An intensive study on pesticides contamination and its removal in fruits and vegetables collected from Ghaziabad, India

These days pesticides are extensively applied in agriculture to increase productivity; although these pesticides increase productivity but also have a negative impact on the consumer. Thus, pesticide exposure in agricultural products must be decreased. The present study attempted to assess pesticide residues in samples of apple, tomato, and brinjal and determine the efficacy of washing solutions in pesticide removal. For sample preparation, the QuEChERS method was employed, and prepared samples were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results of the study revealed that among the collected samples, 58.33 percent samples were showing lower pesticide residues as compared to the maximum residue limit (MRL) while 12.5 percent of the samples were showing higher pesticides residues as compared to the suggested MRL. Further, from the collected fruits and vegetable samples, the presence of the chlorantraniliprole, carbendazim, beta endosulfan, chlorpyrifos, malathion, carbaryl, thiomethoxam, DDT, and flubendiamide were detected in the range of 0.0–1.41 mg/kg. Among the detected pesticides, chlorpyrifos and flubendiamide were the most commonly detected pesticides. Effectiveness of different washing solutions was studied, which indicated a significant reduction in residues of all the washing solutions compared with the control (p < 0.05) and concluded that ascorbic acid and sodium bicarbonate solution was very effective in pesticides removal compared with water and chemical alone

An assessment of seasonal, monthly and diurnal variations of ambient air quality in the Gurugram city (Haryana)

Gurugram is emerging as one of India's most advanced cities. The combined impact of industrial and vehicular emissions makes the environment toxic. Recently, Gurugram has experienced severe air quality. In the present work, an assessment of seasonal, monthly, and diurnal variations of ambient air quality was carried out in Gurugram during the period of March 2021 to 2022 February. Seasonal and monthly concentrations of key air pollutants like particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3) were examined at Vikas sadan, Gwal Pahari and Teri Gram in Gurugram city to study the most polluted seasons and months. Significantly higher mean concentrations of Particulate matter PM2.5 (406.94 μgm−3) and NO2 (353.96ppb) were seen during the colder months and seasons. O3 showed a consistent trend with variations during the year, with the highest concentration in winter (106.35µg/m3). PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations during the night were greater for all seasons when compared to diurnal values. O3 concentrations displayed diurnal tendencies that were the opposite of those of NO2 concentrations. The highest concentrations of ambient PM2.5, NO2, and CO were observed at the Vikas Sadan Monitoring Station. While the NISE Gwal Pahari station showed greater O3 values. The findings highlight the necessity of efficient air pollution control in Gurugram. To prevent public exposure to air pollutants, preventive measures like green spaces, using public transport, etc. must be adopted. The study contributes to a better understanding of air pollution by seasonal, monthly and diurnal assessment in the city of Gurugram

Evaluating the Environmental and Public Health Inference of COVID-19 Lockdowns: A Longitudinal Study of Air Quality in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR)

The COVID-19 virus has had a huge impact on communities around the world, leading to lockdowns to reduce the spread of the virus. This research paper aims to provide a detailed comparison of the impact of the lockdown on air quality in Delhi's National Capital Region (NCR). It also aims to assess the short- and long-term effects of the lockdown on residents of the Delhi National Capital Territory by analyzing various air pollutants. The research will compare pre- and post-closure conditions and explore differences in the impact of different demographics and health groups. Findings from this study can inform policymakers, urban planners, and community health officials in developing effective strategies to prevent and improve health in similar situations in the future. This research paper explores changes in air pollution, specifically PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and ozone over the four years from 2019 to 2023. These pollutants show differences and changes in air quality over tim

PHARMACEUTICAL POTENTIAL OF LABORATORY GROWN CULTURES OF BLUE-GREEN ALGAE: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND FUTURE POSSIBILITIES

COVID-19 pandemic has taught the world researchers the urgent need for new sources and novel pharmaceuticals not only for existing diseases but also for both seasonal epidemics and future pandemics. Pharmaceutical drug discoveries for the past fifty years depended deeply on the procedure of empirical transmission of a huge number of pure bioactive compounds to provide new leads. The screening of extracts or isolating compounds is a common way to discover novel biologically active molecules. Most of the valuable Blue-Green algal metabolites are concentrated in their biomass. For existence in nature, Blue-Green algae (BGA) secrete and contain various organic substances like proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, pigments, primary and secondary metabolites, and these compounds are explored for potential biological activities such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral (including the anti-SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19), anticancer, antioxidant, antidiabetic, protease inhibitory activity, anti-inflammatory activity, etc. Due to their diverse application, pharmaceutical companies have shown commercial interest in the Blue-green algal group for the discovery and development of novel molecules to combat deadly diseases for the benefit of society and mankind. The current review paper highlights and discusses the diverse pharmaceutical potential of laboratory-grown cultures of BGA along with comprehensive and current knowledge on bioactive compounds discovered by researchers globally

Plastic Waste in India: overview, impact, and measures to mitigate: Review

India is one of the world’s large and fastest-growing economies. With the expanding development, the usage of plastic for anthropogenic activities has expanded many folds and India alone generated around 3.3 million metric tonnes of plastic in the financial year 2019. 79 percent of the plastic generated worldwide enters our land, water, and environment as waste; part of it also enters our bodies through the food chain. The industry in India states that 60 percent of what is generated is recycled and we had assumed that we had solved the problem of plastic waste by recycling, or burying it in landfills. But we were incorrect. Plastic garbage is omnipresent today. It is filling up our oceans and harming marine life and affecting all organisms in the food chain. With the development of economic growth of the country per capita consumption of plastic will only increase in the coming years and we will end up generating more plastic waste The review paper aimed to examine the major impact of plastic waste in India and how to reduce plastic consumption, considering measures such as phasing out or banning multilayered plastics that cannot be recycled, contemplating renewable raw materials, promoting the use of bioplastics, incentivizing the recycling business, and making the rules and guidelines for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) simple and enforceable

Assessing the Migration of BPA and Phthalic Acid from Take-out Food Containers: Implications for Health and Environmental Sustainability in India

The research investigates the escalating consumption of take-out food in India and the associated health risks stemming from the extensive use of plastic packaging. Through a comprehensive nationwide online survey, the study delved into dietary preferences, frequency of take-out food consumption, delivery service timing, and the types of packaging commonly encountered by Indian consumers. To address these concerns, the research team developed an analytical method to detect Bisphenol A (BPA) and Phthalic acid migration from food-contact materials (FCMs) into various food simulants. The investigation revealed that prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures led to increased migration of BPA and Phthalic acid, particularly in polyethylene pouches using 3% acetic acid as a food simulant, with the highest concentrations observed after 45 minutes of exposure. Additionally, a microbial bioassay demonstrated the mutagenic potential of migrated plasticizers, showcasing significant effects in mammalian systems, particularly under metabolic activation. The study underscores the substantial health risks associated with plastic packaging in take-out food, emphasizing potential implications for consumer health and calling for more extensive research and considerations regarding food packaging materials

Exploration and Profiling of Potential Thermo-alkaliphilic Bacillus licheniformis and Burkholderia sp. from varied Soil of Delhi region, India and their Plant Growth-Promoting Traits

Soilless cultivation has emerged as a fundamental alternative for large-scale vegetable production because it generates high-quality yields and uses resources efficiently. While plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) are known to enhance growth and physiological aspects in crops grown in soil, their application in soilless cultivation has been relatively less explored. This study aimed to isolate potential PGPBs from soil samples collected from five locations in and around the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), India, which were further screened for significant PGPB attributes. Among these, 51 isolated were selected for assessing the impact on Oryza sativa (rice) growth and yield grown on a hydroponic set. The results indicated that isolates AFSI16 and ACSI02 significantly improved the physiological parameters of the plants. For instance, treatment with AFSI16 showed a 23.27% increase in maximum fresh shoot mass, while ACSI02 resulted in a 46.8% increase in root fresh mass. Additionally, ACSI02 exhibited the highest shoot length (34.07%), whereas AFSI16 exhibited the longest root length (46.08%) in O.sativa. Treatment with AFSI16 also led to significant increases in total protein content (4.94%) and chlorophyll content (23.44%), while ACSI02 treatment showed a 13.48% increase in maximum carotenoid content in the leaves. The potential PGPBs were identified through 16S rRNA sequencing, as the two most effective strains, AFSI16 and ACSI02, belonged to thermo-alkaliphilic Bacillus licheniformis and Burkholderia sp., respectively. This study demonstrated the potential of these identified PGPB strains in enhancing crop performance, specifically in soilless cultivation systems.

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Not AvailableThe Kali River is a significant source of surface water as well as the main tributary of River Hindon that flows through major cities of western Uttar Pradesh, India. It flows throughout the urban and industrial regions; hence, it carries various amounts of pollutant. Therefore, a study was conducted to examine spatial–temporal variations in river water quality by determining physicochemical variables and heavy metal concentrations at seventeen sampling stations (S1–S17) throughout the river stretch. Various physicochemical variables, namely pH, EC, TDS, turbidity, BOD, COD, TH, TA, Ca, Mg, Na, K, HCO3−, Cl−, SO42−, NO3−, and PO43− were higher in summer than in winter. The order of mean metal concentrations was Fe > Pb > Mn > Ni > Zn > Cu > Cr > Cd. The relationships among measured physicochemical variables and pollution index were examined. Furthermore, multivariate statistical methods were used to assess spatial–temporal variation in water quality to identify current pollution sources and validate results. Water quality index and comprehensive pollution index indicated that the Kali River was less polluted from S1 to S8. However, downstream sampling sites were polluted. Pollution starts from S9 and drastically increases at and beyond S13 because of effluents from industries and sugar mills in Muzaffarnagar. The study suggests cleaning the downstream region of river to restore human health and flora and fauna in the river ecosystem.Not Availabl

Impact of Synthetic Food Colouring Agents on Aquatic Ecosystems and Human Health

Colour is an important factor to enhance the consumer acceptance and appetizing value towards food and beverages. Foods are coloured with both natural and artificial/ synthetic food dyes. Instead of natural food colours, synthetic food colours are now widely employed by the food industry because of its superior features (cheap cost, enhanced look, greater colour intensity, increased colour stability, and consistency). Life of synthetic colorants is quite long as they are highly soluble in water and oil. Based on their solubility, synthetic colorants are classified into fat soluble synthetic colours, lake colours, water soluble synthetic colours. Colouring agents have spread across the water and soil ecosystem, this is because they are mass-produced and wider application. Samples of water, suspended particles, sediment, and wild fish have all tested positive for food dyes. As a result, they are regarded as micropollutants in aquatic systems. Cancers, mutations, neurotoxic effects, decreased haemoglobin concentrations, allergic reactions, food hypersensitivity, abdominal pain, worsened asthmatic symptoms, vomiting, and diarrhoea are just some of the potential dangers to one's health, which can result from using synthetic colours that aren't allowed or using them in excess. This review critically evaluates the effect of synthetic food colouring agents on aquatic environment and human health. We found that there is a definite unfavourable effect of synthetic organic additives on aquatic life and human health. Some synthetic colouring dyes have toxicological qualities and pharmacological action, thus it's important to keep an eye on water bodies. Synthetic organic food colour in water ecosystems may constitute a harmful effect on animals or human health’s, it is urgent need to evaluate the hazard potential of these substances. For this reason, it is strongly suggested that both consumers and manufacturers of food colours should be aware about the rules and regulations regarding food colours. GRAPHIC ABSTRAC

Energy Requirement of Wastewater Treatment Plants: Unleashing the Potential of Microalgae, Biogas and Solar Power for Sustainable Development

Sustainable energy legislation in the modern world is the primary strategy that has raised the benchmark for energy and environmental security globally. The rapid growth in the human population has led to rising energy needs, which are predicted to increase by at least 50% by 2030. Waste management and environmental pollution present the biggest challenge to developing countries. The improvement of energy efficiency while ensuring higher nutritional evacuation wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is a significant problem for many wastewater treatment plants. Some treatment techniques require high energy input, which makes them expensive to remediate water use. Pollutants like chemical pesticides, hydrocarbons, colorants (dyes), surfactants, and aromatic compounds are present in wastewater and are contributing to other problems. Israel consumes 10% of the global energy supply, significantly more than other countries. The lagoon and trickling filters are the most widely used technologies in South African WWTPs, where the electricity intensity ranges from 0.079 to 0.41 kWh.m-3 (Wang et al. 2016). Korea and India use almost the same energy (0.24 kWh.m-3). An estimated one-fifth of the energy used in a municipality’s WWTPs is used for overall public utilities, and this percentage is anticipated to rise by 20% over the next 15 years owing to expanding consumption of water and higher standards. In this review paper, we examined the potential for creating energy-self-sufficient WWTPs and discussed how much energy is currently consumed by WWTPs. The desirable qualities of microalgae, their production on a global level, technologies for treating wastewater with biogas and solar power, its developments, and issues for sustainable development are highlighted. The scientific elaboration of the mechanisms used for pollutant degradation using solar energy, as well as their viability, are the key issues that have been addressed