Frequency of PPAR-γ, FTO and ABCC8 genetic variation in Pakistani cardiovascular smokers

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Smoking is considered as one of the major reasons behind genetic variations in cardiometabolic disorders. However, effect of nicotine via smoking on...     

Waste to energy: a decision-making process for technology selection through characterization of waste,considering energy and emission in the city of Ahmedabad,India

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal has become major issue for the city of Ahmedabad, India. Development, concentrated population and economic...     

On-road emissions of CO, CO2 and NOX from four wheeler and emission estimates for Delhi

This study presents the emission factor of gaseous pollutants(CO, CO_2, and NO X) from on-road tailpipe measurement of 14 passenger cars of different types of fuel and vintage. The trolley equipped with stainless steel duct, vane probe velocity meter, flue gas analyzer, Nondispersive infra red(NDIR) CO_2 analyzer, temperature, and relative humidity(RH) sensors was connected to the vehicle using a towing system. Lower CO and higher NO X emissions were observed from new diesel cars(post 2010) compared to old cars(post 2005), which implied that new technological advancement in diesel fueled passenger cars to reduce CO emission is a successful venture,however, the use of turbo charger in diesel cars to achieve high temperature combustion might have resulted in increased NO X emissions. Based on the measured emission factors(g/kg), and fuel consumption(kg), the average and 95% confidence interval(CI) bound estimates of CO, CO_2,and NO X from four wheeler(4W) in Delhi for the year 2012 were 15.7(1.4–37.1), 6234(386–12,252),and 30.4(0.0–103) Gg/year, respectively. The contribution of diesel, gasoline and compressed natural gas(CNG) to total CO, CO_2 and NO X emissions were 7:84:9, 50:48:2 and 58:41:1respectively. The present work indicated that the age and the maintenance of vehicle both are important factors in emission assessment therefore, more systematic repetitive measurements covering wide range of vehicles of different age groups, engine capacity, and maintenance level is needed for refining the emission factors with CI.     

Biopolymer-supported TiO2 as a sustainable photocatalyst for wastewater treatment: a review

The rising water pollution by pesticides, pharmaceuticals and dyes is a major health issue calling for advanced remediation methods such as photocatalysis with titanium dioxide (TiO₂), yet the use of TiO₂ displays issues of aggregation, mass loss, recovery, and reusability. These issues have been recently solved by synthesizing biopolymer-supported photocatalysts using cheap, biodegradable and safe biopolymers such as chitosan, alginate, cellulose, cyclodextrin, guar gum and starch. Here we review biopolymer-supported TiO₂ photocatalysts for the removal of organic compounds, with focus on preparation methods, photo and chemical stability, reusability, and adsorptive capacity. We discuss applications of immobilized photocatalysts at the industrial scale.

     

Biochemical profiling of lead-intoxicated impaired lipid metabolism and its amelioration using plant-based bioactive compound

The aim of this study was to investigate the lead (Pb)-induced lipid metabolism impairment and its amelioration using plant-based therapeutic interventions. Pb-induced hepatotoxicity can disturb the normal levels of natural antioxidant enzymes including glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) exerting a crucial impact on membrane unsaturated fatty acids (FA), hence leading to lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, Pb toxicity can also alter the regulation of various hormones involved in the synthesis of 3-hydroxy-methyl glutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA reductase), leading to an impairment in normal levels of serum cholesterol and other associated conjugated lipid molecules such HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol. In this study, the lipoprotein fractions, cholesterol, triglyceride (TGs) and biomarkers of liver functions were estimated by employing respective assay kits. The levels of antioxidant enzymes, FFAs and HMG-CoA reductase were determined by employing sandwich ELISA method. The administration of PbAc in experimental rats induced a significant disturbance in lipid profile (P < 0.05) accompanying a significant reduction in natural antioxidant defence system (P < 0.05). The significant alteration in the levels of serum antioxidant enzymes can lead to membrane lipid peroxidation that is reflected by a significantly (P < 0.05) high level of serum MDA in PbAc-induced experimental rats. However, the administration of resveratrol proved therapeutically effective in the treatment of Pb toxicity. Overall, the results of this study accompanying histopathological examination had proved the ameliorating effect of resveratrol in Pb-induced lipid metabolism impairment by adopting vitamin C as a standard therapeutic intervention.

     

Chitosan-based beads as sustainable adsorbents for wastewater remediation: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Water contamination is increasing worldwide, yet actual methods of water and wastewater treatment are limited, in particular by actual fossil-fuel derived...     

Biotechnology to convert carbon dioxide into biogas,bioethanol, bioplastic and succinic acid using algae,bacteria and yeast: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Global warming is partly due to excessive carbon dioxide emissions, calling for methods to capture carbon dioxide for conversion into value-added...     

Chitosan Based Nanoformulation for Sustainable Agriculture with Special Reference to Abiotic Stress: A Review

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Chitosan is a naturally occurring biological macromolecule and second most abundant polysaccharide next to cellulose, derived from deacetylation of chitin....     

Differential neuroprotective effect of curcuminoid formulations in aluminum chloride–induced Alzheimer’s disease

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a slowly progressive brain degenerative disorder which gradually impairs memory, thinking, and ability to perform...     

Essential oils and their bioactive compounds as eco-friendly novel green pesticides for management of storage insect pests: prospects and retrospects

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The control of storage insect pests is largely based on synthetic pesticides. However, due to fast growing resistance in the targeted insects,...