Planned Application of Sewage Sludge Recirculates Nutrients to Agricultural Soil and Improves Growth of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) Plants

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using sewage sludge (SS) biosolids as a low-cost soil fertilizer to improve soil characteristics and crop yields. Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) plants were grown in soil supplemented with different concentrations of SS (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 g/kg). The results showed that SS soil application led to improved soil quality with a 93% increase of organic matter (at SS dose of 10 g/kg), decreased pH (a reduction from 8.38 to 7.34), and enhanced macro- and micro- nutrient contents. The levels of all the investigated heavy metals (HMs; Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in the postharvest SS-amended soil were within the prescribed safe limits. The application of SS to soil considerably enhanced the growth parameters of okra plants. Total biomass increased 13-fold and absolute growth rate increased 10-fold compared to plants grown in nonamended (control) soils. Among the applied SS doses, the 10 g/kg SS dose led to the highest values of the measured growth parameters, compared to those of plants grown in control soils. The induced growth at 10 g/kg SS was accompanied by a substantial increase in metal content in roots, stems, leaves, and fruits; however, all levels remained within safe limits. Consequently, the data presented in this study suggest that SS could be used as a sustainable organic fertilizer, also serving as an ecofriendly method of SS recycling.

Setting Limits on Screen Time for Children (6-to-12 Years): The Integral Role of Parents and Educators.

This paper investigates the effects of screen time on child development and cognition and the setting of ‘safe’ screen time limits for young children, specifically children aged 6-to-12 years. Guidelines on screen time vary across constituencies, and the debate around screen time is contentious with many questions yet to be answered. A review of literature was undertaken to compare current screen time recommendations against the evidence from Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Psychology and Pediatrics that quantify screen time effects on the children's brain development. Based on this comparison, conclusions are made that can guide education policies around ‘remote learning’ and ‘home schooling’ to align them with the available research on the effects of screen time on children and inform a re-evaluation of the role of parents and educators in the setting of ‘safe’ limits on screen time.

Dental fluorosis among people and livestock living on Gihaya Island in Lake Kivu, Rwanda

Background Dental fluorosis is caused by prolonged exposure to excessive fluoride during the period of permanent tooth formation and is characterized by tooth discoloration, pitting, and loss of shape. Communities living near Lake Kivu in Western Rwanda exhibit a high prevalence of dental fluorosis; however, data on prevalence and risk factors are scarce. Methods This cross sectional, quantitative study used a One Health approach to investigate dental fluorosis prevalence among people and livestock and to measure fluoride content in the environment. In 2018, oral health examinations were conducted to assess the prevalence of fluorosis in children (aged 9 to 15 years), cattle and goats residing on Gihaya Island (Rwanda, East Africa). All children and cattle/goats meeting basic eligibility criteria (e.g., island residence) were invited to participate. Presence and severity of dental fluorosis was categorized according to the Dean’s Fluorosis Index. Samples of local foods, water, soil and grass were collected from communal sources and individual households and analyzed for fluoride content using standard laboratory techniques. Descriptive and binomial analyses (Fisher Exact Test) were used to assess this dataset. Results Overall, 186 children and 85 livestock owners (providing data of 125 livestock -23 cattle and 102 goats) participated. Dental fluorosis was recorded in 90.7% of children and 76% of livestock. Moderate to severe fluorosis was observed in 77% children while goats and cattle most often exhibited mild or absent/questionable severity, respectively. Water from Lake Kivu (used primarily for human cooking water and livestock drinking water) contained fluoride levels that were consistently higher than the maximum threshold (1.5 mg/L) recommended by the World Health Organization. Other sources (borehole and rainwater) were within safe limits. All food, soil and grass samples contained fluoride. The highest levels were observed in porridge (0.5 mg/g) and small fishes (1.05 mg/g). Conclusions Altogether, dental fluorosis was highly prevalent among children and goats on Gihaya Island with various food and water sources contributing a cumulative exposure to fluoride. An immediate and coordinated response across human, animal and water professionals is needed to reduce fluoride exposure within safe limits for island residents.

A physical concept in the press: the case of the Jet Stream

In recent years, science has hardened the discourse on the emergency of global warming, pointing out that the next decades will be decisive to maintain the stability of the climate system, avoiding a cascade effect of events that increase the average temperature above safe limits. The scientific community warns that there are different tipping points that could produce a chain reaction in the global climate. One of them is related to the Jet Stream. But despite the importance of this air current in atmospheric dynamics in the Northern Hemisphere and the changes it is experiencing in the context of global warming, the public is still not familiar with this kind of physical concepts, nor with much simpler others. As concerns about the climate crisis rise, knowledge remains stagnant. To advance in the learning of the science of climate change, in general, and of concepts such as the Jet Stream, in particular, specific scientific communication formats are required that can successfully tackle the difficult task of explaining such complex problems to the general public. These formats should be included in the media because they are the main source for information on climate change and because their characteristics allow taking on the challenge. In this article we present a communication proposal existent in a newspaper published in Spain. We argue that this communication format represents a good model to disseminate climate science, educate readers and even to make physical concepts such as the Jet Stream accessible. We believe that this format conforms to and complies with the enunciation of Article 12 of the Paris Agreement, which calls on the signatory countries to promote education and training on climate change.

Impact On Vegetables Irrigated With Municipal and Industrial Wastewater From Korangi Drain Near IoBM, Karachi

The present study was conducted to assess the Impact on Vegetables Irrigated with Municipal and Industrial wastewater from Korangi Drain near IoBM, Karachi. Some vegetables are grown using sewage and industrial wastewater laden with alarmingly high levels of heavy metals and bacteriological contamination. Maximum concentration of lead was found in spinach 8.20 mg/l as against safe limits of 0.01 mg/l and maximum Nickel concentration was found in banana 3.114 mg/l as against 0.02mg/l whereas all vegetables were invariably bacteriologically contaminated much beyond safe limits. Appropriate legislations in Sindh and competent manpower for rigorous monitoring to gage the harmful impact on vegetables grown with untreated municipal and industrial wastewater to effectively combat the problems of growing vegetables. The emptying of untreated municipal and industrial wastewater through Korangi Drain in fresh water bodies into Karachi cost should be banned to save the coast becoming hypoxic causing irreparable loss to marine life.

Common sources of radiations in a medical environment

Use of radiation is now a days so common in most of the tertiary care hospitals for diagnostic and therapeutic purpose. The ionizing radiation provides many benefits in both diagnostic as well as therapeutic interventions, but they are also potential harmful. Radiation risks, exposure and mitigation strategies should always be in mind while using to an individual (public, radiation worker, and patient) and the environment should not exceed the prescribed safe limits. Regular monitoring of hospital area and radiation workers is mandatory to assess the quality of radiation safety. This review article emphasis on radiation risks, exposure and prevention and treatment strategies.

Seasonal and Spatial Variations of Iron and Zinc Values in Meadows with a Semi-Arid Climate

Seasonal changes in the climate, as well as in plants and species living in this environment, which causes serious problems. Current work was carried out to evaluate the seasonal impact on the concentration of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in soil, forages and animals. A semi arid dry climatic area of Pakistan was selected to find out the seasonal effects on soil and availability of Zn and Fe, and its translocation to forages and animals. Twenty seven forages were collected and 320 ruminant samples collected from two sites in four seasons. Effect of spatial-temporal variations were studied on the ruminants of four physiological stages (Does, Bucks, Wether and Juvenile). Different sources from goats including blood, feces and urine were collected for the analysis of Zn and Fe. Results showed that both elements in soil were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by season and site x season. In forages, only site showed significant effect on Fe and Zn, while Zn was affected non-significantly (P > 0.05) by season and site x season. Zn and Fe in goats were non-significantly affected by season and source x stages, while significantly affected by sites and sources. All values of both elements were in safe limits except deficiency of Fe (1.69 to 2.33 mg/L) in blood. Results of health indices were also in the limits. Current work encircles the spatio- temporal effects on mineral availability in the food chain and also concern the health effects related to ruminant health.

Hygienic-sanitary quality of ready-to-eat salmon sashimi (Salmo Salar)

Fifty sashimi samples from 5 restaurants were characterized for enumeration of Aerobic Psychrotrophic Heterotrophic Bacteria (APHB) and Aerobic Mesophilic Heterotrophic Bacteria (AMHB), Enterobacteriaceae, coliforms at 45ºC (thermotolerant coliforms), coagulase-positive Staphylococci, presence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Salmonella sp., and determination of hydrogen potential (pH) and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N). The bacterial isolates were evaluated for their resistance profile to the antimicrobial agents Penicillin, Ampicillin, Cefoxitin, Cefotaxime, Amikacin, Gentamicin, Tetracycline, and Trimethropim-sulfamethoxazole. The results showed that APHB, AMHB and coagulase-positive Staphylococci counts and the determination of pH and TVB-N were in accordance with national and international standards adopted as safe limits for consumption. In contrast, the Enterobacteriaceae and thermotolerant coliforms counts and presence of Salmonella sp. and V. parahaemolyticus were in disagreement with those standards, raising concern about the hygienic-sanitary quality of sashimi. The Staphylococcus aureus and V. parahaemolyticus isolates showed resistance to Penicillin, Ampicillin, Cefoxitin, Cefotaxime, Tetracycline, Gentamicin, and Amikacin, while the Salmonella sp. isolate showed no resistance to all the antimicrobial agents studied. The results showed that 48% of the samples were fit for consumption while 52% had unsatisfactory hygienic-sanitary quality for the parameters evaluated.

Antioxidant Evaluation and Heavy Metals Accumulation Of Capsicum Annuum L. Cultivars

Capsicum annuum L. commonly known as chilli provides dietary fibers, minerals and vitamins. In this study, three different chilli cultivars commonly named as Dandi, Ghotki and German were studied for the determination of physico-chemical properties, antioxidant activity and metal content. German showed maximum nutritional components as compared to Ghotki and Dandi such as TA (0.43 %), TDS (1.95 g/l), TSS (1.29 °Brix) and TSC (1108.72 mg/100 g). Dandi showed higher TPC (6286.60 mg/100 g) and TFC (258.88 mg/100 g) with significant antioxidant activity through DPPH (37.27 % inhibition) and RPA (1134.80 mg/100 g). Fe was found in sufficient amount among chilli cultivars and metals accumulation was within the standard safe limits. Bangladesh J. Bot. 50(3): 507-513, 2021 (September)

Probability of Heavy Metals Mobility from Dumped Sediments in a Quarry

Dregs from the former Texcoco Lake were used to build the new international Mexico City airport and pumped in a quarry. The dredged sediments could have heavy metals (HMs) capable of polluting water bodies. The study’s objective was to evaluate the content of Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni, and Pb of the sediments deposited in the quarry, their transfer to the runoff water and the adsorption of Cu, Zn, Ni, and Pb in the subsoil. Other variables measured were water infiltration rate, HM in sediments, water runoff, and the HM adsorption in the subsoil. The infiltration rate in sediments is low (≤ 10-7 cm/h). HMs in sediments are within the maximum permissible limits by Mexican regulations, for sewage sludge. The HMs in the runoff from the sediments are in the range of the Mexican regulations for the discharge into rivers and for irrigation purposes of agricultural soils. They are also within safe limits for irrigation use considered by FAO and EPA. The materials adsorption capacity of Pb (1250 mg kg-1), Zn (588 mg kg-1), and Cu (1250 mg kg-1) is higher than the concentration of metals in the runoff water, so the movement of HMs down into the subsoil is unlikely.