Ecological risk assessment and characterization of microplastics in the beach sediments of southeast coast of India.

This study explores spatiotemporal variations of microplastics (MPs) in beach sediments along India's southeast coast, focusing on Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from 2020 to 2021. The MPs were extracted from the sediments through density separation and wet peroxidation. Following extraction, they were quantified and physically characterized using stereo-microscopy and chemically analyzed using ATR-FTIR.

Microbial degradation of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polystyrene using Bacillus cereus (OR268710) isolated from plastic-polluted tropical coastal environment.

The study focused on marine bacteria, specifically Bacillus cereus, sourced from heavily polluted coastal areas in Tamil Nadu, aiming to assess their efficacy in degrading low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polystyrene over a 42-day period. When LDPE and polystyrene films were incubated with Bacillus cereus, they exhibited maximum weight losses of 4.13 ± 0.

A critical review on nanoplastics and its future perspectives in the marine environment.

Nanoplastics (plastic particles smaller than 1 μm) are the least-known type of marine litter. Nanoplastics (NPs) have attracted much interest in recent years because of their prevalence in the environment and the potential harm they can cause to living organisms. This article focuses on understanding NPs and their fate in the marine environment.

Exopolymeric substances production by Bacillus cereus KMS3-1 enhanced its biosorption efficiency in removing Cd and Pb in single and binary metal mixtures.

The present study investigated the growth, exopolymeric substance (EPS) production, and biosorption efficiency of strain Bacillus cereus KMS3-1 in the Cd and Pb ions containing single and binary metal-treated broth (50 mg/L). In addition, the interaction of the KMS3-1 strain with Cd and Pb ions in single and binary metal-treated broths was investigated using SEM-EDS, FTIR, and XRD analyses. The results showed that the biosorption efficiency (%) and EPS production of KMS3-1 biomass in both single and binary metal-treated broths had increased with increasing incubation time and were higher for Pb ions than for Cd ions.

Survey to identify the metal accumulation pathway in humans using hair and nail as biomarkers from fisherfolk population.

Human hair and nail samples from Cuddalore fisherfolk populations were used as biomarkers for assessing metal concentrations in humans. Hair samples from 80 participants (47 men and 33 women) and nail samples from 40 participants (21 men and 19 women) were collected, and the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were assessed using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Metal data from AAS were compared with the survey questionnaire's personal and dietary parameters.

Heavy metal contamination along different tidal zones of a tropical Bay of Bengal coastal environment influenced by various anthropogenic activities.

The spatiotemporal variations of five heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, and Zn) in the beach sediments along the Tamil Nadu coast sourced from various anthropogenic activities were assessed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Various pollution monitoring indices were computed to clearly understand the metal pollution status along the Tamil Nadu coastline. The metal concentrations in sediments were typically higher in the summer season than in the monsoon season.

Ecological risk assessment of metals in the Arctic environment with emphasis on Kongsfjorden Fjord and freshwater lakes of Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard.

The concentrations of five heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in the sediments, water, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and macroalgae from Kongsfjorden Fjord and the freshwater lakes of Ny-Ålesund in the Svalbard archipelago were determined in order to describe the anthropogenic impacts related to the Ny-Ålesund town. Water samples from nine stations, sediment samples from 23 stations, plankton samples from five stations, and six species of macroalgae were collected and subjected to heavy metal analysis using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Only Cu and Zn were detected in the water samples.

Biomonitoring of heavy metals accumulation in molluscs and echinoderms collected from southern coastal India.

Distribution of five heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in molluscan and echinoderm species collected from Kerala and Gulf of Mannar in Southern India is presented. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine metal concentrations. Concentrations of metals showed a descending order of Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd > Cr.

Consumption of metal-contaminated shellfish from the Cuddalore coast in Southeastern India poses a hazard to public health.

Seasonal distribution of four metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in eight shellfish species collected from the heavily contaminated Cuddalore coast in Tamil Nadu, Southern India, were analyzed. Metal concentrations in all shellfish species were determined using atomic absorption spectrometry. All metals were present in all seasons in most of the species, however, with a few exceptions.

Metal-associated human health risk assessment due to consumption of pelagic and benthic ichthyofaunal resources from the highly contaminated Cuddalore coast in Southern India.

We present seasonal variation of four metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in nine pelagic and three benthic fish species from the highly polluted Cuddalore coast in Tamil Nadu, India. Metals were assessed using atomic absorption spectrometry and detected in all fish species, in at least one season, except Iniistius cyanifrons where cadmium was not detected throughout. In both benthic and pelagic fish, order of metal concentration was Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd.

Avian feathers as a biomonitoring tool to assess heavy metal pollution in a wildlife and bird sanctuary from a tropical coastal ecosystem.

In this study, we have assessed the concentrations of four heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) in the feathers of 11 species of birds from the Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary, a protected environment. Concentrations of copper and zinc were detected in all the bird species, cadmium was observed only in two bird species, and lead was below the detection limits for all birds. The order of concentration of metals in the feathers is Zn > Cu > Cd > Pb.

Health risk assessment and bioaccumulation of metals in brown and red seaweeds collected from a tropical marine biosphere reserve.

In the present study, we have assessed the degree of contamination of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in ten species of red and brown seaweeds, the seasonal variations in the concentration of metals, and the health risk due to the seaweeds. Overall metal concentrations for red and brown seaweeds followed the order Pb > Zn > Cu > Cd and Pb > Cu > Zn > Cd, respectively. Cd and Pb levels were found to be elevated in both the red and brown seaweeds.