Foraging animal origin food samples as passive indicators of dioxin-like POPs contamination in industry sites: Method development, characterisation and risk assessment.

Titanium dioxide (TiO) is an important industrial chemical, and studies suggest its major production route - the chloride process could lead to the generation of unintentional dl-POPs. However, no relevant studies assessed the occurrence of dl-POPs associated with TiO production in the industrial zones, which is mostly due to the ultra-trace level distribution of these compounds in environmental compartments. The present study explored the novel possibility of utilising foraging animal-origin foods as sensitive indicators for addressing this challenge and generated a globally beneficial dataset by assessing the background levels of dl-POPs in the vicinity of a TiO production house in Southern India.

Development of a field-deployable analytical workflow for determining current status and indicative human health risks at a historic dl-POPs hotspot.

This paper introduces an integrated workflow that effectively evaluates environmental and health risks of dioxin-like Persistent Organic Pollutants (dl-POPs) at industrial hotspot regions. The developments of validated, cost effective and user-friendly analytical strategies which can be field deployable are quintessential for routine monitoring of dl-POPs, particularly in developing countries. This study addresses the lacunae by enabling an exclusive gas chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometer based analytical workflow substituting conventional magnetic sector high resolution mass spectrometer technique and validated the methodology as per the European Union regulation 644/2017.

An experimental simulation study of conventional waste burning practices in India for the assessment and inventorisation of PCDD/F/dl-PCB emissions.

The paper reports an update to the polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) annual emission inventory of India from open burning of municipal solid wastes (MSW) through the generation of nation-specific emission factors for air (EF) and burned residue (EF) vectors. The MSW characteristics and modes of disposal practiced in Indian cities exhibits subtle variations from that of developed nations due to differences in food habits, living standards and climatic conditions. The annual emission calculations based on EFs from hitherto studies simulating conditions prevailing in developed countries can lead to anomalous accounting of emission levels.

Development of saleable chloride free iron oxide from hazardous waste in titanium industries via layered double hydroxide formation.

Mining and metal processing industries constitutes a major source of environmental pollution, albeit its huge impact on a nation's economic and industrial growth. The collaborative approach in waste management where wastes in one process/industry turns out to be a resource for another is extremely useful to sustain industries. Titanium dioxide pigment production industry operating via chloride process expels hazardous iron oxide waste byproduct rich in chloride content.