Vehicle pollution toxicity induced changes in physiology,defence system and biochemical characteristics of Calotropis procera L.

The present study aims to examine the physiological, biochemical and defence system responses of Calotropis procera to vehicle exhaust pollution. We selected various sample sites along two major roads in the Punjab province of Pakistan, i.e. Faisalabad to Sargodha road (FSR) and Pindi Bhattian to Lillah motorway (M-2). Traffic density at all sites and plant responses (i.e. chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, photosynthetic rate, sub-stomatal CO₂ concentration, water use efficiency, total free amino acids, total soluble proteins and total antioxidant activity) were measured. Levels of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) and four metals of most possible concern – i.e. lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) – were also examined in all samples. We found their considerable deposition in all the samples along roads. Inhibitory effects of roadside pollutants were noted for photosynthetic pigments, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, photosynthetic rate and total soluble proteins, whereas stimulatory effects were noted for sub-stomatal CO₂ concentration, free amino acids and total antioxidant activity. The stimulation of antioxidant enzymes activity revealed stress and mitigation of reactive oxygen species. The present study clearly signifies that C. procera has great potential to endure the stress caused by roadside pollutants.     

The production of exclusive spaces in coastal pre-urban areas: Causes and motivations: Middle shoreline of Caspian Sea in north of Iran

The most common form of building in coastal peri-urban area, in middle shoreline of Caspian Sea in North of Iran, is gated community with the exclusive ownership and restricted access to the public shoreline. This research aims to clear the main causes, motivations and mechanism of exclusive space production in North of Iran. In contrast to the fact that many studies revealed as gated communities rose from the service-base motivations of the residents such as safety and high quality of the environment, this research shows the market-base motivations for living inside the gates. The factors of maintaining and increasing the property capital and protecting the family prestige are the main motivations for residence in gated communities in North of Iran. Due to the privileged life style and importance of agricultural lands for building gated communities, the main incentive of land owners for selling the agricultural lands is to derive benefit from selling lands and saving financial capital in Banks, instead of agricultural activities. The negligence of regulations in guidance and control of agricultural lands and in the processes of land use changes, causes the effectiveness of informal relations and illegal production of exclusive space in the context of environmental lands.     

UVR-induced toxicity of sludge and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on seed germination and seedling growth of Triticum aestivum L.

The depletion of the ozone layer and enhancement of solar radiation may exert an adverse influence on the ecosystem. Phototoxicity of sludge and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) under ultraviolet radiation (UVR) to seedling was studied. Seeds of wheat (Triticum aestivum) were planted in sludge and PAHs (anthracene (An), benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and pyrene (Py)) with and without UVR. Toxicity of sludge increased in the presence of UVR in wheat. UVB radiation was found to be more hazardous than UVA radiation. Results demonstrated that An, BaP and Py induced phototoxicity at various concentrations (1–10?µg/mL) under UVA (1.5?mW/cm²) or UVB (1.08?J/cm²) exposure. The pattern of phototoxicity was An?>?Py?>?BaP to shoot length, root length, and fresh weight; chlorophyll, protein content, enzyme activity of catalase and α-amylase were reduced while the activity of superoxide dismutase and starch was enhanced. Reduction in seedling growth and biochemical parameters may be related to less photosynthesis, less nutritional uptake, and distortion of root cap. Thus, the synergistic effect may be due to alterations in photosynthesis, phytohormones, or nutritional uptake.     

Toward sustainable adaptation to future climate change: insights from vulnerability and resilience approaches analyzing agrarian system of Iran

There is no certainty that adaptation to climate change is sustainable, and new approaches to assess current climate change adaptation trajectories are sorely needed. In this paper, we review the farmer-focused approaches (typical of vulnerability approaches) and agro-ecosystem-focused approaches (typical of resilience approaches). We propose that a combination of the two may be a better way to conceptualize sustainable adaptation to future climate change within an agro-ecological system. To test our hypothesis, we use the case study of Iran, a land that has shown both tremendous resilience and vulnerability in its agro-ecological system. We explore the changes that have occurred in the Iranian farming system and their implications for farmers’ resilience to climate change through an integrated lens combining vulnerability approaches and resilience approaches. During the previous five decades, we describe how Iranian peasants have become small farmers, the land tenure system has changed from a traditional landlord-sharecropping system to family farms, and the quantity and quality of the agro-ecological resources have changed considerably. Our integrative approach provides important insights for both research and policy. We show that combining the two approaches can have far-reaching implications for farmers’ adaptation to future climate change knowledge, policy, and practice since one approach aims to decrease farmers vulnerability and the other approach aims to build resilient agro-ecosystems.     

Fly ash leachate induces oxidative stress in freshwater fish Channa punctata (Bloch)

Oxidative stress inducing potential of fly ash leachate (FAL) was studied in a freshwater fish, Channa punctata (Bloch). Fish were exposed to fly ash leachate for 24 h and lipid peroxidation (LPO) was studied as a marker of oxidative stress. Catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities and levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) were also estimated in the exposed fish. FAL (1 ml/l) induced LPO in all the organs and most prominent response was in the gill. It also caused induction of enzymes and glutathione. Liver showed highest level of induction of enzyme activities. The results of this study demonstrate that fly ash constituents have potential to induce oxidative stress in fish and gills are the most vulnerable organs. It is also suggested that in case of exposure to FAL, along with LPO antioxidant defense is also activated to counteract the reactive oxygen species (ROS) at least partly in the initial stages of exposure.     

Groundwater dependent ecosystems. Part II. Ecosystem services and management in Europe under risk of climate change and land use intensification

Groundwater in sufficient amounts and of suitable quality is essential for potable water supplies, crop irrigation and healthy habitats for plant and animal biocenoses. The groundwater resource is currently under severe pressure from land use and pollution and there is evidence of dramatic changes in aquifer resources in Europe and elsewhere, despite numerous policy measures on sustainable use and protection of groundwater. Little is known about how such changes affect groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs), which include various aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems above ground and inside the aquifer. Future management must take this uncertainty into account. This paper focuses on multiple aspects of groundwater science, policy and sustainable management. Examples of current management methods and practices are presented for selected aquifers in Europe and an assessment is made of the effectiveness of existing policies such as the European Water Framework Directive and the Habitat Directive in practice and of how groundwaters and GDEs are managed in various conditions. The paper highlights a number of issues that should be considered in an integrated and holistic approach to future management of groundwater and its dependent ecosystems.     

Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 in Indoor Air of Sina and Shahid Beheshti Hospitals and Patients' Houses

Food and Environmental Virology - Side by side air sampling was conducted using a PTFE filter membrane as dry sampler and an impinger containing a suitable culture medium as a wet sampler. Most of...     

Active Surveillance and Genetic Characterization of Prevalent Velogenic Newcastle Disease and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N8 Viruses Among Migratory Wild Birds in Southern Egypt During 2015–2018

Food and Environmental Virology - A total of 1007 samples (910 fecal droplets and 97 cloacal swabs) were collected from 14 species of migratory wild birds in most wetlands during 3 successive...     

Atrazine distribution measured in soil and leachate following infiltration conditions

Atrazine transport through packed 10 cm soil columns representative of the 0-10 cm soil horizon was observed by measuring the atrazine recovery in the total leachate volume, and upper and lower soil layers following infiltration of 7.5 cm water using a mechanical vacuum extractor (MVE). Measured recoveries were analyzed to understand the influence of infiltration rate and delay time on atrazine transport and distribution in the column. Four time periods (0.28, 0.8, 1.8, and 5.5 h) representing very high to moderate infiltration rates (26.8, 9.4, 4.2, and 1.4 cm/h) were used. Replicate soil columns were tested immediately and following a 2-d delay after atrazine application. Results indicate atrazine recovery in leachate was independent of infiltration rate, but significantly lower for infiltration following a 2-d delay. Atrazine distribution in the 0-1 and 9-10 cm soil layers was affected by both infiltration rate and delay. These results are in contrast with previous field and laboratory studies that suggest that atrazine recovery in the leachate increases with increasing infiltration rate. It appears that the difference in atrazine recovery measured using the MVE and other leaching experiments using intact soil cores from this field site and the rain simulation equipment probably illustrates the effect of infiltrating water interacting with the atrazine present on the soil surface. This work suggests that atrazine mobilization from the soil surface is also dependent on interactions of the infiltrating water with the soil surface, in addition to the rate of infiltration through the surface soil.     

Determination of the temperature dependence of water solubilities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by a generator column-on-line solid-phase extraction-liquid chromatographic method

An improved dynamic coupled column liquid chromatographic (DCCLC) technique for determining water solubility data of hydrophobic compounds is presented. The technique is based on pumping water through a thermostated generator column in order to generate emulsion-free, saturated aqueous solutions of the compound under study. Through a switching valve system the solute in the aqueous solution is extracted and concentrated by an on-line solid-phase extraction process and subsequently eluted and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (fluorescence detection coupled to photodiode array detection). The improvements carried out to the original DCCLC technique have given rise to savings in time for the experimental work and increased sensitivity during the detection and quantification stage. Applicability of the method for studying highly hydrophobic substances is demonstrated by determining water solubility of anthracene and pyrene in the temperature range of 8.9-49.9 and 8.5-32.2 degrees C, respectively. The measured water solubilities are in good agreement with the best available literature data. The method has also been applied to the determination of water solubility of m-terphenyl, 9, 10-dihydrophenanthrene and guaiazulene, in the temperature range of 4.8-49.9, 4.8-25.0, and 4.5-29.9 degrees C, respectively. The uncertainty in the Sw values determined in this work ranged from 0.7% to 4.6%. The experimental water solubility data, as a function of temperature, are fitted to the equation In Sw = A + B/T; where Sw and T are given in mole fraction and Kelvin, respectively.