Correction to: Radical scavenging and antiproliferative effect of novel phenolic derivatives isolated from Nerium indicum against human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7)—an in silico and in vitro approach

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The correct presentation of the Author names are shown in this paper.     

A multibiomarker approach to assess lead toxicity on the black clam,Villorita cyprinoides (Gray, 1825), from Cochin estuarine system (CES), southwest coast,India

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The southwest coast of India along the Cochin region is seriously affected by metal contamination from increasing industrial activities. This...     

Bacterial degradation of monocrotophos and phyto- and cyto-toxicological evaluation of metabolites

The bacterium Serratia marsescens strain JAS16 was isolated from agricultural soil which had prior exposure to monocrotophos for three years. The strain JAS16 tolerated up to 1200 mg L^–1 monocrotophos and degraded the insecticide (1000 mg L^–1) at a degradation rate constant of 136 d^?1 (DT₅₀ = 3.7 d). In soil, the degradation rate constant was 105 d^?1 (DT₅₀ = 4.8 d). A schematic pathway is being proposed from the degraded products derived from gas chromatography--mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The phytotoxicity of degradation products to Vigna radiata, Vigna unguiculata, and Macrotyloma uniflorum and the genotoxicity to Allium cepa roots were found to be low. A cost-effective powder-based formulation was achieved with the isolate. The isolate remained viable during the storage and also multiplied with a higher colony forming units (CFU) load g^–1 for over a period of seven weeks of storage.     

Microbiological reduction of chromium(VI) in presence of pyrolusite-coated sand by Shewanella alga Simidu ATCC 55627 in laboratory column experiments

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) was reduced to non-toxic trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) by a dissimilatory metal reducing bacteria, Shewanella alga Simidu (BrY-MT) ATCC 55627. A series of dynamic column experiments were conducted to provide an understanding of Cr(VI) reduction by the facultative anaerobe BrY-MT in the presence of pyrolusite (beta-MnO(2)) coated sand and uncoated-quartz sand. All dynamic column experiments were conducted under growth conditions using Cr(VI) as the terminal electron acceptor and lactate as the electron donor and energy source. Reduction of Cr(VI) was rapid (within 8 h) in columns packed with uncoated quartz sand and BrY-MT, whereas Cr(VI) reduction by BrY-MT was delayed (57 h) in the presence of beta-MnO(2)-coated sand. The role of beta-MnO(2) in this study was to provide oxidation of trivalent chromium (Cr(III)). BrY-MT attachment was higher on beta-MnO(2)-coated sand than on uncoated quartz sand at 10, 60, and 85.5 h. Results have shown that this particular strain of Shewanella did not appreciably reduce Mn(IV) to Mn(II) species nor biosorbed Cr and Mn during its metabolic activities.     

Immunity in children with exposure to environmental lead: I. Effects on cell numbers and cell-mediated immunity

Studies conducted in animal systems have shown that lead is an immunosuppressive agent at levels far below those causing overt toxicity. Children less than six years of age are the population at highest risk for exposure to environmental lead; however little data were available to assess effects on the developing immune system in this age group. Reported here is the completed Phase I study on 193 children, ages 9 months to 6 years, with blood lead levels from 1 to 50 (g dL^–1, recruited from the urban population of Springfield-Greene County, Missouri, through their participation in the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) and Lead Poisoning Prevention Programs. This portion of the study dealt with enumeration of cells involved with the immune response andin vitro mitogenic stimulation of lymphocytes. The percent lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes, T cells (total), B cells, CD4+T's and CD8+T's and CD4+/CD8+ ratios were determined and the data were analysed. No consistent significant differences were seen among the various risk categories currently identified by the CDC. Though two age groups showed some possible effect of lead, none of the various cellular parameters within these age groups showed significant correlation with blood lead. The lymphocyte response toin vitro mitogenic stimulus was studied on 42 children (including 17 in risk classifications IIA and higher) using the mitogens phytohemagglutinin (PHA), Concanavalin A (Con A), and Pokeweed mitogen (PWM). No consistent statistically significant differences were seen among the various risk categories; the effects of lead, if present, are most likely subtle and obscured by the interindividual and time-dependent variation inherent in this type of study.     

Chromium transport, oxidation, and adsorption in manganese-coated sand

We examine how the processes of advection, dispersion, oxidation-reduction, and adsorption combine to affect the transport of chromium through columns packed with pyrolusite (beta-MnO2)-coated sand. We find that beta-MnO2 effectively oxidizes Cr(III) to Cr(VI) and that the extent of oxidation is sensitive to changes in pH, pore water velocity, and influent concentrations of Cr(III). Cr(III) oxidation rates, although initially high, decline well before the supply of beta-MnO2 is depleted, suggesting that a reaction product inhibits the conversion of Cr(III) to Cr(VI). Rate-limited reactions govern the weak adsorption of each chromium species, with Cr(III) adsorption varying directly with pH and Cr(VI) adsorption varying inversely with pH. The breakthrough data on chromium transport can be matched closely by calculations of a simple model that accounts for (1) advective-dispersive transport of Cr(III), Cr(VI), and dissolved oxygen, (2) first-order kinetics adsorption of the reduced and oxidized chromium species, and (3) nonlinear rate-limited oxidation of Cr(III) to Cr(VI). Our work supplements the limited database on the transport of redox-sensitive metals in porous media and provides a means for quantifying the coupled processes that contribute to this transport.     

Cascading ecological effects of low-level phosphorus enrichment in the Florida everglades

Few studies have examined long-term ecological effects of sustained low-level nutrient enhancement on wetland biota. To determine sustained effects of phosphorus (P) addition on Everglades marshes we added P at low levels (5, 15, and 30 microg L(-1) above ambient) for 5 yr to triplicate 100-m flow-through channels in pristine marsh. A cascade of ecological responses occurred in similar sequence among treatments. Although the rate of change increased with dosing level, treatments converged to similar enriched endpoints, characterized most notably by a doubling of plant biomass and elimination of native, calcareous periphyton mats. The full sequence of biological changes occurred without an increase in water total P concentration, which remained near ambient levels until Year 5. This study indicates that Everglades marshes have a near-zero assimilative capacity for P without a state change, that ecosystem responses to enrichment accumulate over time, and that downstream P transport mainly occurs through biota rather than the water column.     

Kinetics of chromium (VI) reduction by a type strain Shewanella alga under different growth conditions.

We conducted kinetic batch experiments to determine the reduction of Chromium(VI) by a type strain of Shewanella alga (BrY-MT) ATCC 55627. Chromium(VI) was reduced to Chromium(III) by BrY-MT grown in three different substrates: BHIB (brain heart infusion broth), TSB (tryptic soy broth), and M9 (minimum broth). Four different Cr(VI) concentrations 4.836, 10.00, 37.125, and 260.00 mg l-1 were reduced at different rates by BrY-MT in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. BrY-MT grown in BHIB reduced the maximum amount of Cr(VI) followed by TSB and M9. Carbondioxide produced from bacterial respiration varied with and without Cr(VI) under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The Cr(VI) reduction data under anaerobic condition was fitted by a monod model to determine the bacterial kinetic parameters. The kinetic parameters determined by fitting the anaerobic experimental data were used to run a forward simulation for experiments conducted under aerobic conditions. The monod model was modified to account for an inhibition parameter for the Cr(VI) experiment at 260 mg l-1. All the parameters varied within a narrow range, and were distinct for different substrates. Our studies show that, successful in situ bioremediation of Cr(VI) is depended on the type of substrates (electron donors) and the concentration of Cr(VI) in geologic medium.     

Assessment of trophic change and its probable impact on tropical estuarine environment (the Kodungallur-Azhikode estuary, India)

The cumulative effects of global change, including climate change, increased population density and domestic waste disposal, effluent discharges from industrial processes, agriculture and aquaculture will likely continue and increases the process of eutrophication in estuarine environments. Eutrophication is one of the leading causes of degraded water quality, water column hypoxia/anoxia, harmful algal bloom (HAB) and loss of habitat and species diversity in the estuarine environment. The present study attempts to characterize the trophic condition of coastal estuary using a simple tool; trophic index (TRIX) based on a linear combination of the log of four state variables with supplementary index Efficiency Coefficient (Eff. Coeff.) as a discriminating tool. Numerically, the index TRIX is scaled from 0 to10, covering a wide range of trophic conditions from oligotrophic to eutrophic. Study area Kodungallur-Azhikode Estuary (KAE) was comparatively shallow in nature with average depth of 3.6?±?0.2?m. Dissolve oxygen regime in the water column was ranged from 4.7?±?1.3?mgL^?1 in Station I to 5.9?±?1.4?mgL^?1 in Station IV. The average nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N) of KAE water was 470?mg?m^?3; values ranged from Av. 364.4?mg?m^?3 at Station II to Av. 626.6?mg?m^?3at Station VII. The mean ammonium-nitrogen (NH ₄ ⁺ -N) varied from 54.1?mg?m^?3 at Station VII to 101?mg?m^?3 at Station III. The average Chl-a for the seven stations of KAE was 6.42?±?3.91?mg?m^?3. Comparisons over different spatial and temporal scales in the KAE and study observed that, estuary experiencing high productivity by the influence of high degree of eutrophication; an annual average of 6.91 TRIX was noticed in the KAE and seasonal highest was observed during pre monsoon period (7.15) and lowest during post monsoon period (6.51). In the spatial scale station V showed high value 7.37 and comparatively low values in the station VI (6.93) and station VII (6.96) and which indicates eutrophication was predominant in land cover area with comparatively high water residence time. Eff. Coeff. values in the KAE ranges from ?2.74 during monsoon period to the lowest of ?1.98 in pre monsoon period. Present study revealed that trophic state of the estuary under severe stress and the restriction of autochthonous and allochthonous nutrient loading should be keystone in mitigate from eutrophication process.     

Radical scavenging and antiproliferative effect of novel phenolic derivatives isolated from Nerium indicum against human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7)—an in silico and in vitro approach

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Multiple drug resistance and increased side effects due to allopathic drugs has warned scientific community with a global alarm to identify molecules...