Varanasi: A study of roadside pollution at the Hindu Banaras University (BHU) campus conducted by a group of researchers suggested that fallen tree plantations and improvements in the drainage system on campus are very important to reduce the accumulation of pollutants in the upper layer area near the top layer location Near the site.
Development of infrastructure and busy roads.
It produces a smaller stay of heavy metals in the top layer soil, roadside dust and tree leaves.
For this study, mapping magnetic vulnerability from a week’s pollution at the Bhu campus was carried out by Researchers of Sayandeep Banerjee, Ankit Kumar, Virendra Rana, Sayan Maity and Day B Srivastava from the Bhu’s continued study center in Geology.
This study was published in the current science in October this year.
The researchers claimed that this study presents the first quantitative assessment of a week’s pollution on the Main Campus of Bhu, since it was founded in 1916.
According to research, to identify heavy minerals / metals in soil samples, dust and leaves, electron microscope scanning (SEM) used in samples Land and leaves are selected in the Lithosphere Subcontinental Coat Laboratory, the Further Study Center in Geology, Bhu.
For roadside pollution mapping, 106 locations are selected consisting of 75 along the crescent-shaped road designated as the main traffic road on campus, and 31 along the radial road that connects the half-circle road using a GPS device for accuracy.
A total of 212 topsoil samples were collected during the pre-monsoon season (106) and post-monsoon (106) to estimate variations in roadside pollution throughout the year.
Some leaf samples from trees along the road in the same location were also taken.
Samples of soil, dust and leaves were analyzed under SEM using a scattered electron (BBS) through the surface of a carbon-plated sample.
Furthermore, the analysis of energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy is carried out in certain phases for semi-quantitative chemical analysis to confirm the heavy mineral phase in soil samples and leaves.
The significant increase in the high magnetic vulnerability zone was observed near the area around the main gate of Bhu, Sir Sundarlal Hospital, Shri Wishwanath Temple, Areas around Kendriya Vidyalaya Bhu near the Nariya gate, approaching the road to the Hyderabad gate and the adjacent area to the Hyderabad gate And the road that connects Shri Wiswanath’s temple and entered IIT BHU.
“SEM and EDS analysis confirmed the occurrence of severe minerals such as magnetite, haemate, ilmenite, zircon, pyrite in the top layer of the Bhu campus,” Banerjee said.
He said the results of the study could be applied to environmental monitoring and prioritizing land use and other anthropogenic activities on campus.
The spatial distribution of high and low roadside pollution zones is controlled by heavy metal emissions chosen due to fuel combustion and / or construction work related to infrastructure development within the BHU campus.
According to the recent database, around 30,000 students were registered in BHU in seven institutes and 16 faculties (flow) and around 140 departments.
Apart from 76 hostels occupied by students, several thousand faculty members and staff members throughout the discipline were with their families in several housing colonies and flats, and guest houses on campus, making it a city with a population of more than 50,000 people.
Various types of flora and fauna also contribute to campus ecosystems.
Thus, regular environmental monitoring and assessment is needed for the BHU campus.
Researchers say determination of heavy metals and magnetic pollutants are very important because potentially dangerous heavy metals can be absorbed in the human body through consumption of inhalation, and skin contact because of small size heavy metal particles.
It should be noted that micrometre magnetic oxides can induce oxidative stress paths, which lead to free radical formation, and can cause damage to DNA.
Learn about roadside pollution on the BHU campus conducted
