Traditional Knowledge on Uncultivated Green Leafy Vegetables (UCGLVS) Used in Nalgonda District of Telangana

The present study data on traditional knowledge and identification of uncultivated edible greens (UCGLVs) used by the people of Nalgonda district, Telangana state, India was carried out through a structured questionnaire. The data was collected from three selected villages and 90 farm women were interviewed. The compiled information shows that 22 wild edible plant species belong to 19 genera and 14 families were identified from Nalgonda district, Telangana state. Among the identified plants, most of the plants species belongs to Amaranthaceae family. People are still consuming these wild greens during their availability due to several reasons like taste, nutritious, healthy, pesticide free, free of cost and easy availability. These UCGLVs were used in traditional medicine to treat many diseases like piles, constipation, anaemia, injuries, kidney problems, back pain problems, bleeding nose and some allergies. Even though there are many health, nutritional and economical benefits with the consumption of UCGLVs, some people are not using these uncultivated green leafy vegetables presently. Reasons like increased food production, markets, availability of food, urbanization, modernization, lack of knowledge on uncultivated food, unacceptability of taste, plant infestation during rainy season and some beliefs of the people was responsible for the underutilization of uncommon green leafy vegetables. Creating awareness on uncultivated greens, their health benefits and the provision of nutritional data helps to increase dietary diversity, improves health and decrease the burden of micronutrient deficiencies.

A Case Study From Ramannapeta Mandal, Nalgonda, Telangana, India: Fluoride Contamination of Ground Water

The groundwater quality evaluation for fluoride element was studied in Ramannapeta Mandal, Nalgonda District, and Telangana State, India. The water samples were collected in pre and post monsoon seasons in the year of 2015-2016 from hand pumps bore wells or dug wells in the villages of Ramannapeta Mandal. The collected water samples were analyzed within a week. The Spatial distributions of fluoride maps were prepared with the help of the Remote Sensing Imaginary (RSI) and Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques. The range of fluoride in the study area varied from 0.6 to 5.6 ppm whereas the maximum permissible limit in drinking water is 1.5 ppm (As per Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) guideline-IS: 10500: 1991). The high contamination 4.0-5.5 ppm of fluoride in drinking water was observed in Siripuram, Dubbaka villages. During the study, it was found that the most of villages in Ramannapeta Mandal are affected with high fluoride content in drinking water in the range of 1.5-3.0 ppm. Nalgonda district including Ramannapeta Mandal is underlain by different rocks such as granites (80%), gneisses, dolerite, dykes (10%), older metamorphic and intrusive (10%). The lock of freshwater exchange due to periodical drought conditions, the granitic rocks and the arid climate of the region are the factors for the higher incidence of fluoride in the groundwater resources. The constructions of rain water harvesting structures are proposed to minimize fluoride content in drinking water.

Isolation of Fluoride Resistant Microorganisms from Fluoride Contaminated Ground Water Samples of Nalgonda District and their role in Bioremediation

Consuming of water contaminated with high fluoride concentration for a very long time causes health problems such as, dental and skeletal fluorosis. Hence, defluoridation of water is essentially required before consumption, when water is contaminated with high fluoride concentration. In this present study, research was focussed on to isolate bacteria which are showing fluoride resistantance from samples of ground water from high fluoride affected regions of Nalgonda. After analysis of 10 samples from different areas of Nalgonda district, two samples of ground water from Narketpally and Nampally showed the high fluoride concentrations of 9.18 ppm and 7.55 ppm respectively. Hence, in the present study, Narketpally ground water sample with highest ppm was considered to isolate fluoride resistant bacteria. A total of eight fluoride resistant organisms were purified from this sample with varying fluoride resistance on Luria Bertani agar with varying fluoride concentraion from 25mg/L to 600mg/L at pH 7. Among the eight strains isolated, three strains MB1, F and G were showing high fluoride resistance (up to 500mg/L), which were further explored for their role in bioremediation of fluoride. In batch mode study, MB1 strain showed high fluoride degradation of 68%, whereas, F and G strains showed 57% and 44%fluoride removal, respectively, when fluoride concentration was present at 20 mgL-1 at 30 °C temperature and pH 7, with dextrose (10 g) utilised as source of carbon per 100 mL media after incubation of 8 days. Results indicate that, MB1 possibly a potential fluoride resistant bacterium with high fluoride bioremediation capacity.

Radon and thoron levels in the dwellings of Buddonithanda: a village in the environs of proposed uranium mining site, Nalgonda district, Telangana state, India

Elevated levels of radon and thoron in the indoor atmosphere may cause the deleterious effects on the mankind. Mining sites and their environs attract a special interest in radon studies as higher levels are frequently reported in the habitats. In the present study, radon and thoron levels were measured in the dwellings of Buddonithanda, a village in the environs of proposed uranium mining site, with pin-hole (SSNTDs) dosimeters for the period of a year. The measured radon and thoron levels were found to vary widely from 14 to 675 Bq m−3 (geometric mean = 94 Bq m−3) and from 21 to 704 Bq m−3 (geometric mean = 121 Bq m−3), respectively. An attempt was made to understand the large spatial variation of these levels. The seasonal and diurnal variation studies were used in unraveling the behavior of the radioactive isotopes in indoor environment and the same was explained with the help of a simplified mathematical model. Quantification of inhalation dose due to radon and thoron was done with suitable occupancy factors.