Hydrogeochemical characterization of groundwater and their associated potential health risks.

The present study assessed the human health risk exposure from the consumption of poor quality groundwater in the Lucknow area, a part of Central Ganga alluvial plain in India. Around 27 (n = 27) groundwater samples were collected from the study area. The analytical results of the samples (n = 27) collected indicate silicate and carbonate weathering is the dominant process along with cation exchange, sulfide oxidation, and reverse ion exchange. The type of groundwater is Ca2-Na-HCO3- type having all cations and anions within permissible WHO limits except for iron (Fe2+) and nitrate (NO3-). The high concentrations of Fe2 and NO3- in samples indicate the possibility of a non-geogenic point source for the same in an urban-influenced environment. The ionic concentration of dissolved constituents is used in weighted overlay analysis to generate the water quality index (WQI). WQI indicates that most urban areas (~ 98.52%) have fallen in the good to excellent category except few situated in the highly populated parts of Lucknow. The ionic concentrations of Fe2+ and NO3- have been further used to estimate human health risk by integrating regional urban population density data in Lucknow. The risk map shows alarming risks in the west-central part, where nearly ~ 35% of the total area is at moderate to high health risk.

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in Gomti-Ganga Alluvial Plain, associated human health risks assessment and potential remediation using novel-nanomaterials.

The health risks associated with consumption of water from river Gomti polluted with potentially toxic elements (PTEs), including As, Fe, Pb, Cd, Mn, Cr, Ni, and Hg were investigated at the initiation of unlocking of COVID-19 lockdown and compared with pre-COVID-19 lockdown status. In the current investigation, the total hazard index (THI) values exceeded the acceptable limit of "unity" at all sampling stations. The use of river water for drinking and domestic purposes by millions of people with high THI values has emerged as a matter of huge concern. The individual hazard quotients associated with Cd and Pb were found to be most severe (> 1). A vivid difference between the THI values during the two study phases indicated the positive impact of COVID-19 lockdown signifying the prominent impact of anthropogenic activities on the PTE concentrations. The closure of local manufacturing units (textile, battery, etc.) emerged as a potential reason for decreased health risks associated with PTE levels. The higher susceptibility of children to health risks in comparison with adults through the values of THI and HQs was interpreted across the study area. Potential remedial measures for PTE contamination have also been suggested in the study.

Evaluation of water quality using water quality index, synthetic pollution index, and GIS technique: a case study of the river Gomti, Lucknow, India.

The river Gomti, one of India's most polluted rivers, passing through Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, has been selected for this study. An attempt has been made to assess its water quality status by combining the water quality index (WQI) and synthetic pollution index (SPI). Further, the data integration with the geographic information system (GIS) along with twelve water quality parameters for the seven sampling stations (S1 to S7) over 5 years (2013-2017) has been performed. The study area showed a variation of WQI from 78.993 to 249.388 and SPI from 0.868 to 2.096 in 5 years. The map interpolated through GIS revealed that the WQI falls into the category of severely polluted (76-100) and unsuitable for human consumption (> 100), while SPI lies in the category of moderately polluted (0.5-1.0) and severally polluted (1.0-3.0). The BOD and COD were found to significantly influence the WQI and SPI scores. With the constant release of waste effluents into the river, all selected parameters increased from S1 to S7. Based on the study, effective wastewater management is immediately required to improve water quality and support any sustainable river restoration plan.

Concentration, source apportionment and potential carcinogenic risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in roadside soils.

PAHs are organic pollutants that have carcinogenic and mutagenic impacts on human health and are a subject of great concern. The soil-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the urban areas can be very lethal to human health. The concentrations, sources, and possible cancer risks of 15 PAHs were analysed by collecting roadside soil samples in Lucknow, India. The range of ∑15PAHs was found to be 478.94 ng/g to 8164.07 ng/g with a mean concentration of 3748.23 ng/g. The highest contribution (32.5%) was found to be from four-ring PAHs, followed by six-ring (24.5%) and five-ring (16.7%) PAHs. The source apportionment through diagnostic ratios ANT/(ANT + PHE) against FL-2/(FL-2+PYR) highlighted the dominance of petroleum, wood, coal, and grass combustion as sources of PAHs in the study area. Source apportionment was also done through positive matrix factorization, confirming the dominance of 'vehicular emissions' (49%), followed by 'coal and biomass combustion' (∼39%), and 'leakages, volatilization and petroleum combustion' (∼12%) as potential sources. The results from lifetime cancer risks (ILCR) varied in the range of 7.5 × 10-4 and 1.3 × 10 × -2 illustrating 'high cancer risk'. The total cancer risk susceptibility of children was found to be 31% more than that of adults. The highest risk associated with toxic equivalent concentration (TEQ) was found at site S8 highlighting the impact of the presence of an international airport, and huge traffic load. The present study will prove to be useful for information related to human exposure to PAHs content in soil in the study area and as baseline study for policy makers, stakeholders, and researchers.

Environmental contamination by heavy metals and associated human health risk assessment: a case study of surface water in Gomti River Basin, India.

The aim of the present study was to assess the status of heavy metal contamination and health risks associated with the use of water from River Gomti by millions of people. The value of the degree of contamination (Cd) was found to be '11.93', signifying 'high' risk levels due to heavy metal contamination in River Gomti across an approximate stretch of 61 km including upstream, midstream, and downstream locations of Lucknow city. The potential sources of heavy metal pollution in River Gomti include both sewage and industrial effluents, being transported by drains which overflow into the river. The heavy metals were found to have low mobility owing to the 'near neutral' pH of river water. The findings from the human health risk assessment revealed that the hazard index associated with non-carcinogenic risks exceeded the permissible limits at all sampling stations. The highest health risk was found at Bharwara sewage treatment plant discharge point, downstream of Lucknow city signifying the elevated levels of heavy metal in the river water post treatment from Bharwara STP. The results of carcinogenic risk assessment suggested that children were more susceptible to health risks, and immediate remedial measures are required to control the elevated levels of heavy metals at all the sampling stations.

Prevalence and Predictors of Mental Health Disorder Among the Adolescent Living in the Slums of Lucknow, India: A Cross-Sectional Study.

India is the home of more than 253 million adolescents, which account for almost 21% of the country's population. In the recent past, there has been a rise in the prevalence of mental illness and maladaptive behaviours among adolescents living in slum populations, which are increasing at an alarming rate in many developing countries, mainly due to rural-urban migration, are characterized by poverty, poor housing, overcrowding, poor environment, and high prevalence of communicable diseases. This neglected population has become a major reservoir for a broad spectrum of adverse health conditions. Studies on the mental health status among adolescents in India are relatively scarce. The main objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of mental health disorder and its determinants among adolescents in slum settings in Lucknow, India; by using GHQ-12. The study used cross-sectional primary data which was collected in 2015-2016 from the adolescents living in various slums of Lucknow city. About 590 adolescents whose parents gave consent to participate were included in the study. Descriptive statistics, Chi square test and ordered logistic regression analysis (OLR) technique were used to assess the mental health. Reliability of GHQ-12 was assessed before performing the analysis which was found to be 0.79. Approximately, 33% of adolescents were found to suffer from severe level of mental disorder. The results of this study depicts that adolescents of age 12-15 years had more severe mental health problems compares to 16-19 years of adolescents. Females were more likely to suffer from severe mental health problems compared to moderate/normal mental health problems (OR 1.72; p < 0.001). Odds of severe mental health problems was significantly higher among Muslims (OR 1.66; p < 0.001) than Hindus. Thus, it was found that age, gender, education, caste, household economic status, media exposure and religion to be significantly associated with mental health problem. Government should provide a wide range of adolescent friendly health services (clinical, mental, nutritional, including counselling) in these slums for a better adolescent health outcome.

Impact of school health education program on personal hygiene among school children of Lucknow district.

BACKGROUND: Personal hygiene plays a major role to promote healthy life. This study was performed to assess the current level of knowledge and practicing behavior in regard to hand washing, bathing, tooth brushing, and taking care of nail and hair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 800 students of Lucknow district. All the students were interviewed with a structured questionnaire (pretest). A visual display of good and bad personal hygiene was shown on projector and explained the benefits of good personal hygiene behavior. Again, structured questionnaire was given (posttest). RESULTS: Most of the students belonged to the 10-12 years age group. The knowledge of the students regarding general body cleanliness was 87.5% in posttest as compared to 53.8% in pretest. Keeping the hair well-trimmed was considered as a part of personal hygiene by 38.0% of students. Knowledge about eating less food in diarrhea was positive in 80% of students. Only 12.5% of students accepted that diarrhea can kill children (pretest) while 100% (posttest) children were aware of this fact. Practice regarding change of clothes was on alternate day in 79.5% of students. Most of the students were found washing their hair once a week (72.5%) and 70% students were washing hands before meal. CONCLUSION: Overall trend of knowledge and practice about personal hygiene was in poor condition among students at the time of pretest. Posttest results were highly satisfactory.

RmtC and RmtF 16S rRNA Methyltransferase in NDM-1-Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

We investigated 16S rRNA methyltransferases in 38 blaNDM-1-positive Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates and found RmtC in 3 isolates, 1 of which also harbored RmtF. The isolates were clonally unrelated; rmtC and rmtF genes were located on a chromosome with the blaNDM-1 gene. Strategies are needed to limit the spread of such isolates.

Epidemiological characteristics of patients attending for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis at the infectious diseases hospital of lucknow, India.

AIMS: The objective of the study was to assess epidemiological and anti-rabies vaccination status in animal bite patients attending the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Lucknow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A longitudinal survey was conducted in the Infectious Diseases Hospital of Lucknow from January to December 2013. During this duration a total of 390 patients presenting with animal bites were included. RESULTS: A majority (63.3%) of patients were in the 16-59 years age group. 75% of patients had attended the IDH for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) within 24 hours. The male to female ratio was 2.98:1. A majority (79.5%) of patients were injured by dogs. 9.0% patients were in close contact with rabies patient. On the basis of WHO classification, 4.2% of animal bite patients were placed in grade I, 88.2 in grade II and 7.6% in grade III. In 73.3% of patients wound were in lower limbs. Complete vaccination was found in 65.0% and the use of human rabies immune globulin was only in 11.1%. CONCLUSION: Outcome of an animal bite can be fatal. The only preventive/curative measure available is anti-rabies vaccination and the use of human rabies immune globulin, hence to assure 100% compliance for the same awareness campaign is required.

Hospital waste management in nonteaching hospitals of lucknow city, India.

OBJECTIVE: To assess hospital waste management in nonteaching hospitals of Lucknow city. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted on the staffs of nonteaching hospitals of Lucknow from September 2012 to March 2013. A total of eight hospitals were chosen as the study sample size. Simple random sampling technique was used for the selection of the nonteaching hospitals. A pre-structured and pre-tested interview questionnaire was used to collect necessary information regarding the hospitals and biomedical waste (BMW) management of the hospitals. The general information about the selected hospitals/employees of the hospitals was collected. RESULTS: Mean hospital waste generated in the eight nonteaching hospitals of Lucknow was 0.56 kg/bed/day. About 50.5% of the hospitals did not have BMW department and colored dustbins. In 37.5% of the hospitals, there were no BMW records and segregation at source. Incinerator was used only by hospital A for treatment of BMW. Hospital G and hospital H had no facilities for BMW treatment. CONCLUSION: There is a need for appropriate training of staffs, strict implementation of rules, and continuous surveillance of the hospitals of Lucknow to improve the BMW management and handling practices.

Social Determinants and its Influence on the Prevalence of Morbidity among Adolescent Girls.

BACKGROUND: The adolescent girls are more vulnerable, particularly in developing countries including India, due to various adverse socio-cultural and economic reasons. Majority of the health problems affecting adolescent girls are preventable by promotion of hygienic practices through proper health education by the teachers. AIM: This study was designed to examine the various factors influencing the prevalence of morbidity among school-going adolescent girls of Lucknow district in north India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in urban and rural schools of Lucknow district from 2008 to 2009. Multistage random sampling was used to select the requisite number of girls. A total of 847 adolescent girls between 10 and 19 years of age were interviewed, and information regarding their socio-demographic characteristics was collected and clinical examination was carried out. Statistical analyses were done using percentage and Chi-square test. RESULTS: Of 847 adolescent girls, around 64.8% were found to be sick at the time of the study. Significant association of morbidity was observed with caste, birth order, type of family, socioeconomic status (SES), living status with parents/guardian, and general personal hygiene (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study reveals a high prevalence of morbidity. A strong need exists for planning and programming intervention activities for health needs in the area.