Contrasting features of winter-time PM pollution and PM-toxicity based on oxidative potential: A long-term (2016-2023) study over Kolkata megacity at eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain.

The present study is an attempt to understand the level of PM pollution and its toxicity based on the oxidative potential (OP) during the winter-time pollution period over Kolkata, a megacity at the eastern most parts of Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) during the period of 2016-2023. We have assessed the effectiveness of the Government of India's national mission, the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) in PM reduction over this city, and the study revealed that the mission has been efficacious in lessening the PM load by 28 % from pre-NCAP (2016-2019) to post-NCAP (2021-2023) periods. Several policy interventions reduced the contributions from various anthropogenic sources; however, biomass/solid waste burning remained a major concern with no significant reduction.

Identification of sources of coarse mode aerosol particles (PM) using ATR-FTIR and SEM-EDX spectroscopy over the Himalayan Region of India.

This study attempts to examine the morphological, elemental and physical characteristics of PM over the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) using FTIR and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analysis. The study aimed at source identification of PM by exploring the inorganic ions, organic functional groups, morphology and elemental characteristics. The pollution load of PM was estimated as 63 ± 22 μg m; 53 ± 16 μg m; 67 ± 26 μg m and 55 ± 11 μg m over Mohal-Kullu, Almora, Nainital and Darjeeling, respectively.

Acidity and oxidative potential of atmospheric aerosols over a remote mangrove ecosystem during the advection of anthropogenic plumes.

To investigate the acidity and the water-soluble oxidative potential of PM, during the continental biomass-burning plume transport, a three-year (2018-2020) winter-time campaign was conducted over a pristine island (21.35°N, 88.32°E) of Sundarban mangrove ecosystem situated at the shore of Bay of Bengal.

A district-level emission inventory of anthropogenic PM from the primary sources over the Indian Indo Gangetic Plain: Identification of the emission hotspots.

A district-wise emission inventory was made for the states and union territories (UTs) of the Indian Indo-Gangetic Plain for the base year of 2018 to estimate the emissions of PM from various sectors. In addition to conventional sectors, emissions from road dust, fossil-fuelled irrigation pumps, and construction dust were also taken into account. Total primary anthropogenic PM emission was estimated to be 3157.

Bottom-up and top-down approaches for estimating road dust emission and correlating it with a receptor model results over a typical urban atmosphere of Indo Gangetic Plain.

To investigate the emission and concentration of PM and PM-related road dust over Agra, a typical semi-arid urban atmosphere of the Indo Gangetic Plain (IGP), a fine-resolution emission inventory and receptor modeling-based source apportionment was undertaken for the year 2019. On-road, the silt load of Agra (7-55 g/m of the road) was found to be 10 to 50 times higher than that reported in advanced countries. The silt load over Agra varied widely depending on road conditions, long-range transport, and land-use pattern.

A year-long study on PM and its carbonaceous components over eastern Himalaya in India: Contributions of local and transported fossil fuel and biomass burning during premonsoon.

A year-long (March 2019-February 2020) study on the characterization of fine mode carbonaceous aerosols has been conducted over a high altitude urban atmosphere, Darjeeling (27.01°N, 88.15°E, 2200 m asl) in eastern Himalaya.

Seasonal variation and sources of carbonaceous species and elements in PM and PM over the eastern Himalaya.

The study represents the seasonal characteristics (carbonaceous aerosols and elements) and the contribution of prominent sources of PM and PM in the high altitude of the eastern Himalaya (Darjeeling) during August 2018-July 2019. Carbonaceous aerosols [organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and water soluble organic carbon (WSOC)] and elements (Al, Fe, Ti, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, Ni, Mo, Cl, P, S, K, Zr, Pb, Na, Mg, Ca, and B) in PM and PM were analyzed to estimate their possible sources. The annual concentrations of PM and PM were computed as 37±12 μg m and 58±18 μg m, respectively.

High rise in carbonaceous aerosols under very low anthropogenic emissions over eastern Himalaya, India: Impact of lockdown for COVID-19 outbreak.

The present study has been conducted to investigate the relative changes of carbonaceous aerosols (CA) over a high altitude Himalayan atmosphere with and without (very low) anthropogenic emissions. Measurements of atmospheric organic (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) were conducted during the lockdown period (April 2020) due to global COVID 19 outbreak and compared with the normal period (April 2019). The interesting, unexpected and surprising observation is that OC, EC and the total CA (TCA) during the lockdown (OC: 12.

Relative role of black carbon and sea-salt aerosols as cloud condensation nuclei over a high altitude urban atmosphere in eastern Himalaya.

The present study is an attempt to investigate the relative role of black carbon (BC) and sea-salt aerosols on the CCN activation over a high altitude station, Darjeeling (27.1° N and 88.15° E, 2200 m asl) at eastern Himalaya.

Identification of most preferable reaction pathways for chloride depletion from size segregated sea-salt aerosols: A study over high altitude Himalaya, tropical urban metropolis and tropical coastal mangrove forest in eastern India.

Depletion of chloride from sea-salt aerosols affects their hygroscopicity, cloud condensation nuclei activity as well as microphysical and chemical properties of aerosols and clouds modifying earth-atmosphere radiative balance. Here, we proposed five possible reaction pathways through which the inorganic acids (HSO and HNO) could deplete chloride from sea-salt aerosols. We determined "maximum potential contribution" (MPC) of each acid and compared the MPC with actual chloride depletion.

Below-cloud scavenging of size-segregated aerosols and its effect on rainwater acidity and nutrient deposition: A long-term (2009-2018) and real-time observation over eastern Himalaya.

The major removal pathway of atmospheric aerosols is the below cloud scavenging. The present study is the first-ever in the world, where long-term (2009-2018) as well as real-time observations on the below-cloud scavenging of ultrafine (<0.4 μm), superfine (0.

Ameliorative role of ethyl-acetate fraction of methanolic leaf extract of Camellia sinensis (green tea) on streptozotocin-induced diabetes linked testicular hypofunction in albino rat: A dose-dependent biochemical and genomic transection study.

Background The present investigation focuses the diabetes-induced testicular hypofunction and its possible correction by the effective dose of ethyl-acetate fraction of methanolic extract of Camellia sinensis leaves through dose-dependent study in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat. Methods The androgenic, spermiological, oxidative stress and apoptosis sensors along with testicular genomic sensors were evaluated in a dose-dependent fashion (50 mg or 100 mg or 200 mg/kg body weight). Activities of hepatic transaminases for toxicity assessment were also measured.

Male contraceptive efficacy of poly herbal formulation, contracept-TM, composed of aqueous extracts of Terminalia chebula fruit and Musa balbisiana seed in rat.

Context: Terminalia chebula Retz (Combretaceae) and Musa balbisiana Colla (Musaceae) have a traditional reputation as a male contraceptive.

Objective: To determine the hypo-testicular activity of aqueous extracts of Terminalia chebula (fruit) and Musa balbisiana (seed) separately, and in composite manner at the ratio of 1:1 named as 'Contracept-TM' compared to cyproterone acetate (CPA), for developing a polyherbal contraceptive.

Materials And Methods: The separate extract of above said plants or 'Contracept-TM' at the dose of 40 mg/100 g body weight of rat/day or CPA at 2 mg/100 g body weight of rat/day was administered for 28 days.

Protective effect of aqueous extract of seed of Psoralea corylifolia (Somraji) and seed of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Methi) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat: A comparative evaluation.

Background: Psoralea corylifolia (Somraji) and Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Methi), important medicinal plants widely used in India as folk medicine. Local people of West Bengal traditionally used the seeds of these plants to cure diabetes.

Antioxidant potential of hydro-methanolic extract of seed of Caesalpinia bonduc: An in vitro study.

It is well known that the over production of reactive oxygen species is harmful for living organisms and it damages major cellular constituents such as DNA, protein, and lipid. At present, searching of new plant sources having free radical scavenging activity is an important field of research in phytomedicine as natural products are safe and relatively low cost. In this respect, attention has been focused to evaluate the antioxidant potential of hydro-methanolic extract of seed of Caesalpinia bonduc (Caesalpenacae) using different in vitro models.