Evaluation of sludge quality in Indian sewage treatment plants to develop quality control indices.

Dewatered sludges from twenty-two sewage treatment facilities were characterized to develop the quality control indices in India. This study used fertilizer index (FI) and clean index (CI) as a tool for categorizing sludge utilization into different classes (A, B, C and limited use classes LU-1, LU-2, LU-3) by their fertilizing potential, toxicity level, pathogen presence, and vector attraction reduction criteria. The findings revealed that total P (as P2O5), total N, and K (as K2O) in the sludge samples ranged from 0.9 to 5.7%, 1.2 to 3.8%, and 0.1 to 1.5%, respectively. Moreover, all sludges belong to Class C and lower category due to the presence of toxic metals and pathogens. The helminth eggs were found in the range of 25-1450 Numbers/4gTS in sludge samples. The highest number of helminth eggs of 1450/4 g of TS was found in the fecal sludge. The specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR) values in the sludge samples varied from 0.3 to 4.9, with a median value of 1.3 and an RSD of 86% is way too high. It indicates that the sludge samples need further treatment to be less attractive as a food source for vectors and rodents. However, sludge samples have fertilizing potential and FI values ranges from 4.1 to 4.9, and CI value ranges from 2.5 to 5.0. It indicates that compost is best in quality and has high-fertilizer potential and low heavy-metal content, which is suitable for high-value crops such as organic farming. Further sludge treatment using typical composting, aerobic or anaerobic digestion, and solar or thermal drying could bring the sludges into the Class A and B categories.

Global distribution of pesticides in freshwater resources and their remediation approaches.

The role of pesticides in enhancing global agricultural production is magnificent. However, their unmanaged use threatens water resources and individual health. A significant pesticide concentration leaches to groundwater or reaches surface waters through runoff. Water contaminated with pesticides may cause acute or chronic toxicity to impacted populations and exert adverse environmental effects. It necessitates the monitoring and removing pesticides from water resources as prime global concerns. This work reviewed the global occurrences of pesticides in potable water and discussed the conventional and advanced technologies for the removal of pesticides. The concentration of pesticides highly varies in freshwater resources across the globe. The highest concentration of α-HCH (6.538 µg/L, at Yucatan, Mexico), lindane (6.08 µg/L at Chilka lake, Odisha, India), 2,4, DDT (0.90 µg/L, at Akkar, Lebanon), chlorpyrifos (9.1 µg/L, at Kota, Rajasthan, India), malathion (5.3 µg/L, at Kota, Rajasthan, India), atrazine (28.0 µg/L, at Venado Tuerto City, Argentina), endosulfan (0.78 µg/L, at Yavtmal, Maharashtra, India), parathion (4.17 µg/L, at Akkar, Lebanon), endrin (3.48 µg/L, at KwaZuln-Natl Province, South Africa) and imidacloprid (1.53 µg/L, at Son-La province, Vietnam) are reported. Pesticides can be significantly removed through physical, chemical, and biological treatment. Mycoremediation technology has the potential for up to 90% pesticide removal from water resources. Complete removal of the pesticides through a single biological treatment approach such as mycoremediation, phytoremediation, bioremediation, and microbial fuel cells is still a challenging task, however, the integration of two or more biological treatment approaches can attain complete removal of pesticides from water resources. Physical methods along with oxidation methods can be employed for complete removal of pesticides from drinking water.

Evaluation of Clinicopathological Findings on 255 cases of Inoperable Locally Advanced Breast Carcinoma: A Tertiary Care Experience.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in the Indian female population. LABC and metastatic breast cancer are the most common stages at presentation in most low-resource countries. Although the incidence of LABC has decreased significantly in countries with enhanced resources thanks to widespread education and screening programs, it remains a daily encounter for surgeons and oncologists in low-resource countries. Neoadjuvant therapy has been studied widely for the treatment of LABC and is followed by locoregional therapy. OBJECTIVES: As per our hospital data, breast cancer is also found to be the second leading malignancy in women and locally advanced breast cancer is the most common type of breast cancer. Hence, we undertook this study to evaluate the clinical profile, histopathologic types and grade of the disease in our patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was undertaken over a period of three years comprising of 255 patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy following neoadjuvant chemotherapy after preliminary diagnosis of carcinoma on histopathological examination of the trucut biopsy specimens. Clinicopathological evaluation was done in all of these cases following standard protocols. RESULTS: The study comprised of 252 female patients and 3 male patients in the age range of 26 to 70 years. Majority (255, 66.6%) of the cases were within the age range of 31­60 years. Three females had bilateral breast cancer. Invasive ductal carcinoma no special type was the most common histopathologic pattern, and was seen in 254 (98.4%) cases. Most tumors were Scarff Bloom Richardson grade II and American Joint Committee on Cancer pathologic stage 3. CONCLUSIONS: The present study has provided information about the clinicopathological aspects of locally advanced breast cancer in patients who are from rural areas. LABC remains a daily encounter and challenge for medical and surgical oncologists in developing low-resource countries. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is recommended for inoperable LABC at all resource levels.

Daily consumption of foods and nutrients from institutional and home sources among young children attending two contrasting day-care centers in Guatemala City

Adequate nutrition is critical to child development and institutions such as day-care centers could potentially complement children’s diets to achieve optimal daily intakes. The aim of the study was to describe the full-day diet of children, examining and contrasting the relative contribution of home-derived versus institutional energy and nutrient sources. The present comparison should be considered in the domain of a case-study format. The diets of 33, 3-6 y old children attending low-income day-care centers serving either 3 or a single meal were examined. The home-diet was assessed by means of 3 non-consecutive 24-hr recalls. Estimated energy and nutrient intakes at the centers and at home were assessed and related to Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNI). Nutrient densities, critical densities and main sources of nutrients were computed. We observed that in children attending the day-care center serving three meals, home-foods contributed less than half the daily energy (47.7%) and between 29.9% and 53.5% of daily nutrients. In children receiving only lunch outside the home, energy contribution from the home was 83.9% and 304 kcal lower than for children receiving 3 meals. Furthermore, between 59.0% and 94.8% of daily nutrients were provided at home. Daily energy, nutrient intakes and nutrient densities were well above the nutrient requirements for this age group, and particularly high for vitamin A. The overall dietary variety was superior in the situation of greater contribution of home fare, but overall the nutrient density and adequacy of the aggregate intakes did not differ in any important manner.

Ingesta diaria de alimentos y nutrientes provenientes de la dieta institucional y del hogar en niños que asisten a dos centros de cuidado infantil contrastantes en la ciudad de Guatemala. Una adecuada nutrición es crítica para el desarrollo infantil. Los centros de cuidado infantiles (CCI) podrían jugar un papel fundamental en la complementación de la ingesta de alimentos y nutrientes. El propósito de este estudio fue describir la dieta de niños, comparando la contribución relativa de energía y nutrientes de la dieta-hogar e institucional. El presente estudio debe ser considerado como una presentación de caso. Se examinó la dieta de 33 niños de 3-6 años que asisten a dos CCI utilizados por familias de escasos recursos y con diferencias en número de comidas servidas. Se determinó la dieta-hogar utilizando 3 recordatorios de 24-horas en días no-consecutivos. Se calculó la ingesta estimada de energía y nutrientes en las instituciones y en casa y se comparó con las Ingestas Recomendadas de Nutrientes. Se determinó la densidad de nutrientes y principales fuentes. Se observó que los alimentos consumidos en el hogar contribuyeron 47.7% de la energía diaria y entre 29.9% y 53.5% de los nutrientes diarios requeridos para los niños con 3 comidas en el CCI y de 83.9%, 59.0 y 94.8%, respectivamente, para los niños que consumen únicamente el almuerzo en el CCI. La ingesta diaria de energía fue 304 kcal mayor en los niños que consumieron 3 comidas fuera del hogar. No hubo mayor variación en las dietas cuando mayor era el consumo de alimentos en el hogar, sin embargo la densidad nutricional y la adecuación de la dieta completa fue adecuada en ambos centros, y particularmente elevadas para la vitamina A.

Daily consumption of foods and nutrients from institutional and home sources among young children attending two contrasting day-care centers in Guatemala City.

Adequate nutrition is critical to child development and institutions such as day-care centers could potentially complement children's diets to achieve optimal daily intakes. The aim of the study was to describe the full-day diet of children, examining and contrasting the relative contribution of home-derived versus institutional energy and nutrient sources. The present comparison should be considered in the domain of a case-study format. The diets of 33, 3-6 y old children attending low-income day-care centers serving either 3 or a single meal were examined. The home-diet was assessed by means of 3 non-consecutive 24-hr recalls. Estimated energy and nutrient intakes at the centers and at home were assessed and related to Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNI). Nutrient densities, critical densities and main sources of nutrients were computed. We observed that in children attending the day-care center serving three meals, home-foods contributed less than half the daily energy (47.7%) and between 29.9% and 53.5% of daily nutrients. In children receiving only lunch outside the home, energy contribution from the home was 83.9% and 304 kcal lower than for children receiving 3 meals. Furthermore, between 59.0% and 94.8% of daily nutrients were provided at home. Daily energy, nutrient intakes and nutrient densities were well above the nutrient requirements for this age group, and particularly high for vitamin A. The overall dietary variety was superior in the situation of greater contribution of home fare, but overall the nutrient density and adequacy of the aggregate intakes did not differ in any important manner.