Study on the fluorescence characteristics of bromadiolone in aqueous and organized media and application in analysis

The fluorescence spectroscopic behavior of bromadiolone (anticoagulant rodenticide), a substituted 4-hydroxycoumarin derivative, was investigated in water and in organized media like micelles and cyclodextrins. A detailed study on various photophysical parameters like fluorescence intensity (I_F), quantum yield (), lifetime (τ) and steady state fluorescence anisotropy (r) of bromadiolone in aqueous and in organized media was carried out. Bromadiolone in aqueous solution was observed to be in an aggregated state, thereby showing weak emission due to self-quenching. Marked enhancement of fluorescence intensity was observed in organized media like micelles and β-cyclodextrin. A preliminary investigation has been done to find out whether this enhancement of fluorescence can be used to develop a sensitive analytical method for determination of bromadialone in aqueous media. A linear relationship between the fluorescence intensity and concentration of bromadiolone was observed in the range of 0.15–7.9 μg ml⁻¹ in cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and 0.5–26.4 μg ml⁻¹ in β-cyclodextrin medium. The lower detection limit was found to be 37 ng ml⁻¹ in presence of CTAB and 23 ng ml⁻¹ in β-cyclodextrin. Comparison with 4-hydroxycoumarin, an unsubstituted analogue, was made.     

A review of textile industry: Wet processing,environmental impacts,and effluent treatment methods

The word “textile” means to weave and was taken from the Latin word “texere.” Nowadays, textiles not only fulfill humankind's basic necessity for clothing, they also allow individuals to make fashion statements. As one of the oldest industries, the textile industry occupies a unique place in India. It is responsible for 14% of the total industrial manufacture in India. However, the textile industry is also considered to be one of the biggest threats to the environment. Pretreatment, dyeing, printing, and finishing operations are among the various stages of the industrial textile manufacturing process. These fabrication operations not only utilize huge quantities of power and water, they also generate considerable amounts of waste. The textile industry utilizes a number of dyes, chemicals, and other materials to impart the required qualities to the fabrics. These operations produce a significant amount of effluents. The quality of effluents is such that they cannot be put to other uses, and they can create environmental problems if they are disposed of without appropriate treatment. This review discusses different textile processing stages, pollution problems associated with these stages, and their eco‐friendly alternatives. Textile wet processing is described in detail, as it is the key process in the industry and it also generates the greatest amount of pollutants in textile processing. The environmental impact of textile effluents is discussed, as textile effluents not only impose negative effects on the quality of water and soil, they also imperil plant and animal health. In this paper, various methods for treating textile effluents are described. Discussion of physical, chemical, biological, and advanced treatment technologies of effluent treatment are included in this paper.     

Impact of heavy metals on bacterial communities from mangrove soils of the Mahanadi Delta (India)

This study aimed to assess soil nutrient status and heavy metal content and their impact on the predominant soil bacterial communities of mangroves of the Mahanadi Delta. Mangrove soil of the Mahanadi Delta is slightly acidic and the levels of soil nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous and potash vary with season and site. The seasonal average concentrations (μg/g) of various heavy metals were in the range: 14 810–63 370 (Fe), 2.8–32.6 (Cu), 13.4–55.7 (Ni), 1.8–7.9 (Cd), 16.6–54.7 (Pb), 24.4–132.5 (Zn) and 13.3–48.2 (Co). Among the different heavy metals analysed, Co, Cu and Cd were above their permissible limits, as prescribed by Indian Standards (Co=17 μg/g, Cu=30 μ g/g, Cd=3–6 μ g/g), indicating pollution in the mangrove soil. A viable plate count revealed the presence of different groups of bacteria in the mangrove soil, i.e. heterotrophs, free-living N₂ fixers, nitrifyers, denitrifyers, phosphate solubilisers, cellulose degraders and sulfur oxidisers. Principal component analysis performed using multivariate statistical methods showed a positive relationship between soil nutrients and microbial load. Whereas metal content such as Cu, Co and Ni showed a negative impact on some of the studied soil bacteria.     

Distribution of heavy metals and associated human health risk in mine,agricultural and roadside soils at the largest chromite mine of India

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - This study accessed the levels of Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn concentration in soils of different locations (mine, roadside, agricultural and control...     

Organochlorines in urban soils from Central India: probabilistic health hazard and risk implications to human population

This study presents distribution of organochlorines (OCs) including HCH, DDT and PCBs in urban soils, and their environmental and human health risk. Forty-eight soil samples were extracted using ultrasonication, cleaned with modified silica gel chromatography and analyzed by GC-ECD. The observed concentrations of ∑HCH, ∑DDT and ∑PCBs in soils ranged between?<?0.01–2.54, 1.30–27.41 and?<?0.01–62.8 µg kg^?1, respectively, which were lower than the recommended soil quality guidelines. Human health risk was estimated following recommended guidelines. Lifetime average daily dose (LADD), non-cancer risk or hazard quotient (HQ) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for humans due to individual and total OCs were estimated and presented. Estimated LADD were lower than acceptable daily intake and reference dose. Human health risk estimates were lower than safe limit of non-cancer risk (HQ?<?1.0) and the acceptable distribution range of ILCR (10^?6–10^?4). Therefore, this study concluded that present levels of OCs (HCH, DDT and PCBs) in studied soils were low, and subsequently posed low health risk to human population in the study area.     

Effect of surfactants on phosphatase level of fresh water fish Labeo rohita

Alterations in the activity of enzymes Acid phosphatase (E.C.3.1.3.2) and Alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) in organs such as liver, gills and muscle of rohu following its exposure to surfactants viz. CTAB, SDS and Triton X-100 were analyzed. Different levels of exposure were given depending on the LC50 value of the surfactant used. Also, the influence of age and weight of the organisms was tested simultaneously. The activity of ACP in the tissues of fish exposed to all the three surfactants showed marked enhancement after exposure; the effect being highest in the liver followed by gill and muscle. Activity levels of ALP in different tissues of the fish exposed to the surfactants also showed an increase. Maximum increase was found in the liver followed by muscle, and gill. The increase in the levels of these enzymes indicates a stressful condition of the fish.     

Irrigation with domestic wastewater: responses on growth and yield of ladyfinger Abelmoschus esculentus and on soil nutrients

Domestic wastewater is generated continuously and in large quantities. It can serve as an alternative water nutrient source for irrigation. In the present study Abelmoschus esculentus L. (Ladyfinger) was irrigated using untreated wastewater (T1), treated wastewater (T2) and rainwater (T3) in pot experiments. The effect was seen on nutrient fortication, growth and yield of the plant and the nutrient status of the soil. Additionally the build up of Cr, Cu and Zn from the irrigation water were anlayzed in different parts of the plant biomass and in the soil. The sapling survival rate was found to be 87% in T1 followed by T2 and T3. Root shoot ratio under different treatments was found in the order T3 (0.46) >T2 (0.35) >T1 (0.31). The chlorophyll a, b and carotene content in the leaves (mg g(-1)) was found to be 6.3, 0.5, 0.9 under T1, 4.8, 0.4, 0.8 under T2 and 3.2, 0.3, 0.5 under T3 respectively and all the three varied in the order T1>T2>T3. The same trend was found in case of total dry matter (g) T1 (6.3) >T2 (3.7) >T3 (2.3) at p < or = 0.05. There was a considerable increase in nutrients in the soil under T1 and T2 as compared to T3 after final harvest. The organic matter (%), NO3-N and PO4(3-) (mg kg(-1)) content post harvest soil was found to be 3.4, 71, 90 under T1 and 2.9, 52, 63 under T2 respectively. Also, there was an increase in cations Na, K, Ca and Mg in the soil irrigated with T1 and T2 after the final harvest. Thus irrigation with wastewater generally increased soil fertility. Only a small percentage of the heavy metal was bioaccumulated by the plant parts from the irrigation water. There was hardly any metal accumulation in fruits. Bulk of the metal ions remained in the soil.     

Role of bioinoculants and organic fertilizers in fodder production and quality of leguminous tree species

The comparative effect of dual inoculation of native N fixer (Rhizobium) and AM fungi consortia with different organic fertilizers (vermicompost and farm yard manure) on fodder production and quality of two leguminous tree species (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam) de. Wit. and Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr.) in silvopastoral system and their impact on the fodder production of un-inoculated Panicum maximum Jacq. under cut and carry system. After three years of plantation maximum tree survival was in L. leucocephala in all the treatments in comparison to S. sesban while fodder production was more in S. sesban for initial two years and in third year it accelerated in L. leucocephala. Dual inoculation with vermicompost significantly improved fodder production, fodder quality and rhizosphere microflora in L. leucocephala but in S. sesban dual inoculation was at par with single inoculation of N fixer, AM fungi and control (without inoculation). The grass production was higher with L. leucocephala for two years while in third year it was more with S. sesban. The association of Rhizobium with AM fungi in L. leucocephala was better than in S. sesban.     

Physico-chemical characteristics of pulverized coals and their interrelations—a spontaneous combustion and explosion perspective

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Characteristics of pulverized coals have significant influence on the spontaneous combustion and explosion processes. This paper presents an...     

Property-enhanced paraffin-based composite phase change material for thermal energy storage: a review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Research on phase change material (PCM) for thermal energy storage is playing a significant role in energy management industry. However, some hurdles...