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The Sundarban mangrove or tidal influenced natural ecosystem is extremely productive and providing multiple goods and services to millions of people. In the last few decades, the quality and quantity of mangrove ecosystem are being deteriorated. The main objectives of this current research are (i) to investigate the ecosystem service values (ESVs) using a time series satellite data (1975, 2000 and 2020) and different unit values (ii) to analyze the dynamic pattern of carbon sequestration through InVEST model and (iii) determination of ESVs change hotspots by Getis-Ord Gi* method. Here, mangrove forest has the highest ecosystem service value and highest carbon sinker. The total loss of ESVs was estimated 3310.79 million USD during last 45 years in Sundarban Biosphere Reserve (SBR) due to high natural and anthropogenic adversities. InVEST model also revealed that the total static carbon storage over the study area was 48.87, 46.65 and 43.33 Tg for the year 1975, 2000 and 2020 respectively. Total 6313944 mg/6.31Tg loss of carbon has been observed in the case of mangrove forest during the overall study period (1975-2020). So, illegal human encroachment should be strictly (through law and regulations) restricted within Sundarban mangrove ecosystem for the benefits of people.

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River Damodar (India) is one of the most significant tropical large rivers and this river is carrying predominantly industrial effluents, urban sewage, and non-degradable chemical agricultural fertilizers. Several industries, cities, and townships directly depend on this important river throughout the year. It is highly essential to evaluate its surface water quality, characteristics, and improvement status during the COVID-19 lockdown and unlock phases. The major objectives of the present study are to analyse changing nature of heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr, and Fe) and microbial load (TVC, TC, and FC) of river water and to identify heavy metals impact on water quality and human health in pre, during, and after unlocking of COVID-19 lockdown. Here, a total of 33 water samples have been collected in the pre-lockdown, lockdown, and unlock phases. The results showed that decreasing trend of the microbial load was found in the lockdown phase. Heavy metal pollution index (HPI) illustrated that all samples are highly polluted (HPI > 150) during the pre-lockdown phase, while during the lockdown phase; HPI showed that around 54.54% of samples have been positively changed (low pollution level). During the unlock phase, 45.45% of samples were again amplified to the high pollution level. Pearson's correlation coefficient and hierarchical cluster analysis indicated strong relation among heavy metals with faecal coliform at a 0.05% level of significance. Noncarcinogenic hazard index (HI) shows the higher possibility of health risk (HI > 1) particularly for children in all the phases and during the lockdown phase, 36.36% of samples showed no possible health risk for adults (HI < 1). However, HI of dermal contact showed no possible health risk for children and adults in the assessment periods. This applied research can definitely assist planners and administrators in making effective solutions regarding public health.

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The global economic activities were completely stopped during COVID-19 lockdown and continuous lockdown partially brought some positive effects for the health of the total environment. The multiple industries, cities, towns and rural people are completely depending on large tropical river Damodar (India) but in the last few decades the quality of the river water is being significantly deteriorated. The present study attempts to investigate the river water quality (RWQ) particularly for pre- lockdown, lockdown and unlock period. We considered 20 variables per sample of RWQ data and it was analyzed using novel Modified Water Quality Index (MWQI), Trophic State Index (TSI), Heavy Metal Index (HMI) and Potential Ecological Risk Index (RI). Principal component analysis (PCA) and Pearson's correlation (r) analysis are applied to determine the influencing variables and relationship among the river pollutants. The results show that during lockdown 54.54% samples were brought significantly positive changes applying MWQI. During lockdown, HMI ranged from 33.96 to 117.33 with 27.27% good water quality which shows the low ecological risk of aquatic ecosystem due to low mixing of toxic metals in the river water. Lockdown effects brought river water to oligotrophic/meso-eutrophic condition from eutrophic/hyper-eutrophic stage. Rejuvenation of river health during lockdown offers ample scope to policymakers, administrators and environmentalists for restoration of river health from huge anthropogenic stress.

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The present study evaluates the enrichment and distribution of radioelements along the eastern coast of India. India possesses the second largest reserve of thorium bearing monazite in the world, in terms of heavy minerals present primarily along its long coastline. Radioelement estimation of about 30 km long beach area along the eastern coast of India is reported and implications discussed. A total number of 822 data points were studied using a portable Geiger Muller counter, to estimate the variation of dose rates, due to the ambient radionuclides along two different trends. One was parallel (northeast-southwest) and the second one perpendicular to the coastline. Pre-selected samples from in-situ radiometric surveys on the heavy mineral placers were studied further, for quantitative estimation of the abundance of radioactive elements primarily uranium and thorium, using a High Purity Germanium detector. Radioelement concentration assessment of core samples (depth ~2 m), were studied from two different beaches. Radiological parameters like radium equivalent, annual effective doserate and absorbed dose rate has been calculated based on the 238U, 232Th and 40K concentrations. Heavy mineral placers along the shoreline indicate a very high thorium (avg - 2990.22 Bq kg-1) which is due to the extensive distribution indicative of monazite. The coastal area also exhibits relatively low uranium (avg - 319.1 Bq kg-1). Based on its high thorium concentration, the area can be considered as a high natural background radiation area. Based on the concentrations of uranium and thorium, the weathering conditions and depositional environment prevalent along the beach areas have been discussed.

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Various developmental projects and economic actions such as mining, industries, urban expansion, and agricultural activities contribute toxic heavy metals into the soils and it adversely affects to human health and broadly the environment. For the scientific study (coal mining region of Eastern India) around 120 soil samples were collected from top (0 - 20 cm) and subsurface soil (20 - 50 cm) of coal mining, semi mining and non mining type of land use sites to assess ten heavy metals applying standard methods and indices for the assessment of pollution load and human health risk. Statistical analysis clearly indicated that Fe, Mn, Zr are the most dominantly distributed in the study region. Coefficient of variance (CV)showed that there was very less variation in the metal values among samples of any particular landuse site. Correlation coefficient (0.05% level of significance) depicts that metals were very strongly correlated with each other in every site of Neturia block. Igeo (Geo- accumulation index) values of Fe and As indicated moderate to low pollution in the topsoil of study area. It is because of their regional background value. Enrichment Factor (EF) also showed thatcontamination of Fe ismainly supplied by natural factors (EF < 2)i.e., weathering of parent rock in all over the study area. All other heavy metals indicated their anthropogenic sources (EF > 2)on top and subsurface soil both of three landuse site. Degree of contamination (Cdeg), modified degree of contamination (mCdeg), contamination factor (CF) and pollution load index (PLI) clearly suggest that topsoil of coal mining sites is most polluted than two other sites. Subsurface soil of mining sites also indicated comparatively higher pollution load than subsoil of semi mining or non mining sites. PLI values have been classified into four groups i.e., high pollution (> 6), medium pollution (6 -3), low pollution (3 - 1) and no pollution (< 1) zone. There was no PLI value < 1 in topsoil of the study area. But subsurface soil of non mining site indicated no pollution to the soil. Spatial mapping using Inverse Distance Weightage (IDW) on Arc GIS 10.4 software showed clear variation of metal concentration and pollution load to the top and subsoil of the study area. Human health risk of non - carcinogenic typeisdue to heavy metals intake of topsoil through three exposure pathwaywhich indicates the health risk of HI dermal> HI ingestion> HI inhalation for both the adult and children. Mean values of total HI showed that children are more prone to health risk in comparison with adult. There was no soil sample that exceeds its HI values > 1 for adults and thus no obvious health risk was found from soil heavy metals for adults.On the other hand, topsoil of mining sites indicated HI values >1;therefore, children are prone to health risk in this site. The present investigation suggests that coal mining region is highly polluted by their heavy metal burden on soil. Industrial and semi urban areas of semi mining region are also affected by heavy metal dust to its soil. Agricultural activities in non-mining region indicated lower pollution than other landuse sites. Remedial measures are highly needed to control heavy metal pollution of different landuse sites at colliery region to sustain environmental quality and human health as well. Modern scientific technologies and public awareness should be very useful on this way.

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Globally, it is established that the partial lockdown system assists to improve the health of the total environment due to inadequate anthropogenic actions in different economic sectors. The ample research on fitness of environment has been proved that the strict imposition of lockdown was the blessings of environment. The river Damodar has historical significance and lifeline for huge population of Jharkhand and West Bengal state of India but in the recent years the water quality has been deteriorated due to untreated industrial effluents and urban sewage. The main objective of this study is to examine the water quality of river Damodar during and prelockdown phase for domestic use and restoration of river ecosystem. A total of eleven (11) effluent discharge sites were selected in prelockdown and during lockdown phase. A new approach of water quality assessment, i.e., water pollution index (WPI) has been applied in this study. WPI is weightage free, unbiased method to analysis of water quality. The result shows that the physical, chemical and heavy elements were found beyond the standard limit in prelockdown period. The cation and anion were arranged in an order of Na2+ > K+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ and Cl- > So4 - > No3 - > F- in both the sessions. WPI of prelockdown showed that about 100% water samples are of highly polluted. WPI of lockdown period showed that around 90.90% samples improved to 'good quality' and 9.10% of samples are of 'moderately polluted.' Hypothesis testing by 't' test proved that there was a significant difference (ρ = 0.05%) in values of each parameter between two periods. Null hypothesis was rejected and indicated the improvement of river water quality statistically. Spatial mapping using Arc GIS 10.4 interpolation (IDW) helps to understand spatial intensity of pollution load in two periods. This research study should be helpful for further management and spatial diagnosis of water resource of river Damodar.

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The sudden lockdown recovers the health of the total environment particularly air and water while the country's economic growth and socio-cultural tempo of people have been completely hampered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the industries within the catchment area of river Damodar have been closed; as a result, significant changes have been reflected throughout the stretch of river Damodar. The main objective of the study is to analyze the impact of lockdown on the water quality of river Damodar. A total of 55 samples was collected from eleven different confluence sites of nallas with the main river channel during and pre-lockdown period. The relevant methods like WQI, TSI, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and "t" test have been applied to evaluate the physical, chemical, and biological status of river water. The result of "t" test indicated that there are significant differences (α = 0.05) of each parameter between pre and during lockdown. Water quality index (WQI) is used for analysis of drinking water quality suitability followed by BIS. The values of WQI showed "very poor" (S1, S2, S3, S6, S7, and S11) to "unfit for drinking" (S4, S5, S8, S9, and S10) of river water during pre-monsoon season. The nutrient enrichment status of the river was analyzed by Trophic State Index (TSI) method and it shows the "High" eutrophic condition with a heavy concentration of algal blooms in almost an entire stretch. During lockdown, nutrient supplies like TN and TP have been reduced and is designated as "Low" (S1, S2) to "Moderate" (S3 to S11) eutrophic condition of middle stretch of Damodar. This research output of river Damodar will definitely assist to policy makers for sustainable environmental management despite the dilemma between development and conservation.

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The use of sandstone as a building material has increased around the world and sandstone quarrying and its wastes pose a potential threat to human health and the environment. More than 50% of the excavated stone is wasted in the form of scrap stone and waste slurry during sandstone quarrying and processing. Sandstone wastes can adversely change native soil properties and should be reused as construction material. The present study aimed to characterise wastes generated during sandstone quarrying and processing, assess their impact on the soil environment and explore their reuse potential. The results of this study show that fine slurry waste has physicochemical properties between sand and sandy loam while the properties of the slurry solids and scrap stone are similar to those of sandstone. Fine stone waste on intrusion into soil reduced the hydraulic conductivity and porosity of soil potentially reducing its productivity. The liquid stone slurry contained metals like Mn, Ni and As at concentrations higher than drinking water standards. These metals may contaminate water sources and affect human health. Therefore, the use of stone wastes as aggregate for road and building construction would be beneficial and would reduce their adverse impacts on the environment.

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Geochemical and geophysical surveys employing radon deficit, resistivity, and induced polarization (IP) measurements were undertaken on soil contaminated with non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) in two different sites in India and in Italy. Radon deficit, validated through the comparison with average soil radon in reference unpolluted areas, shows the extension of contamination in the upper part of the unsaturated aquifers. In site 1 (Italy), the spill is not recent. A residual film of kerosene covers soil grains, inhibiting their chargeability and reducing electrical resistivity difference with background unpolluted areas. No correlation between the two parameters is observed. Soil volatile organic compounds (VOCs) concentration is not linked with radon deficit, supporting the old age of the spillage. NAPL pollution in sites 2a and 2b (India) is more recent and probably still active, as demonstrated by higher values of electrical resistivity. A good correlation with IP values suggests that NAPL is still distributed as droplets or as a continuous phase in the pores, strengthening the scenario of a fresh spill or leakage. Residual fraction of gasoline in the pore space of sites 2a and 2b is respectively 1.5 and 11.8 kg per cubic meter of terrain. This estimation is referred to the shallower portion of the unsaturated aquifer. Electrical resistivity is still very high indicating that the gasoline has not been strongly degraded yet. Temperature and soil water content influence differently radon deficit in the three areas, reducing soil radon concentration and partly masking the deficit in sites 2a and 2b.

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This study was conducted to (1) see the histopathological distribution of different subtypes in steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) and (2) compare the clinical, biochemical parameters and outcome between Minimal Change Disease (MCD) with non-MCD subtypes in response to immunosuppressive therapy. A retrospective analysis was done of data on all biopsy proven children with idiopathic SRNS (no response to 4 weeks of standard prednisone therapy (60 mg/m(2)/day)) referred to our institute over last 12 years. They were treated with one of the following medications: oral or intravenous cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine or combination of dexamethasone and azathioprine. A comparison was done of the demographic clinical and biochemical features different histopathologies. We studied 136 children with SRNS (100 M, 36 F). They accounted for 15.1%(136/900) of all children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) was the commonest 80/136 (59%), followed by MCD (17.6%). Children with non-MCD had a significantly greater prevalence of microhematuria as compared to MCD. The other baseline clinical and biochemical features including the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were similar. After a mean follow up of 46 (8-148) months, a significantly greater children with non-MCD 65/112) continued to be proteinuric as compared to the MCD (3/24) (p=0.0001). FSGS was the commonest cause of SRNS in our patient population. Children with SRNS secondary to MCD are more likely to achieve remission as compared to non-MCD subtypes and have a better long-term prognosis. Hence kidney biopsy is of significant prognostic value in SRNS.

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