Ecotoxicological risk assessment of pentachlorophenol,an emerging DBP to plants: evaluation of oxidative stress and antioxidant responses

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Chlorophenols are not only noticed in an effluvium of industries but also can emerge from the water treatment plants for domestic supply which poses a...     

Evaluation of RothC model using four Long Term Fertilizer Experiments in black soils, India

Carbon content in soils changes depending on the land use system, type of management practice and time. There is an increasing concern about the soil quality vis-à-vis organic carbon content in soils due to global warming and enhanced CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere. This has led to estimate carbon stock in soils at global and regional levels. The objective of the present study was to evaluate RothC model to estimate total organic carbon (TOC) changes under four long term fertilizer experimental sites representing sub-humid moist (Sarol and Nabibagh), sub-humid dry (Panjri) and semi-arid (Teligi) climate in India. The plant carbon input rate was calibrated using organic carbon and other soil parameters using RothC. The results showed that RothC could simulate changes in TOC in two contrasting eco-sites for surface soil layers. The root mean square error (RMSE) considered as modelling error ranged from 11.50 to 15.01, 4.70 to 11.60, 2.14 to 6.52 and 1.45 to 13.74 in the surface layers of Sarol, Nabibagh, Panjri, and Teligi sites, respectively. The simulation biases expressed by M (relative error) by Student‘t’ value for all the treatments at these sites were non-significant with two exceptions. Observed trends in TOC consist of an increase for all the four treatments in the sub-humid site of Sarol and Nabibagh; while manures alone or in combination increase TOC appreciably in Teligi and Panjri. TOC remained, however, almost similar over years for the control (no fertilizer or manure) and NPK treatments in all the four sites. Analysis of RothC output data showed that this model could be used as a tool to arrive at different threshold values of rainfall to influence decomposition rate modifier and thus to find out rate of organic carbon sequestration in various bioclimatic systems.     

Frequency distribution of pollutant concentrations over Indian megacities impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The megacities experience poor air quality frequently due to stronger anthropogenic emissions. India had one of the longest lockdowns in 2020 to curb...     

Physiological changes in certain test plants under automobile exhaust pollution

Plants are the only living organisms which have to suffer a lot from automobile exhaust pollution because they remain static at their habitat. But such roadside plants like Nerium indicum Mill., Boerhaavia diffusa L., Amaranthus spinosus L., Cephalandra indica Naud., and Tabemaemontana divaricata L. can easily avoid the effects of air pollution by altering their physiological pathways pertaining to photosynthesis and respiration. Stomatal closure in Boerhaavia, Amaranthus, Cephlandra and stomatal clogging in Nerium and Tabemaemontana help these plants in preventing the entry of poisonous gases. The increased activity of the enzyme Phosphoenol Pyruvate Carboxylase (PEPCase) belonging to C4 pathway helps Nerium and Boerhaavia (both C3 plants) in carbon fixation under stress condition. Photorespiration is favoured in Amaranthus, Cephalandra and Tabernaemontana to compensate for the over production of ATP in them. Owing an inefficient gaseous exchange in Boerhaavia and Tabemaemontana, the activity of Glucose 6--Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6-PD) also increases for the preferential shift to Pentose Phosphate Pathway to produce excess NADPH+H+ which are likely to re-oxidize by metabolic reactions not linked to electron transport chain.     

Seasonal variation and sources of carbonaceous species and elements in PM2.5 and PM10 over the eastern Himalaya

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The study represents the seasonal characteristics (carbonaceous aerosols and elements) and the contribution of prominent sources of PM2.5 and PM10 in...     

Biodegradation of Pro-oxidant Filled Polypropylene Films and Evaluation of the Ecotoxicological Impact

The biodegradability of calcium stearate (CaSt) and cobalt stearate (CoSt) filled polypropylene (PP) films were investigated in this work. The PP films were prepared using melt blending technique followed by hot press moulding. On the basis of their tensile properties, the optimum amount of pro-oxidants was taken as 0.2 phr. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used for the characterization of optimized films. Presence of pro-oxidant in the PP was confirmed by the FTIR studies. Addition of pro-oxidants in the films decreased the thermal stability as revealed by TGA analysis. Crystallinity of the pro-oxidant filled PP decreased with addition of pro-oxidants as showen by DSC. The maximum biodegradation of CaSt and CoSt containing PP films was showen 7.65 and 8.34%, respectively with 0.2 phr. Both the microbial test and plant growth test (on corn and tomato) indicated that biodegradation intermediates were non toxic.     

Heavy metals controlling cardiovascular diseases risk factors in myocardial infarction patients in critically environmentally heavy metal-polluted steel industrial town Mandi-Gobindgarh (India)

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Heavy metals (HMs) have a very significant clinical role in the pathogenesis, progression and management of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The prevalence of...     

Influence of culture media and environmental factors on mycelial growth and sporulation of Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Pat.) Griffon and Maubl

Lasiodiplodia theobromae, a common tea (Camellia sinensis) pathogen, usually does not sporulate or sporulates poorly in common media, which makes spore production difficult. In this study the effects of culture media, carbon source, nitrogen source, temperature, pH and light on mycelial growth and sporulation were evaluated. Among several carbon sources tested, glucose and sucrose were found superior for growth. Potassium nitrate supplemented media showed maximum growth amongst the tested inorganic nitrogen sources while peptone produced maximum growth among the tested organic nitrogen sources. Tea root extract supplemented potato dextrose agar medium was found to be the most suitable for mycelial growth and sporulation of L. theobromae. The fungus grow at temperatures ranging from 40 to 36 degrees C, with optimum growth at 28 degrees C and no growth was noted at 40 degrees C. There was no significant effect of different light period on growth of L. theobromae, but light enhanced sporulation. The fungus grow at pH 3.0-8.0 and optimum growth was observed at pH 6.0. Tea root extract supplemented potato dextrose agar medium with pH 6.0 was the most suitable for production of conidia of L. theobromae at 28 degrees C. Hence this media may be recommended for inoculum production for further studies.