Groundwater vulnerability to fluoride pollution and health risk assessment in the western part of Odisha, India.

The fluoride dynamics of the Dharmagarh Block of Kalahandi District, Odisha, India, and associated health risk assessment have been studied. Complex data matrices were evaluated using groundwater quality index, fluoride pollution index, and principal component analysis to understand the geological evolution and identify potential sources for fluoride pollution. The study region comprises granite, granitic gneiss, and khondalite of hard and compact rock of Precambrian Eon, which supplies mostly the fluoride-bearing minerals. Altogether thirty-four (34) groundwater samples across the entire study area were collected and subjected to various physico-chemical analyses. The majority of the groundwater in the proposed region is hard to very hard type with Mg-HCO3 and Na-HCO3 being the two dominant facies. Groundwater contains fluoride in concentrations ranging from 0.21 to 2.26 mg/L. The statistical analysis of the quality parameters reveals the moderate positive correlation of fluoride with sodium (0.392) and pH (0.313) and week positive correlation with EC, TDS, TH, TA, Mg2+, and HCO3-, which directly depicts the initiation of fluoride problem within the study area. Based on the water quality index, 23.53% samples are good, 73.53% are poor, and 2.94% are very poor in nature. With respect to fluoride pollution index, 5.88% samples show high pollution, 55.88% samples show medium pollution, and 38.24% of samples show low pollution index. Human health risk assessment has also been carried out using the hazard quotient of fluoride. Altogether 70.59% of samples show Total Hazard Index (THI) values < 1 suggesting low risk of cancer and within the permissible range, whereas 29.41% of samples show THI > 1 suggesting the non-carcinogenic risk of pollutants, which exceeds the allowable limit for all the classes of male, female and children.

Identifying susceptible groundwater contamination zones in western Odisha of India using hydro-geochemical and geospatial approaches.

Nuapada is one of the most drought-affected and fluoride-contaminated districts in Odisha, India. The presence of various dissolved substances, evapotranspiration, and lowering water table during pre- and post-monsoon (PRM and POM) seasons are responsible for declining groundwater (GW) quality over the Nuapada region. To comprehend the contaminated GW zones over the Nuapada and Komna blocks of the northern Nuapada district during the seasons, integration of hydrogeochemistry and statistical approaches using GW sample data on a geospatial platform have been done. The analysis exhibits that the major source of groundwater contamination is mostly geogenic with little anthropogenic impact. The cumulative impact of fluoride (F-), iron (Fe2+), and nitrate (NO3-) contents are noticed in great-depth zones of the water table in the north and south parts of Nuapada and Komna blocks, respectively. The dominant hydro facies, such as Na-Cl (41.77%) and Ca-Cl (25.31%) types exist over both blocks during PRM and POM seasons, respectively. Demarcation of contaminant and susceptible zones over the study area using geospatial analysis and groundwater quality indices (GWQI) were done. About 3% of the total area, in the north and middle parts of the Nuapada and Komna blocks, falls under contamination zones and is unfit for drinking purposes, and about 35% of the region is susceptible to future contamination. The outcome of the result analysis will enhance the scope for researchers, policymakers, and water managers to regulate emerging health, agricultural, and industrial issues in the stressed aquifer system in India and the world.

Integrative study of Permian coal-bearing horizons: biostratigraphy, palaeovegetation, and palaeoclimate in the South Karanpura Basin.

The article deals with the integrated and comprehensive study of the coal-bearing horizons from the South Karanpura Basin to delineate the biostratigraphy, palaeovegetation, palaeodepositional settings, and palaeoclimate in and around the investigated area during the deposition of Permian sediments. Highly diversified megafloral assemblages consist 13 genera and 72 species of order Glossopteridales, Cordaitales and Equisetales are documented among which 37 taxa are newly reported from Barakar and Raniganj formations of the area. Palynoassemblages-I and -II are recovered, which demonstrate the biostratigraphic age as Kungurian and Wordian-Capitanian, respectively. Overall the vegetation represents a luxuriant forest subjugated by arborescent deciduous trees bearing Glossopteris foliage with some conifers, cordaites, filicales, and peltaspermales. The biomarker study of the basin illustrates the unimodal distribution of n-alkanes in the sample set ranges from C14 to C29 which suggests major input from a single source of organic matter. The involvement of microbial activity and algal input is suggested for the basin. A relatively moderate-to-high water level condition can be inferred from elevated n-C25. The high CIA, PIA values and A-CN-K plot suggest intense weathering conditions in the source area. The source rocks are characterized by mature clayey type with abundant clay mineral, i.e., kaolinite. The current study portrays that the Permian climate was cooler in initial phase, which later on became warm temperate with high humidity. The palaeofloral entities and geochemical parameters suggest absolute diversification of Permian flora, the existence of continental freshwater setting in the vicinity and oxic to anoxic environment with fluctuating ground water conditions during the deposition of sediments.

Air mapping during COVID-19 and association between air pollutants and physiochemical parameters of the plants using structural equal modeling: a case study.

In urban areas around the world, air pollution introduced by vehicular movement is a key concern. However, restricting vehicular traffic during the COVID-19 shutdown improved air quality to some extent. This study was conducted out in the smart city of Bhubaneswar, which is also the state capital of Odisha, India. The study has tried to map Bhubaneswar by collecting the air quality data before, during, and after the COVID lockdown of six air quality monitoring stations present in Bhubaneswar established under "National Ambient Air Monitoring Program" (NAMP). Furthermore, plants, which are the most vulnerable to air pollution, can show a variety of visible changes depending on their level of sensitivity. Moreover, leaves of Mangifera indica, Monoon longifolium, Azadirachta indica, Millettia pinnata, Aegle marmelos were collected from nearby of six air monitoring stations to assess the "Air Pollution Tolerance Index." M. indica was found to be intermediately tolerant, and all of the other species were found to be sensitive. The structural equation modeling results also revealed a significant relationship between total chlorophyll content, relative water content, ascorbic acid content, leaf extract pH, APTI with species, air quality index, and PM10.

Soundscape of an eastern coastal city of India.

The soundscape study of an eastern Indian coastal city (Puri) has been investigated. Acoustic data were collected at 36 sampling locations during two time intervals in and around Puri. A number of noise indices, namely, Lmin, Lmax, and Leq, were calculated to demonstrate the noise level of this city. Noise maps are generated using ARC-GIS to investigate the impact of road traffic noise on the soundscape of the city. The response of the public was appraised by a questionnaire. Due to variable traffic features, the equivalent noise level (Leq) as well as peak (L10) and background noise (L90) levels varied with location and time of the day. It was found that socio-demographic characteristics have no bearing on the amount of annoyance. However, a link was observed between age, hearing condition, and noise perception, as well as between gender and impacts of noise.

A bibliometric analysis of sustainable development goals (SDGs): a review of progress, challenges, and opportunities.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global appeal to protect the environment, combat climate change, eradicate poverty, and ensure access to a high quality of life and prosperity for all. The next decade is crucial for determining the planet's direction in ensuring that populations can adapt to climate change. This study aims to investigate the progress, challenges, opportunities, trends, and prospects of the SDGs through a bibliometric analysis from 2015 to 2022, providing insight into the evolution and maturity of scientific research in the field. The Web of Science core collection citation database was used for the bibliometric analysis, which was conducted using VOSviewer and RStudio. We analyzed 12,176 articles written in English to evaluate the present state of progress, as well as the challenges and opportunities surrounding the SDGs. This study utilized a variety of methods to identify research hotspots, including analysis of keywords, productive researchers, and journals. In addition, we conducted a comprehensive literature review by utilizing the Web of Science database. The results show that 31% of SDG-related research productivity originates from the USA, China, and the UK, with an average citation per article of 15.06. A total of 45,345 authors around the world have contributed to the field of SDGs, and collaboration among authors is also quite high. The core research topics include SDGs, climate change, Agenda 2030, the circular economy, poverty, global health, governance, food security, sub-Saharan Africa, the Millennium Development Goals, universal health coverage, indicators, gender, and inequality. The insights gained from this analysis will be valuable for young researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and public officials as they seek to identify patterns and high-quality articles related to SDGs. By advancing our understanding of the subject, this research has the potential to inform and guide future efforts to promote sustainable development. The findings indicate a concentration of research and development on SDGs in developed countries rather than in developing and underdeveloped countries.

A preliminary assessment of noise level during Deepawali festival in Balasore, India.

A preliminary assessment of noise levels during Deepawali, was made in the present study. In order to assess the situation of noise levels in and around Balasore during two consecutive Deepawali of the year 2010 and 2011; noise monitoring was carried out in three different specified times (4:30-7:00 p.m., 7:00-10:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m.-1:00 a.m.). Noise descriptors such as L10, L50, L90, Leq, noise pollution level and noise climate were assessed to reveal the extent of noise pollution in this festival of crackers. Permissible limit of noise levels (Leq) prescribed by WHO during the festival was 100 dB and Lmax must not exceed 110 dB during such occasion. However, in all the cases Lmax and NPL values exceeded 110 dB, while Leq values ranged from 92.9 to 101.9 dB during 2010 Deepawali and 81.5 to 100.8 dB during 2011 Deepawali. On the other hand, all the noise monitoring sites belonged to residential areas. The assessed noise levels during such festivity are much more than 55/45 dB i.e. prescribed for residential areas for day/night time by CPCB. However, it was observed that the noise of Deepawali (Leq) decreased considerably and was less during 2011 than 2010. These may be due to increased environmental awareness among the public. Subsequently, the people of Balasore prefered to celebrate Deepawali, the festival of lights without sound and smoke. Noise policy should also be worked out for a better understanding of such local, social and cultural festivals in which annoyance arise.

Assessment, analysis and appraisal of road traffic noise pollution in Rourkela city, India.

The problem of road traffic noise pollution has become a concern for both the public and the policy makers. Noise level was assessed in 12 different squares of Rourkela city during different specified times (7-10 a.m., 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 3-6 p.m., 7-10 p.m., 10 p.m.-12 midnight and 4-6 a.m.). Noise descriptors such as L,eq, traffic noise index, noise pollution level, noise climate, Lday, Levening, Lnight and Lden were assessed to reveal the extent of noise pollution due to heavy traffic in this city. The equivalent noise levels of all the 12 squares were found to be much beyond the permissible limit (70dB during day time and 55dB during night time). Appallingly, even the minimum L eq and NPL values were more than 82 dB and 96 dB during day time and 69 dB and 91 dB during night time respectively. Lden values of investigated squares ranged from 83.4 to 86.1 dB and were even more than the day time permissible limit of traffic noise. The prediction model was used in the present study to predict noise pollution level instead of Leq. Comparison of predicted with that of the actual measured data demonstrated that the model used for the prediction has the ability to calibrate the multicomponent traffic noise and yield reliable results close to that by direct measurement. Lastly, it is inferred that the dimension of the traffic generated noise pollution in Rourkela is critical.

Assessment and analysis of noise levels in and around Ib river coalfield, Orissa, India.

Heavy earth moving machineries, different capacities of dumpers and loaders, blasting and drilling make the mining environment noisy. A study was carried out to assess the noise level in different opencast projects in and around Belpahar and Brajarajnagar areas of Ib river coalfield. Noise assessment was carried out in various residential, commercial and industrial places. The noise levels, especially L(eq) values of different wheel loaders, dumpers, shovel and crusher units were also assessed and were more than permissible limit (90dB) in some of their operating conditions. Sound ressure level measurements while drilling into coal and overburden at Lakhanpur opencast project yielded noise levels (L(eq)) of 81.33 to 96.2 dB. Thus, these L(eq) values of drilling machines in most of the operating conditions were above permissible limit. The average noise intensities (6 a.m.-10 p.m.: 51.6-60.875dB and 10 p.m.-6 a.m.: 42.6-49.8dB) and L(eq) values (6 a.m.-10 p.m.: 50.9-67.0dB and 10 p.m.-6 a.m.: 40.8-53.3dB) during both day and night time of the residential areas around the Ib river coalfield were in close proximity or beyond the permissible limit. The L(eq) values at some of the commercial and industrial places were beyond (6 a.m.-10 p.m.: 61.6-88.3 dB and 10 p.m.-6 a.m.: 55.4-64.8dB) permissible limit. However, in most of the cases, the L(max) noise values were more (6 a.m.-10 p.m.: 68.5-91.4 dB and 10 p.m.-6 a.m.: 69.3-76.4dB) than the permissible limit. Analysis of variance was also computed for heavy earth moving machineries in different operating conditions and also for different residential, commercial and industrial places to infer the level of significance. The difference of noise intensity produced by different wheel loaders at Lakhanpur and Lilari opencast projects, drilling machines at Lakhanpur opencast project, 50 tons capacity dumpers at various conditions of Ib river coalfield within the same operating condition was significant at both 5% and 1% levels of significance. Similarly, the variance of estimated noise level in residential places during day time and commercial and industrial places during day and night time was significant at both 5% and 1% levels of significance. Moreover, a preliminary survey adopting questionnaire method amongst the mine workers and local inhabitants was also carried out to evaluate their perception about the mining related noise.

Impact of coal mining on soil characteristics around Ib river coalfield, Orissa, India.

The present article deals with soil analysis around five opencast coal projects of Ib river coalfield during pre-monsoon (March), monsoon (July) and post monsoon (November) periods of successive three years (i.e., 2006, 2007 and 2008). Sampling of soil has been done from the vertical surface of the overburden at successive depths of 0-5 ft, 5-10 ft and at 10-15 ft. The different physical (soil texture, soil moisture, particle density, bulk density and porosity) and chemical (pH, organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) parameters have been analysed. The soil textures of the study area are found to be loamy sand to loam, loam to silty loam and clay loam to silty clay loam in the depth of 0-5 ft, 5-10 ftand at 10-15 ft, respectively. The moisture content (7.297 at 0-5ft, 5.25 at 5-10 ft and 4.134% at 10-15 ft) and porosity (43.994 at 0-5 ft, 40.682 at 5-10 ft and 35.85% at 10-15 ft) of the soil in the study area decreased gradually from the surface to greater depth. However, the particle density (2.639 at 0-5 ft, 3.11 at 5-10 ft and 3.523 g cc(-1) at 10-15 ft) and the bulk density (1.478 at 0-5ft, 1.839 at 5-10 ft and 2.269 g cc(-1) at 10-15 ft) in this region increased from surface to the deeper region of the soil. The organic carbon (1.367 at 0-5 ft, 0.9 at 5-10 ft and 0.396 kg ha(-1) at 10-15 ft), nitrogen (2.845 at 0-5 ft, 1.059 at 5-10 ft and 0.48 kg ha(-1) at 10-15 ft) and phosphorus level (1.11 at 0-5 ft, 0.715 at 5-10 ft and 0.679 kg ha(-1) at 10-15 ft) of the soil decreased with increasing depth of the soil. However, the content of potassium (2.636 at 0-5 ft, 4.374 at 5-10 ft and 5.82 kg ha(-1) at 10-15 ft) increased gradually from the surface to the greater depth. Analysis of variance is computed to infer the variation in the concentration of parameters in different open cast coal projects and in various depths of the study area.

Preliminary information on noise pollution in commercial banks of Balasore, India.

The environmental noise in some commercial banks of Balasore, in terms of standard noise indices was worked out in the present study. Noise pollution was assessed in twenty different commercial banks of the city on 31st August, 2010 and during first week of September, 2010. The present noise monitoring was conducted with the help of sound level meter, which was calibrated acoustically using an external reference source, and placed over the microphone. It is inferred that the noise levels were more than the permissible limit i.e. 50 dB as prescribed in USA in all the investigated banks of Balasore and the maximum noise levels were around double of the said permissible limit, which is a contradiction with that of developed countries. Analysis of variance was also computed for all the banks during peak hour (10 a.m.-12 noon). The mean values of noise levels in different banks ranged from 75.5 to 90dB; from 69 to 83.6dB and 71.5 to 83.5dB during 10 a.m.-12 noon, 12-2 p.m. and 2-4 p.m., respectively. It was categorically observed that noise levels were more during 10 a.m.-12 noon than other investigated time intervals in all the 20 investigated banks. It is imperative to mention here that such an attemptof assessing noise in banks is first of its kind in India.

Dynamics of road traffic noise in Bhadrak city, India.

Road traffic noise assessed in 13 different squares of major intersection points in Bhadrak city during four different specified times i.e. 7-10 a.m., 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 3-6 p.m. and 7-10 p.m.. Road traffic was found to be the most important source of community noise at the studied sites. The noise levels of all the 13 squares were found to be beyond the permissible limit [70 dB (A)] during day time. Leq (equivalent noise level) values ranged from 93.4 to 100.5; 91.5 to 100.6; 95.1 to 107.3 and 97.3 to 106.3 dB during 7-10 a.m., 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 3-6 p.m. and 7-10 p.m. respectively. LNP values range from 115.7 to 127.7; 114.2 to 129.8; 118.2 to 138.2 and 120.7 to 135 dB, while TNI values range from 134.3 to 154.7; 130.7 to 157.9; 136.7 to 168.2 and 137.2 to 165 dB during 7-10 a.m., 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 3-6 p.m. and 7-10 p.m. respectively. Reprehensibly, even minimum LNP and TNI values are more than 114 and 130 dB respectively. Analysis of variance also computed for investigated squares at the peak hour i.e. 7-10 p.m. to infer the level of significance. The observed value of F (0.47) was less than the tabulated values and was not significant at both 5 and 1% levels of significance. Thus, the noise levels of different squares did not differ significantly at their peak hours. A preliminary public health survey carried out based on questionnaire method amongst 202 local inhabitants reveal the degree of annoyance due to road traffic noise.

A study on traffic noise of two campuses of University, Balasore, India.

Noise pollution is a significant environmental problem in many rapidly urbanizing areas of Orissa, India. Transportation sector is one of the major contributors to noise in these areas. The present study is an attempt to estimate traffic noise pollution at five places on the way from Vyasa Vihar Campus to Gyan Vigyan Vihar Campus of Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, Orissa. The sources of noise at the studied sites are predominantly attributable to motor vehicular traffic. The noise levels of all the five locations were found to be beyond permissible limit during the day time. The contributions of different types of vehicles to environmental noise were found to ranging from 70.4-94.2, 79.0-96.1, 77.8-110.2, 70.8-90.3, 71.0-87.5, 71.1-84.4, 72.5-86.9 and 74.0-85.4 dB (A) by cargo carrying Trucks, Tractors, Dumpers, Town Buses, Motor cycles, Bolero/Trucker, Pick up and Tempo respectively. The contributions of individual vehicles towards noise pollution were found to be more than the road traffic noise-limit i.e., 70 dB (A). On certain local inhabitants interviewed, the impact of noise was observed in the forms of alterations in their physical, psychological and personal aspects. This study warrants attention from all sections of people to deal with the problem of noise pollution.

Coalmine dust concentration and rate of tuberculosis infection around Ib Valley Coalfield, Orissa, India.

The miners as well as the inhabitants vicinity to the mining areas are generally susceptible to the respiratory disorders due to constant exposure to the coalmine dust for a prolonged period. In this paper the dust concentration and dust dose associated with the rate of tuberculosis around the major part of Ib Valley Coalfield (Belpahar and Brajarajnagar area) have been analysed. Several field trips around Ib Valley Coalfield have been conducted for consecutively three years (2005, 2006 and 2007) to evaluate the present status of the dust concentration and rate of tuberculosis infection. It was observed that the dust concentrations of different residential places as well as the places vicinity to the opencast mining projects have been increased in the subsequent years of investigation. As a result, the dust doses of various residential places have also increased in a parallel manner. The dust doses of various mining sites range from 25.51 to 37.08 mg, 34.76 to 41.03 mg and 37.8 to 44.49 mg during 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively. Interestingly in most of the mining sites the dust doses are more than the safe dust does (32 mg). An attempt has been made to correlate the dust concentration with tuberculosis infection in the area by making a questionnaire survey. Early symptoms of tuberculosis were reported in case of 121 out of 205, 129 out of 212 and 145 out of 220 inhabitants during 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively. The study clearly revealed that the tuberculosis patients have been increased significantly in the successive years of investigation.

Record of Lower Gondwana megafloral assemblage from Lower Kamthi Formation of Ib River Coalfield, Orissa, India.

Recent investigations carried out in the Ib River Coalfield, Mahanadi Master Basin, Orissa, identified some fossilif-erous beds in the Lower Gondwana deposits. Two exposures of the Lower Kamthi Formation yielded diverse and abundant plant remains, which include Neomariopteris, Vertebraria, and a scale leaf along with 14 Glossopteris species otherwise mapped as Barren Measures and Upper Kamthi formations. Glossopteris indica dominates the flora (22.78%) followed by G. communis (17.72%) and G. browniana (13.92%). Based on megafloral assemblages, different beds exposed at Gopalpur and Laxamanpur Pahar are assigned here to the Lower Kamthi Formation (Late Permian). The floristic composition suggests that a warm and humid climate prevailed during the Late Permian. The status of the Kamthi Formation in the Ib River Coalfield has been redefined in the present study.