Sub-lethal effect of chlorpyrifos on protein metabolism of the food fish Clarias batrachus and monitoring of recovery

The effect of sub-lethal concentrations of chlorpyrifos on protein metabolism in physiological important tissues, namely gills, kidney, liver, and muscle of the freshwater fish, Clarias batrachus, was studied. Fish were exposed to 1/20th and 1/10th of 96?h LC₅₀ concentrations for 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. After 28 days of exposure, fish were released into fresh water and kept in the same for 21 days in order to study the recovery. Fish were sacrificed at the stipulated periods and gills, kidney, liver, and muscle tissues were used for the estimation of total protein, amino acids, ammonia, urea, glutamine, protease, transaminases, and phosphatases. Total protein, amino acid, and ammonia contents were decreased in all tissues for 28 days and recovery was observed during the recovery period. Urea and glutamine levels were elevated, except in kidneys, and recovered at the end of the recovery period. The activities of protease, alanine, and aspartate aminotransferases, and acid and alkaline phosphatases were elevated in the tissues for 28 days exposure at both concentrations. Recovery of these enzymes activities was noticed during depuration.     

Plasma lipid profiles and risk of cardiovascular disease on occupational exposure in Karimnagar

Occupational exposure is unregulated in developing countries like India, and becoming the most common cause of disease of environmental origin. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of occupational exposure on plasma lipid profiles, and risk of cardiovascular diseases. A total of 79 human volunteers were included in the study. Control subjects were healthy housewives of Karimnagar, India. Occupationally exposed individuals included different occupational workers like petrol station attendants, battery chargers, drivers, welders, pesticide-exposed workers, painters, and auto mechanics. These subjects were shown to be chronic occupationally-exposed for at least three years, and neither associated with any other chronic pathological conditions like hypertension or diabetes, nor under any medication other than analgesics during the month preceding the study. Subjects with excessive high or low caloric intake were excluded from the study. Total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), VLDL cholesterol, LDL/HDL cholesterol, and TC/HDL ratio in these subjects were significantly higher than those in control subjects, whereas HDL cholesterol was not markedly affected. Blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), and other anthropometric parameters (body mass index (BMI), body fat index (BFI), body surface area (BSA)) were not significantly different between groups. Data suggest that chronic occupational exposure increases plasma lipid levels and is thereby associated with cardiovascular complications.     

Development of chitosan-alginate based biosorbent for the removal of p-chlorophenol from aqueous medium

Removal of p-chlorophenol (pCP) from synthetic aqueous solutions was studied through adsorption on a biosorbent developed from chitosan (CS) and sodium alginate (SA), the natural cationic and anionic polysaccharides, respectively. Chitosan-coated sodium alginate beads were prepared and treated with calcium chloride solution in order to improve the stability as well as hydrophobic character. The resulting beads (CS/CA) were characterized using FTIR spectra, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and BET surface analysis. The efficiency of this biosorbent in removing pCP from aqueous medium was studied under batch equilibrium and dynamic column flow experimental conditions. The binding capacity of the biosorbent was studied as a function of initial pH, contact time, initial concentration of adsorbate and amount of biomass. The data were fitted to pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Weber–Morris models and found that the adsorption process followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. Further, the equilibrium data were fitted to Freundlich, Langmiur, and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) adsorption isotherms and the isotherm constants were evaluated for adsorption of pCP. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of CS/CA beads was found to be 127 mg g^?1. Column flow results were used to generate breakthrough curves. The experimental results suggested that the chitosan–calcium alginate blended biosorbent was effective for the removal of pCP from aqueous medium.     

High immobilization of soil cesium using ball milling with nano-metallic Ca/CaO/NaH2PO4: implications for the remediation of radioactive soils

This report shows that cesium can be immobilized in soils with an efficiency of 96.4% by ball milling with nano-metallic Ca/PO₄. In Japan, the major concern on ¹³⁷Cs deposition and soil contamination due to the emission from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant showed up after a massive quake on March 11, 2011. The accident rated 7, the highest possible on the international nuclear event scale, released 160 petabecquerels (PBq) of iodine ¹³¹I and 15 PBq of ¹³⁷Cs according to the Japanese Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency. Both ¹³⁷Cs and ¹³¹I radioactive nuclides are increasing cancer risk. Nonetheless, ¹³⁷Cs, with a half-life of about 30 years compared with 8 days for ¹³¹I, is a major threat for agriculture and stock farming and, in turn, human life for decades. Therefore, in Japan, the ¹³⁷Cs fixation and immobilization in contaminated soil is the most important problem, which should be solved by suitable technologies. Ball milling treatment is a promising treatment for the remediation of cesium-contaminated soil in dry conditions. Here, we studied the effect, factors and mechanisms of soil Cs immobilization by ball milling with the addition of nano-metallic Ca/CaO/NaH₂PO₄, termed “nano-metallic Ca/PO₄.” We used scanning electron microscopy combined with electron dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and X-ray diffraction. Results show that immobilization efficiency increases from 56.4% in the absence of treatment to 89.9, 91.5, and 97.7 when the soil is ball-milled for 30, 60 and 120 min, respectively. The addition of nano-metallic Ca/PO₄ increased the immobilization efficiency to about 96.4% and decreased the ball milling time. SEM/EDS analysis allows us to observe that the amount of Cs decreased on soil particle surface. Use of nano-metallic Ca/PO₄ over a short milling time also decreases Cs leaching. Therefore, ball milling with nano-metallic Ca/PO₄ treatment may be potentially applicable for the remediation of radioactive Cs-contaminated soil in dry conditions.     

Zinc oxide nanoparticles as efficient catalyst for the synthesis of novel di-spiroindolizidine bisoxindoles in aqueous medium

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Developing environmentally benign synthetic protocols such as reaction in water is a major challenge. However, many of the known methods carried out in an...     

Allometric models for the estimation of above- and below-ground biomass of Jatropha curcas L. in semi-arid regions of Southern India

Jatropha curcas L. (Jatropha) is an important multipurpose tree valued for oil. In India, plans are underway to bring substantial area under this crop for meeting the biofuel requirements of the country. A study was conducted to develop allometric relationships in Jatropha to predict various biomass-related components (above ground and below ground) using easily measurable attributes, viz. collar diameter, tree height, number of branches, crown diameter, and crown depth. Further, it was aimed to establish the reliability of these relationships using an independent dataset obtained from varied management situations. Destructive sampling was carried out during the rainy season of 2011, when Jatropha plants were eight years old. Highly significant allometric relationships (F-values significant at 1% level) were obtained while predicting various biomass components (above, below, and total) using easily measurable attributes with R² values ranging from 0.89 to 0.98. Of all the predictors, collar diameter exhibited a highly significant relationship with total dry biomass per plant (R² = 0.97). The allometric relationships developed were validated with an independent dataset. The allometric relationships developed would serve as valuable tools for estimating total dry biomass production and carbon sequestration with reasonable accuracy in Jatropha systems, as they are proposed to be taken up in substantial area in the years to come.     

Electrokinetic-enhanced phytoremediation of soils: Status and opportunities

Phytoremediation is a sustainable process in which green plants are used for the removal or elimination of contaminants in soils. Both organic and inorganic contaminants can be removed or degraded by growing plants by several mechanisms, namely phytoaccumulation, phytostabilization, phytodegradation, rhizofiltration and rhizodegradation. Phytoremediation has several advantages: it can be applied in situ over large areas, the cost is low, and the soil does not undergo significant damages. However, the restoration of a contaminated site by phytoremediation requires a long treatment time since the remediation depends on the growth and the biological cycles of the plant. It is only applicable for shallow depths within the reach of the roots, and the remediation efficiency largely depends on the physico-chemical properties of the soil and the bioavailability of the contaminants. The combination of phytoremediation and electrokinetics has been proposed in an attempt to avoid, in part, the limitations of phytoremediation. Basically, the coupled phytoremediation–electrokinetic technology consists of the application of a low intensity electric field to the contaminated soil in the vicinity of growing plants. The electric field may enhance the removal of the contaminants by increasing the bioavailability of the contaminants. Variables that affect the coupled technology are: the use of AC or DC current, voltage level and mode of voltage application (continuous or periodic), soil pH evolution, and the addition of facilitating agents to enhance the mobility and bioavailability of the contaminants. Several technical and practical challenges still remain that must be overcome through future research for successful application of this coupled technology at actual field sites.     

Fatty acid profile and elemental content of avocado (Persea americana Mill.) oil--effect of extraction methods

Interest in vegetable oil extracted from idioblast cells of avocado fruit is growing. In this study, five extraction methods to produce avocado oil have been compared: traditional solvent extraction using a Soxhlet or ultrasound, Soxhlet extraction combined with microwave or ultra-turrax treatment and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). Traditional Soxhlet extraction produced the most reproducible results, 64.76 ± 0.24 g oil/100 g dry weight (DW) and 63.67 ± 0.20 g oil/100 g DW for Hass and Fuerte varieties, respectively. Microwave extraction gave the highest yield of oil (69.94%) from the Hass variety. Oils from microwave extraction had the highest fatty acid content; oils from SFE had wider range of fatty acids. Oils from Fuerte variety had a higher monounsaturated: saturated FA ratio (3.45-3.70). SFE and microwave extraction produced the best quality oil, better than traditional Soxhlet extraction, with the least amount of oxidizing metals present.     

Impact of soil quality on elemental uptake by,and distribution in,Colocasia esculenta (Amadumbe), an edible root

In this study the elemental distribution of selected essential (Ca, Mg, Al, Mn, Cu, Fe, Co, Cr, Zn, Ni and Se) and the non-essential (Pb, Hg and As) elements were determined in the bulb and peel of Amadumbe (Colocasia esculenta) samples from eight different sites in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The concentration of Se and As in the soil and in the Amadumbe bulbs were below the detection limit of 0.09 μg g^?1. The total and bioavailable concentrations of the elements in conjunction with pH, soil organic matter (SOM) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were determined in the soil samples from the eight sites. Statistical analysis was done to evaluate the impact of soil quality parameters on the chemical composition of the Amadumbe root. The results show accumulation or exclusion of certain elements by the bulb as evidenced by the noticeable increase or decrease of the concentrations of elements, respectively. Ca and Mg were found to be major elements in the range (2000–12000 μg g^?1), whilst Mn, Zn, Fe and Al were found to be minor elements in the range (20–400 μg g^?1). A general trend observed was that the plant favours the absorption of Zn over Cu. A positive correlation between Mg & Ca, Cu & Fe and Co & Ni was also observed. Statistical analysis revealed that the plant tended to accumulate Mg, Ca, Co, Cr and Pb whilst it excluded Hg and Fe, to a lesser extent.     

Adsorption-desorption and leaching of pyraclostrobin in Indian soils

Pyraclostrobin is a new broad-spectrum foliar applied and seed protectant fungicide of the strobilurin group. In this paper, adsorption-desorption of pyraclostrobin has been investigated in three different soils viz. Inceptisol (sandy loam, Delhi), Vertisol (sandy clay, Hyderabad) and Ultisol (sandy clay loam, Thrissur). Effect of organic matter and clay content on sorption was also studied in Inceptisol of Delhi. Leaching potential of pyraclostrobin as influenced by rainfall was studied in intact soil columns to confirm the results of adsorption-desorption studies. The adsorption studies were carried out at initial concentrations of 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 μg mL^?1. The distribution coefficient (K_d) values in three test soils ranged from 4.91 to 18.26 indicating moderate to high adsorption. Among the three test soils, adsorption was the highest in Ultisol (K_d 18.26), followed by Vertisol (K_d 9.87) and Inceptisol (K_d 4.91). K_F value was also highest for Ultisol soil (66.21), followed by Vertisol (40.88) and Inceptisol (8.59). S-type adsorption isotherms were observed in all the three test soils. K_d values in organic carbon-removed soil and clay-removed soil were 3.57 and 2.83 respectively, indicating lower adsorption than normal Inceptisol. Desorption studies were carried out at initial concentrations of 0.5, 1 and 1.5 μg mL^?1. Desorption was the greatest in Inceptisol, followed by Vertisol and Ultisol. Amounts of pyraclostrobin desorbed in three desorption cycles for different concentrations were 23.1–25.3%, 9.4–20.7% and 8.1–13.6% in Inceptisol, Vertisol and Ultisol respectively. Desorption was higher in clay fraction-removed and organic carbonremoved soils than normal Inceptisol. Desorption was slower than adsorption in all the test soils, indicating hysteresis effect (with hysteresis coefficient values varying from 0.05 to 0.20). Low values of hysteresis coefficient suggest high hysteresis effect indicating easy and strong adsorption, and slow desorption, of pyraclostrobin in soils. Higher hysteresis coefficient values in organic carbon removed soil (0.25–0.30) and clay fraction removed soil (0.28–0.36) as compared to normal Inceptisol soil suggest relatively weak adsorption and easy desorption of pyraclostrobin. Results of regression analysis suggest that the organic matter and pH of the soil play a major role in adsorption of pyraclostrobin. Leaching studies were carried out in intact soil columns in Inceptisol. The columns were leached with different amounts of water simulating different amounts of rainfall. The results suggest that most of the pyraclostrobin residues will remain present in the top soil layers even under high rainfall conditions and chances of pyraclostrobin moving to lower soil depth are almost negligible.