Impact of alphamethrin on antioxidant defense (catalase) and protein profile of a catfish

The toxic effects of alphamethrin on catalase (CAT) and protein profile in liver, heart, kidney, and intestine of the freshwater catfish Clarias batrachus have been investigated. CAT activity and specific activity decreased in liver, heart, kidney, and intestine on exposure of sublethal concentration of alphamethrin for 14 days. Similarly, protein content declined in different tissues of the fish exposed to alphamethrin. Maximum decline in CAT activity was in liver, while minimum decrease was in intestine. Maximum reduction in CAT specific activity was in kidney and minimum in heart. Protein content declined maximum in liver and minimum in heart. Alphamethrin-induced reduction in CAT activity and specific activity might be due to binding of pesticide with enzyme or by inhibiting the enzyme synthesis. The reduction in protein content might be due to extensive proteolysis. The results suggested alphamethrin-induced reduction in oxidative defense and protein profile of the catfish.     

Interacting effects of pyrethroid and hormone on catalase and protein for toxicity amelioration in the freshwater fish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clarias batrachus</Emphasis>

Ameliorating effects of cortisol and T₃ on alphamethrin-dependent changes in the catalase (CAT) and protein profile of the freshwater catfish, Clarias batrachus, were studied. CAT activity and specific activity decreased in the liver, heart, kidney, and intestine after exposure to alphamethrin for 14 days. The administration of cortisol to alphamethrin-exposed fish brought the activity and specific activity of CAT up to their control values. The protein content decreased in different tissues of the fish after exposure to alphamethrin. The administration of T₃ to alphamethrin-exposed fish reduced the protein content to the control value. Therefore, it can be suggested that cortisol and T₃ may be used to ameliorate the toxicological effects of alphamethrin in fish.     

Supplemental UV-B radiation induced changes in growth, pigments and antioxidant pool of bean (Dolichos lablab) under field conditions

Present study is conducted to evaluate the response of bean (Dolichos lablabcv . pusa early prolific) plants to supplemental UV-B (sUV-B: 280-315 nm: 7.2 kJ m(-2) d(-1)) radiation. UV-B caused alteration in biomass translocation pattern with more retention of biomass in below ground parts leading to an increment in root shoot ratio. Specific leaf area (SLA) which is the measure of leaf thinness, increased in plants under sUV-B exposure by 95.7 and 82.3% after 15 and 30 days after germination. Photosynthetic machinery of bean plants was the potential target of UV-B as photosynthetic rate was decreased by 88.6% at 30 days after germination. sUV-B lead to the formation of reactive oxygen species thus generating oxidative stress. Stimulation of antioxidant defense system (enzymatic and non-enzymatic) was observed due to sUV-B radiation. Phenolic content decreased (34.7 and 18.6%) but protein showed varied response, increased initially (34%) thereafter declined (10.2%) under sUV-B radiation.     

An empirical investigation of nuclear energy and environmental pollution nexus in India: fresh evidence using NARDL approach

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Environmental pollution caused by carbon emissions is an emerging issue to study among researchers. The nexus between environmental pollution and...     

Utilization of fly ash in adsorption of heavy metals from wastewater

The aim of this study was to assess the toxicity reduction of wastewaster after treatment with fly ash. Fly ash is a waste material which is formed as a result of coal burning in power plants, but has the potential to adsorb heavy metal ions. The present study examined the adsorption capacity of fly ash to adsorb Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺ from waste water under different conditions of contact time, pH, and temperature. Uptake of metal ions by fly ash generally rose with increasing pH. At lower temperatures the uptake of heavy metal adsorption were enhanced. Significant reduction in Pb²⁺ (79%), Cu²⁺ (53%), and Zn²⁺ (80%) content was found after treatment with fly ash of waste water treatment. Using the microtox test toxicity of the effluent was reduced by 75% due to removal of Pb²⁺ ion by the fly ash. Data indicated that fly ash generated by power plants may be used beneficially to remove metals from waste water.     

Health risks from PAHs and potentially toxic elements in street dust of a coal mining area in India

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (Ba, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni, As, Co) were determined in the road dusts of a coal...     

Bioaccumulation of toxic metals (Cr, Cd, Pb and Cu) by seeds of Euryale ferox Salisb. (Makhana) W

The level of toxic metals Cr, Cd, Pb and Cu was determined in seeds, water and sediments collected from nine closed waterbodies of Darbhanga, north Bihar, used for cultivation of the edible aquatic macrophyte Euryaleferox Salisb. during harvesting season of the crop for two successive years (1996 and 1997). Seeds bioconcentrated appreciable amount of these toxic metals in the order Pb > Cr > Cu > Cd. The increased load of metal pollution due to domestic and municipal discharges threatened the habitats of the plant. The toxic metal contents in seeds were found positively correlated with the ambient concentration of metals in water and sediments. The importance of these findings has been discussed for national water resource economy of the country and human health perspectives.     

Acute toxicity of herbicides to freshwater fish and midge larvae, Chironomus tentans

Acute toxicity of three herbicides, tafazine, bladex, and aresin, were studied for three species of freshwater teleost, namely, Labeo rohita, Mystus vittatus, and Cirrhinus mrigala, and benthic macroinvertebrate, midge larvae, Chironomus tentans, L. rohita and C. mrigala were found susceptible to all three herbicides as compared to M. vittatus and C. tentans, which were more susceptible to the tafazine toxicity. The toxicity of the three herbicides was in order of tafazine>bladex>aresin. Investigation leads to the conclusion that some herbicides, though quickly degradable, form hazards for aquatic life even at very low levels. Their application must be monitored to prevent aquatic pollution.     

Effect of herbivory by the slug, Mariaella dussumieri, and certain insects on growth and competitive success of two sympatric annual weeds

The effect of plant-eating by the slug, Mariaella dussimieri Gray, and by certain lepidopteran insects and their larvae was studied under field conditions, on the growth of two sympatric annual weeds, Galinsoga ciliata (Raf.) Blake and G. parviflora Cav., in pure and mixed stands. Under the influence of herbivory, both weeds generally produced a greater number of leaves, but the leaf area per plant was drastically reduced. Plant survival and seed output decreased in both weeds due to herbivory, but the effect was more severe in G. parviflora, especially in the mixed stands. Herbivory also reduced the dry matter yield and delayed flowering in G. parviflora. Relatively poor growth of G. parviflora in the mixed stand exposed to herbivory could be attributed to its preferential feeding by the slug and insects which reduced the competitive ability of this weed against G. ciliata.