Teri Information Digest on Energy and Environment(TIDEE)

Abstract

To comprehend the influence of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the road surface run-off water (RSRW) and roadside deposited sediment (RDS) on National Highway 2 (NH-2), Delhi–Kolkata, India, 18 samples were collected transversely from 9 sampling sites. The study determined the probable cancer risk by using Monte Carlo simulation with a value (90%) of 3.2 × 10^–5 for adults and 2.7 × 10^–5 for children in RDS at the extremely polluted site. In RSRW, the study implies (90%) risk value of 1.5 × 10^–6 and 1.8 × 10^–6 for children and adults, respectively. The hazard index (HI) in RDS and RSRW was found to be 1.42 and 0.599, respectively, for children and adults at highly contaminated sites. These values were within the permissible limits (10^–6 to 10^–4). The pollution load index (P_LI) due to PTEs (Cr, Cd, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb) was maximum at the site S8 (3.591). This study reveals pollution load at each site along with the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks in RDS and RSRW, thus perceptibly exposing the effects of contamination caused by inorganic pollutants that results in adverse health effects on residents staying in adjacent areas of the sampling sites. A similar type of study would be more useful and beneficial for identical concerns observed elsewhere in the world.

Abstract

The maritime sector has a vital role to play as an indispensable element in terms of socio-economic development and as a potential source of excellent employment opportunities, with several million people currently engaged in activities and companies directly and indirectly related to oceans and seas worldwide. The prime objectives of the study are to review the activities and the potential of the maritime sector both globally and nationally. The study further assesses environmental impacts from ships, including past, present, and future fuel consumption and emission status. It also proposes some strategies for emission control for sustainable growth of the sector.

The global CO₂ emissions from shipping estimated based on bunker sales were about 270 Tg (CO₂) in 1955 and 600 Tg in 2005. The corresponding SO₂ emissions were approximately 3.8 Tg in 1955 and 8.0 Tg in 2005. The study reveals that ship emissions might affect the levels of ozone, sulfate, nitrate, NO₂, NMVOCs, SO₂, and OH, which may potentially cause problems in coastal areas and harbours. Under these circumstances, this article reviews the status of pollution control measures in the shipping sector. Moreover, the need to understand the global ecosystems and environment, as well as their necessary conservation, to find the more efficient mechanisms to deal with phenomena such as climate change, and so on have made research and study of the maritime environment a high priority issue. In addition, the maritime transportation sector has its share of responsibility to reduce carbon emission and take corrective and innovative measures on a global scale to minimize energy usages.