Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
I. International issues
Involves problems like:
Climate changes Global warming Marine pollution Oil spill Air pollution Energy crisis
b)Marine pollution
Global increase in ocean temperature ad release of toxicants into ocean causing coral bleaching. In Indian ocean 90% corals died over thousands of kms. Nutrient loaded freshwater from the land causing changes in density and diversity of life forms in the coastal oceans. Eutrophication (toxic algal blooms and sedimentation) is the major threat to flora and fauna of the ocean
c)Air pollution
Industrialization, vehicular emission and deforestation are the major causes. Some minor effects are also there because of waste deposition and soil erosion Gases to be concerned about: oxides of nitrogen and sulfur, carbon compounds and greenhouse gases.
d)Energy crisis
Conventional energy sources are depleting fast and also causing most of the environmental concerns. Need of the hour : to reduce energy consumption and generate as much energy as possible from non-conventional resources Environmental friendly technology needs to be developed
e)Oil spills
Threat to marine ecosystem and world environment Loss of mangrove forests in West Asia attributed to oil spills in coastal soil and oceans. Accidents during exploration, extraction and transport needs to be checked.
Requires national government involvement and development of strategies to cope with the problems
a)Land degradation
Cause of reduction in the productive capacity of arable land Factors leading to land degradation are: poor agricultural practices, erosion, compaction, acidification, weeds, biological degradation, fertilizer overuse (banned fertilizers still on rampant use, subsidies leading to overuse), mining, industrialization, water logging, sea water inundation etc.
b)Soil erosion
Effects
increased siltation of reservoirs and irrigation projects Eutrophication of surface waters Reduction in forest regeneration Depletion of productivity of arable land Severe effects on soil function (eg. Decrease in soils ability to filter pollutants and act as buffer, its role in hydrological cycle and nitrogen cycle)
c)Water pollution
Menace all over the world Degradation of wetlands, depletion of species, reduction in secondary productivity, eutrophication, shrinking water bodies, are some of the direct effects Sources of pollution:
Untreated sewage, chemical discharges, petroleum leaks and spills, agricultural chemicals
Poisoning the surrounding ecosystem and threatening the health and livelihood of the people depending on the water source Human activities, agriculture, industries, urbanization are the major causes
d)Nitrogen deposition
Increased nitrogen in soil and water can lead to:
a loss of species aquatic systems are most vulnerable due to surface run offs and domestic and industrial effluents discharge Eutrophication Nitrogen washed from hilltops causes deficiency at high altitudes leading to slow growth of plants and excess in the plains leading to weeds and unwanted plants. Productivity is reduced in both.
e)Solid wastes
Population and urbanization-main causes Collection, treatment, disposal of solid wastes needs attention and development of organized systems Incineration and land filling methods of waste disposal causes air pollution, water contamination, unpleasant odors and sights Non biodegradable and hazardous wastes need special disposal methods or else can be damaging and hazardous to health
a) Degradation of pesticides
Organosynthetic pesticides and insecticides accumulate and cause hazards and negative environmental effects. Techniques for concentrations, accumulation rate etc. of these pollutants developed. Effects of pesticides on non-target species can be determined by concentration and persistence of chemicals. Bacteria isolated for degradation of chemicals can be used to reclaim pesticide affected soil. Pesticide degrading enzymes studied and cultured in bioreactors (eg. Phosphotriesterase, carboxylesterase) GMOs developed for accelerated degradation.
c) Treatment of wastewater
Wastewater contains oxidisable organic matter- catabolic process of micorbes used. Biological degradation by aerobic respiration, denitrification under anaerobic conditions or methanogenesis. Sewage sludge oxidising systems, ponds have been developed. Process developed for degradation of lignocellulose by integrating metabloic activities of fungi, aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Nitrogen and phosphorus need to be removed simultaneously to prevent eutrophication- denitrifying bacteria used which convert dissolved nitrogen into ammonia and then free dinitrogen. Alternative- secondary treatment to convert it into biomass in ponds.
g)Development of Biopesticides
Biopesticides- the biologically active compounds, dead or living parts of the plants or animals, or the whole plant, animal or microbe applied to control agricultural and domestic pests. Biopesticides still not popular- cost, limited production. Exploration and analysis of the bioactive principles of biological substances and organisms is crucial. Steps- identification, growth, doseeffect study.
a)Reclamation of Wasteland
Degraded land be reclaimed to increase agricultural production. Some lands like saline soils in coastal India cant be reclaimed- frequent sea water inundation. Biotechnology provides methods to generate crop types suitable to this type of soil and new plant types are also developed. Lignocellulolytic and phosphate solubilizing microbes applied in mine waste soils to facilitate metal leaching to deeper soil layers and to immobilize metals.
b)Biomass production
Regeneration of biomass needed to counteract deforestation and environmental damage. Plant species for wood and grass for fodderafforestation. Wastewater for freshwater aquaculture converts wastewater to secondary biomass(fish). Single cell proteins, pigments, antioxidants, amino acids can be produced by using wastewater.
Examples- slurry bioreactors, solid state fixed bed bioreactors, solid state bioreactors with natural ventilation, solid state bioreactors with forced aeration, rotating drum dry solid bioreactors.
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