Antioxidant rich diet supplements (Spirulina and tamarind fruit pulp) mitigate hematological disorders in fluoride exposed mice

The effect of antioxidant rich diet supplements of Spirulina and tamarind fruit pulp at 230 mg kg^?1 body weight, separately as well as in combination, on various hematological parameters of Swiss albino mice exposed to fluoride for seven days at daily doses of 190 mg kg^?1 body weight and for 90 days at daily doses of 94 mg kg^?1 body weight is reported. Compared with controls, fluoride exposure decreased erythrocyte (12%–18%), leukocyte (16%) and platelet counts (7%, only for short-term exposure), hemoglobin (2%–17%) and packed cell volume (2%–14%) in Swiss albino mice reared on standard feed but these were altered little in the diet supplement groups. Fluoride exposure decreased lymphocytes in both standard feed (16%–21%) and diet supplement groups (5%–19%, but only after long-term exposure). Fluoride withdrawal led to recovery of the post-treated mice from long-term exposure. Spirulina alone and also in combination with tamarind fruit pulp was found more effective than tamarind alone in reducing hematological disorders in fluoride treated mice.     

Up to 399 mV bioelectricity generated by a rice paddy-planted microbial fuel cell assisted with a blue-green algal cathode

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Microbial fuel cells are used as an alternative source of energy and for microbial degradation of waste and pollutants. Different types of microbial fuel cells...     

Chemometric evaluation of heavy metal pollutions in Patna region of the Ganges alluvial plain,India: implication for source apportionment and health risk assessment

While metal pollution and distribution in soil are well documented for many countries, the situation is more serious in developing countries because of the rapid increase in industrialization and urbanization during last decades. Although it is well documented in developed countries, data about substantial metal pollution in Indian soil, especially in eastern Ganges alluvial plain (GAP), are limited. In this study, eight different blocks of Patna district located in eastern GAP were selected to investigate the contamination, accumulation, and sources of metals in surface soil considering different land use types. Additionally, human health risk assessment was estimated to mark the potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effect of metals in soil. The concentration of all metals (except Pb) in soil was below the Indian standard limit of the potential toxic element for agricultural soil. Pb was the most abundant in soil, followed by Zn and Cu, and accounted for 52, 33 and 8% of the total metal. In terms of land use types, roadside soil detected higher concentrations of all metals, followed by park/grassland soil. Principal component analysis results indicated traffic pollution and industrial emissions are the major sources of heavy metals in soil. This was further confirmed by strong inter-correlation of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu and Pb). Human health risk assessment results indicated ingestion via soil as the primary pathway of heavy metal exposure to both adults and children population. The estimated hazard index was highest for Pb, suggesting significant non-carcinogenic effect to both adults and children population. The children were more prone to the non-carcinogenic effect of Pb than adults. However, relatively low cancer risk value estimated for all metals suggested non-significant carcinogenic risk in the soil.     

Synthesis of highly fluorescent and water soluble graphene quantum dots for detection of heavy metal ions in aqueous media

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Fluorescent graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are nanomaterials which possess unique properties that show great potential in different applications. In...     

Factors affecting the performance of a solar still and productivity enhancement methods: A review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Good-quality drinking water is an essential requirement for a healthy and sustainable future. In the current scenario, people living in remote areas...     

Hydrogenation properties and kinetic study of MgH2 - x wt% AC nanocomposites prepared by ball milling

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The high de-/hydrogenation temperature of magnesium hydride is still a challenge in solid-state hydrogen storage system for automobiles applications....     

Mitigation potential of important farm and forest trees: a potentiality for clean development mechanism afforestation reforestation (CDM A R) project and reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation,along with conservation and enhancement of carbon stocks (REDD+)

The effectiveness and integrity of forest-based emissions reduction schemes such as Clean Development Mechanism Afforestation Reforestation (CDM A R) project and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+), along with conservation and enhancement of carbon (C) stocks implementation and assessment in developing countries are required not only, the appropriate monitoring and evaluation, rather the precise values of constants being used to estimate the C stocks or C credit in place of default or guess value. Estimates are reported of the C content of wood of four forest species (Shorea robusta, Pinus roxburghii, Tectona grandis and Cinnamomum camphora) and two important farm species (Populus deltoides and Eucalyptus treticornis) in the temperate region of Indian Himalayas, derived using the ash content method. These species were considered keeping in view of their potentiality for the C sequestration and storage projects across the developing countries specifically the South East Asian Countries. The specific gravity, ash content and C proportion is estimated for these six species by selecting random woods pieces. These estimates are designed to improve the calculations of biomass C for use in estimation of C credits in the developing region under CDM A R projects and REDD+ program supported by developed country. Regression analysis of C prediction models revealed that, for all six species, C content may be estimated through specific gravity of the wood by a linear equation without intercept. Indirectly, this results also implies that among the two farm trees, eucalyptus has high potentiality for C capturing and among four forest trees, Shorea robusta has high potentiality, therefore these two should have preference for plantation/regeneration as well as for conservation.     

Unravelling the molecular mechanism of mutagenic factors impacting human health

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Environmental mutagens are chemical and physical substances in the environment that has a potential to induce a wide range of mutations and generate...     

微生物隔膜在生物阴极MFC中的应用及效能评价

本文构建了2.0L具有微生物隔膜的模块化生物阴极微生物燃料电池（MFC）,以实际生活污水为底物,在连续流运行模式中,系统考察了微生物隔膜（MS）在MFC长期运行过程中的功能特征.结果表明：发育成熟的微生物隔膜可以稳定维持MFC阴阳极室间的溶解氧（DO）浓度梯度,使阳极室平均DO浓度低于0.5mg/L,同时使完全混合的阴极室COD浓度低于50mg/L,避免了电解液性质对于电极反应的抑制.微生物隔膜可以实现离子的跨隔膜迁移,进而平衡阴阳极室间的pH值;阴阳极室间存在的跨隔膜离子梯度意味着微生物隔膜完全分隔了两极室内不同的微生物代谢类型,阴极快速的好氧代谢可能导致了阴极室离子强度的降低.微生物隔膜对于MFC中COD和DO梯度的保持以及pH值的平衡起到了决定性作用,这将严格保证MFC的正常运行.同时,本文论述了在面向规模化应用的MFC中装配微生物隔膜的巨大技术与经济优势,综合评价了微生物隔膜的效能特征,为进一步推广面向实际废水处理的微生物电化学设备提供了技术支撑.     

Heavy metal pollution and risks in a highly polluted and populated Indian river–city pair using the systems approach

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - A sectorial approach for assessing heavy metal pollution in rivers neglects the inter-relationship between its environmental compartments and thus...