IOSR-JESTFT   Volume-3 ~ Issue-5 ~ March–April 2013

Abstract: Forecasting air pollutant trends especially in metropolitan cities of India, has become a vital issue as air pollution has immediate and severe impacts on human health. Criteria pollutants like Oxides of Sulphur (SOx), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) have either reached or exceeded the acceptable limits specified by Central Pollution Control Board of India for most of the cities like Pune. In the present work two soft computing approaches namely Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Genetic Programming (GP) are used to predict the air quality parameters (SOx, NOx, RSPM) a few time steps in advance for Pune City. Six models have been developed based on daily average data values of pollutant concentrations spanning over seven years. ANN, one of the proven tools in estimation and prediction of air quality has been used and the results of the models are compared with GP which is rarely used tool in the field of air quality modelling and forecasting. The performance of the models has been compared using r, RMSE and d. Considering the complexity of the air pollution phenomenon, it was found that GP models are robust and could work well as compared to ANN.

Keywords - Air Quality, ANN, Criteria Pollutants, GP

[1] Niska H., Teri H., Karppinenb A.,Ruuskanen J., and Kolehmainen M., Evolving the neural network model for forecasting air pollution time series, J .Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence,17, 2004, 159-167.
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[3] Barai S.V., Dikshit A. K., and Sharma S., ANN for Air quality Prediction –A comparative Study, J. Soft computing in Industrial applications, 39, 2007, 290—305.
[4] Lu W.Z.,Wang W.J., Wang X-K.,Yan S-H., and Lam J-C.,Potential Assessment of a neural network model with PCA/RBF approach for forecasting pollutant trends in Mong Kok urban air,HongKong, J.Environmental Research,96, 2004 , 79—87.
[5] Londhe S. N., Soft computing approach for real-time estimation of missing wave heights, J. Ocean Engineering,35, 2008, 1080—1089.
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[7] Bose N. K., Liang, P., Neural Network Fundamentals with Graphs, Algorithms and Applications (Delhi,Tata McGraw-Hill Publication, 1998).
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Abstract: The phytomedicinal plants study was carried out in adjoining tribal areas of Visakha patnam District, Andhra Pradesh during the month of November - December 2011. The information related to medicinal species which are used to cure common ailments and diseases were collected by the local people of study area. A total of 100 plants belonging to 53 families are listed in this paper.

Key Words: Agency area, Phytomedicinal flora, Traditional uses, Tribal people, Visakhapatnam.

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[3]. Reddy, C.S., K.N. Reddy & S.N. Jadhav, Threatened (Medicinal) Plants of Andhra Pradesh. Medicinal Plants Conservation Centre, EPTRI, 2001. Hyderabad.

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Abstract: This study was designed to investigate the effect of chronic administration of lead (Pb) on feeding behavior and weight gain among Wistar albino rats. 14 male subjects of randomly selected rats were used in the experiment. The rats were divided into two groups with 7 rats constituting each group. The groups are saline group and lead (Pb) group. The lead (Pb) administered was given orally at 10mg/kg of body weight. In the study feeding behaviour was not significantly affected by the treatment of lead (Pb). However, lead (Pb) administration had a significant effect on weight gain at p< .01 while the experimental (Pb) group had the lower mean weight signifying weight loss. This result signaled the danger in the ingestion of Lead (Pb) in whatever form on the health of animals (man inclusive) especially on feeding behaviour and weight gain. It was suggested that government and other concerned agencies should address how to control the ingestion of lead in areas reported to have its "epidemic" especially in Nigeria.

Key words: Lead, feeding behavior, weight gain, rats.

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Abstract: It was only fifty years before that our scientists and experts on climate and environment started the keen observation that something wrong is happening to our environment. The result was that the far-sighted people in the world began emphasizing that human community should take an approach of sustainable living, growth and development.

Keywords - Air Quality, ANN, Criteria Pollutants, GP

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Abstract: Present study describes a site specific variation of leaf elemental concentration and Photosynthetic pigment concentration in a mangrove plant Excoecaria agallocha in Sundarban, India. Three locations (S1, S2 and S3) were selected according to water salinity gradient in north to southward direction. Range of water salinity is from 19 ppt to 34 ppt. All elements (Fe, Cu, and Mn) are found to be higher in S1 followed by S2 and S3 except Zn. They follow the trend like Fe>Mn>Zn>Cu. Interestingly photosynthetic pigment concentration (total chlorophyll, chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b) showed negative correlation with salinity i.e. increase in water salinity causes decrease in pigment concentration. Results from our study depicts that Sundarban is facing problems for increasing pollution load and water salinity.

Keywords: Excoecaria agallocha, Leaf element, Mangrove, Salinity gradient, The Sundarban.

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Abstract: Lipophilic phosphonium cations were used to investigate mitochondrial biology by delivering them in mitochondria in the late 1960s. Since then, these molecules have become useful for exploring mitochondrial bioenergetics and free radical biology. The cations moves rapidly and carry antioxidants to mitochondria the process is entirely based on membrane potential ( ΔΨ). Here the investigation is carried out to synthesize and delivered antioxidants to brain mitochondria using lipophilic triphenylphosphonium cation.

Key words: lipophilic phosphonium cations, membrane potential, antioxidants.

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Abstract: In recent years, the search for biologically active compounds from Euphorbia heterophylla in the treatment of different diseases has always been of great interest to researchers. In this present study, we investigated the effect of the aqueous leaf extract of the plant on hepatocytes using animal models. A total of twenty (20) wistar albino rats (150-240g) were used for the study. The rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups (A, B, C & D) comprising five rats per group. The control group was administered deionised water while the treatment groups were orally administered doses of the aqueous leaf extract of the plant( 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg body weights) by means of a gavage for two weeks. Total protein, albumin, urea nitrogen, alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) were the biochemical parameters assessed in this study. The results showed no significant difference(p>0.05 in the levels of the aforementioned parameters. The aqueous leaf extract of the plant indicated the presence of carbohydrates, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids and steroids, but anthracene derivatives were absent. The results obtained in this study, therefore, justify the traditional use of the plant for food and medicinal purposes respectively. Keywords: Alanine aminotransferase, Albumin, Alkaline phosphatase, Euphorbia heterophylla, Hepatocytes

[[1] O.A. Abolaji, A.H. Adebayo, and O.S. Odesanmi. Nutritional qualities of three medicinal plants (Xylopia aethiopica,Blighia sapida and Harinari polyandra) commonly used by pregnant women in the western part of Nigeria. Parkistan Journal of Nutrition, 2, 2007, 665-668.

[2] A.C. Akinmoladun, E.O. Ibukun, E. Afor; E.M.Obuotor, and E.O. Farombi,. Phytochemical Constituent and Antioxidant activity of extract from the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum. Sciences Research Essay 2, 2007,163 – 166.

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[7] J.Omale and F.Emmanuel,Phytochemical Composition, Bioactivity and wound healing potential of Euphorbia heterophylla (Euphorbiaceae) leaf extract. International Journal on Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Research , 1 (1), 2010, 54 – 63.

[8] N.D. Prajapati, and T. Prajapati. Sustainable cultivation of Medicinal Plants, Multitier Agriculture System – A new concept. Biochemistry(3rd ed.) Benjamin cummings, 2002.

[9] A. Latif, H. Almad, S. Begun, M. Adnan, and W. M. Hussains. Medicinal and other Economic Plant as substitute to Forest logging in Miandam and Sulatat Valleys, Swat. Proceedings of International Workshop on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Pakistan. ww-pak, 2003, pp 101 – 105.

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Abstract: Treatment of paint industry (emulsion) wastewaters by electrocoagulation using different electrode materials has been investigated in this paper. Several working parameters, such as pH, current density, operating time, types of electrodes and surface area were studied in an attempt to achieve a higher COD removal capacity. The electrolytic cell used was a 500 ml cylinder glass reactor with working volume 400 ml and equipped by magnetic stirrer without temperature control. The DC power supply was controlled by a voltmeter. The study also revealed that electrocoagulation with Al electrodes was more effective than MS and SS electrodes.

Key words: electrocoagulation, paint industry waste water, electrolytic cell, electrodes.

[1]. Akyol A," Treatment of paint manufacturing wastewater by electrocoagulation", Gebze Institute of Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering,Cayırova, Turkey,2011.
[2]. Ni'am M.F, Othman F, Sohaili J,Fauzia Z, "Removal of COD and turbidity to improve wastewater quality using electrocoagulation technique", The Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, 2007,Vol 11, No 1.
[3]. Tezcanun U and Aytac E, "Treatment of Textile Wastewaters by Electrocoagulation Method", 2nd International Conference on Chemical Engineering and Applications, 2011, vol. 23.
[4]. Secula M.S, Creţescu I, Petrescu S, "Separation of sulfides from aqueous solution by electrocoagulation""Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, 73 Prof. Dr. Doc. D. Mangeron, 700050, Iasi, Romania
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Abstract: The Nile TilapiaOreochromis niloticus(a fish species) was collected from Goronyo Dam, its two tributaries and Rima River(an overflow of Goronyo Dam) in two seasons for comparative studies of metal contents in gills, muscles and bones. The samples were dissected, organs were collected and digested by FAO/SIDA methods of 1983. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer(AAS) was used for the estimation of metals and mineral elements in the samples as described in the Pye Unican Atomic Absorption data book(1984). Only fishes collected in season II(August-September) of Goronyo Dam had lead(Pb) values in gills, muscles and bones higher than theWorld Health Organizationstandard of 2.0 μg/g in sea foods. Oreochromis niloticus species of season II consumed from Goronyo Dam can be a rich source of Pb to humans.

Keywords: Oreochromis niloticus, Heavy metals, Lead, Cadmium, Goronyo Dam

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Abstract: A short-term preliminary toxicological evaluation of Monodora myristica seed oil was carried out in order to determine the suitability of the oil for nutritional purposes. The total unsaturated fatty acids found in M. myristica seed oil was 79.93% while the total saturated fatty acid was 20.07% with oleic and linoleic acid making up the major portion of the unsaturated fatty acids; both accounted for 68.67% of the total fatty acids in the oil. The effects of the oil on physical appearance, feed intake, weight gain, plasma and tissue cholesterol and triacyglycerol levels in rats were determined. There seemed to be no toxicological effects on weanling albino rats when fed with 5% M. myristica seed oil in their diet for 8 weeks. Weekly monitoring of the rats showed good physical appearance and steady weight gain, with no mortality recorded for the study period of eight weeks. Haematological analysis of the test rats showed that the rats were not anaemic. M. myristica seed oil is a promising edible oil.

Key Words: M. myristica, toxicology

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Abstract: Membrane filters have come into general use in recent years for the filtration of water samples prior analysis. Membranes are screen filters that remove suspended materials from the water in different size ranges. Filtration is widely accepted as a way of producing acceptable sample and filtration has become a first step in the preparation of water samples for trace metal analysis. Often, the filter is analyzed to study dissolved metal concentration. The investigated show the physical effects of filtration, the most micro fibre filters paper is contaminated by different amount of metal concentrations. On the other hand, there is no metal contamination in the membrane filters nylon

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Abstract: The recent dynamic effect of hydro climatic influence on the geomorphology of the earth's crust calls for attention in order to properly manage the evolving ecological challenges and landscape dynamics. This study is carried out in built-up areas within basement complex terrain with the view of knowing the impact of rainfall, the major and one of the most widely studied meteorological variables in the tropics on the landforms. In the Nigerian context, the impact of climate change is felt majorly in terms of rainfall and temperature . Climatic data of rainfall for 37 years were collected and subjected to time series analysis using the SPSS Software and Micro Soft Excel. The trend analysis shows the correlation coefficient of 0.1 and variation rate of 0.7% implying that the rainfall varies in an upward trend. While the precipitation periodicity index is 255.67mm for highest and 5.03mm for lowest and the total annual rainfall is 1602mm, the percentage contribution of mean monthly rainfall for April- Oct is 1407.53 amounting to 87.84% an indication of high concentration of rainfall. The digital modeling show rugged hilly landscape of the terrain and other geomorphic features such as, river valleys, valleys, and drainage with slope gradients whose values vary from 8%-17% indicating a gentle to steep slope. The investigations and analyses reveal that the anthropogenic activities, topography of the study area coupled with the increased rainfall and intensity play the major roles in the denudation process of Oke-lgbo area of Ondo State.

Keywords: Correlation coefficient. denudation, rainfall trend, and Geomorphology

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Abstract: This research work is concerned with the evaluation of safety in a petroleum company (A case study on the Naphtha Hydro – treating Unit NHU of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, Nigeria). The evaluation was done using the formal safety review method which analyzes operation parameters such as temperatures of process equipment in actual operation with respect to temperature on the process flow diagram, and emissions like noise for a period of one year. The result shows that the major hazards in the NHU are heat emissions from process equipments like heaters and heat exchangers with emissions of poisonous gases such as H2S, NH3 and traces of heavy metal. The result also shows that the atmospheric condition at different months of the year has an adverse effect on the temperature of process equipment. This result also confirms that for most process industries like refineries, petroleum companies, and production companies, are associated with such hazards.

Keywords: Hazards, Kaduna, NHU, Refining, and Safety.

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Abstract: The research article is focused on the Environmental Impact Assessment of a proposed cement plant to be located in Sagamu, Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria. Environmental impact assessment studies are carried out to obtain environmental clearance for establishment of a production plant in accordance with the Federal Environmental Protection Agency rules and guidelines for predicting the ground level concentration of pollutants. A dispersion modelling technique was used to develop a model equation. Data generated from field and experimental measurements were fitted into the developed model and thereafter the model was simulated to determine the spread of particulate matter and carbon dioxide concentrations from the proposed plant. The results obtained were compared with the Nigerian Ambient Air Quality Standards and World Health Organization maximum limits for an 8-hourly average time and found to be within the permissible limits.

Keywords: Cement plant, Environment, Modelling, Nigeria and Pollutants.

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Abstract: Nigeria is a country prone to soil and water pollution resulting from the activities of the Oil and Gas industry. Remediating the polluted soil is very important hence the use of Granular Activated Carbon. Characterization of the soil samples before and after pollution was carried out using AOCS 1986 standard. Characterization of the commercially obtained Granular Activated Carbon before and after use was done using cultured Pseudomonas Putida. The remediation experiment was carried out for 14 days at temperatures of 30, 35, 40 and 45oC with the initial total temperature and soil sample quantity valued to be 25mg/L and 500g. Graphical representation of remediation at different temperatures show that microbial degradation increases as temperature increases. The microbial degradation increases as temperature increases. The moisture content of the soil also decreases as temperature increases. Hence, hydrocarbon pollution leads to corresponding environmental impact on the soil which can be remediated by the use of Granular Activated Carbon (GAC).

Keywords: GAC, Nigeria, Petroleum, Pollution and Soil.

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