Determination of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables in Islamabad market

Pesticide residues in fruits and vegetable from Islamabad market, Pakistan were determined by GLC using Perkin Elmer Autosystem equipped with 63NECD and capillary column. Dimethoate was determined in the quantity of 0.032 mg kg-1 in apple, 0.110 mg kg-1 in banana, 0.004 mg kg-1 in brinjal, 1.80 mg kg-1 in cauliflower and 0.13 mg kg-1 in arvi, fenvalerate 0.010 mg kg-1 in apple and chlorpyrifos 0.004 mg kg-1 in brinjal. The importance of these pesticide residues with reference to human health is also briefly discussed.     

The missing link? Implications of internal,external, and relational attribution combinations for leader–member exchange,relationship work,self‐work,and conflict

Attributions are causal explanations made by individuals in response to important, novel, and/or unexpected events. Numerous attribution theories have examined how people use information to make attributions and how attributions impact an individual's subsequent emotions and outcomes. However, this research has only recently considered the implications of dyadic‐level attributions (i.e., relational attributions), particularly in the context of leader–follower relationships in organizations. Therefore, the purpose of this theoretical paper is threefold. First, we integrate research on attributional biases into the research on relational attributions. Second, we integrate and extend attribution theory to consider the implications of convergent and divergent internal, external‐person, external‐situational, and relational attributions for leader–member exchange (LMX) quality, relationship work, self‐work, and conflict. Third, we make the implicit ranking of attribution combinations and the resultant levels of relationship work explicit. In doing so, we contribute to attribution theory and research by proposing how attribution combinations produce positive and negative outcomes that are both intrapersonal and interpersonal. Further, we contribute to the LMX literature by explicating how leader–follower attribution combinations influence relationship quality.     

Advanced techniques for characterization of organic matter from anaerobically digested grapemarc distillery effluents and amended soils

The effects of grapemarc distillery effluents on the quality of soil organic matter is extremely important to ensure the environmentally-safe and agronomically efficient use of these materials as organic amendment. In this work, the effects of the application of untreated (UG) and anaerobically digested grapemarc distillery effluents, either added with (AGM) or without mycorrhiza (AG), on soil humic acid (HA) were investigated in field plot experiments in comparison to HAs from a control soil and an inorganic fertilized soil. The humic acid-like fractions (HALs) isolated from UG, AG and soils were characterized for compositional, structural and functional properties by the use of elemental and functional group analysis, and ultraviolet/visible, Fourier transform infrared and fluorescence spectroscopies. Results obtained indicated that anaerobic digestion of effluents produced an extended mineralization with loss of organic C and stabilization of residual organic matter by increasing the content of HALs in the effluent. With respect to control soil HA, HALs isolated from UG and AG were characterized by smaller acidic functional group contents, a prevalent aliphatic character and smaller aromatic polycondensation and humification degrees. The chemical and spectroscopic characteristics of native soil HA were not substantially modified by application of UG, AG and AGM to soil, which suggests the occurred incorporation of the effluent HAL into native soil HA. In conclusion, these results showed the possibility of a beneficial and safe recycling of grapemarc distillery effluents as soil amendment.     

Removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous system by ion-exchange and biosorption methods

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Pollution due to heavy metals is currently a serious problems affecting water bodies. The removal of heavy metals is of great concern due to their toxicity at...     

Organochlorine residual concentrations in cattle egret from the Punjab Province, Pakistan

In this study, residual concentration of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the sediments, prey, and eggs of Bubulcus ibis were measured from three breeding heronries from the Punjab province of Pakistan. Pattern of contamination in eggs followed the order: DDTs > HCHs > heptachlor > aldrin. Overall, pesticide residual concentrations were greater in eggs of cattle egrets collected from heronry on the River Ravi. Among HCHs, ??-HCH was more prevalent in eggs, whereas DDTs followed the order: DDD > DDE > p,p ^??-DDT > o,p ^??-DDT. Eggshell thinning was detected which showed negative relationship with residual concentration of DDE. In prey samples, residual concentration of POPs followed the order: DDTs > HCHs > dicofol > heptachlor; however, contamination pattern in sediments followed a slightly different order: DDTs > heptachlor > dicofol > HCHs > dieldrin > aldrin. Concentration of ??-HCH was more prevalent in sediments and comparatively greater concentrations of POPs were measured in sediments collected from the River Ravi. Dicofol was found for the very first time in the biological samples from Pakistan, and its concentration was measured as relatively high in eggs from heronry from the River Chenab. Residual concentrations measured in eggs were below the levels that could affect egret populations. Biomagnification of the total OCPs through the food chain was evident in three breeding heronries. The concentration of DDE measured in eggs of the cattle egret suggests the need for monitoring this contaminant in other bird species at different trophic levels.     

Monitoring results for organochlorine pesticides in soil and water from selected obsolete pesticide stores in Pakistan

Seasonal changes in micromineral and macromineral concentrations in tissues of shrimp (Parapenaus longirostris) from Marmara Sea were measured for a 1-year period by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. The contents of investigated minerals in shrimp were found to be in the range of 0.374–0.716 mg/kg for Hg, 0.526–1.286 mg/kg for Se, 0.007–0.098 mg/kg for Cd, 0.197–0.230 mg/kg for Pb, 5.194–7.600 mg/kg for Cu, 11.090–17.707 mg/kg for Zn, 22.128–38.850 mg/kg for Al, 61.769–88.437 mg/kg for Fe, 0.262–0.368 mg/kg for As, 0.081–0.249 mg/kg for Co, 0.850–1.459 mg/kg for Mn, 0.316–0.507 mg/kg for Ni, 0.032–0.107 mg/kg for Sn, 1.262–1.502 mg/kg for Cr, 2,813.770–3,317.819 mg/kg for Na, 3,702.230–4,479.648 mg/kg for K, 495.782–650.280 mg/kg for Mg, 790.407–1,016.112 mg/kg for Ca, 2,685.873–3,657.658 mg/kg for P, and 0.454–0.942 mg/kg for I. The levels of Hg found in autumn were higher than maximum levels proposed by the European legislation.     

Efficacy of different organophosphate and synthetic pyrethroid insecticides to the larvae of malaria vector Anopheles stephensi, Liston

Evaluation of the potency of four organophosphate (OP) (Malathion, Fenthion, Fenitrothion and Temephos) and two synthetic pyrethroid (SP) compounds (cypermethrin and deltamethrin) was carried out against larvae of Anopheles stephensi, the major malaria vector in district Bikaner (Rajasthan). Different concentrations supplied by WHO were used for determining the percent mortalities. LC50 values as calculated by probit analysis were 1.2740, 0.0600, 0.0405, 0.0046, 0.0019 and 0.0016 mg/l respectively for the above six insecticides. Both SP compounds were found more toxic followed by temephos among the OP compounds. Malathion was found the least toxic while fenthion and fenitrothion were in between these two extremes.