[Environment] Chief Editor Iftikhar A. Raja comsats institute of Information Technology Abbottabad (Pakistan)

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION


AAP-03

SPATIAL EXTENT ANALYSIS OF FOG AND HAZE COVER OVER PAKISTAN AND INDIA USING MEDIUM RESOLUTION SATELLITE DATA
Badar M Ghauri

Department of RS and GISc, Institute of Space Technology,

Karachi, 75270, Pakistan

[e-mail]

ABSTRACT

Northeastern part of Pakistan bordering India is engulfed with thick fog in winters and with haze in fall months from October to February impacting millions of inhabitants of the region. This paper discusses the area affected by fog/ haze during months from Oct to February, 2006 to 2010. Daily geo-referenced subset images of MODIS (Aqua & Terra) covering both Pakistan and India were obtained and processed through ENVI 4.2 and Arc GIS. The area covered by haze, smog and fog were determined through classified satellite data. The haze density has been noted to increase during post rice harvesting activity when burning of agricultural waste takes place in India close to Pakistani border (October-November). The fog/ haze cover during the study period ranged from 155,000 - 354,500 Km² in Pakistan and in India from 333000 Km² to 846,000 Km².. The area under haze area in these countries doubled during 2006-2010. Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) from MODIS satellites also showed high aerosol load in the eastern part of the country along the Indian border during winters, from December to February. The AOD values during December months 2007 &2011 showed a variability of 0.6 to 0.9 at 550 nm with higher AOD in areas of agricultural waste burning. Air trajectories using NOAA’s HYSPLIT4 were also used to determine transport of aerosols.The same showed that the aerosol transport was from India to Pakistan in Dec 2000 and Feb 2010. Highly stable atmosphere during these months resulted in reduced vertical mixing and hence higher pollutant concentrations. Coal usage in industries in the region could be contributing towards wide spread haze/ fog.

AAP-04

GREENHOUSE GAS ESTIMATION FROM THE LANDFILL SITES OF RAWAL TOWN RAWALPINDI, PUNJAB

Bibi Almas and Sofia Khalid

Environmental Sciences Department,

Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

[e-mail]

ABSTRACT

Environmental and social problems in developing countries are linked with rapidly increasing quantity of municipal solid waste (MSW). 80% of the MSW all over the world is managed via land filling. This study was conducted to estimate methane emissions from the landfills/disposal sites of Rawal Town based on IPCC Guidelines. Methane has a significant Global Warming Impact and considered as important GHG. Rawal Town is in the northern urban vicinity of Rawalpindi and is composed of 46 urban union councils. Economic and demographic growth of city, changing lifestyles of people, changing land use patterns and technological advancements led to increase in quantity and complexity of MSW generation and management. Recorded 850 to 900 tonns of MSW are being sent for land filing daily. 60 % of the waste was being collected and rest was somehow recycled by informal sector or left un-attended. In Rawal Town there were many unmanaged disposal sites as well and open dumping was the general practice. There was one partially managed landfill at Mousa Losar, Chakbeli that receives solid waste from Rawalpindi, administered by Rawalpindi Waste Management Company. Methane was estimated for the year 2015 and backward extrapolated till 2001.Emissions estimation was based on assumption about the relationship between certain activity and emissions generated (A theoretical emission estimation model).Results showed significant release of 364 Gg CH₄/Year from the landfills (including both unmanaged and managed). Out of total emissions 282 Gg CH₄/Year were from Losar landfill. These end point emissions of methane can be avoided by segregation of biogenic waste from the point sources and by enchanting composting into practice. Methane recovery from SWDS or landfill was recorded zero in Rawal Town although there is a great opportunity for energy recovery or for other purposes like other developed countries.
AAP-05

FLUORIDE CONTAMINATION IN WATER, AIR AND SOIL OF PAKISTAN: A REVIEW
Anum Aslam and Sofia Khalid

Department of Environmental Sciences

Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

[e-mail]

ABSTRACT

Fluoride (F^-) is one of the severe contaminants released into the environment by various natural and anthropogenic sources. This paper reviews the various researches conducted in Pakistan reporting fluoride contamination in different environmental compartments. The higher temperature accelerates the weathering process of rocks. In Pakistan, arid climatic conditions are prevalent in those parts of the country where granite or kaolinite rocks exist. Weathering of these F^- containing rocks may be the reason for the excessive fluoride concentration in the groundwater of these regions. Most of the major and heavily industrialized cities in the country are polluted with fluoride in water, soil and vegetation. Few deserts of Pakistan have high F^-concentration. Some anthropogenic activities have been reported as the reason for fluoride contamination in water, soil and vegetation. Different studies also show that the HF emissions from brick kilns cause significant damage to different crops like mung beans, kidney beans, mango, apricot and maize etc. In all areas affected by fluoride contamination, dental and skeletal fluorosis has been observed. In Pakistan, few studies have also been conducted for fluoride removal from drinking water using adsorption technique. Variety of adsorbents like Modified Immobilized Activated Alumina (MIAA), Trimetal oxide adsorbent, natural adsorbents and biosorbent (White- rot fungus) has been successfully applied for fluoride decontamination form drinking water with increased efficiencies and adsorption capacities.

AAP-06

MONITORING AND MEASUREMENT OF FORMALDEHYDE CONCENTRATION OVER LAHORE AND ISLAMABAD USING GROUND-BASED AND SATELLITE OBSERVATION USING MAX-DOAS
Waqas Ahmed Khan* Dr. Faheem Khokhar* Ifraw Naveed<sup>1

1</sup>Institute of environmental sciences and engraining (IESE)

National University of Science Environment and Technology (NUST)

[e-mail]
ABSTRACT

Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical that is used in building materials and to produce many household products and medical preservatives. Formaldehyde also occurs naturally in the environment. It is produced in small amounts by most living organisms as part of normal metabolic processes. Pakistan lacks the monitoring facilities on larger scale to measure the atmospheric gasses on regular bases. The study presents the result of atmospheric HCHO Vertical column densities (VCDs) obtained from ground base and satellite observation over Pakistan during the time period of 2014-2015. Level 2 data product of satellite instruments OMI retrieved by differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) technique are used. Spatio-temporal distribution of HCHO column densities over main cities and region of Pakistan has been discussed. The results show the High HCHO column densities values then the permissible limit over the main cities of Pakistan particularly the areas with rapid urbanization and economic growth. The VCDs value over main city of Pakistan is around 1.0×10¹⁶ to 34.01×10¹⁶ Molecule’s/cm². Similarly areas with major industrial activity showed high amount of HCHO concentrations.

AAP 08

HARVESTS OF THE FUTURE: ATMOSPHERIC CARBON DIOXIDE ELEVATION AND THE NUTRITIONAL SECURITY OF COTTON SEED OIL (GOSYPIUMHIRSUTUM L)
Fazia Ghaffar¹, Ikhtiar Khan², Abid Mehmood<sup>3

1</sup>Department of Food & Nutrition Sciences,

College of Home Economics, University of Peshawar, Pakistan

[e-mail]

²Institute of Chemical Sciences, University of Peshawar, Pakistan

[e-mail]

³Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan

[e-mail]
ABSTRACT

Gossypium Hirsutum L (Upland cotton) is Pakistan’s most important commercial cash crop. Not only is it a source of one of the most important textile fiber, 53-60% of our domestic edible oil needs are being met by the oil extracted from the cotton seeds.Carbon dioxide- induced shifts in plant quality is a global challenge. Enhanced atmospheric CO₂ decreases the nutrient content of many plant foods. Cotton requires appropriate climatic conditions to grow and is the most vulnerable crop to changes in the climate. This vulnerability of the cotton crop to climate change has made the response studies to elevated CO₂ more important to identify the compositional changes in the oils. Based on the following objectives, about 16 (8 Bt and 8 non Bt) varieties of Gossypium H. were cultivated under two CO₂ concentrations i.e. elevated (800 µmol/mol^- ) and an ambient (400 µmol/mol^-1 ) in closed glass green houses. Upon harvest, seeds were analyzed for seed index, percent oil, and fatty acids composition by GC MS. Data revealed a variety of significant changes in the seed index though the percent oil non-significant mean increase. Fatty acid composition showed non-significant increase in C14:0, C16:0, C18:0, C20:0 and significant increase C24:0. The C18:2c concentrations increased significantly while C18: 3n6 and C18:3n3 non-significant though appreciable % change. Percent saturated showed a decreasing trend and an increasing unsaturated fatty acids under CO₂ enrichment which have been due to the significant increase in C18:2c in this study. Alterations also occurred in 16/18 ratio. The study can be concluded on the findings that keeping other climatic parameters constant, elevation of CO₂ alone results in some significant changes in the nutrient composition of the cotton seed oil.
ASP-04

BIODEGRADATION OF TOLUENE USING BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM PETROLEUM REFINERY CONTAMINATED SOIL
Mariam Mansoor, Imran Hashmi¹

Institute of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (IESE), SCEE,

¹National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

[e-mail],

[e-mail]

ABSTRACT

Groundwater contamination with aromatic hydrocarbons like benzene, toluene, ethylebenzene and xylenes (BTEX) has been increasing thus requiring an urgent need for efficient methodologies that can minimize or eliminate their harmful effects. Biodegradation process has been regarded as an efficient technology to treat hydrocarbon contaminated sites by using bacteria as they are capable of degrading target pollutants. Among all BTEX compounds, toluene is a colorless, flammable liquid that is naturally present in petroleum crude oil. The aim of present study was to check toluene degrading potential of indigenous microorganisms isolated from soil contaminated with petroleum refinery wastewater. After initial screening, five different strains were isolated by enrichment culture technique. The isolated strains were acclimatized at a certain conc. of toluene and most promising strain was selected for toluene degradation on the basis of optical density measurement through spectrophotometry analysis. Identification of potential strain was carried out using 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis which identified strain as Pseudomonas sp SMM1.60mg/L conc. of toluene was degraded in bench scale bioreactors by pseudomonas sp. and percentage removal of toluene was analyzed through UV-Visible Spectrophotometer which showed 100% reduction in toluene conc. after 72h .This study may play a significant role in treatment of water contaminated with toluene and other BTEX compounds as well because all BTEX compounds share common structure.

ASW-05

RESTAURANT WASTE CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT IN RAWALPINDI
Asma Gul Qazi and Sofia Khalid

Department of Environmental Sciences, FJWU, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

[e-mail], [e-mail]
ABSTRACT

Food waste generally produced in Pakistan finds its way to dumping sites or landfills. This food waste can be used as a resource as it has a potential of being converted to compost. We are not having any up to date data based on the characteristics and management of food waste produced in restaurants. The current study was carried out in the restaurants of Rawalpindi city to assess the generation and characteristics of solid waste produced. Methodology included site visits, characterization of waste, waste amount survey, waste reuse and recycling practices. Results indicated lots of recycling potential within these restaurants. Some fast food restaurants were segregating the waste, while in others waste was not being segregated. About 60% of the waste comprised of leftover food from customers. Paper, Plastic, Glass and others make up for rest amount. A comparison of local and international fast food chain restaurants indicated a better waste management in the later. It was recommended that the waste management company in Rawalpindi should collaborate with these restaurants for effectively managing the waste.

ASW-06

OPTIMIZATION Of MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN PESHAWAR Using Mathematical Modelling and GIS
Mansoor A. Khan, Usman Jilani, Irshad Hussain, Ibad Khurram,

Safi Ur Rehman¹, Huma Rehman²

Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Pakistan

¹Department of Mining Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Pakistan

²National Institute of Urban Infrastructure Planning,

University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Pakistan

[e-mail]