Department Of Environmental Science And Technology

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Author: search.filters.author.Vishwakarma, G.S.

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    Arsenic induced physiological changes in improved varieties of rice grown in Malwa region of Punjab
    (Society for Advancement of Human and Nature (SADHNA), 2015) Kamboj, Ritu; Sharma, S; Vishwakarma, G.S.; Mittal, Sunil
    Rice is a major staple food throughout the world. However metal contamination of rice has been recognized as a new disaster on large scale. Two rice cultivars viz PR 116 and PR 118 were grown in vitro to study the effect of increasing arsenic concentration (50, 100, 250 and 500 µM) on germination, root and shoot length, biomass dry weight, chlorophyll content and per cent cellular respiration. Results showed reduction in all these parameters thereby proving the toxic nature of arsenic. Arsenic accumulation in roots and shoots of both the varieties was monitored by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) and it was concluded that arsenic is translocated to above ground tissues and ultimately reaches the grain. The status of arsenic concentration of rice and its affect on human health need to be further investigated.
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    Effects of Environmental Pesticides on the Health of Rural Communities in the Malwa Region of Punjab, India: A Review
    (2014) Mittal, S.; Kaur, G.; Vishwakarma, G.S.
    The Malwa region of Punjab, India, is facing an unprecedented crisis of environmental health linked to indiscriminate, excessive, and unsafe use of pesticides, fertilizers, and poor groundwater quality. The region has been described as India's "cancer capital" due to abnormally high number of cancer cases, which have increased 3-fold in the last 10 years. Studies of this region have also highlighted a sharp increase in many other pesticide-related diseases, such as mental retardation and reproductive disorders. The most affected individuals are the agricultural workers who are directly exposed to pesticides. The Malwa region of Punjab, India, is less than 15% of the total area of Punjab (only 0.5% of the total geographical area of India), but it consumes nearly 75% of the total pesticides used in Punjab. The high use of pesticides, along with environmental and social factors, is responsible for the high concentration of pesticide residues in the food chain of this region. Moreover, many banned and restricted pesticides are still in use in this region, warranting strict periodical health checkups and other interventions. The present review describes occupational, environmental, and social factors associated with pesticide use in the Malwa region of Punjab, India, and proposes some risk reduction interventions. ? 2014 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
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    Bioherbicidal potential of essential oil from leaves of Eucalyptus tereticornis against Echinochloa crus - galli L.
    (Crop Protection Research Centre, 2014) Vishwakarma, G.S.; Mittal, Sunil
    The present study was undertaken to explore the bioherbicidal potential of essential oil(EO)(25 to 250μg/ml) from Eucalyptus tereticornis against one of the major weed of rice (Oryza sativa L.), i.e. Echinochloa crus - galli L. considering percent germination, root length and shoot length development chlorophyll, protein and carbohydrate content and percent cellular respiration). Studies revealed that E. tereticornis EO suppressed the growth and affects the physiology of the test plant. For instance, 100 and 250 μg/mL oil affects seed germination and seedling development of test weed. The chlorophyll content of the E. crus-galli seedlings decreased by 80% at 250 μg/mL treatment of EO. Similarly, reduction in respiratory activity on exposure to 250 μg/mL of EO was 60%. The effect of EO on macromolecules, i.e. carbohydrates and proteins also followed the similar trend. The present study concludes that EO of E. tereticornis shows toxicity towards E. crus-galli and has potential to be used as bioherbicide.