Persistence of chlorantraniliprole granule formulation in sugarcane field soil

Chlorantraniliprole, an anthranilic diamide insecticide with novel mode of action, is found effective against several lepidopteran as well as coleopteran, dipteran, and hemipteran pests. The present studies were carried out to study the persistence pattern of chlorantraniliprole on sugarcane field soil following application of granule formulation. The residues of chlorantraniliprole were estimated using high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) and confirmed by liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Following application of chlorantraniliprole (Ferterra 0.4G) at 100 and 200 g a.i. ha^?1, the average initial deposits of chlorantraniliprole were observed to be 0.88 and 1.59 mg kg^?1, respectively. These residues dissipated below the limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.01 mg kg^?1 after 56 days of the application of insecticides at both the dosages. The half-life values (t _1/2) of chlorantraniliprole were worked out to be 8.36 and 8.25 days, at recommended and double the recommended dosages, respectively.     

Geochemical distribution,bioavailability and potential toxicity of some trace metals in a complex micro-tidal estuary,Southwest India

The spatial and temporal variations of some trace metals in the surface sediments of Cochin Estuary were analyzed along with their geochemical associations to identify the possible sources, bioavailability and the health risks posed by them. The dominance of kaolinite and suggested that clay minerals distribution is influenced by sediment sorting. Total metal analysis revealed enrichment for Cd, Pb and Zn due to anthropogenic activities. The speciation analysis established that notwithstanding the large availability, carbonate as well as organic and sulfides bound fractions showed negligible associations with most of the metals. Hydrous Fe–Mn oxides appeared to play a major role in controlling the fate and transport of these metals in the sediments of Cochin Estuary. Lower contribution of the residual fractions for Cd (21%–26%), Pb (<60%) and Zn (24%–42%) indicated an obvious increase of other geochemical fractions. Risk assessment analysis revealed that regardless of total concentration, none of the analyzed metals were at safe levels in the estuary as appreciable percentages were found to be associated with mobile geochemical forms. The speciation study conspicuously established that the metals originating from non-geogenic sources are largely associated with the labile fractions and hence are more detrimental to the aquatic biota.     

The role of digital data entry in participatory environmental monitoring

Many argue that monitoring conducted exclusively by scientists is insufficient to address ongoing environmental challenges. One solution entails the use of mobile digital devices in participatory monitoring (PM) programs. But how digital data entry affects programs with varying levels of stakeholder participation, from nonscientists collecting field data to nonscientists administering every step of a monitoring program, remains unclear. We reviewed the successes, in terms of management interventions and sustainability, of 107 monitoring programs described in the literature (hereafter programs) and compared these with case studies from our PM experiences in Australia, Canada, Ethiopia, Ghana, Greenland, and Vietnam (hereafter cases). Our literature review showed that participatory programs were less likely to use digital devices, and 2 of our 3 more participatory cases were also slow to adopt digital data entry. Programs that were participatory and used digital devices were more likely to report management actions, which was consistent with cases in Ethiopia, Greenland, and Australia. Programs engaging volunteers were more frequently reported as ongoing, but those involving digital data entry were less often sustained when data collectors were volunteers. For the Vietnamese and Canadian cases, sustainability was undermined by a mismatch in stakeholder objectives. In the Ghanaian case, complex field protocols diminished monitoring sustainability. Innovative technologies attract interest, but the foundation of effective participatory adaptive monitoring depends more on collaboratively defined questions, objectives, conceptual models, and monitoring approaches. When this foundation is built through effective partnerships, digital data entry can enable the collection of more data of higher quality. Without this foundation, or when implemented ineffectively or unnecessarily, digital data entry can be an additional expense that distracts from core monitoring objectives and undermines project sustainability. The appropriate role of digital data entry in PM likely depends more on the context in which it is used and less on the technology itself.     

Development of controlled release nanoformulations of carbendazim employing amphiphilic polymers and their bioefficacy evaluation against Rhizoctonia solani

Controlled release nanoformulations of carbendazim (Methyl 1H-benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate), a systemic fungicide, have been prepared using laboratory synthesized poly(ethylene glycols) (PEGs)-based functionalized amphiphilic copolymers. The release kinetics of carbendazim from developed controlled release (CR) formulations was studied and compared with that of the commercially available 50% Wettable Powder (WP). Further, the bioefficacy evaluation of developed formulations was done against plant pathogenic fungi Rhizoctonia solani by the poison food technique method. The release of maximum amount of carbendazim from developed formulations was dependent on the molecular weight of PEGs and was found to increase with increasing molecular weights. The range of carbendazim release was found to be between 10th to 35th day as compared to commercial formulation which was up to 7th day. The diffusion exponent (n value) of carbendazim in water ranged from 0.37 to 0.52 in the tested formulations. The half-release (t_1/2) values ranged between 9.47 and 24.20 days, and the period of optimum availability (POA) of carbendazim ranged from 9.15 to 26.63 days. Also, ED₅₀ values of the developed formulations vary from 0.40 to 0.74 mg L^?1. These formulations can be used to optimize the release of carbendazim to achieve disease control for the desired period depending on the matrix of the polymer used.     

Performance analysis of a biogas operated porous radiant burner for domestic cooking application

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this paper, the combustion characteristics of biogas in a Porous Radiant Burner (PRBBG) designed for domestic cooking appliances are presented....     

Assessing the efficacy of dissolved air and flash-pressurized flotations using low energy for the removal of organic precursors and disinfection byproducts: a pilot-scale study

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Dissolved air flotation (DAF) is a widely used treatment process in drinking water and wastewater treatment plants despite high energy cost associated...     

Modulation of mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium and antioxidant properties and antiproliferative effects of fractions from Cassia fistula L. on human cervical HeLa and breast MCF-7 cancer cells

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The present study investigated the antimutagenic, antioxidant, and antiproliferative properties of extracts of Cassia fistula prepared by sequentially...     

Developing an effectiveness index for biomedical waste management in Indian states using a composite indicators approach

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The waste from healthcare facilities (HCFs) is most devastating as they induce health hazards and pollute the environment. The effective management of...     

Microbial decomposition of crustacean shell for production of bioactive metabolites and study of its fertilizing potential

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Crustacean shell waste disposal is considered as biggest problem in seafood processing centers. Incineration and landfilling are the commonest ways of...