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• Exploring air quality and health effects during diwali: A comprehensive study in Lucknow city

  16-32

  Suleman

  Views:

  111

  Diwali, a revered cultural festival nationwide, poses significant environmental challenges, especially in urban hubs like Lucknow. Traditionally marked by elaborate rituals and widespread firecracker usage, Diwali contributes notably to air pollution. Amid mounting concerns over environmental degradation's health impacts, this study examines Diwali's air pollution dynamics, indoor exposure factors, and health effects in Lucknow. By dissecting these intricacies, it seeks to inform targeted interventions for environmental preservation and community health enhancement. The study adopts an exploratory survey design, employing both primary and secondary data collection methods. Primary data, acquired through structured questionnaires, involves 523 parents and 179 doctors in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Quota and purposive sampling techniques were utilised to select participants meeting specific criteria. Statistical analyses, including frequency, Chi-square, and exploratory factor analysis, were conducted using SPSS version 25 to achieve research objectives. The results of the Diwali 2023 air pollution survey in Lucknow City indicate a significant rise in PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 levels, notably during nighttime, attributed to firecracker burning. Slight increases in SO₂ and NO₂ suggest additional fuel combustion. Further, hypotheses testing associations between locality types and indoor air pollution sources revealed significant links to factors like burning mosquito repellents, candles, and genetic predispositions. Doctors highlighted children in flats/apartments, aged 0-4, as most vulnerable, citing socioeconomic and behavioural influences. Seasonal variations and festivals, particularly Diwali, exacerbate air pollution effects. Doctors noted diverse health impacts, from respiratory issues to neurological effects, stressing the need for comprehensive mitigation efforts.

• Environments conducive to Theobroma cacao in Martinique

  1-15

  Jean-Philippe Claude

  Yelji Abati

  Yanis Jean-François

  Views:

  33

  The current cocoa orchards in Martinique are genetically diversified and enjoy a good health situation. The aromatic properties of chocolates produced from Martinique beans seem exceptional. The cultivation of cocoa on this French island located in the Caribbean achieved international fame in the 18th century. Today, almost fifty farmers continue to grow cocoa, but climate projections indicate that the possibilities for growing this species will have considerably decreased in the coming decades. A geographic information system (GIS) was in fact developed using QGIS software version 3.36.2, to carry out an agroclimatic zoning and show the effect of climatic constraints on the distribution of environments suitable for Theobroma cacao, in Martinique. The climatic requirements of the species were defined based on global scientific literature and the environmental data comes from the French national meteorological services. Agroforestry, agro-ecology, plant selection and scientific innovations in agronomy will be the main ramparts to prevent a possible decline of this culture on the island.