Physico-chemical characteristics and pollution level of Lake Nainital (U.P., India): role of macrophytes and phytoplankton in biomonitoring and phytoremediation of toxic metal ions

Lake Nainital is the sole source of drinking water for the local people and even to majority of tourists. In background of lake utility and its importance at national level, such study is essential which is focused on toxic metal pollution and current nutrient status of the lake and their magnification by algae and macrophytes. Study has shown that lake water is rich in nutrients which supports growth of many aquatic macrophytes and algal blooms. Besides, water is contaminated with metals like Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. Concentration of some of them like Fe, Pb and Ni were higher than the recommended maximum permissible limits. Concentration of these metals were also found high in lake sediments. The level of metals amongst various components of lake varied considerably in different season. Plants and algae growing therein accumulated appreciable amount of metals and water roots of Salix being more efficient than others. High metal removing potential of these plants may be significant for biomonitoring studies and could be a useful phytoremediation technology to restore water quality by harvesting submerged and floating biomass inhabiting littoral zone of the lake.     

Assessing the genotoxicity of urban air pollutants in Varanasi City using Tradescantia micronucleus (Trad-MCN) bioassay

In the present study Tradescantia micronucleus (Trad-MCN) bioassay was performed to assess the genotoxicity of air pollutants in Varanasi City. The experiment was performed during October 2006 to April 2007. For Tradescantia micronucleus (Trad-MCN) bioassay four sites were selected, three in the city having different traffic characteristics and one control site virtually free from traffic intervention. Twenty young Tradescantia pallida inflorescences were collected from each sampling site during the study period and micronuclei frequencies were determined in early tetrads of pollen mother cells and expressed as MCN/100 tetrads. During the same period the concentration of different air pollutants were also measured. Tradescantia micronucleus (Trad-MCN) bioassay showed that the plants kept in areas having higher traffic emissions evidence higher micronuclei frequencies than samples kept at control site. The study indicates that in situ biomonitoring using higher plants may be useful for characterizing genotoxic air pollutants in areas even without any sophisticated instrument.     

Using the sustainable development goals towards a better understanding of sustainability challenges

The United Nations General Assembly agreed and approved in September 2015 the document ‘2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’, which contains a set of measures aiming to balance economic progress and protection of the environment, whilst at the same time remain aware of the need to address the many disparities still seen between industrialised and developing countries. The Agenda document consists of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which among many other tasks, intend to eradicate poverty and create better health conditions in both developed and developing countries. But despite the need for and the relevance of the SDGs, it is unclear how they may help to address present and future sustainability challenges. Based on the need to shed some light on such a relationship, this paper describes each of the SDGs, and offers an analysis of the extent to which their implementation may offer support to ongoing attempts to handle some of the pressing problems seen in pursuing sustainable development. Three case studies are presented to show in practice how best the SDGs can be handled. The paper concludes that the process of implementing the SDGs offers unrivalled opportunities to advance equal opportunity and foster economic empowerment, helping countries to promote the cause of sustainable development in their territories, hence benefiting their populations.     

Changes in cardiac rhythm and calcium levels in guinea pigs treated chronically with fenitrothion

Fenitrothion, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, causes bradycardia following long‐term exposure. To analyse the mechanism underlying these cardiac changes, ginea pigs were exposed to fenitrothion 5 and 10 mg/kg for 30 consecutive days. Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed increase in PR and RR intervals. These changes were more prominent in the animals receiving 10 mg/kg fenitrothion which occasionally showed extrasystoles. In isolated atria preparation heart rate was decreased at higher dose. Amplitude of cardiac rhythm decreased with respect to increased ACh concentration. Hypocalcemia was recorded in fenitrothion‐treated animals. The residual content of fenitrothion was increased in both groups of animals following a pattern: brain> spleen> heart> liver> kidney.     

Utilizing of Sugar Refinery Waste (Cane Molasses) for Production of Bio-Plastic Under Submerged Fermentation Process

In the present study, depending upon the availability and cheaper cost, different carbon source were tested for the production of PHAs (Polyhydroxyalkonoates) by soil bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa and it was found that sugar refinery waste (cane molasses) produced the maximum PHA (biodegradable polymer) which is precursor for bio-plastic development. Urea served as potent nitrogen source over other inorganic nitrogen sources in bio-plastic synthesis. Effect of different physical parameters viz; pH, temperature and agitation speed were also studied on PHA production. Batch cultivation kinetics under optimized cultural and physical condition showed maximum cell mass and PHA concentration of 7.32?±?0.2 and 5.60?±?0.3?g/L, respectively after 54.0?h of cultivation. Sugar refinery waste (Total sugar 4%) and urea (0.8%) improved the economics of the process which exhibited a yield (Y_P/X) of 0.70 with productivity of 0.11?g/L/h. PHA was further characterized as PHB by using Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FT-IR).     

Morphology and cultural behavior of Botryococcus protuberans with notes on the genus

The green alga Botryococcus protuberans was isolated from its natural environment and its morphology under different cultural conditions was examined. The alga was characterized by a high starch content and reddish oil drops as the assimilatory products. Photosynthetic pigments, Chl a, Chl b, carotenoids and xanthophylls are present. Modification of environmental conditions in modified Chu-10 medium resulted in optimum growth of the alga. Fatty acid composition revealed palmitic acid being the major component, while lauric acid, myristic acid and stearic acid were found in less quantity.     

Pollution tolerance and distribution pattern of plants in surrounding area of coal-fired industries

Higher concentration of SO2 and particulate matters was reported in surrounding areas of coal-fired industries which influences the distribution pattern of plants. Sensitive plant species are abolished from such areas, however, only pollution tolerant species survive under stress conditions. The present study was designed to investigate the vegetation composition around coal-fired industries i.e. brick industries. To categorise plants as sensitive or resistant air pollution tolerance index (APTI) value was calculated. Out of 99 plants studied, Ricinus communis with APTI 81.10 was found to be the most resistant wild plant showing uniform distribution at all the polluted sites. On the other hand, Lepidium sativum with APTI 5.27 was recorded as the most sensitive plant and found to be present only at the less polluted sites.     

Biochemical parameters of plants as indicators of air pollution

In the present study species like Mangifera indica, Linn., Cassia fistula, Linn., and Eucalyptus hybrid were exposed to different air pollution load for short duration (active biomonitoring). Variation in biochemical parameters like chlorophyll, protein, soluble sugar free amino acid, ascorbic acid, nitrate reductase, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase in the leaves were found to be pollution load dependent. These variations can be used as indicators of air pollution for early diagnosis of stress or as a marker for physiological damage to trees prior to the onset of visible injury symptoms. Just by analyzing these biochemical indicators air quality can also be assessed.     

Arsenic accumulation in root and shoot vis-a-vis its effects on growth and level of phytochelatins in seedlings of Cicer arietinum L

Arsenic (As) contamination of water and soil has become a subject of prime interest due to its direct effect on human health through drinking water and food. In present study two varieties (CSG-8962 and C-235) of chickpea, Cicer arietinum L., which is a major supplementary food in many parts of India and a valuable source of protein, has been selected to estimate the level of arsenate in root and shoot of five day old seedlings vis-à-vis effect of arsenate on seedling growth and induction of thiols including glutathione (GSH) and phytochelatins (PCs) and their homologues. Both varieties accumulated arsenate to similar levels and most of the metalloid was confined to roots, only about 2.5% was translocated to shoot. Plant growth was also not affected significantly in both the varieties. Arsenate exposure significantly induced the levels of thiols including PCs and homophytochelatins (hPCs). The induction of thiols was much higher in roots than shoots and was greater in var C-235 between the two tested ones. Thus, both varieties tolerated and detoxified arsenic through chelation with GSH, PCs and hPCs, primarily in roots, however var C-235 performed better     

Socioeconomic backwardness and vulnerability to climate change: evidence from Uttar Pradesh state in India

This study tests the thesis that ‘vulnerability to climate change is not only a result of biophysical events alone but also influenced by the socioeconomic conditions in which climate change occurs’. The study chose Uttar Pradesh (UP), a state in India, for its importance in the nation's food and nutrition security programme and its high sensitivity to climate change. It uses an indicator approach to see which districts of UP are the most vulnerable to climate change, and attempts to identify the factors on a set of explanatory variables. The study finds that infrastructurally and economically developed districts are less vulnerable to climate change; in other words, vulnerability to climate change and variability is linked with social and economic development. This observation is corroborated by the findings of relational analysis wherein livestock, forestry, consumption of fertilizer, per capita income, and infant mortality rate are observed to be important correlates of vulnerability to climate change.