Characterization and optimization of conditions for biodegradation of sella-rice mill effluent

The sella-rice mill effluent is a major environmental pollutant requiring proper treatment before disposal. The present study has been conducted to isolate and characterize micro-organisms capable of growing on sella-rice effluent and to optimize conditions for its rapid bioremediation. Using three different types of media (LB, YEPDA and PDA), a total of 139 isolates were isolated from effluent samples collected from three different locations. Out of these, 45 isolates were found to utilize starch on starch medium, eight isolates showing high efficiency. For the optimization of conditions for maximum utilization of starch by selected isolates, parameters such as effect of addition of carbon and nitrogen sources, effect of growth factors, temperature and pH were studied. Maximum growth (absorbance of 2.10) and starch-utilization (varying in the range of 2.33 to 3.62) was observed on starch medium supplemented with peptone and yeast extract at 30 degrees C with a pH of 6.0. These bacterial isolates also reduced the amount of starch (80.10%), BOD (64.24%) and COD (75.0%) of sella-rice mill effluent after 15 days of incubation. On the basis of morphological and biochemical characteristics, the selected isolates were found to belong to the genera Lactobacillus and Micrococcus.     

Therapeutic role of garlic and vitamins C and E against toxicity induced by lead on various organs

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Due to industrial and urban sewage, the metal contaminations in aquatic and terrestrial environments are increasing day by day, especially in...     

Estimation of bacteriological levels in surface water samples to evaluate their contamination profile

The present work deals with the assessment of bacteriological contamination along with some physico-chemical parameters of water samples from Lahore canal. ANOVA showed that the observed p values of log-transformed viable plate counts, total suspended solids, turbidity, and biological oxygen demand are 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, and 0.000, respectively, which are <0.05, while the p value of total coliforms, total fecal coliforms, and Escherichia coli are 0.728, 0.827, and 0.081, respectively which are >0.05. Significant correlation was observed between log-transformed viable plate counts (CFU), biological oxygen demand, total suspended solids, and turbidity. Further regression analysis revealed that simple line regression model is fit for log-transformed viable plate counts and total suspended solids, log-transformed viable plate counts and turbidity, turbidity and total suspended solids, biological oxygen demand and total suspended solids, biological oxygen demand and log-transformed viable plate counts, and biological oxygen demand and turbidity.     

Environmental exposure to urinary Bisphenol-A in North Indian children aged between 6 and 16 years and its association with body mass index

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study investigates the effect of environmental risk factors among North Indian children aged between 6 and 16 years associated with body mass...     

Development of controlled release formulations of carbofuran and imidacloprid and their bioefficacy evaluation against aphid, Aphis gossypii and leafhopper, Amrasca biguttula biguttula Ishida on potato crop

Controlled release (CR) formulations of carbofuran and imidacloprid were prepared employing polyvinyl chloride and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and their bioefficacy was evaluated against the aphid, Aphis gossypii and leafhopper, Amrasca biguttula biguttula Ishida on potato crop. The CR formulations of carbofuran and imidacloprid provided better or equal control of the pests than commercial formulations. CMC-based formulation provided a superior control of both the pests. The Imida-CMC, which showed the lowest population of leaf hopper (10.50 leafhopper/100 cl), provided significantly superior control among all treatments after 35 days after germination (DAG). The residue of carbofuran and imidacloprid in potato tuber and soils were not detectable at the time of harvesting in any one of the formulations.     

Seasonal Variation in Bacterial Flora of the Wastewater and Soil in the Vicinity of Industrial Area

Environmental pollution is one of the major problems being facedtoday due to the advent of extensive industrialization. Heavy metals are the most important contaminants in wastewater that are present in abundance and are toxic. Heavy metal contentsof sewage in the industrial estate of Aligarh (U.P.) have beendetermined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The analysisof samples collected from six different locations revealedsignificantly high levels of Fe, Zn, Cu, Cr and Ni. Certainbacteriological (Total bacterial count, Total coliform, Fecal coliform, and Fecal Streptococci) parameters of domestic and industrial sewage as well as soils were monitored from March1990 to January 1993. Total bacterial count, total coliform,fecal coliform and fecal streptococci were found to be lowestin all the samples of industrial wastewater compared to thosein domestic sewage and soil systems. The soil however, contained highest total culturable bacterial population. In view of the common practice of the application of sewage to agricultural land in the neighbouring area, the discharge ofindustrial wastewater without proper treatment into public sewers should be strictly prohibited.     

Effect of quinalphos on blood enzymes and its acute toxicity in bubalus bubalis

Abstract

The acute toxic effects of quinalphos (0,0‐diethyl 0–2‐quinoxalyl phosphorothioata) uere investigated in male buffalo calves. Quinalphos was administered in single oral doses of 5, 7.5, 8.5 and 10 mg/kg body wt. and its effects on erythrocyte and plasma cholinesterases, serum aspartate aminotransferase and blood glucose were studied at various time intervals. The lowest dose (5 mg/kg) produced no apparent toxic symptoms. All the animals given highest dose (10 mg/kg) died within 60–82 hours after dosing. Quinalphos at all the dose levels markedly inhibited the erythrocyte and plasma cholinesterases (68–100%) and significantly elevated the levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase and blood glucose. Seven days after the administration of quinalphos, the blood cholinesterases in survivors remained inhibited to the extent of 41–77% whereas the levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase and blood glucose were comparable to control values.     

House fly (Musca domestica): A review of control strategies for a challenging pest

Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), commonly called the house fly, is a major domestic, medical and veterinary pest that causes irritation, spoils food and acts as a vector for many pathogenic organisms. In this paper, the social and health problems related to housefly are introduced with the associated need to control its population. Physical and chemical methods of house fly control are briefly discussed. The main focus of this review is on the biological control methods for house fly control, that comprise botanical, fungal, bacterial and parasitoid agents. Although several biocontrol agents are still in the nascent stage, some of them (especially fungal and parasitoid agents) have shown reliable field performance and seem to be suitable candidates for commercialization. However, the majority of these laboratory and field studies have been conducted in the temperate region. It remains to be seen whether the application of biocontrol agents would be feasible in tropical environments. The integrated pest management practices, which can provide more reliable field performance, have also been discussed. A multi-dimensional approach that exerts control on all the life stages of house fly, but simultaneously preserves the fly's natural enemies could be an ecologically sustainable way of maintaining the fly populations below maximally acceptable limits.     

Seasonal variation of different microorganisms with nickel and cadmium in the industrial wastewater and agricultural soils

Wastewater and soil samples were collected from the industrial area of Ghaziabad City, India from January 2005 to December 2007 and were analyzed for the presence of heavy metals by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Test samples revealed high levels of Fe, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, and Cd as 967.03, 34.63, 27.97, 19.7, 16.70, and 3.20 mg/L of wastewater, respectively. The concentrations of inorganic minerals were higher in the soil samples irrigated with wastewater. Total coliforms were found to be maximum (1,133 × 10⁴ most probable number per 100 mL) during spring and summer followed by winter and postmonsoon in the wastewater samples. The microbial count in soil as well as in wastewater decreases as the metal concentration increases. The concentration 200 μg/mL of nickel and cadmium inhibits majority of the population, while, at some points, it inhibits 100% of the population. The exponential decay model for microbial count at the increasing metal concentrations indicate that asymbiotic N₂ fixers were best fitted to the model. In all the seasons, the order of decline in terms of exponential decay of the population of different microbial groups in soil was asymbiotic N₂ fixers > actinomycetes > fungi > aerobic heterotrophic bacteria. The different microbial groups that have different values of slope in different seasons indicate that the resistant population of microorganisms was variable with seasons.