Diversity of bacterial isolates during full scale rotary drum composting

Bacterial diversity of full scale rotary drum composter from biodegradable organic waste samples were analyzed through two different approaches, i.e., Culture dependent and independent techniques. Culture-dependent enumerations for indigenous population of bacterial isolates mainly total heterotrophic bacteria (Bacillus species, Pseudomonas species and Enterobacter species), Fecal Coliforms, Fecal Streptococci, Escherichia coli, Salmonella species and Shigella species showed reduction during the composting period. On the other hand, Culture-independent method using PCR amplification of specific 16S rRNA sequences identified the presence of Acinetobacter species, Actinobacteria species, Bacillus species, Clostridium species, Hydrogenophaga species, Butyrivibrio species, Pedobacter species, Empedobactor species and Flavobacterium species by sequences clustering in the phylogenetic tree. Furthermore, correlating physico-chemical analysis of samples with bacterial diversity revealed the bacterial communities have undergone changes, possibly linked to the variations in temperature and availability of new metabolic substrates while decomposing organics at different stages of composting.     

Distribution of radionuclides in surface soils, Singhbhum Shear Zone, India and associated dose

Gamma emitters were estimated in surface soils from a mineralized zone in Eastern India using high purity Germanium detector-based high resolution gamma spectrometry system. Activities of ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ²³⁵U, ²²⁷Th, ^234mPa, ²¹⁰Pb, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs were 79?±?50, 81?±?53, 65?±?23, 4?±?2, 5?±?4, 92?±?50, 97?±?45, 517?±?201, and 4?±?2 Bq/kg, respectively. Most radionuclides were observed to follow log-normal distribution. The correlation between physicochemical properties of the samples, like pH, organic matter content, particle size, and moisture content were also studied. Activity ratios of ²²⁶Ra/²³⁸U, ²¹⁰Pb/²²⁶Ra, and ²²⁷Th/²³⁵U indicated deviation from secular equilibrium in some samples. The associated annual effective dose ranged from 0.07 to 0.24 mSv and the mean was calculated to be 0.12?±?0.04 mSv for this region, indicating it to be one of normal natural background radiation.     

Risk assessment and pathway study of arsenic in industrially contaminated sites of Hyderabad: a case study

Different areas in the industrial region of Patancheru near Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (A.P), India are contaminated with high concentration of arsenic, which is attributed to industrial source like veterinary chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pesticide industries, etc. Fourteen villages of this area of Patancheru were assessed for arsenic contamination by collecting samples of water (surface and ground), soil, fodder, milk, and vegetables. The total arsenic content in the whole blood, urine, hair, and nails of the residents showing arsenical skin lesions and other clinical manifestations were also studied. To understand the bioavailability of arsenic in this environment and its possible entry into human food chain, speciation studies of arsenic was carried out and the results are presented in this paper.     

Persistence of metaflumizone on cabbage (Brassica oleracea Linne) and soil, and its risk assessment

Metaflumizone is a novel sodium channel blocker insecticide of semicarbazone class. It provides good to excellent control of most of the economically important lepidopterous pests and certain pests in the orders Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, Isoptera, and Siphonaptera. Although metaflumizone has been marketed globally for several years and got registered in India in the year 2009, specifically for the control of DBM on cabbage, to our knowledge, no food safety aspects of metaflumizone residue on cabbage have ever been reported in the literature in India or elsewhere. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the persistence of metaflumizone on cabbage and soil, vis-a-vis its risk assessment, following two spray applications of metaflumizone 220 SC (Verismo®), each at recommended and double dose of 200 and 400 g?a.i.?ha^?1 respectively. Initial residue deposits of metaflumizone on cabbage were 0.46 and 0.51 mg?kg^?1 at recommended and 0.76 and 0.85 mg?kg^?1 at double the recommended dose following the first spray and second spray application. The residues persisted beyond 5 days from both the treatments and dissipated with the half-life ranging from 1.7–2.1 days. Initial deposits of metaflumizone on soil ranged from 0.23–0.37 mg?kg^?1 and degraded with a half life ranging from 4.0–4.8 days. No degradation product of metaflumizone was detected in cabbage and soil at any point of time. Soil samples collected from the treated field after 7 days were free from any residue of metaflumizone or its metabolites. A pre-harvest waiting period of 3 days after application was suggested based on calculation of theoretical maximum daily intake.     

Dissipation and effect of chlorophenoxy herbicide on plant pigments and carbohydrates of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The dissipation pattern of the chlorophenoxy herbicides (2,4‐D and 2,4,5‐T) residues in sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus L.) has been studied along with its effect on the changes of plant pigments (chlorophyll‐a,b, total chlorophyll, carotene and anthocyanin), sugar and starch in different parts of the plant. The residues of 2,4‐D and 2,4,5‐T remained for larger period of time (10 days) at higher concentrations than the lower concentration. The concentrations of chlorophylls and carotene were found to be reduced with the application of both 2,4‐D and 2,4,5‐T. But the chlorophyll concentrations were slowly normalized accompanied with the reduction of the herbicide residues. For anthocyanin, there was no significant effect. In case of carbohydrate, the sugar concentration was found to be raised by all doses in leaf and stem. The change in starch content in different plant parts did not follow an uniform pattern at different doses of herbicides.     

Impact of water quality on the stress physiology of cultured Labeo rohita (Hamilton-Buchanan)

Investigation was conducted for 12 months in two water bodies, S1 with optimum water quality and S2 receiving sewage water. The water quality parameters were assessed in relation to the impact on the stress sensitive physiological parameters of fish Labeo rohita. While optimum levels of transparency, dissolved oxygen, unionised ammonia, alkalinity and hardness in S1 reflected in minimum variation of the physiological parameters of L. rohita but suboptimal levels of DO (nil-18.0 mg/l) and CO2 (nil-16.0 mg/l) observed diurnally and unionised ammonia (0.11-0.42 mg/l) found throughout the experimental period, resulted in significant variation in plasma cortisol (90.0-377.0 ng/ml), cholesterol (89.6-285.0 mg/dl) and condition factor (0.7-1.3) in L. rohita. The results are of significance for fish aquatic habitat management.     

Metal characterization of airborne particulate matters in a coastal region

The concentrations of suspended particulate matter in the air of the Orissa Sand Complex had an average value of 128 ± 10 µg m^?3 in residential areas and 170 ± 8 µg m^?3 in mining areas. PM₁₀ levels in residential areas were found to have an average of 35 ± 10 µg m^?3, in mining areas 45 ± 10 µg m^?3. The distribution of some elements is also discussed here. Inhalation doses were observed to be higher in summer than in winter and the rainy season. The highest dose rate was for the age group of 1 year, and health risks were found to be highest for the same. For adults, inhalation dose and health risk are 1.3 times higher in mining than in residential areas.     

Amelioration of arsenic toxicity by phosphate salts in mungbean seedlings

Sodium arsenate (Na2HAsO4.7H2O) is a potent inhibitor of mungbean seed germination and seedling growth. Germination is totally stopped at or above 50 microM Na2HAsO4.7H2O. Inhibition of seedling elongation started at a lower concentration of 5 microM As(V) and was drastically reduced at 20 microM As(V). Nutrients like salts of macroelements viz., NaH2PO4.2H2O, KH2PO4, K2SO4, MgSO4.7H2O, CaCl2.2H2O, (NH4)2SO4 NH4NO3 solutions at a concentration of 10mM and microelements viz., ZnSO4, CuSO4.5H2O, Na2MoO4.2H2O, MnCl2.4H2O, CoCl2.6H2O, FeSO4.7H2O solutions at a concentration of 1mM could help to ameliorate the toxic effects of As(V) to different degrees. Amelioration of As(V) toxicity was possible only when the mungbean seeds were pretreated with the above mentioned nutrients for 24 hr and then transferred to sodium arsenate. Simultaneous treatment of nutrients with As(V) or using nutrient solutions following As(V) treatment were of no help to reverse the toxic effects of sodium arsenate.