Landfill leachate a new threat to water quality: a case study from the Temperate Himalayas

Landfills are commonly seen as the most cost-efficient and practical approach to waste management in various regions around the world. Nonetheless, the infiltration of hazardous materials from poorly managed dumping sites remains a significant environmental issue in most developing countries such as India. Leachate serves as a prominent point source of contamination in many environmental media like soil, groundwater, and surface water around the world. So the prime issues humans are experiencing are associated with water quality. Thus, the investigation was undertaken to assess the impact of leachate from the Achan landfill on surface water quality in the Temperate Himalayas. Monitoring was done during in all four seasons, viz., spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Among the sites, the leachate outflow site was found to have the highest mean value of pH (7.95), EC (2.16 dS/m), total nitrogen (2.64 mg/l), P (4.75 mg/l), K (1.41 mg/l), Ca (107.45 mg/l), Mg (54.93 mg/l), Zn (0.8 mg/l), Fe (1.78 mg/l), Cu (0.66 mg/l), Mn (0.81 mg/l), BOD (21.47 mg/l), COD (66.24 mg/l), temperature (14.22 °C), turbidity (14.29 NTU), while lowest mean values of all parameters were recorded at control site. Among the seasons, summer season was found to have maximum value of pH (7.9), EC (2.36 dS/m), total nitrogen (2.54 mg/l), P (4.0 mg/l), K (0.89 mg/l), Ca (85.94 mg/l), Mg (43.91 mg/l), Fe (1.4 mg/l), Cu (0.52 mg/l), Mn (0.64 mg/l), BOD (22.82 mg/l), COD (65.87 mg/l), temperature (18.99 °C), and turbidity (8.49 NTU). The maximum mean value of Zn (0.66 mg/l) was recorded during winter season, while other parameters were found to be minimum during winter season. From this study, we concluded that a decreasing trend was observed during all the seasons in the concentration of all physico-chemical parameters with an increase in distance from the landfill. So it is recommended that the leachate should be treated at the source before disposing into the water body and the landfill should be lined properly to prevent the entry of leachate into water sources.

Impact of Anthropogenic Pressure on Physico-chemical Characteristics of Forest Soils of Kashmir Himalaya

The present study was carried out during the years 2017-2018 and assessed the impact of anthropogenic activities on the physico-chemical characteristics of soil in the Kashmir Himalaya. At disturbed sites anthropogenic activities like deforestation, grazing, tourism, urbanization, traffic etc. are seen prominent and their effect on soil environment resulted in less vegetation cover and exhibited diminution in organic matter. There was a significant increase in moisture content (21.13 ± 1.51), organic carbon (2.65% ± 0.52%), available nitrogen (493.790 ± 2.105 kg/ha), and potassium (432.727 ± 1.738 kg/ha) at undisturbed area Baerabal Harwan. However, there was a reduced pH (5.39 ± 0.230) and available phosphorus (18.993 ± 1.370) at undisturbed area in contrast to disturbed sites. Significantly higher values of Fe, Cu, Zn and Ni were found in disturbed areas (46.33 ± 0.16, 3.972 ± 0.001, 2.224 ± 0.003 and 1.7033 ± 0.002 ppm) respectively. The present findings could be helpful in formulating conservation strategies of soil at disturbed areas that are affected by anthropogenic activities which effects the soil microbial health of the forest soils. The study therefore indicated the need for employing best forest management and effective enforcement with vigorous reforestation programmes and would be a way forward towards mitigating the ongoing deterioration of the plant-soil system, sustaining forest productivity and soil fertility in the long run, and protecting people's livelihoods.

Anthropogenic impacts on phytosociological features and soil microbial health of Colchicum luteum L. an endangered medicinal plant of North Western Himalaya

Colchicum luteum is currently a rare and threatened medicinal plant species in the Kashmir Himalaya. Due to the subsequent increase in anthropogenic pressure on medicinal plant species, it is imperative to understand the phytosociological and conservational status of the plant in its natural habitat. The objectives of this study were analysed in year 2018–2019 on the phytosociological data, viz. density, frequency, and abundance, as well as the rhizospheric soil microbial diversity of C. luteum in disturbed and undisturbed areas of the Kashmir Himalaya. We examined the distribution pattern, phytosociological data, and conservation status of C. luteum by analysing ecological features like abundance, frequency, and density in all three selected locations in Kashmir, Northern India and were found maximum values at Undisturbed areas. The highest values of density (3.24 ± 0.69 m²), frequency (57.77 ± 13.55%), and abundance (5.49 m²) were recorded at undisturbed site Harwan. The total bacterial count (CFU) and Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) spore population from the rhizospheric soil of C. luteum were also analysed, with higher bacterial count i.e., Pseudomonas, Azatobacter, Rhizobium and PSB were (26.2 ± 0.648) (21.88 ± 0.675) (30.11 ± 0.576) and (14.11 ± 0.671) and VAM spore population (g⁻¹) of soil recorded 6.36 ± 0.550 at undisturbed areas viz. Harwan. The bacteria and fungi are likely keystone organisms that form an interface between soils and plant roots. Mutualistic associations with host plants have been observed in various natural and agricultural ecosystems. The present findings could be helpful in formulating conservation strategies for C. Luteum threatened and endangered medicinal plant present in North western Himalayan regions. The plant in disturbed areas that are affected by anthropogenic activities like tourism, grazing, deforestation, urbanization, transport etc. impacts on phytosociological and soil microbial patterns in the area. Because of these abiotic pressures, causes a reduction in plant cover in forest regions, soils become exposed, affecting soil microbial health. Therefore, the study shows the necessity for best practices for medicinal plant and forest management that provide effective monitoring and regulation of human activities in the offshore forest regions and avoid the intrusion of existing reserves.

Photosynthetic acclamatory response of Panicum antidotale Retz. populations to root zone desiccation stress

Growth of plants is severely reduced due to water stress by affecting photosynthesis including photosystem II (PSII) activity and electron transport. This study emphasised on comparative and priority targeted changes in PSII activity due to progressive drought in seven populations of Panicum antidotale (P. antidotale) collected from Cholistan Desert and non-Cholistan regions. Tillers of equal growth of seven populations of P. antidotale grown in plastic pots filled with soil were subjected progressive drought by withholding water irrigation for three weeks. Progressive drought reduced the soil moisture content, leaf relative water content, photosynthetic pigments and fresh and dry biomass of shoots in all seven populations. Populations from Dingarh Fort, Dingarh Grassland and Haiderwali had higher growth than those of other populations. Cholistani populations especially in Dingarh Grassland and Haiderwali had greater ability of osmotic adjustment as reflected by osmotic potential and greater accumulation of total soluble proteins. Maximum H2O2 under water stress was observed in populations from Muzaffargarh and Khanewal but these were intermediate in MDA content. Under water stress, populations from Muzaffargarh and Dingarh Fort had greater K+ accumulation in their leaves. During progressive drought, non-Cholistani populations showed complete leaf rolling after 23 days of drought, and these populations could not withstand with more water stress condition while Cholistani populations tolerated more water stress condition for 31 days. Moreover, progressive drought caused PSII damages after 19 days and it became severe after 23 days in non-Cholistani populations of P. antidotale than in Cholistani populations.

Giant cell carcinoma of the lung

A 50-year-old non-smoking, hypertensive female, presenting with superior vena caval compression, was found to have giant cell carcinoma of the lung. She received intensive combination chemotherapy. However she died in the following 36 hours, as a consequence of refractory hypotension.

Sartan (cancer) and its treatment in Unani Medicine

The knowledge of Sartan (cancer) in the Unani (Greco-Arabian) systems of medicine can be traced to ancient times (131-200 A.D.). Like all other diseases its etiology has also been attributed to the combustion and imbalance of certain humors in the body. Unani simples-plants, animals and minerals-and formulations used for the treatment of the disease have been tabulated with recipes, methods of preparation, doses (wherever available) and modes of administration. The claims have been reviewed in the light of research work conducted in India during the last three decades.

Juzam (leprosy) and its treatment in Unani medicine

Juzam (leprosy) is attributed to excessive accumulation, infiltration and dispersal of sauda (burnt humours) throughout the body disturbing the normal temperament of the organs. A variety of causative factors responsible for excessive production or retention of sauda are enumerated. Unani simple plants, animals and minerals and formulations used for the treatment of leprosy are tabulated with recipes, methods of preparation, does and modes of administration.