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Growing food demand, environmental degradation, post-harvest losses and the dearth of resources encourage the decision makers from developing nations to integrate the economic and environmental aspects in food supply chain network design. This paper aims to develop a bi-objective decision support model for sustainable food grain supply chain considering an entire network of procurement centres, central, state and district level warehouses, and fair price shops. The model seeks to minimise the cost and carbon dioxide emission simultaneously. The model covers several problem peculiarities such as multi-echelon, multi-period, multi-modal transportation, multiple sourcing and distribution, emission caused due to various motives, heterogeneous capacitated vehicles and limited availability, and capacitated warehouses. Multiple realistic problem instances are solved using the two Pareto based multi-objective algorithms. Sensitivity analysis results imply that the decision makers should establish a sufficient number of warehouses in each producing and consuming states by maintaining the suitable balance between the two objectives. Various policymakers like Food Corporation of India, logistics providers and state government agencies will be benefited from this research study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes 14 indigenous tree/shrub species of Eastern India for fuelwood production. A fuelwood value index (FVI) was the criteria for screening of the species. Fuelwood consumption, on a decreasing trend, was high in the state of Uttar Pradesh (19.06 m/t), followed by West Bengal (14.16 m/t), Bihar (11.48 m/t), Assam (11.42 m/t), Odisha (8.89 m/t), Jharkhand (4.84 m/t), and Chhattisgarh (4.37 m/t). Similar trends were shown by the states in case of the emission of carbon dioxide. For instance, CO2emission was higher in Uttar Pradesh (31.4 t CO2) and lowest in Chhattisgarh (7.19 t CO2). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The present study aims to assess the air quality status in the central library of Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India. Pollutants concentrations (i.e. PM10, PM2.5, PM1 and TVOC) and comfort parameters i.e. CO2, temperature and relative humidity were monitored across all floors of the library. Air quality was found to vary significantly (P < 0.05) among the different floors of the library. The average concentration of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 was found to be highest at the first floor. On the other hand, the highest concentration of TVOC (51.7 ± 30 ppb) and CO2 (838.4 ± 99 ppm) was observed at the ground floor. Pollutant concentration was higher in the morning hours. The indoor pollutants were found positively correlated with each other except relative humidity. Indoor to outdoor ratio for PM1, TVOC and CO2 was found to be greater than 1, which indicate a substantial contribution from indoor sources. Exceedance of WHO guidelines was observed for the daily average PM2.5 concentration. Abbreviation: IAQ: indoor air quality; ASHRAE: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers; WHO: World Health Organization; PM: particulate matter; VOC: volatile organic carbon; CO2: carbon dioxide; TVOC: Total volatile organic compound; RH: relative humidity; HVAC: heating ventilation and air-conditioning; PID: Photo Ionization Detector; PTFE: Polytetrafluoroethylene; NDIR: Non-dispersive infra-red. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study reports the characterization results of settled dust particles in different indoor micro-environments of an academic institution in India. Field emission scanning electron microscope analysis of indoor dust revealed the presence of mineral particles, fly ash, and soot particles of different morphologies. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis of indoor dust indicated that crystal particles are comprised of elements such as C, O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Fe, and Ti. These elements accounted for more than 99% of the samples. The average content of O (42.7%) and C (18.9%) in the dust particles was found to be higher than their natural abundances. The concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 were observed in the range of 88-58, 37-33, 23-29 µg/m3, respectively. Except temperature, other parameters such as volatile organic carbon, carbon dioxide concentration, and relative humidity were found to be within comfort limits of American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers. Abbreviations: ASHRAE: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers; CO2: carbon dioxide; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; EDX: energy-dispersive X-ray; FESEM: field emission scanning electron microscope; FTIR: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; IAP: indoor air pollution; IAQ: indoor air quality; HAP: household air pollution; OAP: outdoor air pollution; PM: particulate matter; VOC: volatile organic carbon; WHO: World Health Organization [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main emissions from coal combustion at thermal power plants are carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and airborne inorganic particles such as fly ash and soot; CO2, methane, and CFCs are greenhouse gases. These emissions are considered to be partially responsible for harmful global climate change. This review summarizes the status of thermal power plants in India and their various types of emissions that directly or indirectly produce harmful effects on the environment and human health. Moreover, it focuses on various types of preventive measures used to avoid/minimize emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizers, by both very energy-intensive manufacture and inefficient N use in farm soils, contribute rationally to emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and, thus, climate change. India consumes ∼14Mt of synthetic N per year, of which about 80 per cent is produced, and is the second-largest producer and consumer in the world, after China. We estimate that GHG emissions from synthetic N fertilizer in India reached ∼100Mt of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) in 2006/2007; about half of these emissions resulted from the 11Mt of synthetic N produced in the country that year (48Mt of CO2-e) and the other half resulted from the 14Mt of N applied to Indian farm soils in the same year (51 Mt of CO2-e, ranging between 28 and 163Mt of CO2-e). Emissions from synthetic N fertilizers represent 6 per cent of India's total anthropogenic emissions, comparable to cement industry and to the whole road transport system. There is significant potential to mitigate these emissions: savings from increased N use efficiency and from shifting away from synthetic fertilizer could reduce total fertilizers emissions to 37Mt of CO2-e, and the contribution of fertilizers to India's emissions would drop from 6 to 2 per cent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the threat of global climate change grows increasingly dire, we are faced with the challenge of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) (the leading greenhouse gas) emissions to the atmosphere. There is much debate about what are the most effective strategies for meeting this challenge. In this debate, one prominent question centers on whether reducing the carbon intensity of the economy (CO2 emissions per dollar of gross domestic product) will help reduce total CO2 emissions. Some argue that improvements in the carbon efficiency of the economy will allow us to reduce CO2 emissions even in the face of economic growth. Others suggest that improving carbon efficiency may not only be insufficient to counter the effects of economic growth, it may actually spur the expansion of production and consumption, and thereby lead to an escalation of CO2 emissions. Here, I address this issue by examining trends in carbon intensity and total CO2 emissions in the world as a whole and in the five nations that emit the most CO2: China, the United States, Russia, India, and Japan. I find that in recent years the carbon intensity of the world as a whole and in these major emitters has generally declined (i.e., carbon efficiency has improved), yet total emissions have generally risen. This suggests that improving efficiency is unlikely to reduce total CO2 emissions. Therefore, in order to reduce CO2 emissions it will likely be necessary to challenge the growth ideology common to the modern era and shift societies to economic systems that are not dependent on growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smoke from biomass combustion produces some of the same pollutants found in tobacco smoke and ambient air, yet only one study to date has linked cooking with biomass fuels to increased risk of stillbirth. The mechanisms by which biomass smoke may cause stillbirth are through exposure to CO and particulates in biomass smoke. Using information on 19,189 ever-married women aged 40–49 included in India's 1998–99 National Family Health Survey, we examined the association between household use of biomass fuels (wood, dung, and crop residues), tobacco smoke (both active and passive), and risk of stillbirth. Data were analyzed using binary and multinomial logistic regression after controlling for several potentially confounding factors. Results indicate that, with other factors controlled, women who cook with biomass fuels are significantly more likely to have experienced a stillbirth than those who cook with cleaner fuels (OR = 1.44; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.97). Women who cook with biofuels are twice as likely to have experienced two or more stillbirths as those who cook with cleaner fuels (RRR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.11, 3.62). The adjusted effect of active tobacco smoking is also positive (OR = 1.23) but not statistically significant. No effect of passive smoking was found, nor was there evidence of any modifying effects of tobacco smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers news briefs related to the chemical engineering industry. Scientists at the University of Colorado-Boulder are exploring ways to use and transplant human microbes for the treatment of several disease from obesity to diabetes. Researchers at the University of Calcutta in India has discovered that eggshell membranes are capable of absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The automobile giants GM and Nissan has partnered for a battery recycling initiative.