New approaches and insights into bioremediation of hazardous waste
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Rajendra Prasad
Abstract
An overview of the bioremediation session in 15th International Conference of the Pacific Basin Consortium for Environment and Health is presented. Brief summaries of the presentations made in the session covering topics dealing with remediation aspects using latest concepts of metagenomics, magnetic nano-composites and air pollution modeling with reference to PCBs have been described.
- 1
PCBs are typically produced by the chlorination of biphenyl, whereby the aromatic hydrogen atoms are substituted by chlorine atoms; depending on the overall chlorine substitution, as many as 209 substituted products are formed and are known as congeners. PCBs have been widely used in the past in many parts of the world in industrial transformers and capacitors, electrical devices of all kinds, fluorescent light fixture ballasts, insulation materials, adhesives tapes, etc. until toxic effect of PCB exposure were observed. PCBs can cause skin and eye disorders and are known as endocrine disruptors. They are also carcinogens and have neurotoxic effects. Numerous PCB congeners are routinely formed in minor quantities during the combustion of solid fuels like coal and wood. The large-scale industrial use of PCBs is now regulated through environmental laws in many countries.
- 2
Mercury in all forms is highly toxic, and its release in the environment causes health problems. It can remain in the atmosphere for up to 1 year and hence can be widely dispersed and transported thousands of miles from the source of the emissions. Mercury poisoning can result from both acute and chronic exposures.
References
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2. Siddavattam D. Role of a novel small RNA, sRNA46 in mineralization of organophosphates and nitrophenols. Presented at: 15th International Conference of the Pacific Basin Consortium for Environment and Health, Honolulu, Hawai’i, USA, 24–27 Sept 2013.Search in Google Scholar
3. Chakraborty P, Sabine E. Modeling the emission sources for polychlorinated biphenyls in India: implications for human health risk assessment. Paper presented at: 15th International Conference of the Pacific Basin Consortium for Environment and Health, Honolulu, Hawai’i, USA, 24–27 Sept 2013.Search in Google Scholar
4. Chakrabarti T, Vaidya AN, Patil MP, Prasad R. Remediation of mercury contaminated soil – a case study. Paper presented at: 15th International Conference of the Pacific Basin Consortium for Environment and Health, Honolulu, Hawai’i, USA, 24–27 Sept 2013.Search in Google Scholar
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©2014 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- The Pacific Basin Consortium for Environment and Health
- Environmental Exposures in Indigenous Communities
- Environmental exposure in indigenous communities: an international perspective
- Novel materials for environmental remediation of oil sands contaminants
- Metals
- Long-term health consequences of prenatal arsenic exposure: links to the genome and the epigenome
- Health hazards and mitigation of chronic poisoning from arsenic in drinking water: Taiwan experiences
- Remediation of mercury-contaminated soil – a case study
- Bioaccessibility, release kinetics, and molecular speciation of arsenic and lead in geo-dusts from the Iron King Mine Federal Superfund site in Humboldt, Arizona
- Mercury poisoning dentistry: high-level indoor air mercury contamination at selected dental sites
- Hazardous Waste
- New approaches and insights into bioremediation of hazardous waste
- Modeling the emission sources for polychlorinated biphenyls in India: implications for human health risk assessment
- Microorganism-assisted phytoremediation of heavy metal and endosulfan contaminated soil
- Chemicals: friends and foes
- Spatial distribution of persistent organic pollutants in the surface water of River Brahmaputra and River Ganga in India
- Hexachlorocyclohexane: persistence, toxicity and decontamination
- E-waste: impacts, issues and management strategies
- Water
- Clean water and sanitation in developing areas lacking conventional power
- Striving for success in sanitation, hygiene, and water supply
- Solar membrane distillation: desalination for the Navajo Nation
- Climate change and managing water crisis: Pakistan’s perspective
- Effective utilization of waste water through recycling, reuse, and remediation for sustainable agriculture
- Mining
- Socially responsible mining: the relationship between mining and poverty, human health and the environment
- Modeling the emission, transport and deposition of contaminated dust from a mine tailing site
- Coal mine drainage sludge and its application for treating metallic mine effluent
- Emerging Issues in the Pacific Basin
- Nanotechnology and toxicology
- Nanotoxicology and nanotechnology: new findings from the NIEHS and Superfund Research Program scientific community
- Nanotechnology in environmental remediation: degradation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) over visible-light-active nanostructured materials
- Combating infectious diseases in the Pacific Islands: sentinel surveillance, environmental health, and geospatial tools
- Projected health impacts of heat events in Washington State associated with climate change
- Community-based approaches to environmental health research around the globe
- Air Pollution
- Particulate air pollution and cardiovascular disease – it is time to take it seriously
- Chemical exposure and respiratory health of children in an industrial setting
- Fine particles characterization in residential homes located in different microenvironment of India
- Respiratory health risk assessment of children living close to industrial areas in Indonesia
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- The Pacific Basin Consortium for Environment and Health
- Environmental Exposures in Indigenous Communities
- Environmental exposure in indigenous communities: an international perspective
- Novel materials for environmental remediation of oil sands contaminants
- Metals
- Long-term health consequences of prenatal arsenic exposure: links to the genome and the epigenome
- Health hazards and mitigation of chronic poisoning from arsenic in drinking water: Taiwan experiences
- Remediation of mercury-contaminated soil – a case study
- Bioaccessibility, release kinetics, and molecular speciation of arsenic and lead in geo-dusts from the Iron King Mine Federal Superfund site in Humboldt, Arizona
- Mercury poisoning dentistry: high-level indoor air mercury contamination at selected dental sites
- Hazardous Waste
- New approaches and insights into bioremediation of hazardous waste
- Modeling the emission sources for polychlorinated biphenyls in India: implications for human health risk assessment
- Microorganism-assisted phytoremediation of heavy metal and endosulfan contaminated soil
- Chemicals: friends and foes
- Spatial distribution of persistent organic pollutants in the surface water of River Brahmaputra and River Ganga in India
- Hexachlorocyclohexane: persistence, toxicity and decontamination
- E-waste: impacts, issues and management strategies
- Water
- Clean water and sanitation in developing areas lacking conventional power
- Striving for success in sanitation, hygiene, and water supply
- Solar membrane distillation: desalination for the Navajo Nation
- Climate change and managing water crisis: Pakistan’s perspective
- Effective utilization of waste water through recycling, reuse, and remediation for sustainable agriculture
- Mining
- Socially responsible mining: the relationship between mining and poverty, human health and the environment
- Modeling the emission, transport and deposition of contaminated dust from a mine tailing site
- Coal mine drainage sludge and its application for treating metallic mine effluent
- Emerging Issues in the Pacific Basin
- Nanotechnology and toxicology
- Nanotoxicology and nanotechnology: new findings from the NIEHS and Superfund Research Program scientific community
- Nanotechnology in environmental remediation: degradation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) over visible-light-active nanostructured materials
- Combating infectious diseases in the Pacific Islands: sentinel surveillance, environmental health, and geospatial tools
- Projected health impacts of heat events in Washington State associated with climate change
- Community-based approaches to environmental health research around the globe
- Air Pollution
- Particulate air pollution and cardiovascular disease – it is time to take it seriously
- Chemical exposure and respiratory health of children in an industrial setting
- Fine particles characterization in residential homes located in different microenvironment of India
- Respiratory health risk assessment of children living close to industrial areas in Indonesia
