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PubMed2005

Physico-chemical treatment of wastewater from clusters of small scale cotton textile units.

Small scale industries can not own individual wastewater treatment facility due to non-availability of land and skilled manpower for operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment plants. A centralized wastewater treatment facility for clusters of small scale industries is appropriate. This concept is gaining popularity in recent years. In India, various textile process operations are undertaken by individual small scale units. The wastewater generated at these units is conveyed to a common effluent treatment facility comprising of equalization, flocculation-clarification, activated sludge process, secondary clarification and finally discharge into inland surface water bodies. The wastewater from small scale cotton textile processing units was highly coloured and alkaline with average BOD and COD concentration of 205 and 790 mg l(-1), respectively. Due to the presence of several dyes, particularly reactive dyes, the biological treatment is often found less effective. Therefore, applicability of various physico-chemical treatment methods needs to be investigated in pursuit of an alternative to biological treatment of textile wastewater. A physico-chemical treatment scheme, involving chemical coagulation-sedimentation, dual media filtration, activated carbon adsorption followed by chemical oxidation was investigated in this paper. The quality of final treated wastewater in terms of BOD and COD was 18-24 and 230-240 mg l(-1), respectively through this scheme. A scheme of treatment comprising coagulation-sedimentation, dual media filtration, activated carbon, chemical oxidation may be considered as an alternative to biological treatment of textile wastewater.

Coloring Agents↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Simulating endosulfan transport in runoff from cotton fields in Australia with the GLEAMS model.

Endosulfan (6,7,8,9,10,10-hexachloro-1,5,5a,6,9,9a-hexahydro-6,9methano-2,4,3-benzodioxathiepin 3-oxide), a pesticide that is highly toxic to aquatic organisms, is widely used in the cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) industry in Australia and is a risk to the downstream riverine environment. We used the GLEAMS model to evaluate the effectiveness of a range of management scenarios aimed at minimizing endosulfan transport in runoff at the field scale. The field management scenarios simulated were (i) Conventional, bare soil at the beginning of the cotton season and seven irrigations per season; (ii) Improved Irrigation, irrigation amounts reduced and frequency increased to reduce runoff from excess irrigation; (iii) Dryland, no irrigation; (iv) Stubble Retained, increased soil cover created by retaining residue from the previous crop or a specially planted winter cover crop; and (v) Reduced Sprays, a fewer number of sprays. Stubble Retained was the most effective scenario for minimizing endosulfan transport because infiltration was increased and erosion reduced, and the stubble intercepted and neutralized a proportion of the applied endosulfan. Reducing excess irrigation reduced annual export rates by 80 to 90%, but transport in larger storm events was still high. Reducing the number of pesticide applications only reduced transport when three or fewer sprays were applied. We conclude that endosulfan transport from cotton farms can be minimized with a combination of field management practices that reduce excess irrigation and concentration of pesticide on the soil at any point in time; however, discharges, probably with endosulfan concentrations exceeding guideline values, will still occur in storm events.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1989

Relationship of byssinosis to the generation of oxygen radicals by bract tissues of cotton plants.

Byssinosis is a hazardous respiratory disorder of workers in natural fiber processing industries and, in the case of cotton, is caused by exposure to respirable dust generated from leafy trash associated with raw fibers. To understand the chemical characteristics of involucral trash components that might contribute to bysinosis, we examined the human airway constricting activity and oxygen radical generating activity of dry, frost-killed cotton bracts. In response to inhalation of aerosolized bract extracts, the expiratory flow rates of human volunteers at 40% of vital capacity during partial forced expiration decreased by 3 to 32%. These values enabled us to identify two potentially byssinogenically active bract specimens, a specimen virtually inactive, and a fourth intermediately so. Using spin trapping techniques of electron spin resonance spectrometry, we found that all specimens catalyzed the generation of hydroxyl (preponderantly) and superoxide radicals from hydrogen peroxide. However, the weakest constrictor was the most potent catalyst, and vice versa. This was consistent with transition metal content of the specimens; the most potent catalyst also contained the largest amounts of those metals, suggesting a Fenton-type reaction mechanisms. Other possibilities for the inverse relationship of airway constricting (byssinogenic) activity with oxygen radical generation are discussed. We also found that neither aflatoxin nor endotoxin, contingent contaminants of bracts, catalyzed oxygen radical production from hydrogen peroxide.

Aflatoxin B1↗
PubMed2002

Towards the mechanism of cellulose synthesis.

Recent research has provided insights into how plants make cellulose - the major structural material of their cell walls and the basis of the cotton and wood fibre industries. Arabidopsis thaliana mutants impaired in cellulose production are defective in genes encoding membrane-bound glycosyltransferases, an endo-1,4-beta-glucanase and several enzymes involved in the N-glycosylation and quality-control pathways of the endoplasmic reticulum. The glycosyltransferases form the rosette terminal complexes seen in plasma membranes making cellulose. Synthesis might start by making lipoglucans, which, in turn, might form the substrate for the endo-1,4-beta-glucanase, before being elongated to form the long, crystalline microfibrils that assemble in the cell wall.

Arabidopsis↗
PubMed2004

Airborne endotoxin and its relationship to pulmonary function among workers in an Indian jute mill.

Air samples from various processing areas of an Indian jute mill were examined for endotoxin. The authors assessed work-related respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function changes in the dust-exposed workers from the different processing areas using a standard questionnaire and spirometry. Endotoxin was estimated in water extract of jute dust from 3 milling areas, and in outside air, by the Limulus amebocyte lysate gel clot technique. The batching, spinning, and weaving areas of the jute mill showed endotoxin levels of 0.22-4.42 microg/m3, 0.04-1.47 microg/m3, and 0.01-0.07 microg/m3, respectively, values similar to those found in Indian cotton mills. Respiratory morbidities among the workers included typical byssinotic symptoms, along with acute changes in postshift forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1.0) (31.8%). Results of this study demonstrated that increased exposure to bacterial endotoxin in airborne dust is related to byssinotic symptoms among Indian jute mill workers. Findings were similar to those reported previously for workers in the cotton, flax, and hemp industries.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗
PubMed2002

[Major-polygene effect analysis of super quality fiber properties in upland cotton (G. hirsutum L.)].

The modern textile industry depends on the improvement of fiber quality, especially strength to meet the needs of higher spinning speed. Inheritance of super quality fiber properties in Upland cotton was conducted in the present paper. P1, P2, F1, B1, B2 and F2 of eight crosses from five parents with different fiber strength, i.e. 7235 x TM1, TM1 x 7235, HS42 x TM1, PD69 x TM1, MD51 x TM1, 7235 x HS42, 7235 x PD69 and HS42 x PD69, and F2:3 for 7235 x TM1, were used in the study. The materials were planted in Nanjing or Hainan in 1998 and 1999, the individual plant fiber samples were tested with HVI system in Cotton Research Institute of CAAS at Anyang. The segregation analysis methods for major genes plus polygene mixed inheritance model developed by Gai were used to identify the genetic system of fiber qualities. The results from joint analyses of multiple segregating generations as well as single segregating generations, especially for F2:3, showed one major gene plus polygene mixed inheritance model in all fiber quality characters. The heritability values of major gene in F2 of 7235 x TM1 with great parent difference were estimated as 19.6% for fiber strength, 32.0% for micronaire and 13.9% for fiber length, but little in B1 and B2 for fiber qualities. The fiber length showed high and positive dominant effect, but negative value or zero of major or polygene dominant effects for other fiber qualities. Therefore, Mid-parent value or tendency to lower parent in F1 for most of fiber qualities lead to low selection efficiency, which suggests that molecular assisted selection should be considered at first in the improvement of fiber qualities.

Cotton Fiber↗
PubMed2004

[One-week variation of cotton dust and endotoxin levels in a cotton mill. Relation with the daily variation of the expiratory flow rates].

UNLABELLED: The prevalence of respiratory occupational diseases in the textile industry depends on environmental factors such cotton dust (CTD) levels and gram negative bacteria endotoxin (EDX) contamination. OBJECTIVE: To assess the environmental conditions (CTD and EDX) during one week in a cotton mill with respect to FEV1 variation throughout the work shift. POPULATION AND METHODS: 47 cotton mill workers (24F, 23M); average age: 42 +/- 11 years; average exposure to cotton dust: 22.5 +/- 9.4 years; Asthma: 15 (32%), Byssinosis: 11 (23%) and Asymptomatics: 21 (45%); a past history of respiratory symptoms: 13.1 +/- 11.7 years. Clinical evaluation, skin prick tests, a metacholine challenge, lung function tests and a work-place evaluation were performed. FEV1 Shift-variation (Delta-Shift) = end-shift FEV1 - start-shift FEV1, was calculated during one week. CTD and EDX levels were measured daily for each work place throughout this week and everyday during different operation tasks (work, cleaning, maintenance). The average values of CTD and EDX were calculated according to the time spent on each of these tasks for every worker who was exposed. RESULTS: Great variability of the environment conditions was observed throughout the week with the highest levels of CTD and EDX on Friday, even in comparison with Monday (CTD = 1.01 +/- 0.31 mg/m3 vs 0.68 +/- 0.65 mg/m3; p < 0.0005 e EDX = 33.1 +/- 8.9 ng/m3 vs 20.8 +/- 9.4 ng/m3; p < 0.0001). The shift variation was -129 +/- 97 ml for all the workers. The workers with asthma had the greatest reduction in expiratory flow rates, highest BHR and Delta-Shift but there were no differences in the levels of CTD and EDX among the three groups. Delta-Shift showed an association with the levels of EDX, specially in individuals with BHR but not with CTD levels. CONCLUSION: The environmental conditions that textile workers are exposed to, varies throughout the week and are associated with variations in flow rates and so lung function tests should be performed in a serial manner for the evaluation of respiratory occupational disease. The highest levels of EDX were recorded on Friday and this confirms the low reliability of the diagnostic criteria of byssinosis and points to the necessity of more objective measures.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Occupational risk factors for pancreatic cancer among female textile workers in Shanghai, China.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether occupational exposures to dusts and chemicals in the Shanghai textile industry are associated with risk of pancreatic cancer. METHODS: A case cohort study nested in a cohort of 267,400 female textile workers in Shanghai, China was conducted among 180 incident pancreatic cancer cases and an age stratified randomly selected comparison subcohort (n = 3188). A complete occupational history of work in the textile industry was obtained for each woman, and was linked to a job exposure matrix developed for the textile industry to estimate exposures to specific dusts and chemicals. Cumulative exposures to cotton dust and endotoxin were reconstructed from historical and contemporaneous measurements. RESULTS: After adjusting for smoking status, a trend of decreasing risk of pancreatic cancer was observed for increasing cumulative exposures to cotton dust and endotoxin with a lag of 20 years. The hazard ratios for women cumulatively exposed to >143.4 mg/m3 x years of cotton dust and >3530.6 EU/m3 x years of endotoxin were 0.6 (95% CI 0.3 to 0.9) and 0.5 (95% CI 0.3 to 0.9), respectively, compared to unexposed women. There was little evidence that exposures to other textile dusts and chemicals were associated with risk of pancreatic cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational exposure to cotton dust and endotoxin in the textile industry may have reduced risks of pancreatic cancer in this cohort. These associations should be replicated by others before making a firm conclusion of their possible effects on pancreatic cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Cotton fluffs as latex allergen carriers in a glove factory.

BACKGROUND: Latex allergens released from gloves and bound to airborne cornstarch powder have been shown to cause respiratory allergy in health care workers. OBJECTIVE: Cornstarch from powdered latex gloves is a well-known carrier of airborne allergens. It should be investigated whether cotton fluffs used to lubricate household and industrial gloves also function as airborne carriers for latex allergens. METHODS: Latex gloves, cotton fluffs with or without latex glove contact, dipping water from the glove cooling tank, a dust sample from the floor, and 10 samples from area dust samplers were analyzed for their allergen content by using a CAP inhibition method. Furthermore, 84% (119/142) of the working group participated in a cross-sectional study involving a questionnaire and measurement of latex-specific IgE by means of CAP inhibition. RESULTS: Latex gloves, area dust samples from latex glove production sites, and the floor dust sample contained high concentrations of latex allergens. Cotton fluffs were free of allergens before being in contact with gloves but showed considerable allergen concentrations after their removal from gloves. The dipping water of the cooling tank also contained latex allergens. Of the examined employees, 12.6% had IgE-mediated sensitization, and a third of the sensitized subjects (ie, 4% of the total group) reported work-related hypersensitivity reactions. CONCLUSIONS: Cotton fluffs bind latex allergens and behave like cornstarch as airborne allergen carriers causing conjunctivitis and allergic respiratory disorders.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed2005

Composting of a solid olive-mill by-product ("alperujo") and the potential of the resulting compost for cultivating pepper under commercial conditions.

A pollutant solid material called "alperujo" (AL), which is the main by-product from the Spanish olive oil industry, was composted with a cotton waste as bulking agent, and the compost obtained (ALC) was compared with a cattle manure (CM) and a sewage sludge compost (SSC) for use as organic amendment on a calcareous soil. The experiment was conducted with a commercial pepper crop in a greenhouse using fertigation. Composting AL involved a relatively low level of organic matter biodegradation, an increase in pH and clear decreases in the C/N and the fat, water-soluble organic carbon and phenol contents. The resulting compost, which was rich in organic matter and free of phytotoxicity, had a high potassium and organic nitrogen content but was low in phosphorus and micronutrients. The marketable yields of pepper obtained with all three organic amendments were similar, thus confirming the composting performance of the raw AL. When CM and SSC were used for soil amendment, the soil organic matter content was significantly reduced after cultivation, while it remained almost unchanged in the ALC-amended plots.

Agriculture↗