Engineered nanostructured materials: benefits and risks

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Engineered nanostructured materials have widespread applications in multiple fields ranging from diagnosis to treatment of diseases. These materials are used in...     

A spore-based miniaturized novel assay for rapid aflatoxin detection in milk

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Aflatoxin M1 contamination in milk and dairy products is a major issue worldwide. Aflatoxin is a carcinogen that enters into the milk through animals feed. Here,...     

A Novel Biodegradable Green Poly(l-Aspartic Acid-Citric Acid) Copolymer for Antimicrobial Applications

Poly (l-aspartic acid-citric acid) green copolymers were developed using thermal polymerization of aspartic acid (ASP) and citric acid (CA) followed by direct bulk melt condensation technique. Antibacterial properties of copolymer of aspartic acid based were investigated as a function of citric acid content. This study is focused on the microorganism inhibition performance of aspartic acid based copolymers. Results showed that inhibition properties increase with increasing citric acid content. Characterization of obtained copolymers was carried out with the help of infrared absorption spectra (FTIR), x-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). The antibacterial activity of copolymers against bacteria like E-coli, Bacillus and pseudomonas was investigated. The copolymers showed excellent antimicrobial activities against three types of microorganisms. Overall studies indicated that the above copolymers possess a broad wound dressing activity against above three types of bacteria and may be useful as antibacterial agents.     

Essential oils and their bioactive compounds as green preservatives against fungal and mycotoxin contamination of food commodities with special reference to their nanoencapsulation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Fungal and mycotoxin contamination of stored food items is of utmost concern throughout the world due to their hazardous effects on mammalian systems....     

Development of controlled release formulations of imidacloprid employing novel nano-ranged amphiphilic polymers

Amphiphilic copolymers, synthesized from poly (ethylene glycols) and various aliphatic diacids, which self assemble into nano-micellar aggregates in aqueous media, were used to develop controlled release (CR) formulations of imidacloprid [1-(6 chloro-3-pyridinyl methyl)-N-nitro imidazolidin-2-ylideneamine] using encapsulation technique. High solubilisation power and low critical micelle concentration (CMC) of these amphiphilic polymers may increase the efficacy of formulations. Formulations were characterised by Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). Encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity and stability after accelerated storage test of the developed formulations were checked. The kinetics of imidacloprid release in water from the different formulations was studied. Release from the commercial formulation was faster than the CR formulations. The diffusion exponent (n value) of imidacloprid, in water ranged from 0.22 to 0.37 in the tested formulations. While the time taken for release of 50 % of imidacloprid ranged from 2.32 to 9.31 days for the CR formulations. The developed CR formulations can be used for efficient pest management in different crops.     

Distribution behavior and carcinogenic level of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in roadside soil at major traffic intercepts within a developing city of India

A study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution in roadside soil was conducted at a developing city locations of Jalandhar (Punjab), India in winter season to ascertain the contamination levels and their distribution behavior in roadside soil. PAHs concentration level of ten locations was measured at 1, 2, and 3 m distances from roadside soil covering all the major traffic intercepts within a city. Samples were extracted in acetone and dichloromethane (1:1) using soxhlet extraction. The extracts were filtered on a silica gel micro column to remove impurities and eluate was subjected to GC-FID. The total average PAHs concentration (city average) was found to be 4.04 μg g(-1), whereas the concentration of 16 individual PAHs was found to vary between 0.008 and 28.4 μg g(-1). The average concentration of noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic PAHs in all the samples was 2.17 and 6.41 μg g(-1) (ratio 1:2.95). The concentration of five ringed PAHs was found to be 45% to 60%, whereas two ringed PAHs were found to be in the range from 0.28% to 0.56% in all most all locations. The average highest PAHs concentration for any individual location was found as 12.23 μg g(-1) at DAV Chowk at 1 m distance and minimum concentration was 0.98 μg g(-1) at Maqsuda Chowk at 1 m distance from roadside. DiB (ah) A was the individual PAHs found in highest concentration in all the intercepts ranging between 1.26 and 28 μg g(-1). At most of the city intercepts, total carcinogenic PAHs concentration was found to range from 60% to 80% in comparison to noncarcinogenic PAHs (20%-40%) at most of the intercepts. The pollution level our study was compared with other cities of India/worldwide.     

Dynamics and quantification of dissolved heavy metals in the Mahanadi river estuarine system,India

Dynamics of heavy metals such as Fe, Mn, Zn, Cr, Cu, Co, Ni, Pb, and Cd in surface water of Mahanadi River estuarine systems were studied taking 31 different stations and three different seasons. This study demonstrates that the elemental concentrations are extremely variable and most of them are higher than the World river average. Among the heavy metals, iron is present at highest concentration while cadmium is at the least. The spatial pattern of heavy metals suggests that their anthropogenic sources are possibly from two major fertilizer plants and municipal sewage from three major towns as well as agricultural runoff. The temporal variations for metals like Fe, Cu, and Pb exhibit higher values during the monsoon season, which are related to agricultural runoff. Concentrations of Ni, Pb, and Cd exceed the maximum permissible limits of surface water quality in some polluted stations and pose health risks. Dissolved heavy metals like Fe, Mn, Cr, Ni, and Pb exhibit a non-conservative behavior during estuarine mixing, while Zn, Cu, and Co distribution is conservative. Distribution of cadmium in the estuarine region indicates some mobilization which may be due to desorption. The enrichment ratio data suggest that various industrial wastes and municipal wastes contribute most of the dissolved metals in the Mahanadi River. The Mahanadi River transports 18.216 × 10³ t of total heavy metals into the Bay of Bengal and the calculated rate of erosion in the basin is 128.645 kg km^− 2 year^− 1.     

Geochemical fractionation of trace elements in sediments of Hugli River (Ganges) and Sundarban wetland (West Bengal, India)

A sequential extraction procedure was carried out to determinate the concentrations of 11 elements (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) in different geochemical phases of sediments collected along the Hugli (Ganges) River Estuary and in the Sundarban mangrove wetland, eastern coastal part of India. The chemical speciation of elements was determined using the three-step sequential extraction procedure described by the European Community Bureau of Reference. Total metal concentration was determined using a microwave-assisted acid digestion procedure. Metal concentrations were near the background level except for As for which a moderate pollution can be hypothesized. The mobility order of the metals was: Cd?>?Mn?>?Cu?>?Zn?>?As?>?Co?>?Pb?>?Ni?>?Fe?>?Cr?>?Al. The highest percentage of Cd (>60%) was found in the most labile phase. Residual fraction was prevailing for Fe, Cr and Al, while Pb was mainly associated with the reducible fraction. Data were compared with Sediment Quality Guidelines to estimate the relationship between element concentrations and adverse biological effects on benthic community, finding the possibility of some toxic effects due to the presence of As in the entire studied area and Cd, only in Calcutta.     

Dissipation pattern of flubendiamide in/on brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

Residues of flubendiamide and desiodo flubendiamide were studied following three applications of flubendiamide 480 SC at 7 days interval at 90 and 180 g a.i. ha(-1) in/on brinjal fruits. An average initial deposit of 0.33 and 0.61 mg kg(-1) of flubendiamide was observed respectively after application at single and double dosages. The residues of flubendiamide dissipated quickly at both the dosages, and after 3 days, the extent of dissipation was found to be about 76% and 79% at the single and double dosages, respectively. Brinjal fruit samples analysed at different time intervals did not show the presence of desiodo flubendiamide. The half-life of flubendiamide was observed to be 0.62 and 0.54 days at single and double dosages, respectively. The limit of determination of flubendiamide and desiodo flubendiamide was observed to be 0.05 mg kg(-1). Soil samples analysed after 15 days of the last application did not reveal the presence of flubendiamide and desiodo flubendiamide at their determination limit of 0.05 mg kg(-1). An assessment of the total intake of flubendiamide resulting through the consumption of brinjal fruits and its comparison with acceptable daily intake seems to be quite safe from consumer point of view.     

Evolving remanufacturing strategies in China: an evolutionary game theory perspective

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Rapid pace of natural resource depletion and environment deterioration is a cause of concern worldwide. Remanufacturing offers a promising option for...