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Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Food & water under threat from microplastics in fields, rivers across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh
Hyderabad: Microplastics are emerging as a silent threat in landfills in Hyderabad, Godavari river and agricultural land across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Recent scientific research has identified alarming levels of microplastics in Godavari and associated water bodies in Telangana and AP. A study published in the Journal of Environmental Management in 2025 examined surface water and water treatment plants in West Godavari. It found 330 microplastics (MPs) particles in river surface water from 15 samples and 121 MPs in six samples in water treatment plant. These MPs, primarily composed of blue and transparent fibres smaller than 500 micrometres (µm), were traced to commonly used plastic polymers, including polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate, nylon, and polyethene terephthalate (PET). Larger MPs exceeding 3,000 µm were observed in treated water. Risk indices used in the study, including the Pollution Load Index and Ecological Risk Index, suggested that the type of polymer, rather than quantity, posed significant environmental risks. Researchers said India generates 9.3 million tonnes of plastic annually, accounting for over 20% of global plastic pollution due to poor waste management. They suggested the need for improved control around urban run-off and water treatment protocols to address its menace in rivers. Soil Contamination Through Irrigation And Landfills The ecological threat is not limited to rivers. Another review titled 'Microplastic Contamination in Agricultural Soils Across India: A Systematic Review of Studies and Research Gaps' analysed data from 73 studies conducted between 2020 and 2024. It revealed significant risks of microplastic infiltration into soil across India, particularly in Telangana and AP. In Hyderabad, fields near Jawahar Nagar landfill are at risk due to leachate infiltration into underground water. These pollutants can enter irrigation networks and eventually accumulate in fields. This finding is supported by a separate 2023 study titled 'Preliminary Evidence of Microplastics in Landfill Leachate, Hyderabad, India' (Process Safety and Environmental Protection journal). The use of polluted water for irrigation, plastic mulch in farming, and improper waste management are major contributors to soil microplastic contamination. In AP, land irrigated with water from Godavari, which is already confirmed to contain MPs, face similar risks. Northern coastal regions are especially vulnerable due to atmospheric deposition and run-off from contaminated beach sediments. Gaps In Southern India's Research On Plasticulture And Wastewater Irrigation While plastic-based farming such as mulching and drip irrigation are widespread in Telangana and AP, their contribution to soil microplastic level is poorly studied. Additionally, peri-urban agriculture in cities such as Hyderabad often uses treated and untreated municipal wastewater, yet few studies assessed the MP levels. Moreover, there is no clear understanding of how microplastics interact with specific soil types found in the region. There are also no studies assessing microplastic uptake in major southern crops such as rice, pulses and millets, raising worries about food safety and long-term soil health. The existing evidence highlights an urgent need for policy intervention, localised scientific research and enhanced waste and water management to curb the spread of microplastics.
The Print
25-05-2025
- Science
- The Print
IIT-Guwahati develops sustainable solution using mushroom waste for wastewater treatment
The findings of this research have been published in the prestigious Journal of Environmental Management. The technology — BHEEMA (Biochar-based Hydrological Enzyme regulated Efficient Mechanism for Antibiotics removal) employs laccase-mediated degradation to remove antibiotics from wastewater, preventing the formation of toxic byproducts commonly associated with conventional treatment methods. New Delhi, May 25 (PTI) Researchers at IIT-Guwahati have developed an eco-friendly alternative to conventional wastewater treatment methods by combining biochar derived from Spent Mushroom Waste and laccase, a natural enzyme, according to officials. The developed system has been recognised as the top seventh finalist under the Water Sanitation theme of the Vishwakarma Awards 2024, organised by the Maker Bhavan Foundation. According to Sudip Mitra, the Head of the School of Agro and Rural Technology at IIT Guwahati, the research team targeted the removal of harmful fluoroquinolone group of antibiotics, including Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, and Norfloxacin, generally found in hospital discharge, industrial effluents and surface water. 'Contrary to traditional wastewater treatment methods such as advanced oxidation and membrane reactors, which are both costly and generate secondary pollutants, our approach uses laccase, a naturally occurring enzyme, to degrade the contaminants. 'To make the enzyme stable for reusability, our research group immobilised it on biochar derived from spent mushroom waste, an easily available agro-waste product in this region,' Mitra told PTI. The developed biochar is a cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable alternative to activated charcoal. On a lab scale, within three hours of application, the developed system achieved 90–95 per cent degradation efficiency of the fluoroquinolone antibiotics. 'Another key feature of the developed system is that the byproducts recorded in the degradation process are non-toxic, making the technology sustainable and safe for the environment,' said Anamika Ghose, a PhD scholar. The prototype has been developed in collaboration with Latha Rangan, a professor at the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT-Guwahati, along with her research scholars. At a laboratory scale, the developed prototype costs between Rs 4,000–5,000, covering materials, enzyme immobilization, and reactor setup, making it a feasible option for scaling up and adoption in both urban and rural settings. In the next step, the research team is working towards scaling up the developed prototype by engaging with stakeholders for field testing and market validation. The research team recently organized a hands-on training session for farmers on Biochar preparation and its multiple benefits for agriculture. Conducted in collaboration with the District Agricultural Office of Morigaon at their office premise, a total of 30 local farmers attended the training session. PTI GJS GJS NSD NSD This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Hindu
23-04-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Region-specific adaptation strategies and integrated water resources management need of the hour for tackling climate change in Kerala, says study
A new paper in the Journal of Environmental Management (Elsevier) has highlighted the need for region-specific adaptation strategies and integrated water resources management in Kerala for tackling climate change challenges. The paper, 'Climate warming modifies hydrological responses in the southern Western Ghats and the western coastal plains (India): Insights from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6-Variable Infiltration Capacity (CMIP6-VIC) simulations,' places special emphasis on Kerala. It observes that global warming could intensify the hydrological cycle across the study region, altering precipitation and temperature patterns, elevating the risk of floods, landslides and drought. Climate projections forecast an increase in temperature anomalies and extreme precipitation events (EPEs) during the monsoon season in future. Further, the region is projected to experience steadily increasing minimum and maximum temperatures throughout the 21st century at annual and seasonal scales under two shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP245 and SSP585) scenarios. The region is projected to experience up to a 20 % increase in annual precipitation, with EPEs potentially increasing by up to 16 %, it says. Integrated management of water resources is vital to ensure sustainable water availability, hydropower generation and farm productivity, it says. The study was carried out by a team from multiple institutions including those under Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Madras and Palakkad; National Institute of Technology, Warangal; Indian Institute of Human Settlements, Bengaluru, University of Mississippi, Pennsylvania State University and the Purdue University. The study was undertaken acknowledging the need for a region-specific assessment, especially in the context of the recurring disasters in Kerala, K.P. Sudheer, Executive Vice President, KSCSTE, and co-author of the paper, told The Hindu. In recent times, Kerala has experienced major disasters almost on a yearly basis, including the destructive floods of 2018 and 2019 and the 2024 Wayanad landslides. The paper notes that the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events (EPE) pose significant challenges for society and planning engineers, particularly in the design of climate-resilient infrastructure. 'It is necessary to conduct thorough, scenario-based evaluations of potential future climate conditions to anticipate and mitigate unexpected consequences, including the elevated risk of flooding due to more frequent and severe EPEs. Incorporating climate change projections into the design of climate-resilient urban stormwater management infrastructure through rigorous modeling studies is also essential,' it says. The Centre for Water Resources Development and Management, Kozhikode, and the Institute of Climate Change Studies, Kottayam, were the KSCSTE institutions involved in the study.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists make game-changing discovery about the hidden factor threatening honeybees worldwide: 'May need to adapt their practices'
Scientists are developing strategies for sub-Saharan beekeepers to contend with the changing climate and allow their honeybee colonies to shine. Mongabay reported on the results of a yearlong study in Kenya that was published in the Journal of Environmental Management. It revealed that effects from climate change cost beekeepers 36% of their colonies on average. The biggest culprit for the beekeepers was hot and dry conditions, which created losses of up to 31.9%. Wet and cold periods produced losses of up to 20.2%. The study included interviews with 589 Kenyan beekeepers from a variety of the country's microclimates. Honeybees play a huge role in the Kenyan economy. They aid agriculture as crucial pollinators of plants, and are moneymakers for beekeepers as producers of coveted products like honey, beeswax, and royal jelly. For those reasons, there are worldwide programs devoted to honeybee that, scientists had very little to go on when it came to the climate's effect on Kenyan honeybee colonies, per Mongabay. Study co-author Malena Sibaja Leyton noted the study provided the "first large-scale estimates of honeybee livestock decrease in Kenya." While the study uncovered the negative effects of heat waves and stormy periods, there were some remedies for Kenyan beekeepers. Leyton said the study found "water supplementation as an adaptive management strategy, reducing livestock decrease by up to 10% during the dry and hot season." Other strategies suggested by Leyton included relocating bee colonies, supplementing feeding, and creating shade for the bees during hot periods. Daniel Waigwa, a beekeeper manager of Urban Beekeepers, agreed with the study's conclusions in comments to Mongabay. "Kenyan beekeepers may need to adapt their practices, such as relocating hives, providing supplementary feeding or water and selecting bee strains more resilient to heat and the ever-changing environmental conditions," Waigwa said. With global temperatures reaching record highs in the summer of 2024, the impacts are increasingly being felt by global agriculture. These changes have struck close to home in Kenya when it comes to plum farming, which local farmers had to jettison due to failing crops. While honeybees have shown remarkable resilience to hot weather by altering their flying patterns, this study shows that it does negatively affect them. There are concerning signs when it comes to honeybees' survival, and mounting threats like light pollution could test them even more. Should the government be able to control how we heat our homes? Definitely Only if it saves money I'm not sure No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Ezekiel Ndunda, a lecturer at Kenya's Kenyatta University, told Mongabay that the next step for scientists is to expand the scope of their study. "The interaction between temperature and precipitation emphasizes the complexity of climate impacts on beekeeping, thus the need for even longer study periods," Ndunda explained. "We need to integrate climate change models to predict future scenarios for honeybee populations, examining how projected changes in temperature and precipitation will likely affect beekeeping." Ndunda concluded by suggesting investigating other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and taking into account socioeconomic factors to help guide Kenyan beekeepers as effectively as possible. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
