Medium Levels Of Exposure Research Articles

Effectiveness of climate resilient agricultural technologies as perceived by farmers in Nalgonda District of Telangana State

The detrimental effects of climate change on Indian Agriculture are inevitable and agricultural professionals are bestowed with the responsibility of making it less vulnerable to climate change. In the present context, the following study was undertaken in Nalgonda district of Telangana State in India where three villages namely Nandyala Gudem, Boring thanda and Kotha thanda of Athmakur (S) Mandal were selected purposively as the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) interventions are being implemented in these villages to impart climate resilience. A sample size of 40 farmers was selected at random from each village thus comprising a total sample size of 120. An index was developed to assess the perceived effectiveness of Climate Resilient Agricultural (CRA) technologies by the farmers using five indicators viz., Adoption of CRA technologies, Exposure, Sensitivity, Adaptive capacity and Sustainability. The results revealed that the majority of respondents belonged to the category of a high level of adoption of CRA technologies (39.17%), medium level of exposure (30.84%), low sensitivity (30%), medium adaptive capacity (31.67%) and high sustainability (36.67%) of CRA technologies as perceived by the farmers. The overall effectiveness of CRA technologies as perceived by the farmers was found to be medium (35.83%) for a majority of the farmers followed by very highly effective (29.17%).

KETERBUKAAN TAJUK AKIBAT KEGIATAN PEMANENAN DENGAN TEKNIK REDUCED IMPACT LOGGING DALAM PENGELOLAAN HUTAN ALAM (Studi Kasus Pada Petak Tebangan L37 RKT 2015 IUPHHK–HA PT. Batasan Camp Tontang)

Tropical rainforests have very important functions such as hydrological functions, ecology, economic and social. However, the existence of forest harvesting activities potentially decrease the function. Implementation of poor forest management, causing damages resulting from harvesting processes such as canopy exposure, areal exposure and damage to residual stands. Based on the description it is necessary to do research on the analysis of canopy exposure in natural rain forest area IUPHHK-HA PT. Batasan Camp Tontang. This study aims to determine the extent of canopy exposure due to harvesting activities and to know the relationship between the width of the basic fields of cut down trees per hectare to the exposure of the canopy. This research was conducted on the 2015 RKT and in IUPHHK-HA area of PT.Batasan Camp Tontang,Nanga Serawai Sub-district, Sintang District, West Kalimantan Province. Canopy exposure as a result of harvesting activities is obtained by measuring its openness using a spiracle densiometer tool. The percentage of openness is then analyzed by the equation Y = a + bX, where Y is the percentage of canopy exposure whereas X is the base area of the harvested trees per hectare. To find out the real relationship between the width of the tree base area felled by the openness of the canopy, it is done with the F test and to know the close relationship between variables X with variable Y by closeness relationship test or r test. Timber potential before harvesting in 9 research plots with the tree level average value is 35.78 stems / ha. After harvesting activities, timber potential has decreased due to timber harvesting activities to be 9.33 stems / ha. The percentage of canopy exposure after harvesting activity was 49.35% and included in medium level of exposure. From the calculation results, the equation which is obtained by regression line of the relationship between the width of the base area of the trees cut down per hectare with the value of the canopy expose, shows that the greater tree cutting base area, the greater canopy exposure that occurs.Keyword: Canopy exposure, Degradation, Spiracle Densitometer.

Prenatal exposure to organochlorine compounds and lung function during childhood

IntroductionPrenatal exposure to organochlorine compounds (OCs) can increase the risk of reported respiratory symptoms in children. It remains unclear whether these compounds can also impact on lung function. We assessed the association between prenatal exposure to OCs and lung function during childhood. MethodsWe included 1308 mother-child pairs enrolled in a prospective cohort study. Prenatal concentrations of p,p′-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane [p,p′-DDT], p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene [p,p′-DDE], hexachlorobenzene [HCB], and seven polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs] were measured in cord blood. Spirometry was performed in the offspring at ages 4 (n = 636) and 7 years (n = 1192). ResultsMore than 80% of samples presented quantifiable levels of p,p′-DDE, HCB, PCB-138, PCB-153, and PCB-180; p,p′-DDE was the compound with the highest median concentrations. At 4 years, prenatal p,p′-DDE exposure was associated with a decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) in all quartiles of exposure (e.g., third quartile [0.23–0.34 ng/mL]: β for FEV1 −53.61 mL, 95% CI −89.87, −17.35, vs. the lowest). Prenatal p,p′-DDE levels also decreased forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC, but associations did not reach statistical significance in most exposure quartiles. At 7 years, p,p′-DDE was associated with a decrease in FVC and FEV1 in only the second quartile of exposure (e.g. β for FEV1 −36.96 mL, 95% CI −66.22, −7.70, vs. the lowest). Prenatal exposure to HCB was associated with decreased FVC and FEV1, but in only the second quartile and at 7 years (e.g. [0.07–0.14 ng/mL]: β for FEV1 −25.79 mL, 95% CI −55.98, 4.39, vs. the lowest). PCBs were not consistently associated with lung function. ConclusionPrenatal exposure to p,p′-DDE may decrease lung function during childhood, especially FEV1 and at medium levels of exposure. Further and deeper knowledge on the impact of environmental chemicals during pregnancy on lung development is needed.

Socio-personal and economic profile of ITK practicing dairy farmers in Palghar district of Maharashtra

The present study was conducted in Palghar district of Maharashtra with the sample size of 120 tribal dairy farmers. Out of eight blocks in Palghar district three tribal blocks namely Dahanu, Talasariand and Jawhar, two villages from each block and 20 respondents (who had at least one milch animal at the time of study) were selected randomly. It was found that the majority (70.00%) of the farmers were old (>50 years), illiterate (57.50%) with medium family size (61.67%) having 7 to 11 members in the family living in joint families (98.33%). Agriculture with dairying was the main occupation of the respondents (97.51%); most of them (65.83%) were small farmers (1–2 ha landholding) and all had cattle. It was observed that the milk production was very low as majority of the households (85.00%) got only less than 1 litre milk per day whereas 73.33 per cent households consumed medium level of milk (1–2 litres). Majority of the respondents (66.67%) did not sell milk. The annual income of majority (80.00%) of the respondents was low (up to Rs 31, 000). Majority of the farmers (87.50 and 76.67%) were having medium level of exposure to mass media and extension contact respectively. But their (65.83%) social participation was low.

Personal and Socio-Psychological Characteristics of Rubber growers in Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu

The investigation was carried out in Kanyakumari district since the district stands first in the area cultivated under rubber in Tamil Nadu. In this district, Thiruvattar block was selected based on the maximum area under rubber cultivation. Six villages namely Shurlacode, Thirparappu, Thumb code, Ponmanai, Thiruvattar and Macode which were having maximum area in rubber were selected for the study. The sample of one hundred and fifty respondents was selected from the six villages by using proportionate random sampling method. A well structured and pre-tested interview schedule was used for data collection. The analysis of personal and socio-psychological characteristics of rubber growers indicated that majority of rubber growers belonged to old age, had medium level of farming experience, college education, had farming + wage earner as their occupation, lived in joint family type, were marginal farmers, medium level of social participation, medium level of extension agency, having medium level of exposure to mass media, low level of innovativeness, medium level of scientific orientation, having medium level of risk orientation, medium level of credit orientation, and had an annual income between rupees 50,001 and rupees one lakh.

Fate and Developmental Effects of Dietary Uptake of Methylmercury in Silurana tropicalis Tadpoles

Adverse effects of methylmercury (MeHg) exposure during amphibian metamorphosis remain to be fully characterized. Most previous investigations determined effects of short-term exposure to elevated dose rates, without information on mercury (Hg) depuration and degradation pathways. Since metamorphosis is primarily controlled by thyroid hormones (TH), alterations in this process suggest a disruption of the TH endocrine axis. The aim of this research was to (1) characterize patterns of MeHg accumulation and depuration in tadpoles and (2) examine effects of MeHg accumulation on metamorphosis and the TH axis. Silurana tropicalis tadpoles were exposed to environmental levels of dietary MeHg until metamorphic climax. Whole-body MeHg and total Hg (THg) levels were measured, as well as the number of metamorphs, rate of metamorphosis, body size, and whole-body triiodothyronine (T3) levels at metamorphosis. Tadpoles exposed to a higher level of MeHg exhibited increased mortality and size, and reduced metamorphosis. At lower levels of MeHg, body burdens increased rapidly and eventually reached a plateau, whereas no plateau was reached at a higher level of MeHg exposure. T3 levels were not affected. Data indicate that at low and medium levels of exposure, depuration of MeHg may prevent toxicity in tadpoles. However, depuration mechanisms may be insufficient at high doses, producing disruption of metamorphosis and death. Although there were no marked effects of MeHg on whole-body T3 levels, further investigation of other components of the TH axis is warranted.

Irritant hand dermatitis: severity of disease, occupational exposure to skin irritants and preventive measures 5 years after initial diagnosis.

Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) is often chronic; its aetiology frequently being related to occupational exposure. Management of ICD involves persistent reduction in exposure to skin irritants such as water, detergents and prolonged occlusion by gloves. The aim of this study was to determine the severity of hand dermatitis 5 years after initial diagnosis and to find out what factors were related to this outcome. A questionnaire survey was carried out on severity of hand dermatitis, exposure to skin irritants and preventive measures, 5 years after initial ICD diagnosis. Of a cohort of 201 patients with ICD, 172 received the questionnaire and 124 (72%) responded. 5 years after initial diagnosis, 50% still had medium and 32% severe hand dermatitis. Patients with severe ICD and high exposure showed low levels of prevention and difficulty in changing their occupational exposure. Use of emollients was predominantly therapeutic rather than preventive. Occupation was changed in 57% of cases, of which 46% was permanent. In this population, ICD is a chronic disease; implementation of secondary preventive measures appears to fail. In occupations with high exposure to skin irritants, implementation of permanent exposure reduction is more difficult, compared to occupations with a medium level of exposure. High exposures might have led to change of occupation; medium exposures could have been reduced to low levels. In occupations with high exposure, women were overrepresented.

Epidemiological monitoring in the vicinity of a coal-fired power plant

An epidemiological monitoring program has been designed and put into operation in response to a health monitoring requirement of a permit to build a coal-fired power plant. It will consist of four 350 megawatt units and is being built on the Mediterranean coast about halfway between Tel-Aviv and Haifa; the first unit became operational in 1981. The resident population within a 10 km. radius consists of about 69,000 persons. The permit to build this power plant required the installation of a comprehensive monitoring network including environmental, health and agricultural monitoring. Four types of studies are included in the epidemiological monitoring program: mortality analyses, monitoring of requests for health services, studies of pulmonary symptoms and lung function in school children, and panel studies of children and adults with chronic pulmonary conditions. Areas of maximal expected exposure risk and two other comparable areas of lesser risk were chosen, based on expected emissions, meteorological and topographical considerations; baseline data were gathered for a year prior to the operation of the first unit of the power plant. Subsequent data are planned to be collected for another 10 years. The program permits detection of short-term effects based on increases in health service requests, medium-term effects by repeat examination of panelists, and long-term effects based on pulmonary conditions among school children. The initial survey, before plant operations showed, among other things, lower flow rates for children in the area expected to have medium levels of exposure.