Deciphering the immunoboosting potential of macro and micronutrients in COVID support therapy

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The immune system protects human health from the effects of pathogenic organisms; however, its activity is affected when individuals become infected....     

Impact of a pulse application of permethrin on the macroinvertebrate community of a headwater stream

This study evaluated the impact of concentrated pulse (16 microg litre(-1)) of the insecticide permethrin (emulsifiable concentrate) on the macroinvertebrate community of a northern Ontario headwater stream. Post-treatment drift increased by a factor of 2400 within minutes of the arrival of the insecticide. There was a significant (P<0.05) reduction in the abundance of invertebrates in most families as far as 260 m below the point of injection in both kick and artificial substrate samples. Greatest impact was observed in the mayflies, Baetis flavistriga. Heptagenia flavescens, and Epeorus sp., the stonefly, Leuctra tenuis, and the caddisfly, Dolophilodes distinctus. Diptera were not significantly reduced. The number of species occurring 100 m from the point of injection was reduced by 47%, but only by 17% at 260 m. There was no change in the per cent composition of functional feeding groups at any point after treatment. Recovery of most invertebrates was complete within 6 weeks of treatment.     

Cost-benefit and systems analysis of passively ventilated solar greenhouses for food production in arid and semi-arid regions

In this paper, economic feasibility of two vegetable crops (i.e., cucumber and tomato) cultivated in a naturally ventilated greenhouse, and the net present worth, cost-benefit ratio, payback period, and internal rate of return for these crops on year-round cultivation are presented. The cost-benefit ratio demonstrated that growing cucumbers and tomatoes can be economically viable in this climatic region. The present experimental study was conducted in the composite climatic condition of Udaipur (24°35′N, 73°42′E), India. The study area is defined as arid and semi-arid region of Indian climatic conditions. Droughts are a recurring phenomenon in arid and semi-arid regions creating a situation that affects not only agricultural productivity but also people’s health. In particular, the western part of the state is a desert, and its socioeconomic status influences nutrient purchasing power. A poor diet can lead to a vitamin and mineral deficiency. The state of Rajasthan has good agricultural potential; interventions using protected cultivation practices can increase the production and productivity of vegetable crops. However, the current adoption rate of such practices in the state remains very slow, even after a promotional scheme offered by the state government. The government and policymakers should consider offering demonstrations of practices at a larger level. Farmers of the state are marginal and economically poor, requiring more financial assistance. Low cost technologies would be suitable for these farmers.     

Arsenic bioaccumulation in rice and edible plants and subsequent transmission through food chain in Bengal basin: a review of the perspectives for environmental health

Arsenic (As) is a metalloid that poses serious environmental threats due to its behemoth toxicity and wide abundance. The use of arsenic-contaminated groundwater for irrigation purpose in crop fields elevates arsenic concentration in surface soil and in the plants. In many arsenic-affected countries, including Bangladesh and India, rice is reported to be one of the major sources of arsenic contamination. Rice is much more efficient at accumulating arsenic into the grains than other staple cereal crops. Rice is generally grown in submerged flooded condition, where arsenic bioavailability is high in soil. As arsenic species are phytotoxic, they can also affect the overall production of rice, and can reduce the economic growth of a country. Once the foodstuffs are contaminated with arsenic, this local problem can gain further significance and may become a global problem, as many food products are exported to other countries. Large-scale use of rainwater in irrigation systems, bioremediation by arsenic-resistant organisms and hyperaccumulating plants, and the aerobic cultivation of rice are some possible ways to reduce the extent of bioaccumulation in rice. Investigation on a complete food chain is urgently needed in the arsenic-contaminated zones, which should be our priority in future researches.     

Residue dynamics of carbendazim and mancozeb in grape (Vitis Vinifera L.) berries

The residue dynamics of carbendazim and mancozeb in grape berries is reported. The fungicides were sprayed in accordance with the most critical use pattern i.e. 4 times at 15 days interval separately at recommended and double doses. The residues of each fungicide dissipated following 1st order rate kinetics. The half-lives of carbendazim and mancozeb were 7.3 and 8.1 days at recommended dose and 4.6 and 5.7 days at double dose. Ethylenethiourea (ETU), the toxic metabolite of mancozeb was detectable at harvest following four sprays of mancozeb at recommended dose. At double dose, however, the residues of ETU could be detected even after three sprays of mancozeb. The pre-harvest intervals for carbendazim and mancozeb were found to be 26 and 12 days at recommended dose and 33 and 17 days at double dose, respectively.     

Phosphorus removal in vegetated filter strips

Vegetated filter strips (VFS) are used recently for removal, at or near the source, of sediment and sediment-bound chemicals from cropland runoff. Vegetation within the flowpath increases water infiltration and decreases water turbulence, thus enhancing pollutant removal by sedimentation within filter media and infiltration through the filter surface. Field experiments have been conducted to examine the efficiency of vegetated filter strips for phosphorus removal from cropland runoff with 20 filters with varying length (2 to 15 m), slope (2.3 and 5%), and vegetated cover, including bare-soil plots as control. Artificial runoff used in this study had an average phosphorus concentration of 2.37 mg L(-1) and a sediment concentration of 2700 mg L(-1). The average phosphorus trapping efficiency of all vegetated filters was 61% and ranged from 31% in a 2-m filter to 89% in a 15-m filter. Filter length has been found to be the predominant factor affecting P trapping in VFS. The rate of inflow, type of vegetation, and density of vegetation coverage had secondary influences on P removal. Short filters (2 and 5 m), which are somewhat effective in sediment removal, are much less effective in P removal. Increasing the filter length beyond 15 m is ineffective in enhancing sediment removal but is expected to further enhance P removal. Sediment deposition, infiltration, and plant adsorption are the primary mechanisms for phosphorus trapping in VFS.     

Groundwater quality assessment in different land-use areas of Faridabad and Rohtak cities of Haryana using deviation index

Physico-chemical parameters were analysed to evaluate the groundwater quality of the two important cities of Haryana, Faridabad and Rohtak, and the pollution status of groundwater was compared using deviation index (DI). Groundwater of both the cities had high alkalinity, hardness, total dissolved solids (TDS) and electrical conductivity. The groundwater of Faridabad showed low fluoride concentration whereas in 74% of groundwater samples of Rohtak the fluoride levels were high. Land use and waste disposal practices were found to have an important effect on groundwater pollution.     

Hydrogeochemical assessment of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks of potentially toxic elements in aquifers of the Hindukush ranges,Pakistan: insights from groundwater pollution indexing,GIS-based,and multivariate statistical approaches

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Globally, potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and bacterial contamination pose health hazards, persistency, and genotoxicity in the groundwater aquifer....     

Assessment of trace metal contamination in the core sediment of Ramsar wetland (Kabar Tal), Begusarai,Bihar (India)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The concentration of trace metals Mn, Pb, Ni, Zn, and Cu in the core sediment from Kabar Tal wetland was analyzed to understand the level of...     

The effect of two applications of atrazine on the water quality of freshwater enclosures

To simulate runoff from agricultural lands, atrazine was applied to aquatic enclosures (112 m(3)) on 1 June 1983 at a concentration of 0.1 mg litre(-1). Thirty-five days later the nominal concentration was increased to 0.155 mg litre(-1). Treated enclosures became clearer with Secchi disc readings of 3.6 m compared to non-treated controls (2.9 m). Less than 5% of the first atrazine addition disappeared during the first 35 days and little effect on biological activity was observed. However, with the second enrichment the rate of loss of atrazine was rapid (t(1/2) = 150 days), ammonium, calcium, dissolved inorganic carbon and nitrate levels were higher, while oxygen, chlorophyll, dissolved organic carbon and particulate organic carbon concentrations were lower in the treated enclosures. These water quality changes cannot be explained by herbicide-water chemistry interactions alone, thereby suggesting an indirect effect as a consequence of atrazine inhibition on photosynthesis and possibly other microbial processes.