Plant responses to metals stress: microRNAs in focus

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Metal toxicity can largely affect the growth and yield of numerous plant species. Plants have developed specific mechanisms to withstand the varying...     

Impacts of changing climate and snow cover on the flow regime of Jhelum River,Western Himalayas

Regional Environmental Change - This study examines the change in climate variables and snow cover dynamics and their impact on the hydrological regime of the Jhelum River basin in Western...     

Application of ozone for the removal of bisphenol A from water and wastewater – A review

The extensive use of Bisphenol A (BPA) in the plastics industry has led to increasing reports of its presence in the aquatic environment, with concentrations of ng L^?1 to μg L^?1. Various advanced oxidation processes, including ozonation, have been shown to effectively degrade BPA. This paper reviews the current advancements in using ozone to remove BPA from water and wastewater.Most of the published work on the oxidation of BPA by ozone has focused on the efficiency of BPA removal in terms of the disappearance of BPA, and the effect of various operational parameters such as ozone feed rate, contact time and pH; some information is available on the estrogenic activity of the treated water. Due to increasing operational reliability and cost effectiveness, there is great potential for industrial scale application of ozone for the treatment of BPA. However, there is a significant lack of information on the formation of oxidation by-products and their toxicities, particularly in more complex matrices such as wastewater, and further investigation is needed for a better understanding of the environmental fate of BPA.     

Multivariate Analysis of Motorcycle Accidents and the Effects of Exclusive Motorcycle Lanes in Malaysia

This paper presents a multivariate analysis on the impact of the exclusive motorcycle lane on motorcycle accidents along the Federal Highway Route 2, Malaysia. A number of statistical models have been developed to explain the relationship of motorcycle accidents and explanatory variables relevant to motorcycle safety. The best model showed that motorcycle accidents are directly proportional to the cubic power of traffic flow and reduced by approximately 39% with the motorcycle lane. A clear benefit of this lane is observed when the traffic flow exceeds 15,000 vehicles per day per lane for motorcycle proportion of between 20% and 30%. Besides supporting the notion for motorcycle segregation, this finding provides an initial guideline on the warrants for an exclusive motorcycle lane for highly motorcycled countries in Asia.     

Potentially toxic elements in soil of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Tribal areas,Pakistan: evaluation for human and ecological risk assessment

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) contaminations in the soil ecosystem are considered as extremely hazardous due to toxicity, persistence and bioaccumulative...     

Health risk assessment of hexachlorocyclohexane in soil,water and plants in the agricultural area of Potohar region,Punjab, Pakistan

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - As the largest organ of the human body, the skin is the major exposure route of NO2. However, the evidence for a relationship between NO2 exposure and...     

Using GIS tools to detect the land use/land cover changes during forty years in Lodhran District of Pakistan

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Land use/land cover (LULC) change has serious implications for environment as LULC is directly related to land degradation over a period of time and...     

National benefits,local costs? Local residents' views on environmental and social effects of large‐scale mining in Chingola,Zambia

This study examined the environmental and social effects of large‐scale mining in Chingola, Zambia. Data was collected through semi‐structured interviews with 164 residents living close to Zambia's largest open pit mine, key informants and desk analysis of secondary data. Quantitative data was analysed using the chi‐square test, one sample T‐test and two sample Z‐proportions test, while qualitative data was analysed using content analysis. Results show that the residents reported being most affected by sulphur dioxide air emissions and noise pollution due to the proximity of the copper smelter and heavy moving machinery to their residences. The residents received domestic water containing rust and copper ore particles from the water utility company which draws raw water from the mine. Although the mine was a source of employment for locals, over 4,000 jobs (representing a 33% decrease) have been lost over a period of 4 years, negatively affecting the local economy. Mine management attributed the job losses to high production costs and mechanization of mining processes. The residents perceived the job losses to have led to crime, alcohol abuse and prostitution among youths as well as a general increase in poverty levels. Analysis of air emissions data from the mine found elevated levels of dust, cadmium, copper and lead pollutants. Key informants from Nchanga Mine reported implementing bioremediation to reduce soil contamination by the heavy metals and recycling SO₂ to produce sulphuric acid. The study recommends an increase in social corporate responsibility from the mine management to ensure residents derive more substantive benefits from their proximity to the mine.     

Role of NADH-dependent chromium reductases,exopolysaccharides and antioxidants by Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus PS 5 against damage induced by reactive oxygen species

ABSTRACT

Cr (VI) being used in various activities of industries and its improper treatment lead to contamination of environment. Among different methods, biological is the most efficient method to control pollution from soils affected with metals. Present study was designed to assess the role of Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus PS5 for adsorption, Cr (VI) reduction and mechanism of reduction. Sorption of chromium (VI) by strain PS5 was obtained by batch equilibrium method. Cr (VI) reduction in both free and immobilised cells were evaluated by 1,5-Diphenyl Carbazide method. The formation of biofilm by Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus PS5 was observed for colour change as well as quantified spectrophotometrically. Analysis kits were used to measure the amount of eDNA, superoxide and malondialdehyde (MDA). Metal resistant strain PS5 was characterised as P. thiaminolyticus using 16S rRNA gene sequence. Maximum biosorption of Cr (VI) by strain PS5 was found at pH 6–8 and 100–400 µgCr/mL within 24 hours of incubation. Complete reduction of Cr (VI) by strain PS5 was achieved at pH 6–8 and100–300 µg/mL Cr (VI). Paenibacillus thiaminolyticus PS5 immmobilisation on sodium alginate and polyvinyl alcohol facilitated complete reduction of Cr (VI) within 18 hours due to the formation of more biofilm under metal stress conditions. Strain PS5 reduced almost all Cr (VI) into Cr (III) in supernatant, most of which was immobilised by cell debris. Experiments confirmed the reduction of Cr (VI) by cytosolic cell-free extracts which is a mechanism of detoxification. The release of exopolysaccharides and antioxidants by strain PS5 played a protective role against cell damage by Cr (VI) as Cr (VI) could not release the significant amount of eDNA, superoxide and MDA. The present study proved strain PS5 to be a super bioinoculant which has great capacity for adsorption, biotransformation and can activate cytosolic reductases, exopolysaccharides and antioxidants against oxidative damage.