Department of Environmental Science University of Kalyani, Nadia West Bengal - 741235, India Ph: +91 33 25808749 Ph: +91 9433432613 (Mob) E-mail: acsamal@gmail.com
Endeavour Postdoctoral Research in CERAR, University of South Australia, Australia with Prof. Ravi Naidu & Dr. M. M. Rahman. Attached with the Research group of Prof. S. C. Santra in the Department of Environmental Science, University of Kalyani. Working as Technical Assistant in Department of Environmental Science, University of Kalyani. West Bengal, India.
Specialization: Environmental Biology, Microbiology, Metal Toxicology emphasizing on Arsenic, Ecology & Environmental pollution.
Abstract: The presence of arsenic in irrigation water and in paddy field soil were investigated to assess the accumulation of arsenic and its distribution in the various parts (root, straw, husk, and grain) of rice plant from an arsenic effected area of West Bengal. Results showed that the level of arsenic in irrigation water (0.05â0.70 mg lâ1) was much above the WHO recommended arsenic limit of 0.01 mg lâ1 for drinking water. The paddy soil gets contaminated from the irrigation water and thus enhancing the bioaccumulation of arsenic in rice plants. The total soil arsenic concentrations ranged from 1.34 to 14.09 mg kgâ1. Soil organic carbon showed positive correlation with arsenic accumulation in rice plant, while soil pH showed strong negative correlation. Higher accumulation of arsenic was noticed in the root (6.92 ± 0.241â28.63 ± 0.225 mg kgâ1) as compared to the straw (1.18 ± 0.002â2.13 ± 0.009 mg kgâ1), husk (0.40 ± 0.004â1.05 ± 0.006 mg kgâ1), and grain (0.16 ± 0.001â0.58 ± 0.003 mg kgâ1) parts of the rice plant. However, the accumulation of arsenic in the rice grain of all the studied samples was found to be between 0.16 ± 0.001 and 0.58 ± 0.003 mg kgâ1 dry weights of arsenic, which did not exceed the permissible limit in rice (1.0 mg kgâ1 according to WHO recommendation). Two rice plant varieties, one high yielding (Red Minikit) and another local (Megi) had been chosen for the study of arsenic translocation. Higher translocation of arsenic was seen in the high yielding variety (0.194â0.393) compared to that by the local rice variety (0.099â0.161). An appreciable high efficiency in translocation of arsenic from shoot to grain (0.099â0.393) was observed in both the rice varieties compared to the translocation from root to shoot (0.040â0.108).
Abstract: Ganga-Meghna-Bramhaputra basin is one of the major arsenic-contaminated hotspot in the world. To assess the level of severity of arsenic contamination, concentrations of arsenic in irrigation water, soil, rice, wheat, common vegetables, and pulses, intensively cultivated and consumed by the people of highly arsenic affected Nadia district, West Bengal, India, were investigated. Results revealed that the arsenic-contaminated irrigation water (0.318â0.643 mg l-1) and soil (5.70â9.71 mg kg-1) considerably influenced in the accumulation of arsenic in rice, pulses, and vegetables in the study area. Arsenic concentrations of irrigation water samples were many folds higher than the WHO recommended permissible limit for drinking water (0.01 mg l-1) and FAO permissible limit for irrigation water (0.10 mg l-1). But, the levels of arsenic in soil were lower than the reported global average of 10.0 mg kg-1 and was much below the EU recommended maximum acceptable limit for agricultural soil (20.0 mg kg-1). The total arsenic concentrations in the studied samples ranged from <0.0003 to 1.02 mg kg-1. The highest and lowest mean arsenic concentrations (milligrams per kilogram) were found in potato (0.654) and in turmeric (0.003), respectively. Higher mean arsenic concentrations (milligrams per kilogram) were observed in Boro rice grain (0.451), arum (0.407), amaranth (0.372), radish (0.344), Aman rice grain (0.334), lady's finger (0.301), cauliflower (0.293), and Brinjal (0.279). Apart from a few potato samples, arsenic concentrations in the studied crop samples, including rice grain samples were found not to exceed the food hygiene concentration limit (1.0 mg kg-1). Thus, the present study reveals that rice, wheat, vegetables, and pulses grown in the study area are safe for consumption, for now. But, the arsenic accumulation in the crops should be monitored periodically as the level of arsenic toxicity in the study area is increasing day by day.
Abstract: This study proposes a practical method to estimate elemental composition and distribution in order to attribute source and quantify impacts of aerosol particles at an urban region in Kolkata, India. Twelve-hour total particulates were collected in winter (2005-2006) and analyzed by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence technique to determine multi-elemental composition, especially trace metals. The aerosols consist of various elements including K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, and Pb which exhibit significant concentration at various sites (p < 0.05). The concentration of different metallic elements were found in the order of Zn > Pb > Ni > Cu > Cr > Co. Statistical multivariate analysis and correlation matrix analyses were performed for factor identification and consequent source apportionment. Contour profiles demonstrate spatial variation of elemental compositions indicating possible source contribution along with meteorological influences. Spatial differences were clearly most significant for Zn, Ni, Pb, and Cu reflecting the importance of anthropogenic inputs, primarily from automobile sources.
Abstract: Groundwater of many areas of West Bengal, India is severely contaminated with arsenic. The paddy soil gets contaminated
from the groundwater and thus there is a probability of bioaccumulation of arsenic in rice plants cultivated with
arsenic contaminated groundwater and soil. This study aims at assessing the level of arsenic in irrigation water and soil and
to investigate the seasonal bioaccumulation of arsenic in the various parts (straw, husk and grain) of the rice plant of different
varieties in the arsenic affected two blocks (Chakdaha and Ranaghat-I) of Nadia district, West Bengal. It was found that
the arsenic uptake in rice during the pre-monsoon season is more than that of the post-monsoon season. The accumulation
of arsenic found to vary with different rice varieties; the maximum accumulation was in White minikit (0.31±0.005 mg/kg)
and IR 50 (0.29±0.001 mg/kg) rice varieties and minimum was found to be in the Jaya rice variety (0.14±0.002 mg/kg). In
rice plant maximum arsenic accumulation occurred in the straw part (0.89±0.019-1.65±0.021 mg/kg) compared to the accumulation
in husk (0.31±0.011-0.85±0.016 mg/kg) and grain (0.14±0.002-0.31±0.005 mg/kg) parts. For any rice sample
concentration of arsenic in the grain did not exceed the WHO recommended permissible limit in rice (1.0 mg/kg).
Abstract: This work describes radiation-induced effects on edible seed protein profiles, carbohydrates, amino acids
and genomic DNA during gamma sterilization. The total protein and carbohydrate was decreased with
increasing dose compared to control samples. Oryza sativa L. Cv-2233 exhibited a minimum effect in
terms of its loss in total soluble protein content, compared to other seeds at 6 kGy, and the soluble protein
fraction, containing 14â16 kDa albumins and 22 kDa globulin, was unchanged up to 6 kGy. In Cicer arietinum,
the effect of gamma rays was more pronounced on albumin and prolamin with respect to glutelin
and globulin. The easy-to-digest and difficult-to-digest proteins were not significantly affected up to
4 kGy. However, the soluble free amino acids of all the seeds increased with increasing dose. The total
DNA content and band intensities both decreased with increasing absorbed dose; however, the band
positions were unchanged for all seed types.
Abstract: Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the major food crops in many countries. As the cultivation of rice
requires huge volume of water, long term use of arsenic contaminated groundwater for irrigation may result in
the increase of arsenic concentration in the agricultural soil and eventually accumulation in rice plants. Thus
a micro level study was conducted to investigate the transfer of arsenic from irrigation water and soil to rice
plants in the arsenic affected 17 villages of Chakdaha block, Nadia district, West Bengal, India. Results showed
that the level of arsenic in irrigation water (0.11±0.012 and 0.76±0.014 mg lG1) was very much above the WHO
permissible limit of 0.01 mg lG1 for drinking water and was also above the FAO permissible limit of 0.10 mg lG1
for irrigation water. The paddy soil gets contaminated by the irrigation water and thus enhances more probable
condition for bioaccumulation of arsenic in rice plants. The total soil arsenic concentrations ranged from
1.38±0.108 to 12.27±0.094 mg kgG1 dry weight of arsenic, which was below the maximum acceptable limit for
agricultural soil of 20.0 mg kgG1 as recommended by the European Community. In the rice plant, the highest
accumulation of arsenic was noticed in the root (7.19±0.166 to 18.63±0.155 mg kgG1) and the lowest in the grain
(0.25±0.014 to 0.73±0.009 mg kgG1). Regardless of the sampling locations the arsenic accumulation follows the
order of root > straw > husk > grain. Consumption of rice straw containing considerable amount of arsenic
(1.17±0.014 to 4.15±0.033) by cattle could potentially lead to increased arsenic levels in meat or milk. As because
the total amount of arsenic in raw rice is not taken in human body due to its distribution in root, straw, husk and
grain parts and also because in any rice sample from the study area concentration of arsenic in the grain part
did not exceed 1.0 mg kgG1 dry weight of arsenic (the permissible limit of arsenic in rice according to WHO
recommendation), thus atleast for now rice has remained harmless for consumption in the study area. But the
results clearly showed that the arsenic content in rice plant is correlated to the degree of arsenic contamination
of irrigation water and soil.
Abstract: Groundwater of many areas of West Bengal, India is severely contaminated with arsenic. The paddy soil gets contaminated
from the groundwater and thus there is a probability of bioaccumulation of arsenic in rice plants cultivated with
arsenic contaminated groundwater and soil. This study aims at assessing the level of arsenic in irrigation water and soil and
to investigate the seasonal bioaccumulation of arsenic in the various parts (straw, husk and grain) of the rice plant of different
varieties in the arsenic affected two blocks (Chakdaha and Ranaghat-I) of Nadia district, West Bengal. It was found that
the arsenic uptake in rice during the pre-monsoon season is more than that of the post-monsoon season. The accumulation
of arsenic found to vary with different rice varieties; the maximum accumulation was in White minikit (0.31±0.005 mg/kg)
and IR 50 (0.29±0.001 mg/kg) rice varieties and minimum was found to be in the Jaya rice variety (0.14±0.002 mg/kg). In
rice plant maximum arsenic accumulation occurred in the straw part (0.89±0.019-1.65±0.021 mg/kg) compared to the accumulation
in husk (0.31±0.011-0.85±0.016 mg/kg) and grain (0.14±0.002-0.31±0.005 mg/kg) parts. For any rice sample
concentration of arsenic in the grain did not exceed the WHO recommended permissible limit in rice (1.0 mg/kg).
Abstract: In the present investigation, growth of the organisms was reduced due to presence of arsenic (III) and (V) in the culture medium. In comparison to arsenic (V), arsenic (III) had more toxic effect on microalgae. Among the different algal strains, blue green algal species Oscillatoria-Lyngbya mixed culture showed maximum efficiency in removing arsenic (64%) after 21 days of incubation and the same algal species could remove arsenic (III), but 60% after 21 days when incubated in 0.1 mg/l arsenic (III) containing medium. Maximum removal was observed at their exponential growth phase and also so sometime extended to the stationary phase.
Abstract: It is well known that degradative enzymes' activity increase with stress or senescence phase of plant life. Thus such enzymatic activities may be taken into consideration in monitoring effect of pollutants on selective biota even at sublethal concentrations. The peroxidase(POD) activity in respect with water pollutants load in aquatic macrophytic system was studied in present investigation. It was noticed that in three experimental plants viz. Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes and Alternanthera philloxeroides the root zone peroxidase enzyme activities increased three to five fold in polluted water. This is found to be a sensitive biomonitoring system for rapid assessment of water quality in respect with organic materials or toxic heavymetal loading.
Abstract: Groundwater arsenic concentration is now widely recorded from different part of world, now it becomes a global problem. The arsenic found in several oxidation states, +5(arsenate), +3(arsenite), 0(arsenic) and â3(arsenic). The large scale of withdrawal of ground water increases the mobilisation of arsenic concentration and thus causing serious problem to the community. Thus the removal of arsenic from arsenic contaminated water is now important. In the present study carried out to find out the microbial removal potential of arsenic using some soil fungi. In this case selected fungal strains, viz. Aspergillus flavus, Rhizopus microsporus and Penicillium sp. were taken and studies their efficiency of arsenic removal in culture medium using different concentration of As(III) and As(V) in 4 days interval. It has been found that a considerable removal of arsenic shows in all cases but the strain Penicillium sp. shows the maximum removal efficiency in 0.1mg/l arsenic (V) concentration at 12 days incubation.
Abstract: Mercury, a highly toxic metal is known for adverse effects in the ecosystem health. A study was carried out to find out the mercury residues in vegetables and fishes produced in and around some industrial areas of West Bengal. Mercury residue was analyzed in three marketable vegetables (i.e. leafy, fruit and underground tuber type) and fishes (bottom dweller, middle layer and surface water) using a cold vapor Mercury Analyzer (Model MA 5840, ECIL). It has been found that the mercury content of all the vegetables and fishes are significantly higher than the control site. Among these fruity vegetables and bottom dwelling fishes have maximum mercury residues. All the vegetables and fishes of the study area are found to have the mercury residue, may affects in tropic components and human health.
Abstract: Plant can act as an indicator of environmental pollution by changing its anatomical, biochemical and physiological features. This has been well recognized in the past. In Kalyani township a case of study was undertaken to determine the extent of air pollution and its impact on some dominant local flora by studying their anatomico-biochemical features of leaves in a comparative manner. The total chlorophyll content, epidermal thickness, stomatal length and breadth of the leaves were found to decrease while the leaf thickness, stomatal frequency were found to increase in case of pollution stress plants with respect to control plant population of non polluted habitat. This indicate that the pollutants have imparted direct adverse effect on biochemical and anatomical make-up of the population stressed plant.
Abstract: West Bengal is one of the severely arsenic affected states in India. Over 500 million people are at risk through arsenic poisoning in the Ganga-Meghna-Brahmaputra plain (6 Chakraborti et al., 2004; 16 Pal et al., 2007). Nine out of eighteen districts of the state of West Bengal are reported to have groundwater arsenic contamination (5 Chakraborty et al., 2002). Among the affected districts, North 24-Parganas deserves special mention. More than 95% of the people here depend on the groundwater for drinking, cooking and other domestic uses and major amount of groundwater is also used for irrigation of crops specially during non-monsoon period. Thus there is a chance of land contamination and accumulation of arsenic through agricultural products grown in contaminated soil and water. The exposure to arsenic may involve a number of pathways through ecosystem. This indicates that water-soil-crop-food transfer as well as cooking and direct intake of drinking water may be the major pathway of arsenic entry in man and higher animal system. A number of people are thus suffering from arsenic induced skin lesions and other symptoms.
