Avinash Kaur Nagpal

The increased demand, driven by a growing population and changing dietary habits, has created immense pressure on agroecosystems throughout the globe. In semi-arid areas, this increased pressure has led to excessive use of agrochemicals in agriculture, which poses a threat of potentially toxic metal (PTM) contamination in agricultural soils. PTMs in agricultural soils result in significant environmental and health threats for humans and livestock. The current study aimed to evaluate the risks associated with five PTMs—nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), and cobalt (Co)—in agricultural soils of the semi-arid South Punjab region of India. The study area included sites from district Bathinda of Punjab (3385 km²). Among the PTMs analyzed, the concentration of Cd (0.65–1.85 mg/kg) in several agricultural soil samples was above the international permissible limits (1.0 mg/kg). Principal component analysis (PCA) pointed to parent rock materials as the main sources for Cr, Co, Ni, and Pb, while for Cd, agricultural sources (phosphatic fertilizers) can be a prominent contributor. The values observed for Pollution Load Index (PLI: 0.93–1.64) and Ecological Risk Index (RI: 206.66–584.03) indicated that soil samples were significantly contaminated with the tested PTMs, posing considerable ecological risks. Analysis of other physicochemical characteristics showed that soil samples were alkaline and saline, with low levels of soil organic matter. The human health risk assessment pointed to minimal non-carcinogenic (NCR) and carcinogenic risks (CR) associated with the presence of PTMs in the soil. Spatial distribution analysis revealed a higher level of metallic contamination in the eastern part of the district. Thus, adequate steps must be taken to control the increase in levels of these PTMs in the soils of the study area.

Poor air quality in urban areas increases the exposure of individuals to air pollutants. Hence, it becomes mandatory to grow such plant species that have more potential to tolerate air pollution and can aid in its mitigation. Air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and anticipated performance index (API) are two indices that help in scientific evaluation of plant species before recommending them for plantation. In this study, six plant species from three educational institutions of Amritsar city were screened for their tolerance and performance against air pollution as well as for their capability to act as accumulators of nine metals viz., aluminium (Al), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn). On the basis of APTI, Cassia fistula (C. fistula) was categorized as a tolerant species while Alstonia scholaris (A. scholaris), Cascabela thevetia (C. thevetia), Monoon longifolium (M. longifolium), Pongamia pinnata (P. pinnata) and Syzygium cumini (S. cumini) were categorized as intermediately tolerant plant species. API results suggested that A. scholaris, C. fistula, M. longifolium, P. pinnata and S. cumini should be planted for air pollution mitigation. Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo) results showed that soil samples were moderately contaminated with three (Pb, Cu and Zn) metals. Bioaccumulation factor (BAF), for all metals among six plant species, was found to be less than one implying that these plants were absorbers of metals. Metal Accumulation Index (MAI) indicated that C. thevetia, C. fistula and P. pinnata exhibited relatively higher potential for metal accumulation.

Nowadays, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are being used by almost every section of society and are classified as ‘emerging po

Air pollution is one of the killers of our age especially for the urban areas. Urban forestry which involves planting more trees has been considered as one of the prominent strategies to mitigate air pollution. Identification of trees tolerant to air pollution is important for plantation drives being organized across the country. The present study aimed to compare the air pollution tolerance potential of 46 tree species growing in Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) campus, Amritsar, using two indices, viz., Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) and Anticipated Performance Index (API). APTI is based on four biochemical parameters, viz., relative water content, leaf extract pH, total chlorophyll, and ascorbic acid contents of leaf samples, whereas API takes into consideration morphological and socioeconomic values of plant species along with their APTI. Based on APTI values calculated for 46 tree species, only 2 tree species, viz., Psidium guajava (46.26) and Cassia fistula (41.83), were found to be tolerant to air pollution, while 25 species showed intermediate tolerance. API scores revealed one tree species, namely, P. guajava, as an excellent performer, 8 species as very good performers, and 28 species as moderate to good performers against air pollution. In conclusion, tree species like Alstonia scholaris, C. fistula, Ficus tsjakela, Grevillea robusta, Kigelia africana, Mangifera indica, Melia azedarach, P. guajava, Pongamia pinnata, Pterospermum acerifolium, Putranjiva roxburghii, Syzygium cumini, Terminalia arjuna, and Toona ciliata can be considered as most desirable for plantations in areas around GNDU campus.

Tomato crop is known to be infected by large number of viruses across the globe causing severe losses in its yield. Accurate information on the distribution and incidence of different viruses is essential to implement virus control strategies. This study provides information on prevalence and distribution of different viruses infecting tomato crop in North-western region of India. Leaf samples of 76 symptomatic tomato and 30 symptomatic and asymptomatic plants of Chenopodium sp. (weed) were collected from eight villages. DAS-ELISA and/or RT-PCR/PCR were used to detect occurrence of nineteen viruses and one viroid in tomatoes. Nine viruses viz. cucumber mosaic virus, groundnut bud necrosis virus, potato virus M, potato virus S, potato virus X, potato virus Y, tomato chlorosis virus, tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus and tomato mosaic virus were detected in 58 of 76 tomato samples. Detection of viruses was confirmed by cloning of specific amplicons followed by sequencing and submission of sequences to the GenBank database. None of the targeted pathogens were found in collected weed samples. Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) was the most prevalent virus (64.47%) followed by potato virus Y (PVY) (23.68%). Double, triple, quadruple and quintuple infections were also noticed. Phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences was also carried out. Nine viruses infecting tomato crop from North-western region of India were detected. ToLCNDV was most prevalent with highest incidence. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of ToCV on tomato from India.

Sediments from banks of the Sutlej River and roadside soils from vicinity of Ropar wetland (collected during pre- and post-monsoon seasons, 2013) were analysed to determine the spatiotemporal distribution of potentially toxic elements (PTEs, viz. arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, lead and zinc), which when present in high concentrations may pose health hazards and ecological risk. Contamination factor, degree of contamination, modified degree of contamination, metal pollution index, pollution load index, enrichment factor, geoaccumulation index and ecological risk index were also determined for these PTEs in the study area. Sediment and soil samples were found to be alkaline and non-saline (pH > 7.0; EC < 4500 μS cm⁻¹) with sodium and potassium as major ions. Iron (mg kg⁻¹) was found to be most abundant in sediments (1477.59–6512.45) and soils (922.64–12,455.00). Cadmium content in sediments exceeded the threshold value (0.99 mg kg⁻¹) at 2 (pre-monsoon) and 3 (post-monsoon) sampling sites. In both seasons, cadmium (0.10–2.05) and cobalt (11.40–17.52) contents (mg kg⁻¹) exceeded the threshold limits (0.06 and 8.00 respectively) in all roadside soils. Significant spatiotemporal variation (p ≤ 0.05) was observed for pH; EC; and calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc contents. Low to moderate potential ecological risk was observed for both roadside soils (31.80–213.82) and sediments (41.47–236.73). Contamination factor, enrichment factor and geoaccumulation index for cadmium were highest in roadside soils (6.84, 46.91 and 2.19, respectively) and sediments (7.64, 167.46 and 2.35, respectively) due to settlement of coal fly ash released from the industrial setups, on sediments/soils of the study area.