Modulating effect of Phyllanthus fruit extract against lead genotoxicity in germ cells of mice

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the protective effect of Phyllanthus emblica against clastogenicity induced by lead nitrate on the incidence of sperm head abnormalities in the germ cells of mice. At higher concentration of lead, a significant increase in the percentage of sperm head abnormalities was noted but when animals primed with Phyllanthus fruit extract (PFE), a reduction in the frequency of sperm head abnormalities was observed. It can be suggested from the above study that Phyllanthus emblica plays a key role in inhibition of heavy metal mutagenesis in mammals.     

Cost-effective treatment of sludge conditioning using supernatant fluid polyelectrolyte

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Treatment of activated sludge using pure polyelectrolyte and its supernatant fluids for sludge dewatering was examined. The supernatant was used for...     

Influence of environmental factors on biodegradation of quinalphos by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus thuringiensis</Emphasis>

Background

The extensive and intensive uses of organophosphorus insecticide—quinalphos in agriculture, pose a health hazard to animals, humans, and environment because of its persistence in the soil and crops. However, there is no much information available on the biodegradation of quinalphos by the soil micro-organisms, which play a significant role in detoxifying pesticides in the environment; so research is initiated in biodegradation of quinalphos.

Results

A soil bacterium strain, capable of utilizing quinalphos as its sole source of carbon and energy, was isolated from soil via the enrichment method on minimal salts medium (MSM). On the basis of morphological, biochemical and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the bacterium was identified as to be Bacillus thuringiensis. Bacillus thuringiensis grew on quinalphos with a generation time of 28.38 min or 0.473 h in logarithmic phase. Maximum degradation of quinalphos was observed with an inoculum of 1.0 OD, an optimum pH (6.5–7.5), and an optimum temperature of 35–37 °C. Among the additional carbon and nitrogen sources, the carbon source—sodium acetate and nitrogen source—a yeast extract marginally improved the rate of degradation of quinalphos.

Conclusions

Display of degradation of quinalphos by B. thuringiensis in liquid culture in the present study indicates the potential of the culture for decontamination of quinalphos in polluted environment sites.

     

Assessment of the spatial distribution of soil properties in a northern Everglades marsh

Florida Everglades restoration plans are aimed at maintaining and restoring characteristic landscape features such as soil, vegetation, and hydrologic patterns. This study presents the results from an exhaustive spatial sampling of key soil properties in Water Conservation Area 1 (WCA 1), which is part of the northern Everglades. Three soil strata were sampled: floc, upper 0- to 10-cm soil layer, and 10- to 20-cm soil layer. A variety of properties were measured including bulk density (BD), loss on ignition (LOI), total phosphorus (TP), total inorganic phosphorus (TIP), total nitrogen (TN), total carbon (TC), total iron (TFe), total magnesium (TMg), total aluminum (TAl), and total calcium (TCa). Interpolated maps and model prediction uncertainties of properties were generated using geostatistical methods. We found that the uncertainty associated with spatial predictions of floc, particularly floc BD, was highest, whereas spatial predictions of soil chemical properties such as soil Ca were more accurate. The resultant spatial patterns for these soil properties identified three predominant features in WCA 1: (i) a north to south gradient in soil properties associated with the predominant hydrological gradient, (ii) areas of considerable soil nutrient enrichment along the western canal of WCA 1, and (iii) areas of considerable Fe enrichment along the eastern canal. By using geostatistical techniques we were able to describe the spatial dynamics of soil variables and express these predictions with an acceptable level of uncertainty.     

Spatial patterns of labile forms of phosphorus in a subtropical wetland

Phosphorus (P) has been identified as the key constituent defining wetland productivity, structure, and function. Our goal was to investigate the spatial patterns of total P and three labile forms of P (labile organic, inorganic, and microbial biomass P) across a subtropical wetland located in east-central Florida, the Blue Cypress Marsh Conservation Area (BCMCA), and link spatial patterns to ecosystem processes. The wetland received a continual input of nutrients primarily from the south and intermittently from the west and east, respectively, which ceased in the mid-1990s. Since then the marsh system has been undergoing natural succession. We used (i) ordinary kriging to characterize the spatial patterns of total P and labile P forms across the wetland, (ii) local, moving spatial correlations to investigate relationships between total P and labile P forms, and (iii) a clustering technique to link the identified spatial patterns to biogeochemical processes. The spatially explicit analyses revealed patterns of total P and labile P forms as well as changing relationships between variables across the marsh. We were able to distinguish P-enriched areas from unaffected ("natural") areas and intermediate zones that are currently undergoing change as P is mobilized and translocated. We also identified areas that are at risk, showing a shift toward a more P-enriched status. Our results improve our understanding of P and its labile components within a spatially explicit context.     

Differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of simeton in its formulations and vegetables

A sensitive adsorptive stripping voltammetric method for the determination of simeton with universal buffer solution has been described. The method was based on the adsorption accumulation of simeton at a hanging mercury drop electrode. The overall reduction process is under controlled diffusion. The adsorptive peak was observed at ?0.8 V vs SCE in acidic solution 2 < pH < 6. The peak response was characterized with respect to pH, accumulation potential, time, and scan rate. The calibration plot was found to be linear from 1.13 × 10^???5 to 3.5 × 10^???8 M with a limit of detection of 2.0 × 10^???8 M. Finally, the method has been applied for the determination of simeton in its formulations and vegetable samples.     

Assessment of seasonal effects of municipal sewage pollution on the water quality of an urban canal—a case study of the Buckingham canal at Kalpakkam (India): NO3, PO4, SO4, BOD, COD and DO

The seasonal effects of untreated and treated municipal sewage on the nutrients-nitrate (NO(3)), phosphate (PO(4)), sulphate (SO(4)), and the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and dissolved oxygen (DO) of the receiving urban canal, the Buckingham canal at Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu, India) was monitored monthly during pre- monsoon-2005 to post-monsoon-2006. The NO(3), PO(4) and SO(4) contents were higher in the downstream than that of the upstream of the outfall points of treated as well as untreated sewage, of the canal. The NO(3) and PO(4) contents were higher during summer than that of monsoon; however the SO(4) was higher during winter and lower during summer in the canal water. The BOD and COD were lower and DO was higher at the upstream than that of downstream of the canal. The concentrations of BOD and COD were higher during summer season, which decreased during monsoon season, while the DO decreased during the summer season and increased in monsoon season in the canal water. Cluster analysis applied to the six sampling points of the canal, has grouped them based on the water quality similarities.     

Selective and sensitive extractive spectrophotometric determination of micro amounts of palladium(II) in spiked samples: using a new reagent N-ethyl-3-carbazolecarbaxaledehydethiosemicarbazone

N-Ethyl-3-cabazolecarboxaldehydethiosemicarbazone (ECCT) is proposed as a new, sensitive and selective complexing reagent for the separation and extractive spectrophotometric determination of palladium(II) at pH: 4.0 to form a yellowish orange colored 1:1 chelate complex, which is very well extracted in to n-butanol. The absorbance was measured at a maximum wavelength, 410 nm. This method obeys Beer’s law in the concentration range 0.0–6.6 μg mL⁻¹ and the correlation coefficient of Pd(II)-ECCT complex is 0.998, which indicates an excellent linearity between the two variables with good molar absorptivity and Sandell’s sensitivity, 1.647 × 10⁴ l mol⁻¹cm⁻¹, 6.49 × 10⁻³ μg cm⁻², respectively. The instability constant of complex calculated from Edmond’s method, 2.724 × 10⁻⁵ was in good agreement with the value calculated from Asmus’ method 2.624 × 10⁻⁵, at room temperature. The precision and accuracy of the method is checked with calculation of relative standard deviation (n = 5), 0.839. Edmond’s method was observed to be a more selective method in the presence of EDTA, oxalate and phosphate ions. The method was successfully applied for the determination of Pd(II) in water samples, synthetic mixtures and hydrogenation catalysts, employing an atomic absorption spectrometer for comparing these results.     

Assessment of flubendiamide residues in pigeon pea in different agro-climatic zones of India

Supervised field trials were conducted at the research farms of four agricultural universities located at different agro-climatic zones of India to find out the harvest time residues of flubendiamide and its des-iodo metabolite on pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) during the year 2006-2007. Two spray applications of flubendiamide 20 WDG at 50 g (T(1)) and 100 g (T(2)) a.i./ha were given to the crop at 15-days interval. The foliage samples at different time intervals were drawn at only one location, however, the harvest time samples of pigeon pea grain, shell, and straw were drawn at all the four locations. The residues were estimated by HPLC coupled with UV-VIS variable detector. No residues of flubendiamide and its des-iodo metabolite were found at harvest of the crop at or above the LOQ level of 0.05 μg/g. On the basis of the data generated, a pre-harvest interval (PHI) of 28 days has been recommended and the flubendiamide 20 WDG has been registered for use on pigeon pea by Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India and the MRL has been fixed by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India under Prevention of Food and Adulteration as 0.05 μg/g on pigeon pea grains.     

Impact of industrialization on groundwater quality – a case study of Peenya industrial area, Bangalore, India

The present study aims at identifying the groundwater contamination problems in Bangalore city in India. Groundwater samples from 30 different locations of the industrial area were collected. Analytical techniques as described in the Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater were adopted for physico-chemical analysis of these samples and the results compared with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) guideline values for potable water in the light of possible health hazards. The investigations reveal that most of the study area is highly contaminated due to the excessive concentrations of one or more water quality parameters such as Nitrates, Total Hardness, Calcium, Magnesium, Total dissolved solids, Sulphates and Fluorides, which have rendered nearly 77% of the water samples tested, non- potable. Discussions held by the authors with the local public as well as the Primary health centre authorities of the area revealed that a lot of people in the area are suffering from severe health problems on using this water. The findings show that there is a clear correlation between the ill health faced by the public and contamination of the said groundwaters.