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Other titles of interest from Pergamon Press AFZELIUS, B. The Functional Anatomy of the Spermatozoon ANDERSON, D. T. Embryology and Phylogeny in Annelids and Arthropods BACQ,, Z. M. Chemical Transmission of Nerve Impulses BACQ,, Z. M. Fundamentals of Biochemical Pharmacology BAKER, P. F. & REUTER, H. Calcium Movement in Excitable Cells BINYON, E. J. Physiology of Echinoderms BOYDEN, A. Perspectives in Zoology BRODA, E. The Evolution of the Bioenergetic Processes BRODIE, B. B. & BRESSLER, R. Minireviews of the Neurosciences from Life Sciences CHAPMAN, V. J. Coastal Vegetation, 2nd Edition CHRISTIE, W. W. Lipid Analysis CLEGG, F. E. General Science: Biology DAVIES, P. S. &SUNDERLAND, N. Perspectives in Experimental Biology Part 1 : Zoology Part 2 : Botany DEARDEN, M. & DEARDEN, R. A Modern Course in Biology DEWHURST, D. J. An Introduction to Biomédical Instrumentation HOCHACHKA, P. W. Biochemistry at Depth HUDDART, H. Comparative Structure and Function of Muscle INGLIS, J. K. A Textbook of Human Biology, 2nd Edition KOREN, H. Environmental Health and Safety PARSONS, T. R. & TAKAHASHI, M. Biological Océanographie Processes, 2nd Edition PATTON, S. & JENSEN, R. G. Biomédical Aspects of Lactation PURCHON, R. D. Biology of the Mollusca, 2nd Edition RAVEN, C. P. An Outline of Developmental Physiology, 3rd Edition THREADGOLD, L. T. The Ultrastructure ofthe Animal Cell, 2nd Edition WHITE, D. C. S. & THORSON, J. The Kinetics of Muscle Contraction SELECTED TOPICS IN ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY BASED ON THE SESSIONS ON ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY HELD AT THE X X V I INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF PHYSIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 20-26, 1974 Edited by BALRAJ BHATIA Present address: School of Environmental Sciences and School of Life Sciences Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi-110057 Director of Research in Basic Sciences Defence Research & Development Organisation Ministry of Defence New Delhi-110011 G. S. CHHINA Associate Professor of Physiology All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi-110016 and BALDEV SINGH Emeritus Professor All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi-110016 PERGAMON PRESS OXFORD · NEW YORK PARIS · · TORONTO FRANKFURT · SYDNEY U. K. U. S. A. CANADA AUSTRALIA FRANCE Pergamon Press Ltd., Headington Hill Hall, Oxford OX3 OBW, England Pergamon Press Inc., Maxwell House, Fairview Park, Elmsford, New York 10523, U.S.A. Pergamon of Canada Ltd., 75 The East Mall, Toronto, Ontario Pergamon Press (Aust.) Pty. Ltd., 19a Boundary Street, Rushcutters Bay, N.S.W. 2011, Australia Pergamon Press SARL, 24 rue des Ecoles, 75240 Paris, Cedex 05, France W E S T G E R M A N Y Pergamon Press GmbH, 6242 Kronberg-Taunus, Pferdstrasse 1, West Germany Copyright © 1977 B. Bhatia, G. S. Chhina and Baldev Singh All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means : electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without permission in writing from the editors First edition 1977 Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 76-47082 INTERPRINT PUBLICATIONS (Div. of Calendar Makers Corp., New Delhi) Mehta House, 16A, Naraina, Phase II, New Delhi-110028, India Distributed outside India by Pergamon Press Printed in Great Britain by A. Wheaton & Co., Exeter ISBN 0 08 021210 7 INTRODUCTION In early 1974, the Scientific Programme Committee of the 26th International Congress of Physiological Sciences had frequent discussions on the choice of topics for symposia and free communications. In one of the earlier meetings, a proposal to include a series of symposia on environmental biology in the programme of the Congress was examined. The proposal was considered appropriate since In