Seema Unnikrishnan

Fine aerosol and PAH carcinogenicity estimation in outdoor environment of Mumbai City, India

Exposure to fine particles has been shown to cause severe human health impacts. In the present study, outdoor fine particles as well as elemental and organic carbon concentrations were measured in four locations within Mumbai city, India, during 2007–2008. The average outdoor PM2.5 mass concentrations at control, kerb, residential and industrial sites were 69 ± 21, 84 ± 32, 89 ± 34, 95 ± 36 μg/m3. In addition, fine particle PAHs were measured during the post monsoon season. The sum of PAHs in PM2.5 at same above four sites were 35.27 ± 2.10, 42.96 ± 2.49, 175.76 ± 8.95 and 90.78 ± 4.74 ng/m3, respectively. Estimating the carcinogenic potential of PAHs with equivalents of Benzo(a)pyrene (BaPE). The maximum value of BaPE (18.8) was reported in the residential site. A trend of lung cancer cases in Mumbai city is also presented. This was a preliminary study in understanding the health effects of PAHs in Mumbai city.

Safety Management Practices in Small and Medium Enterprises in India

Background Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are often the main pillar of an economy. Minor accidents, ergonomics problems, old and outdated machinery, and lack of awareness have created a need for implementation of safety practices in SMEs. Implementation of healthy working conditions creates positive impacts on economic and social development. Methods In this study, a questionnaire was developed and administered to 30 randomly chosen SMEs in and around Mumbai, Maharashtra, and other states in India to evaluate safety practices implemented in their facilities. The study also looked into the barriers and drivers for technology innovation and suggestions were also received from the respondent SMEs for best practices on safety issues. Results In some SMEs, risks associated with safety issues were increased whereas risks were decreased in others. Safety management practices are inadequate in most SMEs. Market competitiveness, better efficiency, less risk, and stringent laws were found to be most significant drivers; and financial constraints, lack of awareness, resistance to change, and lack of training for employees were found to be main barriers. Conclusion Competition between SMEs was found to be major reason for implementation of safety practices in the SMEs. The major contribution of the study has been awareness building on safety issues in the SMEs that participated in the project.

Estimation of Carbon Stocks in Avicennia marina Stand Using Allometry, CHN Analysis, and GIS Methods

The paper suggests a framework for the estimation of biomass and, ultimately, the amount of carbon sequestered in Avicennia marina stands of Mumbai region in Thane creek. The literature-adopted framework for estimating biomass uses a direct (Carbon, Hydrogen and Nitrogen (CHN) analysis), an indirect (allometry and remote sensing) and a hybrid approach. The study area has Avicennia marina as a dominant species. The carbon content was estimated using allometry and CHN analysis and further refined with GIS techniques. The Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) of 1,726 trees at 49 different locations in the study area was measured for estimating total biomass. A CHN analysis of leaf and soil samples was performed to determine the carbon content and the data extrapolated using geostatistical analysis. Using allometry and a GIS hybrid approach, the estimated carbon stock was 34.14769 tons per hectare. The regression model developed may be useful for estimating the carbon stock of areas that are inaccessible for conducting allometric measurements or gathering samples for CHN analysis. The study attempts to improve the estimates of the carbon content by including geostatistical analysis as a final step for allometry and combines CHN analysis for better conversion of biomass to carbon content.

Business reporting on biodiversity and enhancement of conservation initiatives

ABSTRACT This article assesses 101 randomly selected companies for their biodiversity-related reporting of environmental performance indicators to meet the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3.1 guideline requirement. To evaluate the reporting of environment performance indicators related to biodiversity, a 1–5 rating scale was developed where 5 ranked the highest. The maximum rating of 5 was obtained by 13% of the reporting companies. According to the GRI G3.1 guideline, environmental performance indicator number 12 (EN12) requests the companies to describe the ‘significant impacts of their activities, products, and services on biodiversity in protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas’. Most of the sampled companies (82%) reported this indicator. Environmental performance indicator number 15 (EN15) requests the companies to disclose the ‘number of IUCN Red List species and national conservation list species with habitats in areas affected by operations, by level of extinction risk’. This was the least-reported indicator by the surveyed companies (25%). Reporting of environmental performance indicators related to biodiversity, and initiatives based on GRI guidelines have been adopted with varying degrees of success by business organizations, but efforts are still required to understand the returns from the initiatives undertaken and reporting the returns earned.

Role of India's forests in climate change mitigation through the CDM and REDD+

Forestry is at the centre-stage of global climate change negotiations as it is a low cost carbon mitigation option. Forests have the potential to be a source as well as sink for carbon emissions. The main aim of this paper is to provide a useful snapshot of the carbon value of Indias forests, and give a glimpse of the potential of Indias forests to offset both Indias and the worlds carbon emissions. This paper also highlights the initiatives taken by India towards the implementation of REDD+ and the status of REDD+ in a few other countries.

CDM implementation towards reduction of fugitive greenhouse gas emissions

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is the market-based mechanism introduced to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) during various activities. Enormous literature has been available on the GHG mitigation activities in energy, transport, agriculture, construction, waste handling activities, afforestation and reforestation sectors using CDM. However, no single study has been carried out for reduction of fugitive emissions or leakages which releases during the industrial activities. Therefore, this paper presents a critical assessment of CDM projects implemented to reduce fugitive emissions during industrial activities. Out of entire 7749 registered CDM projects (in all sectors of CDM), only 154 (1.98%) fugitive emission reduction projects were implemented up to 2016. These 154 projects contribute up to 147,563,247 MTCO2e (8.87%) estimated emission reduction out of total 1,663,533,108 MTCO2e estimated emission reduction in all sectors of CDM (https://cdm.unfccc.int/about/index.html). Out of these 154 registered fugitive projects, 125 projects were assessed for fuel emissions, 19 for halocarbons (HCF) emissions and 10 for sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) emissions. The details of the projects were gathered from Project Design Document (PDDs) of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) project cycle search and further verified by monitoring the reports of each project. These projects were studied to examine estimated emission reductions with special emphasis on the achieved emission reductions in terms of Certified Emissions Reduction (CERs) to calculate financial benefits. Available CDM methodologies to reduce fugitive emissions were also studied. Further, the distribution of these projects across India was mapped using Arc-GIS. Findings show India is second most country after China in registration of CDM projects. Westerns and northern part of India covers maximum CDM activities. Amongst various methodologies, abatement of methane from coalmines (ACM0008), approved methods decomposition of fluoroform (HFC-23) and point of use abatement device to reduce SF6 emissions (AM0078) were used extensively for reduction of fuel, HFC and fluoride gas emissions. 260,064,195 MTCO2e of CERs (14.5%), i.e. emission reduction was achieved from these projects till 2016 (https://cdm.unfccc.int/about/index.html). Therefore, some key challenges or barriers are discussed for development and disclosure of carbon strategies to get transparency in entire CER trading processes.

Role of the Clean Development Mechanism (Cdm) in the Development of National Energy Industries

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is an agreement under the Kyoto Protocol (1997) allowing industrialized (Annex-I) countries with Greenhouse Gas emission reduction commitment to invest in or finance projects that reduce emissions in developing countries using clean technologies. Under CDM, for every tonne of CO2 that does not enter into the atmosphere, a developing (Non-Annex-I) country earns one carbon credit which can be further sold to developed countries (Annex-I) through the international carbon market. Developed countries exchange these credits in terms of money and technology transfer with developing countries to meet their GHG emission reduction targets. 7391 CDM projects were registered worldwide by November 2013, out of which 6205 (84%) are under energy industry sector. India is contributing 828 (13%) CDM projects with estimated emission reduction of 69,156,926 metric tonnes of CO2e. By the end of the first commitment period (2012), 19,061,210 metric tonnes of CO2e emission reduction was achieved. The estimated range of annual CDM-generated revenue in India varies between US

Eco-industrial estate management: a case study

10 and 330 million (Birla et.al.2012). India has the second largest number of CDM projects in the world. The National Clean Development Mechanism Authority (NCDMA) is the Designated National Authority (DNA) which was set up to evaluate and approve CDM projects. This paper provides a probing insight into these projects, and the methodologies used in order to achieve emission reduction by Indian industries.

Sustainability assessment of gas based power generation using a life cycle assessment approach: A case study from India

IEs (industrial estates) are today perceived as integral parts of the development strategies of many countries worldwide. The environmental impacts of a concentration of industries in a small area or an unplanned IE can pose a serious threat to both local and global sustainable development initiatives. On the other hand, the formations of ecologically balanced industrial systems can result in numerous environmental and economic benefits. The study described in this paper examines the environmental performance of 34 industries in the Taloja IE in the state of Maharashtra, India. It emphasizes the need to focus on integrated industrial planning in developing countries like India. An analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the Taloja Industrial Estate and the various strategies formulated to improve the environmental performance of the estate are discussed with reference to India. The study also focuses on the need to implement eco-industrial networks in the existing as well as new IEs. This requires strong support from the government and institutions in terms of infrastructure as well as economic incentives.

Role of government towards adoption of cleaner technologies for climate proactivity: A survey-based empirical study of Indian firms

Purpose India is a developing economy along with an increasing population estimated to be the largest populated country in about seven years. Simultaneously, its power consumption is projected to increase more than double by 2020. Currently, the dependence on coal is relatively high, making it the largest global greenhouse gas emitting sector which is a matter of great concern. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the environmental impacts of the natural gas electricity generation in India and propose a model using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. Design/methodology/approach LCA is used as a tool to evaluate the environmental impact of the natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) power plant, as it adopts a holistic approach towards the whole process. The LCA methodology used in this study follows the ISO 14040 and 14044 standards (ISO 14040: 2009; ISO 14044: 2009). A questionnaire was designed for data collection and validated by expert review primary data for the annual environmental emission was collected by personally visiting the power plant. The study follows a cradle to gate assessment using the CML (2001) methodology. Findings The analysis reveals that the main impacts were during the process of combustion. The Global warming potential is approximately 0.50 kg CO2 equivalents per kWh of electricity generation from this gas-based power plant. These results can be used by stakeholders, experts and members who are authorised to probe positive initiative for the reduction of environmental impacts from the power generation sector. Practical implications Considering the pace of growth of economic development of India, it is the need of the hour to emphasise on the patterns of sustainable energy generation which is an important subject to be addressed considering India’s ratification to the Paris Climate Change Agreement. This paper analyzes the environmental impacts of gas-based electricity generation. Originality/value Presenting this case study is an opportunity to get a glimpse of the challenges associated with gas-based electricity generation in India. It gives a direction and helps us to better understand the right spot which require efforts for the improvement of sustainable energy generation processes, by taking appropriate measures for emission reduction. This paper also proposes a model for gas-based electricity generation in India. It has been developed following an LCA approach. As far as we aware, this is the first study which proposes an LCA model for gas-based electricity generation in India. The model is developed in line with the LCA methodology and focusses on the impact categories specific for gas-based electricity generation.