Chemical characterization of PM10 and PM2.5 combusted firecracker particles during Diwali of Lucknow City, India: air-quality deterioration and health implications

Urban air pollution is a growing menace leading to human discomfort, increased hospitalizations, morbidity, and mortality. This study deals with deteriorated air quality due to firecracker bursting during Diwali in Lucknow. Inhalable particulates and gaseous pollutants were monitored during Diwali 2020 using air samplers. Elements, ions, and surface morphology of particles were analyzed using ICP-MS, ion chromatograph, and SEM-EDX, respectively. PM₁₀, PM_2.5, SO₂, and NO₂ were 558, 352, 44, and 86 μg/m³ during Diwali night and 233, 101, 17, and 40 μg/m³ on pre-Diwali night while 241, 122, 24, and 43 μg/m³ on Diwali day. Concentrations surged for PM₁₀: 139% and 132%, PM_2.5: 249% and 189%, SO₂: 159% and 83%, and NO₂: 115% and 100% on Diwali night compared to pre-Diwali night and corresponding Diwali day, respectively. Al, K, Ba, and B showed dominance in PM₁₀ whereas Zn, Al, Ba, and K in PM_2.5 on Diwali night. The order of metal abundance in PM_2.5 was Cd < Co < Ag < As < Cr < Ni < Cu < Bi < Pb < Mn < Sr < Fe < B < Zn < Al < Ba < K. Cations NH₄⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and anions F^-, Cl^-, NO₃^-, Br^-, NO₂^-, SO₄^-2, PO₄^3- showed a 2-8 fold increase on Diwali night relative to pre-Diwali night. Average metal concentrations varied by 2.2, 1.6, and 0.09 times on Diwali than pre-Diwali in residential, commercial, and industrial areas, respectively. PM₁₀ concentration increased by 458% and 1140% while PM_2.5, 487%, and 2247% than respective NAAQS and WHO standards. Tiny firecracker particles vary in toxicity as compared to vehicular emissions and have enhanced bioavailability leading to severe threat in terms of LRI, COPD, and atherosclerosis for city dwellers. It is imperative to recognize the present status of ambient air quality and implement regulatory strategies for emission reduction.

Ventilation dependence of concentration metrics of Ultra-fine Particles in a coagulating household smoke

Role of Ultra-fine Particles (UFPs) in causing adverse health effects among large population across the world, attributable to household smoke, is being increasingly recognized. However, there is very little theoretical perspective available on the complex behavior of the UFP metrics with respect to controlling factors, such as ventilation rate and particle emission rate from the combustion sources. This numerical study examines through coagulation dynamics, the dependence of UFP metrics, viz., number (PN), mass (PM(0.1)) and surface area (PA(0.1)) concentrations below 0.1 μm diameter, on ventilation and the number emission rate from household smoke. For strong sources, the steady-state concentrations of these metrics are found to increase initially with increasing Air Exchange Rate (AER), reach a peak value and then decrease. Counter correlations are seen between UFP metric and PM(2.5) concentrations. The concepts of Critical Air Exchange Rate (CAER) and Half-Value Air Exchange Rate (HaVAER) have been introduced which indicate a feasibility of mitigation of PM(0.1) and PA(0.1), unlike PN, by ventilation techniques. The study clearly brings forth complex differential behavior of the three UFP metrics. The results are further discussed.

Cu(II) and Mn(II) complexes containing macroacyclic ligand: synthesis, DNA binding, and cleavage studies

The two new metal complexes of Cu(II) and Mn(II) containing macroacyclic ligand of the type [Cu(hpn)](PF(6))(2) (1) and [Mn(hpn)](PF(6))(2) (2) [where hpn = [1-{[2-{[2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)methylidine]amino}phenyl)imino]methyl}naphthalene-2-ol]] have been synthesized and characterized by employing analytical and spectral methods. The DNA binding properties of the complexes with calf thymus-DNA were studied by using absorption spectra and viscosity measurements, as well as thermal denaturation experiments. The absorption spectra indicated that the complexes intercalate tightly between the base pairs of the DNA with intrinsic DNA binding constants of 1.8 × 10(4) M(-1) for (1) and 3.7 × 10(4) M(-1) for (2) in 5 mM Tris-HCl/50 mM NaCl buffer at pH 7.2, respectively. The enhancement in the relative viscosity of DNA on binding to the ligand supports the proposed DNA binding modes. The oxidative cleavage activity of complexes (1) and (2) were carried out on double-stranded pUC19 circular plasmid DNA using gel electrophoresis. The complexes show significant nuclease activity.

Synthesis, DNA binding, and oxidative cleavage studies of Fe(II) and Co(III) complexes containing bioactive ligands

The two complexes containing bioactive ligands of the type and [Fe(L)] (PF(6))(2) (1) (where L = [1-{[2-{[2-hydroxynaphthalen-1-yl)methylidine]amino}phenyl)imino] methyl}naphthalene-2-ol]) and [Co(L(1)L(2))] (PF(6))(3) (2) (where L(1)L(2) = mixed ligand of 2-seleno-4-methylquinoline and 1,10-phenanthroline in the ratio 1:2, respectively) were synthesized and structurally characterized. The DNA binding property of the complexes with calf thymus DNA has been investigated using absorption spectra, viscosity measurements, and thermal denaturation experiments. Intrinsic binding constant K(b) has been estimated at room temperature. The absorption spectral studies indicate that the complexes intercalate between the base pairs of the CT-DNA tightly with intrinsic DNA binding constant of 2.8 × 10(5) M(-1) for (1) and 4.8 × 10(5) M(-1) for (2) in 5 mM Tris-HCl/50 mM NaCl buffer at pH 7.2, respectively. The oxidative cleavage activity of (1) and (2) were studied by using gel electrophoresis and the results show that complexes have potent nuclease activity.

Photosynthetic acclimation to elevated CO2 in relation to Rubisco gene expression in three C3 species

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var. DL 1266-5), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. var. MSFH 17) and mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek var. P 9072] were grown in field under atmospheric (360 +/- 10 cm3 m(-3), AC) and elevated (650 +/- 50 cm3 m(-3), EC) CO2 concentrations in open top chambers for entire period of growth and development. Photosynthetic acclimation to elevated CO2 was examined by comparing photosynthesis rate (Pn), Pn/Ci curves, leaf contents of RuBP carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), change in the transcripts of Rubisco small subunit (SSU) gene and leaf carbohydrate constituents in AC and EC grown plants. The study indicated that photosynthetic acclimation to elevated CO2 concentration in wheat occurred because of down regulation of Rubisco, through limitation imposed on Rubisco SSU gene expression, as a consequence of sugar accumulation in the leaves. Leaf starch accumulators, sunflower and mungbean, showed no down regulation of Pn under EC. The Rubisco contents (%) in leaf soluble protein and rbcS transcript levels were not significantly affected in EC plants compared to AC plants of sunflower and mungbean. The study indicated that accumulation of excess assimilates in the leaves as starch was less inhibitory to Pn and would, therefore, be an important trait for sustenance of Pn not only under EC, but also under AC, where Pn inhibited by end products.