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The aim of the present study was to assess the drinking water quality in the selected urban areas of Lahore and to comprehend the public health status by addressing the basic drinking water quality parameters. Total 50 tap water samples were collected from groundwater in the two selected areas of district Lahore i.e., Gulshan-e-Ravi (site 1) and Samanabad (site 2). Water samples were analyzed in the laboratory to elucidate physico-chemical parameters including pH, turbidity, temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), total hardness, magnesium hardness, and calcium hardness. These physico-chemical parameters were used to examine the Water Quality Index (WQI) and Synthetic Pollution Index (SPI) in order to characterize the water quality. Results of th selected physico-chemical parameters were compared with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines to determine the quality of drinking water. A GIS-based approach was used for mapping water quality, WQI, and SPI. Results of the present study revealed that the average value of temperature, pH, and DO of both study sites were within the WHO guidelines of 23.5 °C, 7.7, and 6.9 mg/L, respectively. The TDS level of site 1 was 192.56 mg/L (within WHO guidelines) and whereas, in site 2 it was found 612.84 mg/L (higher than WHO guidelines), respectively. Calcium hardness of site 1 and site 2 was observed within the range from 25.04 to 65.732 mg/L but, magnesium hardness values were higher than WHO guidelines. The major reason for poor water quality is old, worn-out water supply pipelines and improper waste disposal in the selected areas. The average WQI was found as 59.66 for site 1 and 77.30 for site 2. Results showed that the quality of the water was classified as “poor” for site 1 and “very poor “ for site 2. There is a need to address the problem of poor water quality and also raise the public awareness about the quality of drinking water and its associated health impacts.

The precise selection of agricultural land is essential for guaranteeing global food security and sustainable development. Additionally, agricultural land suitability (AgLS) analysis is crucial for tackling issues including resource scarcity, environmental degradation, and rising food demands. This research examines the synergies and trade-offs among the sustainable development goals (SDGs) using a hybrid geographic information system (GIS)–fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP)–geostatistical framework for AgLS analysis in Attur Taluk, India. The area was chosen for its varied agro-climatic conditions, riverine habitats, and agricultural importance. Accordingly, data from ten topographical, climatic, and soil physiochemical variables, such as slope, temperature, and soil texture, were obtained and analyzed to carry out the study. The geostatistical analysis demonstrated the spatial variability of soil parameters, providing essential insights into key factors in the study area. Based on the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the results showed that the FAHP method (AUC = 0.71) outperformed the equal-weighting scheme (AUC = 0.602). Moreover, suitability mapping designated 17.31% of the study area as highly suitable (S1), 41.32% as moderately suitable (S2), and 7.82% as permanently unsuitable (N2). The research identified reinforcing and conflicting correlations with SDGs, emphasizing the need for policies to address trade-offs. The findings showed 40% alignment to climate action (SDG 13) via improved resilience, 33% to clean water (SDG 6) by identifying low-salinity zones, and 50% to zero hunger (SDG 2) through sustainable food systems. Conflicts arose with SDG 13 (20%) due to reliance on rain-fed agriculture, SDG 15 (11%) from soil degradation, and SDG 2 (13%) due to inefficiencies in low-productivity zones. A sustainable action plan (SAP) can tackle these issues by promoting drought-resistant crops, nutrient management, and participatory land-use planning. This study can provide a replicable framework for integrating agriculture with global sustainability objectives worldwide.

Background: Lake Wanchi is one of the Ethiopian lakes that have huge ecological, socio-economic and aesthetic value. This study was conducted to assess the ecological condition of Lake Wanchi using the macroinvertebrate-based index of biotic integrity between September 2016 and should 2017. Methods: Four sampling sites (LWS 1, LWS 2, LWS 3, and LWS 4) were purposively selected. A rapid bioassessment protocol criterion was accustomed to categorize the sites. About 1249 macroinvertebrate individuals were collected using the D-frame net with a mesh size of 500µm. Physico-chemical analysis was also done to assess the link between the benthic macroinvertebrate structure and environmental factors within the system. Results: The benthic index of biotic integrity ranged from 12.54 to 100 and also the sites were categorized into three quality ranks: LWS 1 and 3 as fair, LWS 2 as good, and LWS 4 as very good.  Conclusions: The study confirmed that Lake Wanchi was largely influenced by agricultural and other anthropogenic factors. This study concluded that the benthic index of biotic integrity is an appropriate tool for water quality and ecological assessment in the lakes.

The development of pharmaceuticals brought a revolution in human health. For the therapeutic efficacy of any drug, it should be authentic, and free from impurities. These pharmaceuticals may develop impurities at various stages of their development, transportation, and storage which makes them risky to be administered thus they must be detected and quantitated. Hence, a detailed pharmaceutical study of the drug is needed, including its Authentication and Standardization. Various medicinal formulations in Ayurveda need to be analysed with modern techniques. Pippalyadi Agad is one of them. Hence, the present study,“Pharmacological analysis of a herbo-mineral formulation- Pippalyadi Agad from Yogaratnakar” was selected. Methodology- The raw drugs were procured from an authentic source. Authentication and Standardization of raw drugs was conducted. The powder of raw drugs was mixed together to make the formulation. Then Physiochemical analysis was done and results were noted. Observation and Results- Organoleptic parameters of the raw drugs and the study drug were according to the standards. The results of Standardization comply with the standards given in API. This work can provide the correct identification and Standardization of the crude drug. These findings will be helpful in establishing the Standardization of Pippalyadi Agad.

This study investigates the ecological risk of Halti Beel, one of the significant parts of the largest wetland ecosystem of Bangladesh, following the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ecological risk assessment (ERA) guidelines. Physicochemical parameters of water and sediment were analyzed in reference to Environmental Conservation Rules (ECR) and EPA standards. Socio-economic data from local communities and species data from wetland authorities were integrated through questionnaire surveys. Multispectral satellite imageries were used to evaluate the ecological risks associated with LULC changes from 2000 to 2023. ENVI Thematic Change Workflow (TCW) tool was used for LULC change dynamics analysis over 2000-2010, 2010-2023, and 2000-2023. An ecological risk model was developed using Landscape Ecological Risk Indexes (LERI) in Fragstats 4.2; risk zones were mapped, and risk levels were categorized from minimal to severe. A linear regression analysis in SPSS was done to reveal significant relationships between ecological risk and different stressors. The results indicate that the collected samples’ DO, turbidity and electric conductivity exceed the ECR, 1997, and EPA, 2012 standards. The socio-economic prospects of the area largely depend on fishing, farming, and wetland resources, which support local livelihoods despite growing environmental pressure. However, low education levels, poor sanitation, and unregulated land use challenge the local people’s socioeconomic condition. Most of the environmental and anthropogenic factors have strong connections with ecological risk and leave the current status of species highly vulnerable. The significant LULC transformation: from 2000 to 2023, 55.63 % of deep water was converted into shallow water, 11.68 % to agricultural land, and 19.52% of agricultural land was converted to rural settlements, indicating increasing anthropogenic pressure. Between 2000 and 2010, notable changes are that 60.86 % of deep water was converted into shallow water and 18.54 % shifted to agricultural land. From 2010 to 2023, a major transformation of almost half of the deep water area was converted into shallow water and 9.09 % to agricultural land. Ecological risk fluctuated over time; in 2023 ecological risk spread all over the area and middle, highest, and higher risk areas increased synchronously. Major ecological risk areas shifted to the southwest part of the area. The overall results indicate that ecological risk is increasing evidently.

The microbiological quality of water plays a crucial role in the relationship among human, animal, and environmental health. This research gives insight into the relationship between concentrations of Escherichia coli bacteria and physiochemical parameters in water, which is captured from the Butoniga reservoir and then used for treatment in the drinking water treatment plant Butoniga. Analysis was carried out using statistical analysis through the Pearson correlation coefficient and supported with PCA. The conducted analysis revealed that turbidity and Fe have the highest correlation coefficients with E. coli bacteria. Turbidity was also identified as a potential indicator for E. coli bacteria. Additionally, parameters such as Mn and UV 254 were also found to be closely related to E. coli bacteria, alongside turbidity and Fe. Furthermore, a relationship between E. coli bacteria and different water intakes was conducted. This shows that higher concentrations of E. coli bacteria were present when water was captured from lower water intakes, characterized by increased water turbidity. Thus, the research results provide important information on influential water quality parameters related to E. coli bacteria, especially in the Butoniga reservoir and related drinking water treatment plant, creating a foundation for future water quality management.

Outbreaks of Microcystis blooms can affect growth of submerged plants, which in turn can inhibit cyanobacterial growth. Microcystin (MC)-producing and non-MC-producing Microcystis strains typically coexist in Microcystis -dominated blooms. However, the interaction between submerged plants and Microcystis at strain level is not clear. This study was aimed at assessing the effects of a submerged macrophyte Myriophyllum spicatum on one MC-producing versus one non-MC-producing strains of the cyanobacterium Microcystis using plant- Microcystis co-culture experiments. The impacts of Microcystis on M. spicatum were also examined. It showed that the MC-producing Microcystis strain had a higher resistance to negative impacts by the cocultured submerged plant M. spicatum than the non-MC-producing strain. By contrast, the plant M. spicatum was impacted more by the MC-producing Microcystis than the non-MC-producer. The associated bacterioplankton community was affected more by the MC-producing Microcystis than the cocultured M. spicatum . The MC cell quotas were significantly higher in the coculture treatment (the PM + treatment, p  < 0.05), indicating that the production and release of MCs might be a key factor responsible for the reduced impact of M. spicatum . The higher concentrations of dissolved organic and reducing inorganic compounds might eventually exacerbate the recovering capacity of coexisting submerged plants. Overall, this study indicated that the capacity to produce MCs, as well as the density of Microcystis , should be taken into account when attempting to reestablish submerged vegetation to undertake remediation works.

Halabja governorate in the Kurdistan region-Iraq is famous for having high-quality pomegranate accessions. The current study was conducted to evaluate the morpho-phytochemical amount of pomegranate functional food and the genetic diversity as an important tool for the characterization of the genetic resources for germplasm management and the identification of the best genotypes for genetic improvement. There were highly significant morphometric differences ( P  ≤ 0.05) among 24 genotypes, whose mean values for fruit weight, peel thickness, and weight of 100 Arils, total flavonoid content (TFC) and total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity, total soluble solid content (TSS) were 299.21 g, 3.47 mm and 38.59 g, 54.50,47.97 µg/ml, 21.08 µg/ml and 14.59 Brix, respectively. In addition, inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) was utilized to assess the genetic diversity of the collected pomegranate genotypes. Twelve random primers of produced products plus a number of the amplified primer bands ranging from 3 to 12 and total number of 83 amplified bands were produced, among which 78 bands were polymorphic and 5 bands were monomorphic. The highest, lowest, and mean values of polymorphic bands were (11, 3, and 6.5), respectively. The PIC values ranged from 0.58 to 0.90. The dendrogram clusters for all the selections showed dissimilarity coefficients ranging from 0.22 to 0.23 (G4 vs. G5) to 0.63 (G13 vs. G14), and five groups (A, B, C, D, and F) with a mean dissimilarity (0.49). According to the results, morphometric and biochemical properties are significant aspects of development, discernment, and classification. ISSR markers allow the identification of different selections and assessing the genetic similarity among pomegranate accessions, which would facilitate their use as genetic stock in breeding programs.