Riverscape Approach and Forestry Interventions for Ganga River Rejuvenation

Rivers have been degraded globally due to various reasons over centuries and limiting their ecological health and value, including Ganga River in India. Riverscape approach can provide relevant information on riverine resources needed in river restoration programmes. We propose a conceptual riverscape model to rejuvenate the holy river Ganga in India through forestry interventions after due consideration of ecological processes, mosaic of landforms, communities and environment within the large landscape of Ganga basin. The select riverscape area includes the area of 5 km and 2 km on either side of the river Ganga and important tributaries, respectively, all along the rivers in five stakeholder states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal in the country. The width of the riverscape was taken from the maximum bank line in recent years on either side of river in the concerned state. However, all micro-watersheds in the hills of Uttarakhand state, being the origin place of river, have been included in riverscape area up to Haridwar. Here riverscape is a mosaic of different land uses viz., natural ecosystems, rural and agricultural ecosystems and built-up urban environment including flood plain and is an ecologically sustained system developed during the last 30 years due to river meandering all along the river. Geospatial modelling and GIS data on land use pattern, soil erosion rates, slope of the topography, etc. were used to classify riverscape area into high, medium and low priority areas to implement forestry interventions in delineated riverscape. Thereafter, forestry interventions were planned and carried out in three identified landscapes viz., Natural (forests), Agriculture (agroforestry), and Urban along with conservation activities. Forestry interventions in delineated riverscape are expected to increase water recharge and decrease the sedimentation load in the Ganga River and its tributaries.

Impact of some chlorinated pesticides on the haematology of the fish Cyprinus carpio and Puntius ticto

The effects of pesticides on blood characteristics and histological changes in erythrocytes of the fish species Cyprinus carpio and Puntius ticto were studied. The fishes were exposed to sub lethal concentrations of different chlorinated pesticides namely aldrin, dieldrin, DDT, BHC and chlordane for 10, 20 and 30 d in continuous flow-through test. The LC 50 values were calculated based on acute toxicity tests and the sublethal doses were arrived at for chronic bioassay studies. Results showed an increase in haemoglobin content of both Cyprinus carpio and Puntius ticto in case of aldrin and dieldrin. Haemoglobin content reduced from an initial 13 g/100 ml to 8.07 and 10.15 g/100 ml in case of Cyprinus at the end of ten days exposure to aldrin and dieldrin respectively, and gradually increased to 8.7 g/100 ml and 10.15 g/100 ml after 20 d of exposure. The haemoglobin content after 30 d exposure to aldrin and dieldrin was 10.15 g/100 ml and 11.6 g/100 ml respectively. In case of Puntius ticto, the haemoglobin content in control fishes recorded was 12.8 g/100 ml while in case of fish exposed to aldrin, the haemoglobin content reduced initially on ten days exposure to 10.15 g/100 ml and increased to 11.6 g/100 ml and 13.0 g/100 ml during twenty days and thirty days exposure respectively. This trend was also observed with dieldrin in both the fishes studied. Red blood cells were also counted in case of all the pesticides and exposure periods with respect to Cyprinus carpio and Puntius ticto. Irrespective of the species and pesticide, the RBC counts uniformly showed decreasing trend with the increase in exposure period, while packed cell volume, PCV(%) showed increasing trend with respect to increase in exposure period in case of aldrin and dieldrin in both the fishes. But DDT, BHC and chlordane showed decreasing trend in PCV(%) values with increasing periods of exposure.

Modulatory Effect of Distillate of Ocimum sanctum Leaf Extract (Tulsi) on Human Lymphocytes Against Genotoxicants

Objective To study the modulatory effect of distillate of Ocimum sanctum （traditionally known as Tulsi） leaf extract （DTLE） on genotoxicants. Methods In the present investigation, we studied the antigenotoxic and anticlastogenic effect of distillate of Tulsi leaf extract on （i） human polymorphonuclear leukocytes by evaluating the DNA strand break without metabolic activation against mitomycin C （MMC） and hexavalent chromium （Cr^＋6） and （ii） human peripheral lymphocytes （in vitro） with or without metabolic activation against mitomycin C （MMC）, hexavalent chromium （Cr^＋6） and B[a]P by evaluating chromosomal aberration （CA） and micronucleus assay （MN）. Three different doses of DTLE, 50 μL/mL, 100 μL/mL, and 200 μL/mL were selected on the basis of cytotoxicity assay and used for studying DNA strand break, chromosomal aberration and micronucleus emergence. The following positive controls were used for inducing genotoxicity and clastogenicity MMC （0.29 μmol/L） for DNA strand break, chromosomal aberration and 0.51 μmol/L for micronucleus assay; Potassium dichromate （Cr^＋6） 600 μmol/L for DNA strand break and 5 μmol/L for chromosomal aberration and micronucleus assay; Benzo[a]pyrene （30 μmol/L） for chromosomal aberration and 40 μmol/L for micronucleus assay. The active ingredients present in the distillate of Tulsi leaf extract were identified by HPLC and LC-MS. Results Mitomycin C （MMC） and hexavalent chromium （Cr^＋6） induced statistically significant DNA strand break of respectively 69% and 71% （P〈0.001） as revealed by fluorometric analysis of DNA unwinding. Furthermore, the damage could be protected with DTLE （50 μL/mL, 100 μL/mL, and 200 μL/mL） on simultaneous treatment. Chromosomal aberration and micronucleus formation induced by MMC, Cr^＋6 and B[a]P were significantly protected （P〈0.001） by DTLE with and without metabolic activation. Conclusion Distillate of Tulsi leaf extract possesses antioxidants contributed mainly by eugenol, luteolin and apigenin as identified by LC-MS. These active ingredients may have the protective effect against genotoxicants.

Anticlastogenic Effect of Redistilled Cow's Urine Distillate in Human Peripheral Lymphocytes Challenged With Manganese Dioxide and Hexavalent Chromium

Objective To study the anticlastogenic effect of redistilled cow＇s urine distillate （RCUD） in human peripheral lymphocytes （HLC） challenged with manganese dioxide and hexavalent chromium. Methods The anticlastogenic activity of redistilled cow＇s urine distillate was studied in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes （HPNLs） and human peripheral lymphocytes in vitro challenged with manganese dioxide and hexavalent chromium as established genotoxicants and clastogens which could cause induction of DNA strand break, chromosomal aberration and micronucleus. Three different levels of RCUD： 1 μL/mL, 50 μL/mL and 100 μL/mL, were used in the study. Results Manganese dioxide and hexavalent chromium caused statistically significant DNA strand break, chromosomal aberration and micronucleus formation, which could be protected by redisfilled cow＇s urine distillate. Conclusion The redistilled cow＇s urine distillate posseses strong anfigenotoxic and antielastogenic properties against HPNLs and HLC treated with Cr^＋6 and MnO2. This property is mainly due to the antioxidants present in RCUD.

DNA Damage Caused By Pesticide-contaminated Soil

Objective To determine the DNA damaging potential and the genotoxicity of individual compounds in pesticide contaminated soil. Methods In the present study, DNA damaging potential of pesticide-contaminated soil and the genotoxicity of individual compounds present in the soil were assessed using fluofimetdc analysis of DNA unwinding assay. Results The contaminated soil sample showed 79% （P〈0.001） of DNA strand break, whereas technical grade of major catbaryl and α-naphthol constituents of the contaminated soil showed 64% （P〈0.01） and 60% （P〈0.02） damage respectively. Conclusion Our results indicate that the toxicity caused by contaminated soil is mainly due to carbatyl and α -napthol, which are the major constituents of the soil sample analyzed by CrC-MS.

Effect of Thermal Discharge of Cool Water Outfall from Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Plant into Sea Using CORMIX

The numerical modeling for the cool water outfall discharge from the LNG Plant is undertaken using CORMIX to evaluate the design of diffuser for discharge. The hydrodynamic data tide and currents are used inputs to the model. It is then calibrated using monitored data. The software has been run to calculate the mixing zone and dilution patterns for various flow conditions. Model result shows that ambient condition is achieved within 64 m from the proposed outfall locations. From the results of the modeling studies it can be concluded that the proposed diffuser design and outfall locations are suitable for all tide conditions. It also shows that there is no significant impact on the marine life due to the proposed cool water discharge, beyond the small area around the discharge location, as the parameters are attaining near ambient water quality within the acceptable space and time.

Temperature-Induced Stress on Growth and Expression of Hsp in Freshwater alga Scenedesmus quadricauda

Objective To investigate the impact of various levels of sublethal temperature （26℃, 31 ℃, 33℃, 36℃, and 39℃） on growth and heat shock protein （hsp） expression in freshwater green alga Scenedesmus quadricauda. Methods Impact of selected levels of temperature on growth rate （based on optical density）, population count, chlorophyll-a and biomass of the alga was evaluated in artificial growth medium for 19 days. To determine the induction of hsp in the alga, it was exposed to selected temperature levels for 3 h and further kept for 6 h at culturing condition at 26℃. Induction of hsp was confirmed by immuno-detection followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Results The selected growth parameters such as growth rate, population count, chlorophyll-a and biomass were reduced significantly （P〈0.001） at 39℃. However, hsp 70 expression was observed only at 39℃. Conclusion Temperature up to 36℃ may be considered as the limit of safe exposure for thermal, stress for the alga Scenedesmus quadricauda.

Real Time Ambient Air Quality Status during Diwali Festival in Central, India

In India, festivals are celebrated with lot of enthusiasm and Diwali is the major festival of light. In this festival, houses are illuminated by lights and sky is illuminated by fireworks. These fireworks though create lot of amusement but also pollute the atmosphere in terms of air pollution. The continuous air pollution monitoring was undertaken during Diwali festival (2014) at residential site NEERI, Nagpur. Air quality parameters were compared with CPCB standard. On Diwali day, PM10 and PM2.5 concentration achieve its highest value of 900 μg/m3 and 950 respectively μg/m3. This high concentration is maintained in atmosphere for two days of this festival in atmosphere which is approximately 8 - 9 times more than that regulatory standard. These particles carry all the components of the cracker including heavy metals, alkali metals, alkaline earth and change the atmosphere with positive and negative ions apart from impaction of sulfur and other acid gases to the atmosphere.