Correlation of MSH2 exonic deletions and protein downregulation with breast cancer biomarkers and outcome in Pakistani women/patients

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Mismatch repair (MMR) pathway is one of the underlying mechanisms of predisposition to breast cancer (BC). The present study explored the association...     

Dechlorane Plus as an emerging environmental pollutant in Asia: a review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Dechlorane Plus (DP) is an unregulated, highly chlorinated flame retardant. It has been manufactured from past 40 years but its presence in...     

Short-term in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity testing systems for some water bodies of Northern India

The genotoxicity of certain water bodies was evaluated employing the DNA repair defective mutants of Escherichia coli, induction of prophage lamda in the lysogen and the plasmid nicking assay. All the test DNA repair defective mutants invariably exhibited more sensitivity than their isogenic wild-type strains but distinctive patterns against the three water samples viz. industrial waste water and the groundwater samples obtained from industrial estate of Aligarh as well as river water of Yamuna at Agra. A significant level of phage induction was also recorded in the test system exhibiting maximum induction in case of industrial waste water followed by that in river and groundwater samples, respectively. The single- and double-strand breaks were also observed in the plasmid DNA treated with industrial waste water and the river water samples. These findings are suggestive of the DNA damage induced by the test samples with the probable role of SOS repair in E. coli.     

Bacillus thuringiensis, nucleopolyhedrosis virus,and pheromones: Environmental considerations and uncertainties in large-scale insect control

The mode of action, extent of use, and the current knowledge on environmental fate and toxicity of three biological insecticides [Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.), nucleopolyhedrosis virus (NPV), and pheromones] are reviewed. Data gaps, environmental uncertainties in any large-scale use, and proposed registration guidelines which may lead to more extensive use are discussed. B.t. disappears rapidly from plant foliage on exposure to sunlight and/or moisture, although it may persist in dry soil for several months or years. Foliar-applied NPVs are also inactivated by sunlight; the halflife on cotton leaves is 20–25 h. In the soil, NPVs may remain active for several years. Pheromones volatilize readily and do not persist in plant or in soil. Limited available data indicate that B.t. and pheromones do not persist in aquatic environments; quantitative data are unavailable for NPVs. Based on bioassay data, the three insecticides exhibit undetectable to low toxicity to nontarget organisms; there are also no reports of human disease or injury due to exposure to these pesticides and no bioaccumulation is expected with normal application. Except for B.t. which has been used in a limited large-scale applications, pest control uses of NPVs and pheromones are still in experimental stages. Areas of uncertainties requiring research and development include potential adverse health and ecological impacts in any large-scale and widespread use and efficacy and cost relative to synthetic chemical pesticides.     

Monitoring of linear alkyl benzenes (LABs) in riverine and estuarine sediments in Malaysia

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - The aim of this a pioneering research is to investigate linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) as biomarkers of sewage pollution in sediments collected from four rivers...