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The mustard ( Brassica juncea L.) plant is a well-known and widely accepted hyper-accumulator of heavy metals. The genetic makeup of mustard’s cultivars may significantly impact their phytoremediation capabilities. The present study aimed to investigate the growth performance, yield attributes, and heavy metal accumulation potential of B. juncea cv. Varuna, NRCHB 101, RH 749, Giriraj, and Kranti, cultivated in soil irrigated with wastewater (EPS) and bore-well water (MPS). EPS contributed more Cr, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Ni to tested mustard cultivars than the MPS. EPS reduced morphological, biochemical, physiological, and yield attributes of tested mustard cultivars significantly ( p  < 0.05) than the MPS. Among the tested cultivars of mustard plants, Varuna had the highest heavy metal load with the lowest harvest index (35.8 and 0.21, respectively). Whereas NRCHB 101 showed the lowest heavy metal load with the highest harvest index (26.9 and 0.43, respectively). The present study suggests that B. juncea cv. Varuna and NRCHB 101 could be used for the phytoextraction of heavy metals and reducing their contamination in food chain, respectively in wastewater irrigated areas of peri-urban India. The outcomes of the present study can also be utilized to develop a management strategy for sustainable agriculture in heavy metal polluted areas resulting from long-term wastewater irrigation.

Water is essential for human life, yet contaminated drinking water poses significant health risks, leading to various waterborne diseases. The quality of drinking water is primarily determined by its physicochemical and biological characteristics, making regular monitoring crucial. However, no prior studies have assessed the physicochemical properties of drinking water in Malle Woreda, South Omo Zone, southern Ethiopia. This study aims to evaluate the levels of selected physicochemical parameters, including pH, temperature, free chlorine, combined chlorine, nitrate (), nitrite (), ammonia (NH 3 ), turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), and fluoride (F − ), in drinking water sources within the Malle district. Three water samples were randomly collected from three different kebeles: Gento, Kalendo, and Asheker. The results indicate that the measured values for temperature (25.0°C–27.23°C), pH (7.33–8.81), EC (102.4–124.1 µS/cm), turbidity (< 5 NTU), NH 3 (0–0.1 mg/L), (1.0–1.1 mg/L), (0.1–1.0 mg/L), F − (0.6–1.5 mg/L), free chlorine (0.1 mg/L), and combined chlorine (0–0.1 mg/L) generally meet the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ethiopian Standards Agency (ESA). Overall, the findings suggest that the protected spring water in Malle Woreda is suitable for drinking purposes. Compared to WHO and ESA guidelines, as well as studies from other regions, the drinking water in this area exhibits good physicochemical properties. Regular monitoring and management of water sources remain essential to ensure long‐term water safety. Therefore, this study serves as a stepping stone for further investigations into additional water quality parameters.

Background In 2016, India reported 709 acute diarrheal disease (ADD) outbreaks (> 25% of all outbreaks). Tribal populations are at higher risk with 27% not having accessibility to safe drinking water and 75% households not having toilets. On June 26, 2017 Pedda-Gujjul-Thanda, a tribal village reported an acute diarrheal disease (ADD) outbreak. We investigated to describe the epidemiology, identify risk factors, and provide evidence-based recommendations. Methods We defined a case as ≥3 loose stools within 24 h in Pedda-Gujjul-Thanda residents from June 24–30, 2017. We identified cases by reviewing hospital records and house-to-house survey. We conducted a retrospective cohort study and collected stool samples for culture. We assessed drinking water supply and sanitation practices and tested water samples for faecal-contamination. Results We identified 191 cases (65% females) with median age 36 years (range 4–80 years) and no deaths. The attack-rate (AR) was 37% (191/512). Downhill colonies (located on slope of hilly terrains of the village) reported higher ARs (56%[136/243], p  < 0.001) than others (20%[55/269]). Symptoms included diarrhea (100%), fever (17%), vomiting (16%) and abdominal pain (13%). Drinking water from five shallow bore-wells located in downhill colonies was significantly associated with illness (RR = 4.6, 95%CI = 3.4–6.1 and population attributable fraction 61%). In multi-variate analysis, drinking water from the shallow bore-wells located in downhill colonies (aOR = 7.9, [95% CI =4.7–13.2]), illiteracy (aOR =6, [95% CI = 3.6–10.1]), good hand-washing practice (aOR = 0.4, [95%CI = 0.2–0.7]) and household water treatment (aOR = 0.3, [95%CI = 0.2–0.5]) were significantly associated with illness. Two stool cultures were negative for Vibrio cholerae . Heavy rainfall was reported from June 22–24. Five of six water samples collected from shallow bore-wells located in downhill colonies were positive for faecal contamination. Conclusion An ADD outbreak with high attack rate in a remote tribal village was associated with drinking water from shallow downhill bore-wells, likely contaminated via runoff from open defecation areas after heavy rains. Based on our recommendations, immediate public health actions including repair of leakages at contaminated water sources and alternative supply of purified canned drinking water to families, and as long-term public health measures construction of house-hold latrines and piped-water supply initiated.

In this paper we have proposed a system for rescuing victims of bore well accidents. The proposed system is light in weight compared to existing methods, portable easy to handle and requires lesser manpower. The system design comprises of a four leg metal stand which supports the whole mechanical assemble the stand is of low weight therefore it is easy to transport it does not requires any heavy duty cranes. This stand has a round housing which holds the DC gear motor which controls the up and down motion of a robotic arm as the arm is connected to the motors shaft with pulley through a rope or heavy duty steel cable. The robotic arm has four mechanically operated fingers which can be opened or closed using a dc motor placed on the arm itself this motor controls the arm by tightening the cables which runs over the four finger joints just like a human arm. The two motors are controlled by an Arduino based remote control module containing buttons and toggle switch with the help of this module easy control of the system is achieved. In addition to this an ultrasonic sensor and a digital camera was also incorporated to predict the victim’s location. In order to determine the feasibility of the system a prototype was designed and fabricated. The prototype consists of all mechanical and electronics setup as discussed above but in a miniature version. The prototype has a control module which consist of LCD display, motor driver IC, Arduino microcontroller, control switches, buttons and power supply unit. This is the main electronics unit which controls and coordinates the whole systems operation. The project is intended to reduce the risk involved during the child rescues operation by analysing the simulation.

Bore well rescue operations are always challenging, as rescuing the child trapped inside bore wells must be done in the quickest possible time. In our earlier work, we have designed a bore well rescue device providing vital information about the conditions inside the bore well. In this paper, a wireless sensor fusion system is developed to collect the vital parameters such as humidity and temperature from the bore well at different climatic conditions. The sensor system is designed to provide information on the humidity level and concentration of gases inside the bore well which can aid the rescues operation. Experiments have conducted in open bore wells to access and analyses the atmospheric conditions inside bore well in the Mettupayam and Pollachi region, Tamil Nadu, India. We validated the proposed system in eight real rescue incidents with the help of Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue department, India to save the child from the bore well at different places in Tamil Nadu, India. From our rescue operations, we observed that the monitoring the vital parameters such as humidity, temperature, oxygen level, CO and other gaseous level from the bore well using our proposed wireless sensor fusion system helps the rescue and paramedical team to take necessary actions immediately for rescuing the child safely in short time.

Context: There are various regions in India that have high levels of fluoride in drinking water sources. Many people residing in such places suffer from dental fluorosis (DF). Aims: To evaluate the prevalence of DF in children residing in Salem and also to find any correlation between DF and other related factors. Materials and Methods: One school from each block of Salem (total 21 blocks) was selected for the study. A single examiner had evaluated untreated caries, lesions, and DF (for permanent anterior teeth and molars) using the Dean's fluorosis index, in all children. Water fluoride level determination at each school was done using the Tamil Nadu Water Fluoridation and Drainage Board field kit. Other factors that may have contributed to DF were assessed using a questionnaire, which was provided to each student. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using the SPSS software version 11.5. Statistical Analysis: Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results: DF was present in 56.9% of the children examined. It was mostly seen in 9 years old (72%) and male (59%) children. A positive correlation was found between the occurrence of DF and the duration of residence in a place with high water fluoride content, consumption of borewell water (64%), the parts per million of fluoride in drinking water, consumption of black tea (59%). However, no correlation was found between DF, dental caries, consumption of milk, or consumption of foods cooked in aluminum vessels. Conclusion: There was a correlation between DF and factors such as male gender, bore well water consumption, black tea consumption and the duration of residence in a place with high water fluoride content.

Experiments were conducted to select suitable plant-based bioadsorbents for the reduction of the electrical conductivity (EC) of bore well water (EC 2.20 dS m−1). Twenty-seven bioadsorbents were tested against salt reduction. Amla leaves, amla stem, prosopis leaves, calotropis flower and neem bark were efficient in reducing the EC from 1.89 to 1.77, 1.73, 1.69, 1.68 and 1.63 dS m−1 respectively. Among all, neem bark powder at 0.05% concentration was superior in reducing the salt content of bore well water (0.39 dS m−1 in 168 hours saturation time). The neem bark powder at 0.05% concentration was successfully used in an azolla multiplication tank and achieved salt reduction from 2.13 to 1.83 dS m−1. Azolla grew well in water with EC 1.83 dS m−1 having failed to grow in water having EC above 2.0 dS m−1.

Water quality monitoring exercise was carried out with water quality index (WQI) method by using water characteristics data for bore wells and a water treatment plant in Delhi city from December 2006 to August 2007. The water treatment plant received surface water as raw water, and product water is supplied after treatment. The WQI is used to classify water quality as excellent, good, medium, bad, and very bad. The National Sanitation Foundation WQI procedure was used to calculate the WQI. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 100 represents an excellent water quality condition. Water samples were collected monthly from a bore well in Nehru Camp (site 1), a bore well in Sanjay Gandhi pumping station (site 2), and water treatment plant in Haiderpur (site 3). Five parameters were analyzed, namely, nitrate, pH, total dissolved solids, turbidity, and temperature. We found that the WQI was around 73-80 in site 3, which corresponds to “good,” and it decreased to 54.32-60.19 and 59.93-70.63 in site 1 and site 2, respectively, indicating that these bore wells were classified as “medium” quality.

Geophysical techniques are normally employed to explore the subsurface and determine the anomalies but they are always much larger in dimension. However, a very precise measurement was needed to pin point a misaligned horizontal tunnel made at 47 m depth to intercept an old bore well and rescue a four year child fallen accidently on 9th November at Jagatpura village in Jaipur, India. Due to the greater depth and presence of iron casing, electric power, etc., no equipment could work to determine the orientation of the tunnel that has lost its direction. The dimension of the site and many other constrains didn't allow conventional geophysical methods to be used. An innovative method was then designed and successfully applied, which determined 1.92 m deviation of the tunnel end point to the east from the old bore well. The digging was redirected accordingly and the bore well was intercepted. This paper describes the theoretical background, forward simulations and the field experiment of the newly designed geophysical method. Copyright 2012 Geological Society of India

Groundwater depletion is experienced in several districts of Tamil Nadu state and Coimbatore district is heading in that direction. The average well failure rate is 47% for open wells and 9% for bore wells. The total cost of depletion for new wells varies from Rs 1,999 per ha to Rs 90,975 per ha. The electricity subsidy to the farmers has varied from Rs 22,621 per ha for coconut growers to Rs 25,498 per ha for banana growers as on 2004. The cost of irrigation per cubic metre (m3) is less on large farms. The average net return with free electricity varies from Rs 0.14 per m3 to Rs 1.38 per m3 and is drastically reduced when electricity is priced at an economic cost, i.e. Rs −1.15 to Rs −0.14 per m3. The shift in cropping pattern towards high value crops helped the farmers to some extent to bear the cost of externalities arising out of depletion. The social cost caused by groundwater overdraft is about Rs 554.3 million, which may increase when the well density increases further. Suggested policy options are to change the cropping pattern to less water-consuming crops, to invest in watershed development activities, to change inefficient pumpsets and to adopt well spacing norms.