Estimated exposure to microplastics through national and local brands of bottled water in Central India.

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous pollutants that affect various environmental matrices, including air, water, soil, food, and beverages. In India, there is limited research on microplastics in bottled drinking water, which is a significant route of MP exposure to the human body. To date, the data on the occurrence of MPs in national and local bottled water brands have not been studied and compared.

Screening, identification, and characterization of lipase-producing halotolerant Bacillus altitudinis Ant19 from Antarctic soil.

Potent lipase-producing and halotolerant Bacillus altitudinis Ant19 strain was screened and isolated from Antarctic soil. The isolate showed broad-range lipase activity against different lipid substrates. Presence of lipase activity was confirmed by PCR amplification and sequencing of the lipase gene from Ant19.

Characterization and removal of microplastics in a sewage treatment plant from urban Nagpur, India.

Sewage treatment plant (STP) acts as a potential source of microplastic contamination in the environment. The presence of microplastics in the sewage treatment plant is reported over the globe in varying concentrations. Hence, the current study is intended to evaluate the presence and abundance of microplastics occurring in sewage treatment plants in India.

Mitochondrial dysfunctions elicited by solid waste leachates provide insights into mechanisms of leachates induced cell death and pathophysiological disorders.

Emissions (mainly leachates and landfill gases) from solid waste facilities are laden with mixtures of dangerous xenobiotics implicated with significant increase in various pathophysiological disorders including cancer, and eventual mortality of exposed wildlife and humans. However, the molecular mechanisms of solid waste leachates induce pathophysiological disorders and cell death are still largely unknown. Although, evolving evidence implicated generation of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress as the possible mechanism.

Can the Indian national ambient air quality standard protect against the hazardous constituents of PM?

Globally, exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM) pollution claims ∼9 million lives, yearly, and a quarter of this deaths occurs in India. Regulation of PM pollution in India is based on compliance with its National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of 40 μg/m, which is eight times the revised global air quality guideline (AQG) of 5 μg/m. But, whether the NAAQS provides adequate protection against the hazardous components in PM is still not clear.

Landfill soil leachates from Nigeria and India induced DNA damage and alterations in genes associated with apoptosis in Jurkat cell.

Landfill soil leachates, containing myriad of xenobiotics, increase genotoxic and cytotoxic stress-induced cell death. However, the underlying mechanism involved in the elimination of the damaged cells is yet to be fully elucidated. This study investigated the apoptotic processes induced in lymphoma (Jurkat) cells by landfill soil leachates from Olusosun (OSL, Nigeria) and Nagpur (NPL, India).

Assessment of occupational exposure to diesel particulate matter through evaluation of 1-nitropyrene and 1-aminopyrene in surface coal miners, India.

DPM (diesel particulate matter) is ubiquitously present in the mining environment and is known for mutagenicity and carcinogenicity to humans. However, its health effects in surface coal mines are not well studied, particularly in India. In this study, DPM exposure and corresponding exposure biomarkers were investigated in four different surface coal mines in Central India.

Environmental prevalence, fate, impacts, and mitigation of microplastics-a critical review on present understanding and future research scope.

Microplastics are considered to be ubiquitous and widespread emerging contaminants. They are persistent in the nature and pose considerable harm to the environment. Their omnipresence is documented in almost all aquatic habitats, several atmospheric and terrestrial environments, and also in human consumables.

Remediation of different nitroaromatic pollutants by a promising agent of Cupriavidus sp. strain a3.

Nitrobenzene, nitrotoluenes and nitrobenzoic acid are toxic and mutagenic. Their removal from the environment is necessary to avoid health and environmental damage. In this study, Cupriavidus strain a3 was found to utilize 2-nitrotoluene (2NT), 3-nitrotoluene (3NT), 4-nitrotoluene (4NT), nitrobenzene (NB) and 2-nitrobenzoic acid (2NBA) as carbon and nitrogen source, resulting in their detoxification.

Burn to kill: Wood ash a silent killer in Africa.

Aside the emissions, burning of wood in traditional cookstoves (TCs) also generates substantial amount of ash containing hazardous pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and toxic metals. But, their concentrations in the ash, particularly in Africa where over 70% of the population utilize TCs, remain unknown. Here, we determined concentrations of sixteen PAHs and eleven heavy metals in ashes from twelve different African TCs, comprising six three-stone fires (TSFs) and six built-in-place cookstoves (BIPCs), burning common African wood species under real world situation.

Environmental persistence, hazard, and mitigation challenges of nitroaromatic compounds.

Nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) are extensively used in different industries and are synthesized in large quantity due to their heavy demand worldwide. The broad use of NACs poses a serious pollution threat. The treatment processes used for the removal of NACs are not effective and sustainable, leading to their release into the environment.

Induction of apoptosis in leukemic cells by the alkaloid extract of garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.).

Objective: Garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) is an important herb in traditional medicine used to improve production of breast milk in women and semen in men. In the present research the authors evaluated its ability to destroy leukemic cancer (Jurkat E6-1) cells, using the alkaloid extract of this plant.

Optimization and scale up of itaconic acid production from potato starch waste in stirred tank bioreactor.

Present study used Aspergillus terreus strain C1 isolated from mangrove soil for itaconic acid (IA) production from potato starch waste. Fermentation parameters were optimized by classical one factor approach and statistical experimental designs, such as Plackett-Burman and response surface designs. Anionic deionization of potato waste was found to be a very effective, economic, and easy way of improving IA production.

Role of fluoride induced epigenetic alterations in the development of skeletal fluorosis.

Fluoride is an essential trace element required for proper bone and tooth development. Systemic high exposure to fluoride through environmental exposure (drinking water and food) may result in toxicity causing a disorder called fluorosis. In the present study, we investigated the alteration in DNA methylation profile with chronic exposure (30 days) to fluoride (8 mg/l) and its relevance in the development of fluorosis.

Molecular mechanism of apoptosis induction in Jurkat E6-1 cells by alkaloids extract.

The present study demonstrates apoptosis-inducing potential and mechanism of action of alkaloid extract in Jurkat E6-1 cancer cell line. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and High Resolution-Mass Spectrometry analysis identified the presence of four -feruloyltyramine derivatives, namely trans--feruloyl-3-hydroxytyramine (), trans--coumaroyltyramine (), trans--feruloyltyramine () and trans--feruloyl-3-ethoxytyramine () in the alkaloid extract. Compounds and have not been yet reported in the alkaloid extract of .

The burden of disease attributable to ambient PM2.5-bound PAHs exposure in Nagpur, India.

Exposure to PM-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can elicit several types of cancer and non-cancer effects. Previous studies reported substantial burdens of PAH-induced lung cancer, but the burdens of other cancer types and non-cancer effects remain unknown. Thus, we estimate the cancer and non-cancer burden of disease, in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), attributable to ambient PM-bound PAHs exposure in Nagpur district, India, using risk-based approach.

The gains in life expectancy by ambient PM pollution reductions in localities in Nigeria.

Global burden of disease estimates reveal that people in Nigeria are living shorter lifespan than the regional or global average life expectancy. Ambient air pollution is a top risk factor responsible for the reduced longevity. But, the magnitude of the loss or the gains in longevity accruing from the pollution reductions, which are capable of driving mitigation interventions in Nigeria, remain unknown.

Role of fluoride induced histone trimethylation in development of skeletal fluorosis.

Chronic exposure to fluoride has been associated with the development of skeletal fluorosis. Limited reports are available on fluoride induced histone modification. However, the role of histone modification in the pathogenesis of skeletal fluorosis is not investigated.

Manganese exposure: Linking down-regulation of miRNA-7 and miRNA-433 with α-synuclein overexpression and risk of idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

Manganese is an essential trace element however elevated environmental and occupational exposure to this element has been correlated with neurotoxicity symptoms clinically identical to idiopathic Parkinson's disease. In the present study we chronically exposed human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells to manganese (100μM) and carried out expression profiling of miRNAs known to modulate neuronal differentiation and neurodegeneration. The miRNA PCR array results reveal alterations in expression levels of miRNAs, which have previously been associated with the regulation of synaptic transmission and apoptosis.

Manganese-Induced Neurotoxicity and Alterations in Gene Expression in Human Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y Cells.

Manganese (Mn) is an essential trace element required for many physiological functions including proper biochemical and cellular functioning of the central nervous system (CNS). However, exposure to excess level of Mn through occupational settings or from environmental sources has been associated with neurotoxicity. The cellular and molecular mechanism of Mn-induced neurotoxicity remains unclear.

The health burden and economic costs averted by ambient PM pollution reductions in Nagpur, India.

National estimates of the health and economic burdens of exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM) in India reveal substantial impacts. This information, often lacking at the local level, can justify and drive mitigation interventions. Here, we assess the health and economic gains resulting from attainment of WHO guidelines for PM concentrations - including interim target 2 (IT-2), interim target 3 (IT-3), and the WHO air quality guideline (AQG) - in Nagpur district to inform policy decision making for mitigation.

Oxidative Stress and Genotoxicity of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles to Pseudomonas Species, Human Promyelocytic Leukemic (HL-60), and Blood Cells.

In the present study, toxicity of commercial zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) was studied on the bacterium Pseudomonas sp., human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The toxicity was assessed by measuring growth, cell viability, and protein expression in bacterial cell.

Global DNA methylation profiling of manganese-exposed human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells reveals epigenetic alterations in Parkinson's disease-associated genes.

Manganese (Mn) is an essential trace element required for optimal functioning of cellular biochemical pathways in the central nervous system. Elevated exposure to Mn through environmental and occupational exposure can cause neurotoxic effects resulting in manganism, a condition with clinical symptoms identical to idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Epigenetics is now recognized as a biological mechanism involved in the etiology of various diseases.

Biodegradation and detoxification of chloronitroaromatic pollutant by Cupriavidus.

Current study reports isolation of Cupriavidus strain a3 which can utilize 2-chloro-4-nitrophenol (C4NP) as sole source of carbon and nitrogen, leading to its detoxification. Degradation process was initiated by release of nitrite ion resulting in the formation of 2-chlorohydroquinone as intermediate. The nitrite releasing activity was also evident in the cell free protein extract.

Chemical characterization of simulated landfill soil leachates from Nigeria and India and their cytotoxicity and DNA damage inductions on three human cell lines.

Landfill soils are sources of emerging carcinogens, teratogens and mutagens in the environment. There is inadequate information on its possible health risk and cytogenotoxicity. This study evaluated chemical characterization of four simulated landfill leachates with their cytotoxicity and DNA damage in human cells.