Jadavpur University

About: Jadavpur University is a education organization based out in Kolkata, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Schiff base. The organization has 10856 authors who have published 27678 publications receiving 422069 citations. The organization is also known as: JU & Jadabpur University.

Technology alternatives for decontamination of arsenic-rich groundwater - a critical review.

Abstract: Arsenic (As) contamination of groundwater is being reckoned as a global problem, as over 296 million people residing in more than 100 countries have already been reported to be affected by arsenic-rich groundwater. Developing countries like Bangladesh, India, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam are the worst victims of this terrible event. Arsenic naturally exists in more than 320 mineral forms mainly as arsenates, sulfides, sulfo-salts, arsenides, arsenites, oxides, silicates and elemental arsenic. The lifetime cancer risk of arsenic at its Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL of 10 μ g/L) is estimated at 0.7 in 100, while for other carcinogens, it ranges from ( ∼ 0.001 to 0.012) in 100. Water, besides food, is the main source of arsenic ingress into the human system. Both groundwater and surface water are being found contaminated with arsenic due to natural and anthropogenic activities respectively Over the years, various physico-chemical and biological methods viz. oxidation, coagulation–flocculation, adsorption, biological sorption, ion-exchange, membrane processes, treatment with bio-organism and electrocoagulation have been profusely experimented and reported by different researchers for arsenic remediation from the groundwater. In this paper, various technologies available for arsenic remediation, their removal mechanisms, cost-effectiveness and sustainability have been reviewed in a critical and rigorous manner. Attempts have also been made to point out the advantages and drawbacks of different methodologies and future research needs in the sphere of arsenic remediation from groundwater.

Demand-side solutions to climate change mitigation consistent with high levels of well-being

Abstract: Mitigation solutions are often evaluated in terms of costs and greenhouse gas reduction potentials, missing out on the consideration of direct effects on human well-being. Here, we systematically assess the mitigation potential of demand-side options categorized into avoid, shift and improve, and their human well-being links. We show that these options, bridging socio-behavioural, infrastructural and technological domains, can reduce counterfactual sectoral emissions by 40–80% in end-use sectors. Based on expert judgement and an extensive literature database, we evaluate 306 combinations of well-being outcomes and demand-side options, finding largely beneficial effects in improvement in well-being (79% positive, 18% neutral and 3% negative), even though we find low confidence on the social dimensions of well-being. Implementing such nuanced solutions is based axiomatically on an understanding of malleable rather than fixed preferences, and procedurally on changing infrastructures and choice architectures. Results demonstrate the high mitigation potential of demand-side mitigation options that are synergistic with well-being. Evaluation of mitigation actions often focuses on cost and overlooks the direct effects on well-being. This work shows demand-side measures have large mitigation potential and beneficial effects on well-being outcomes.