Home > Heavy Metal Pollution from Vehicular Emissions and its Phytomonitoring Along Two Roads I. E. Pindi Bhattian to Kala Shah Kaku and Lahore to Gujranwala
Heavy Metal Pollution from Vehicular Emissions and its Phytomonitoring Along Two Roads I. E. Pindi Bhattian to Kala Shah Kaku and Lahore to Gujranwala
The increase in heavy metal pollution along the roadside environment has become a major global concern recently. Therefore, current project was planned to monitor the level of heavy metals along the roads. For this study, five wild plant species (Calotropis procera, Cenchrus ciliaris, Cynodon dactylon, Nerium oleander and Parthenium hysterophorus) generally growing near the two roads [a segment of Motorway (M-2) from Pindi Bhattian to Kala Shah Kaku and a segment of Grand Trunk road (G.T. road) from Lahore to Gujranwala] in Punjab, Pakistan, were collected. The plant leaves and soil samples were collected from five sites along each road. The control samples of leaves and soil were collected at a distance of 50 meter away from roadside. The collected samples were analyzed during the four seasons of the year (2015-2016). Metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) were examined in all the plant leaves and soil samples using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Some plant physiological parameters such as gas exchange characteristics [photosynthetic rate (A), stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rate (E), sub-stomatal CO2 concentration (Ci) and water use efficiency (WUE)] were evaluated. Plant biochemical attributes such as the contents of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and carotenoids), total free amino acids, total soluble proteins and total antioxidant activity were also determined. Significantly higher contents of the studied metals were detected in soil and plants along the roadside as compared to their control samples and they indicated clear spatio-temporal variations. The highest contamination of metals in both plants and soil samples was noted during summer, whereas, minimum was observed during winter. The contents of metals were found in the order: Cd < Pb < Ni < Cu < Zn. The higher contents of all the metals were noted along G.T. road as compared to M-2. However, Kala Shah Kaku site along M-2 and Muridke site along G.T. road appeared as the more polluted sites. The correlation between metal contents in soil/plants and traffic density was significantly positive for almost all the sites during all the seasons. Significant positive correlation between metal contents in soil and metal content in plants was also observed. The high contents of metals were also obtained in petrol, diesel, soot and used motor oil samples. Physiological parameters such as A, E and gs were significantly lower while Ci and WUE were higher in all the plant species along the roadsides. The contents of photosynthetic pigments and total soluble proteins were significantly lower whereas total antioxidant activity and total free amino acids were significantly higher in roadside plant species under metal stress. Among plant species, C. procera accumulated the maximum contents of Cd, Ni and Pb whereas, N. oleander had potential to accumulate high concentrations of Cu and Zn, hence, these plants can be suggested as the best choice as phytomonitors and/or phytoremediators of the metal pollution.
Emergence of biomedical research and innovation with an unprecedented speed has created number of opportunities and challenges for policy makers. On the one hand, it is now possible to introduce tailor-made personal medication regime for an ailing patient to offer state of the art treatments. On the other hand, several ethical and legal issues have been raised due to the complex nature of emerging technologies. Policy makers all over the world are constantly addressing these challenges by continuously upgrading their respective professional and regulatory frameworks. This article is an attempt to highlight Shariah maxims which have contemporary application in medical field. Lately, there has been a lot of interest in the debate of Shariah maxims and many scholars have used maxims-based analytical frameworks to show the dynamic application of Islamic law. This article builds upon those works by focusing on issues related to the medical field.
The post cold war era (1991 onwards) did not much influence the relations between Pakistan and Japan. However, nuclear explosions undertaken by two major countries of South Asia in May 1998 strained relations between Japan and Pakistan. The former imposed economic sanctions against India and Pakistan and severely condemned nuclear proliferation in the region however 9/11 incident and self moratorium by Pakistan compelled Japan to lift the sanctions. Japan held the problem of Kashmir as the main cause of tension between the two rival countries and offered to hold international conference. The nuclear tests undertaken by India and Pakistan increased fear of Japan for likely breaking of nuclear war between the two countries. It held that problem of Kashmir is behind the nuclear tests.1 Pakistan has been receiving bilateral and multilateral aid from Japan. Latter has been extending Official Development Assistance to Pakistan since 1960. It was extended due to Pakistan’s political role in South West Asia, Islamic countries and maintenance of its traditional relations with Japan and its geo-strategic position. Pakistan is the beneficiary of General System Preferences (GSP) introduced by Japan. Although GSP is meant to encourage the imports but its conditions are strict on the commodities in which developing countries have competitive edge for example, textile and footwear but conditions are most lenient for the products in which developing countries are less competitive, such as machinery which limits June 4, 1999, Associated Press of Pakistan.. the significance of the GSP scheme. Thus, Pakistan could not take much benefit from the scheme as it ultimately contributed to Japan. The cordial and warm relationship between Pakistan and Japan got new impetus when both joined U.S-led coalition on war on terror. Though, there were exclusive reasons which motivated both the countries to join the coalition but common factors also contributed in this regard. Emergence of new convergence in relations between Pakistan and Japan benefited the former. Latter withdrew its economic sanctions against Pakistan imposed in view of atomic explosions in May 1998, restored Official Development Assistance and rescheduled its loan. The immediate objectives of war on terror were to uproot hide outs of Al- Qaeda and install democratic government in Afghanistan where as long term objectives are to destroy terrorist organizations of global reach and their networks including finances. The coalition on war on terror will have to go for indefinite period to combat terrorism. Thus, being partners of the coalition, Pakistan and Japan should evolve mutual long term strategy. Moreover, both the countries should develop common policy outside the coalition which must go beyond the status of Pakistan as a front line state. Japan is pursuing India and Pakistan to sign the NPT and the CTBT. Both the countries have not turned down Japan’s urge of signing of CTBT in clear terms. Pakistan should see its interest beyond India and link it with the United States. Signing the CTBT by India cannot extend defense shield to Pakistan as it has received threats from terrorists and sympathizers of India. Pakistan wants to maintain minimum defense capability. Moreover, India has developed nuclear arsenals and Pakistan considers it as a threat to its very existence. Compelling by the situation, it had to go for option of acquiring nuclear technology and developing atomic bomb. Japan is not in a position to pressurize India to such an extent that it may bow down to Japanese demand and sign NPT and CTBT. Moreover, it also seems impossible that Pakistan will accept Japanese pressure in this regard. However, it may be concluded that irritants like NPT and CTBT will not much influence Pakistan and Japan relations and political and economic ties between the two countries will grow stronger day- by- day.