Frequency distribution of pollutant concentrations over Indian megacities impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The megacities experience poor air quality frequently due to stronger anthropogenic emissions. India had one of the longest lockdowns in 2020 to curb...     

A comparative study on the toxic effects of textile dye wastewaters (untreated and treated) on mortality and RBC of a freshwater fish Gambusia affinis (Baird and Gerard)

Comparative toxicological studies of textile dye wastewater (untreated and treated) on a freshwater fish, Gambusia affinis, revealed a marked reduction in mortality and cytotoxic effects on RBCs, measured as reduction in their counts and percent changes in their shape (poikilocytosis) and variation in their size (anisocytosis)}, after subjecting them to both physicochemical and biological treatments. On comparing the data of mortality and the cytotoxic effects on RBCs, we found poikilocytosis is a better indicator for toxicity measurement of both untreated as well as treated wastewater, especially at their lowest concentrations where percent mortality was found to be either nil or lowerer than the percentage of poikilocytic RBCs. Although percent reduction in RBC counts and changes in their size (anisocytosis) indicated toxic effects of wastewaters, but EC5o values for RBC counts were usually higher than those for poikilocytosis and mortality, and non-calculable for anisocytosis suggesting their lesser sensitivity to pollutants. In view of these findings, we recommend monitoring of toxic effects of wastewaters during fish bioassay on both mortality and variation in RBC shape.     

Traditional Indian beliefs: a key toward sustainable living

India is known for the moral ethos of its people. Indian beliefs have been associated with compassion and respect for nature and its creations since ages. The religious beliefs of Jain, Vedic and Buddhist traditions in India established the principles of ecological harmony centuries ago. Indian religious and philosophical traditions embody the earliest concept of environmental ethics. Some of the important traditional environmental beliefs prevalent in India in which nature has been valued are discussed here. In Rajasthan, a desert state of India, the Khejri tree is valued for its moisture-retaining properties, and it is not axed even if it comes between the constructions. The live example of this is cited in Salasar Balaji temple in Sikar district. A Bishnoi cult of India inhabiting the Jodhpur region is known for wildlife protection specially the famous Black Buck that is an endangered species. Some areas popularly known as sacred groves or orans that are dedicated to a local deity worshipped by the inhabitants of that area are especially reserved for biodiversity conservation, and anthropogenic activities are completely prohibited. These and many more similar examples show that traditional beliefs of Indian societies have got a deeper understanding of the ecological system and have been completely integrated with nature to evolve sustainable lifestyle.     

Oxidation of inorganic contaminants by ferrates (VI, V, and IV)--kinetics and mechanisms: a review

Inorganic contaminants are found in water, wastewaters, and industrial effluents and their oxidation using iron based oxidants is of great interest because such oxidants possess multi-functional properties and are environmentally benign. This review makes a critical assessment of the kinetics and mechanisms of oxidation reactions by ferrates (Fe(VI)O(4)(2-), Fe(V)O(4)(3-), and Fe(IV)). The rate constants (k, M(-1) s(-1)) for a series of inorganic compounds by ferrates are correlated with thermodynamic oxidation potentials. Correlations agree with the mechanisms of oxidation involving both one-electron and two-electron transfer processes to yield intermediates and products of the reactions. Case studies are presented which demonstrate that inorganic contaminants can be degraded in seconds to minutes by ferrate(VI) with the formation of non-toxic products.     

Assessing farm-level agricultural sustainability over a 60-year period in rural eastern India

Agricultural sustainability is a vital parameter to be ascertained locally and globally if food security is to be achieved and maintained. Agricultural sustainability is the combined product of social, economic and ecological sustainability. It is also a function of temporal and spatial variations, a fact which indicates that area-specific sustainability indices need to be designed. We present here an Agricultural Sustainability Index (ASI) for rural eastern India and use it to calculate the ASI for 150 farms for three decades over a 60-year period, viz., 1950–1960, 1980–1990 and 2000–2010 for a representative Indian village of Gangapur (25°83′N, 85°65′E). The ASI was calculated using 30 variables, 10 each of social, economic and ecological sustainability. An extensive questionnaire-based survey was carried out to collect the relevant data. Our study reveals that over a 60-year period, ASI values do not show a statistically significant change. We conclude that the agricultural practices of the region have maintained sustainability so far although the scope for improvement in several broad areas identified by us is immense. Increased ecological literacy and better implementation of government policies, aiming at health, education and better scientist–farmer interactions, must target improved ASI values in coming decades.     

Assessment of acute toxicity of ��-cyhalothrin to a freshwater catfish, Clarias batrachus

Acute static bioassays were conducted for 96 h period with λ-cyhalothrin to determine its acute toxicity to a freshwater catfish, Clarias batrachus. The 96 h LC₅₀ value was estimated to be 5.00 μg l⁻¹ (95% confidence limit: 4.114–5.712). The alterations in behavioral pattern, such as change in the color of skin, hyperactivity, loss of balance, rapid swimming, increased surfacing activity, enhanced rate of opercular activity, as well as prominent rates of convulsions in treated fish were observed with the increasing concentrations of insecticide as compared to the control fish. The results indicate that λ-cyhalothrin is highly effective even at very low concentrations.     

Eco-friendly synthesis of phytochemical-capped iron oxide nanoparticles as nano-priming agent for boosting seed germination in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Recently the applications of engineered nanoparticles in the agricultural sector is increased as nano-pesticides, nano-fertilizers, nanocarrier for...     

Seasonal variation and sources of carbonaceous species and elements in PM2.5 and PM10 over the eastern Himalaya

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The study represents the seasonal characteristics (carbonaceous aerosols and elements) and the contribution of prominent sources of PM2.5 and PM10 in...     

Examining the uptake and bioaccumulation of molybdenum nanoparticles and their effect on antioxidant activities in growing rice seedlings

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The synthesized α-MoO3 and MoS2 NPs had nanosheet and nanoflower-like structures with crystallite size of 21.34 nm and 4.32 nm, respectively. The...