Silver-modified clinoptilolite for the removal of Escherichia coli and heavy metals from aqueous solutions

This paper investigates the potential of using the silver antibacterial properties combined with the metal ion exchange characteristics of silver-modified clinoptilolite to produce a treatment system capable of removing both contaminants from aqueous streams. The results have shown that silver-modified clinoptilolite is capable of completely eliminating Escherichia coli after 30-min contact time demonstrating its effectiveness as a disinfectant. Systems containing both E. coli and metals exhibited 100 % E. coli reduction after 15-min contact time and maximum metal adsorption removal efficiencies of 97, 98, and 99 % for Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Zn²⁺ respectively after 60 min; 0.182–0.266 mg/g of metal ions were adsorbed by the zeolites in the single- and mixed-metal-containing solutions. Nonmodified clinoptilolite showed no antibacterial properties. This study demonstrated that silver-modified clinoptilolite exhibited high disinfection and heavy metal removal efficiencies and consequently could provide an effective combined treatment system for the removal of E. coli and metals from contaminated water streams.     

Evaluation of genotoxic potential of industrial waste contaminated soil extracts of Amritsar, India

The rapid increase in population together with unplanned disposal of effluents from various industries has resulted in accumulation of various heavy metals like As, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn in soil ecosystem which ultimately causes DNA damage in living systems. Considering this, the present study was designed to evaluate the content of various heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Co, Hg, Mn, Ni, Zn) and genotoxicity/mutagenicity of soil samples collected from the outskirts of two industries viz. zinc coating industry (SI) and copper sulphate manufacturing industry (SII) employing Allium root anaphase aberration assay (A/RAAA) and Ames assay. The physicochemical parameters like bulk density, water holding capacity, moisture content, pH, nitrates, phosphates and potassium were also estimated. It was observed that SI sample contained Ni (6.86 mg g-1), Zn (6.53 mg g-1), Co (5.05 mg g-1) and Cr (4.49 mg g-1), while SII contained Cu (32.86 mg g-1), Ni (9.66 mg g-1), Co (6.85 mg g-1) and Zn (5.41 mg g-1). In A/RAA assay, the percentage of cells with anaphase aberrations ranged from 3.63 to 10.67 and 0.38 to 4.83% for samples SI and SII, respectively. In Ames test, sample SII was found to be lethal to Salmonella tester strains at all concentrations used, while sample SI was found to be mutagenic in TA100 strains of Salmonella typhimurium. Sample SII was found to be strongly acidic with pH 3.46. The present study focuses on the increasing heavy metal pollution in Amritsar city due to industrial discharges over lands and also infers that both bioassays Ames and A/RAAA can serve as first alert indication of pollution.     

Role stressors,social support,and well-being among two-career couples

The study examined relationships among work and family role stressors, work—family conflict, social support, and well-being using data gathered from 119 men and 119 women who were partners in a two-career relationship. Results showed that within-domain relationships of stressors with well-being are stronger than between-domain relationships. Thus, work and family role stressors were primarily related to job satisfaction and family satisfaction respectively, whereas work and family role stressors as well as work—family conflict were associated with overall life stress. Similar results were found for the relationships of social support with well-being. Work support was associated with increased job satisfaction, while spouse support was associated with greater family satisfaction. Some gender differences were found in the relationships of stressors and social support with well-being. Implications of the findings for future research on work—family dynamics were discussed.     

Induction of apoptosis in A431 cells via ROS generation and p53-mediated pathway by chloroform fraction of Argemone mexicana (Pepaveraceae)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Argemone mexicana(Pepaveraceae) is an important medicinal plant commonly known as ‘maxican prickly poppy’ and is traditionally used to...