Strategies for mitigation of pollution and environmental management in metallurgical industries

The paper deals with different strategies that can be adopted for mitigation of pollution from metallurgical industries. It discusses various management aspects in connection with pollution mitigation especially the policy options for environment management. The technology options available have been discussed in details

Bio-analytical method validation and its importance in pharma research - A review article

Bioanalytical method based on a variety of physico-chemical and biological techniques such as chromatography, immunoassay and mass spectrometry, must be validated prior to and during use to give confidence in the results generated. It is the process used to establish that a quantitative analytical method is suitable for biomedical applications. Bioanalytical method validation includes all of the procedures that demonstrate that a particular method used for quantitative measurement of analytes in a given biological matrix, such as blood, plasma, serum, or urine is reliable and reproducible for the intended use. The present manuscript focuses on the consistent evaluation of the key bioanalytical validation parameters is discussed: accuracy, precision, sensitivity, selectivity, standard curve, limits of quantification, range, recovery and stability. These validation parameters are described, together with an example of validation methodology applied in the case of chromatographic methods used in bioanalysis, taking in account to the recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines and EMA guid

Ethnomedicinal Plants Used by Gond Tribe of Bhandara District, Maharashtra in the Treatment of Diarrhoea and Dysentery

This research paper presents the findings of an investigation on traditional remedies of diarrhoea and dysentery among the ethnic group (Gond tribe) in the Bhandara district of Maharashtra state, India. 38 valuable species belonging to 27 families were identified with relevant information and are documented alphabetically in this paper with regard to their botanical name followed by family name, local name, parts used, mode of preparation and medicinal uses

Scaling up misoprostol to prevent postpartum hemorrhage at home births in Mozambique: A case study applying the ExpandNet/WHO framework

© Hobday et al. Background: Mozambique has a high maternal mortality ratio, and postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a leading cause of maternal deaths. In 2015, the Mozambican Ministry of Health (MOH) commenced a program to distribute misoprostol at the community level in selected districts as a strategy to reduce PPH. This case study uses the ExpandNet/World Health Organization (WHO) scale-up framework to examine the planning, management, and outcomes of the early expansion phase of the scale-up of misoprostol for the prevention of PPH in 2 provinces in Mozambique. Methods: Qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted between February and October 2017 in 5 participating districts in 2 provinces. Participants included program stakeholders, health staff, community health workers (CHWs), and traditional birth attendants (TBAs). Interviews were analyzed using the ExpandNet/WHO framework alongside national policy and planning documents and notes from a 2017 national Ministry of Health maternal, newborn, and child health workshop. Outcomes were estimated using misoprostol coverage and access in 2017 for both provinces. Results: The study revealed a number of barriers and facilitators to scale-up. Facilitators included a supportive political and legal environment; a clear, credible, and relevant innovation; early expansion into some Ministry of Health systems and a strong network of CHWs and TBAs. Barriers included a reduction in reach due to a shift from universal distribution to application of eligibility criteria; fear of misdirecting misoprostol for abortion or labor induction; limited communication and understanding of the national PPH prevention strategy; inadequate monitoring and evaluation; challenges with logistics systems; and the inability to engage remote TBAs. Lower coverage was found in Inhambane province than Nampula province, possibly due to NGO support and political champions. Conclusion: This study identified the need for a formal review of the misoprostol program to identify adaptations and to develop a systematic scale-up strategy to guide national scale-up

Mechanical Atomatic Urinal Toilet Flusher

This invention relates to a system for facilitating an automatic urinal toilet flushing comprising: a pipe (P) having an intermediate enlarged in- ner diameter area, said pipe comprising: first portion P I having a first diameter d1; second portion P2 having a second diameter d2; a third portion P3 having a third diameter d3; wherein the first, the second and the third portions are se- quential and the diameter d2 is greater than diameter d1 and diameter d3; a tapered forth portion P4 connecting the first portion P I to the second portion P2; and a tapered fifth portion PS connecting the second portion P2 to the third portion P3; a valve mechanism located within the pipe (P), the said valve mechanism comprising an inlet dual valve (I), an outlet dual valve (2) and a connecting rod connecting the inlet dual valve (I) and outlet dual valve (2); and an actuating mechanism that gets automatically actuated and upon actu- ation, operates the valve mechanism to perform a flushing operation

"My job is to get pregnant women to the hospital": a qualitative study of the role of traditional birth attendants in the distribution of misoprostol to prevent post-partum haemorrhage in two provinces in Mozambique

© 2018 The Author(s). Background: Post-partum haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal deaths in Mozambique. In 2015, the Mozambican Ministry of Health launched the National Strategy for the Prevention of Post-Partum Haemorrhage at the Community Level. The strategy included the distribution of misoprostol to women in advance at antenatal care and via Traditional Birth Attendants who directly administer the medication. The study explores the role of Traditional Birth Attendants in the misoprostol program and the views of women who used misoprostol to prevent post-partum haemorrhage. Methods: This descriptive study collected data through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Traditional Birth Attendants between the ages of 30-70 and women of reproductive age participated in the study. Data was collected between June-October 2017 in Inhambane and Nampula Provinces. Line by line thematic analysis was used to interpret the data using Nvivo (v.11). Results: The majority of TBAs in the study were satisfied with their role in the misoprostol program and were motivated to work with the formal health system to encourage women to access facility based births. Women who used misoprostol were also satisfied with the medication and encouraged family and friends to access it when needed. Women in the community and Traditional Birth Attendants requested assistance with transportation to reach the health facility to avoid home births. Conclusions: This study contributes to the evidence base that Traditional Birth Attendants are an appropriate channel for the distribution of misoprostol for the prevention of post-partum haemorrhage at the community level. More support and resources are needed to ensure Traditional Birth Attendants can assist women to have safe births when they are unable to reach the health facility. A consistent supply of misoprostol is needed to ensure women at the community level receive this life saving medication

Prioritizing hazardous pollutants in two Nigerian water supply schemes: a risk-based approach

Objective To rank pollutants in two Nigerian water supply schemes according to their effect on human health using a risk-based approach. Methods Hazardous pollutants in drinking-water in the study area were identified from a literature search and selected pollutants were monitored from April 2010 to December 2011 in catchments, treatment works and consumer taps. The disease burden due to each pollutant was estimated in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) using data on the pollutant’s concentration, exposure to the pollutant, the severity of its health effects and the consumer population. Findings The pollutants identified were microbial organisms, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc. All were detected in the catchments but only cadmium, cobalt, chromium, manganese and lead exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) guideline values after water treatment. Post-treatment contamination was observed. The estimated disease burden was greatest for chromium in both schemes, followed in decreasing order by cadmium, lead, manganese and cobalt. The total disease burden of all pollutants in the two schemes was 46 000 and 9500 DALYs per year or 0.14 and 0.088 DALYs per person per year, respectively, much higher than the WHO reference level of 1 × 10−6 DALYs per person per year. For each metal, the disease burden exceeded the reference level and was comparable with that due to microbial contamination reported elsewhere in Africa. Conclusion The estimated disease burden of metal contamination of two Nigerian water supply systems was high. It could best be reduced by protection of water catchment and pretreatment by electrocoagulation

Health-based risk targets for fluorosis in tribal children of rural Madhya Pradesh, India

Conventional approaches to fluorosis mitigation and control are based on reduction of excess fluoride consumption from water. Country specific standard limits of 1 mg/l or 1.5mg/l are established and monitored by water departments based on recommendations outlined in the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality (GDWQ). With the advent of the third edition of the WHO GDWQ there is a fundamental departure from standard setting, based on doseresponse affect, towards risk assessment and risk management. The water quality framework, outlined in the guidelines, consists of an iterative cycle, comprising: an assessment of risk, health targets linked to the wider public health context; risk management (with these components being informed by aspects of environmental exposure and acceptable risk) The guidelines advocate for the use of Water Safety Plans, as risk management tool, to help achieve Health Based Risk Targets. This paper presents the application of a Quantitative Chemical Risk Assessment (QCRA) method for determining health based risk targets for fluorosis control. The paper presents evidence from Madhya Pradesh, India. The findings indicate firstly that to control fluorosis total daily consumption from all exposure routes (water and food) must be considered, secondly that the most exposed population group to fluorosis are children due to lack of alternative early nutrients (e.g. exclusive breastfeeding) and, thirdly, that quantifying chemical risk is essential for appropriate risk management strategies to reduce fluorosis in children

Distribution of Gaseous Phase Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Rural Environment of India

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are considered as atmospheric contaminants due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic properties. In the present study, 8 selected gaseous phase PAHs were determined in ambient air representing rural environment. The gaseous phase PAHs samples were investigated for quantification of selected PAHs in various seasons and possible sources of gaseous phase PAHs in rural environment. The samples were collected using a cartridge containing XAD-2 resin placed between layers of polyurethane foam (PUF) and analyzed by fluorescence technique. The seasonal variation in selected gaseous phase individual PAHs varied between 28-496.9 ng m-3 during winter, summer and post-monsoon season respectively. The concentration of gaseous phase PAHs was dominated by Phen, Anth and Flt. The gaseous phase concentration of PAHs were 3.9 and 5.1 times higher in winter as compared to summer and post-monsoon season respectively. The higher concentration winter may be due to higher emission from biomass burning, fuel used for cooking such as coal and kerosene and other heating activities to protect from cold winter. The three ring gaseous phase PAHs were predominant than four and five membered ring PAHs and contribution varied between74.9-93.9 % of selected PAHs. The ratio analysis studies showed that traditional fuel used for cooking purposes mainly wood, kerosene, coal and biomass burning are the major contributors in rural environmen