arsenic adsorbed soil samples affirmed the arsenic adsorption and its mobility in soil, respectively. Multiple regression models have been formulated for meaningful soil models for the prediction of arsenic transport behavior and understand the adsorption and mobilization of arsenic in the soil matrices. Results and discussion: Region-wise analysis showed elevated levels of arsenic in the soil samples from Goniana region (mean 9.58?mg?kg?1) as compared to Talwandi Sabo block (mean 3.38?mg?kg?1). Selected soil samples were studied for As(V) and As(III) adsorption behavior. The characteristic arsenic adsorption by these soil samples fitted well with Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and D-R isotherm with a qmax in the range of 45 to 254?mg?kg?1 and 116 to 250?mg?kg?1 for As(III) and As(V), respectively. Adsorption isotherms indicate weak arsenic retention capacity of the soil, which is attributed to the sandy loam textured soil and excessive fertilizer usage in this region. PCM and MLR analysis of the soil arsenic content and its adsorption strongly correlated with soil physicochemical parameters, namely, Mn, Fe, total/available phosphorus, and organic matter. Conclusions: Manganese and iron content were firmly established for retention of arsenic in soil, whereas its mobility was influenced by organic matter and total/available phosphorus. The poor adsorptive characteristic of these soils is the primary cause of higher arsenic concentration in groundwater of this region. A strong correlation between monitored arsenic and adsorbed As(III) with manganese suggests As(III) as the predominant species present in soil environment in this region. ? 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.