Food waste generation and its industrial utilization: An overview.

Food waste is produced for intended human consumption and is normally lost, discharged, contaminated, or finally degraded. The rising problem of food waste is increasing rapidly, so every sector is involved in minimizing food waste generation as well as waste management from collection to disposal, and scientists are developing the best eco-friendly and sustainable solutions for all sectors in the food supply chain, from the agricultural sector to the industrial sector and even up to the retailer to human consumption. Sustainable management is needed for the food wastes in the agricultural and industrial sectors, which are a major burning headache for environmentalists, health departments, and the government all over the earth. Various strategies can be employed to effectively control food waste, and these strategies can be ranked in a manner similar to the waste management hierarchy. The most desirable options involve the act of avoiding and donating edible portions to social agencies. Food waste is utilized in industrial operations to produce biofuels or biopolymers. The next stages involve the retrieval of nutrients and the sequestration of carbon through composting. The government implements appropriate management practices, laws, and orders to minimize food waste generation. Different contemporary methods are utilized to produce biofuel utilizing various types of food waste. In order for composting techniques to recover nutrients and fix carbon, food waste must be processed. Both the management of food waste and the creation of outgrowths utilizing biomaterials require additional study. This review aims to present a comprehensive analysis of the ongoing discourse surrounding the definitions of food waste, the production and implementation of methods to reduce it, the emergence of conversion technologies, and the most recent trends.

Exploring the Impact of Naphthalene (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) on Anabas testudineus (Bloch) through Dose-Specific Bioenzymological Analysis.

This study addresses the increasing concern about naphthalene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), highlighting its growing threats to the environment and aquatic life. The research examines its impact on Anabas testudineus (Bloch) through a detailed dose-specific bioenzymological analysis. Experimental fish groups were exposed to T1 (0.71 mg/L) and T2 (1.42 mg/L) naphthalene concentrations, representing 25 and 50% of the LC50 value, respectively, over a 1-21 day period. Following the experiment, water samples underwent physicochemical analysis, while fish tissues were examined for diverse bioenzymological parameters. Among these parameters, aspirate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) serve as crucial indicators for monitoring the physiological status of fish and addressing pollution induced by PAHs, especially naphthalene. Statistical significance was observed in morpho-pathological changes and erythrocyte alterations, particularly the presence of tear-drop appearance (Tr) positively interacting with swelled cells (Sc), vacuolated cells (Va), and sickle cells (Sk) (P < 0.05). These findings highlight tear-drop appearance (Tr) as a significant biomarker in response to naphthalene exposure. The observed changes in A. testudineus tissue bioenzymology, apoptosis, and erythrocytic alterations were exposure and dose-dependent. The research highlights the significance of overseeing and controlling PAH concentrations in aquatic ecosystems to ensure the well-being of A. testudineus (Bloch).

Face masks: a COVID-19 protector or environmental contaminant?

Face masks, a prime component of personal protective equipment (PPE) items, have become an integral part of human beings to survive under the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation. The global population requires an estimated 130 billion face masks and 64 billion gloves/month, while the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the daily disposal of approximately 3.5 billion single-use face masks, resulting in a staggering 14,245,230.63 kg of face mask waste. The improper disposal of face mask wastes followed by its mismanagement is a challenge to the scientists as the wastes create pollution leading to environmental degradation, especially plastic pollution (macro/meso/micro/nano). Each year, an estimated 0.15-0.39 million tons of COVID-19 face mask waste, along with 173,000 microfibers released daily from discarded surgical masks, could enter the marine environment, while used masks have a significantly higher microplastic release capacity (1246.62 ± 403.50 particles/piece) compared to new masks (183.00 ± 78.42 particles/piece). Surgical face masks emit around 59 g CO2-eq greenhouse gas emissions per single use, cloth face masks emit approximately 60 g CO2-eq/single mask, and inhaling or ingesting microplastics (MPs) caused adverse health problems including chronic inflammation, granulomas or fibrosis, DNA damage, cellular damage, oxidative stress, and cytokine secretion. The present review critically addresses the role of face masks in reducing COVID-19 infections, their distribution pattern in diverse environments, the volume of waste produced, degradation in the natural environment, and adverse impacts on different environmental segments, and proposes sustainable remediation options to tackle environmental challenges posed by disposable COVID-19 face masks.

Valorization of wastewater: A paradigm shift towards circular bioeconomy and sustainability.

Limitation in the availability of natural resources like water is the main drive for focussing on resource recovery from wastewater. Rapid urbanization with increased consumption of natural resources has severely affected its management and security. The application of biotechnological processes offers a feasible approach to concentrating and transforming wastewater for resource recovery and a step towards a circular economy. Wastewater generally contains high organic materials, nutrients, metals and chemicals, which have economic value. Hence, its management can be a valuable resource through the implementation of a paradigm transformation for value-added product recovery. This review focuses on the circular economy of "close loop" process by wastewater reuse and energy recovery identifying the emerging technologies for recovering resources across the wastewater treatment phase. Conventional wastewater treatment technologies have been discussed along with the advanced treatment technologies such as algal treatment, anammox technology, microbial fuel cells (MFC). Apart from recovering energy in the form of biogas and biohydrogen, second and third-generation biofuels as well as biohythane and electricity generation have been deliberated. Other options for resource recovery are single-cell protein (SCP), biopolymers as well as recovery of metals and nutrients. The paper also highlights the applications of treated wastewater in agriculture, aquaponics, fisheries and algal cultivation. The concept of Partitions-release-recover (PRR) has been discussed for a better understanding of the filtration treatment coupled with anaerobic digestion. The review provides a critical evaluation on the importance of adopting a circular economy and their role in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). Thus, it is imperative that such initiatives towards resource recovery from wastewater through integration of concepts can aid in providing wastewater treatment system with resource efficiency.

Choline Chloride Induces Growth Performance of Indian Major Carps and Air-Breathing Fish Species with an Outcome of Quality Food-Fish under a Semi-Intensive Culture System: A Biochemical Investigation.

The present study was intended to determine the possible influences of direct field application of choline chloride into pond water in addition to farm-made-aqua-feed under a semi-intensive culture system on the growth and biochemical parameters of two Indian major carps (IMCs), Catla catla (Catla) and Labeo rohita (Rahu), and two air-breathing species, Clarias batrachus (Magur) and Anabas testudineus (Koi), cultured in a ratio of 2:5:1:1 (Catla/Rahu/Magur/Koi) in three experimental ponds for a period of 90 days during the breeding season (June to August). Results were compared with control (C: fed only with farm-made-aqua-feed) and treatment (T: P1 and P2: farm-made-aqua-feed plus choline chloride into pond water directly at the rate of 350 g bigha-1 fortnightly or 350 g per 1600 square meter fortnightly). A significant increasing trend was observed in the growth parameters including total length-final (TLF), standard length-final (SLF), mean weight-final (MWF), % gain of mean total length (MTL), % gain of mean standard length (MSL), % weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR) % per day, and survivability %. However, a reverse pattern was noticed in the food conversion ratio (FCR) both in IMCs and air-breathing fish species under choline supplementation. Serum biochemical responses, e.g., total protein (PRO), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucose (GLU), and calcium (Ca) showed significant enhancement, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine amino transaminase (ALT), aspartate amino transaminase (AST), cholesterol (CHOLES), and triglycerides (Trig) showed gradual significant reduction during the breeding season under choline exposure. Treated fishes showed prevention from liver dysfunction and fatty liver formation, and increased body crude protein content. Results indicated favorable growth and yield, which may benefit fish farmers during their culture practices, and the output fish species under choline supplementation resulted in quality food-fish for human consumption.

Are population size and diverse climatic conditions the driving factors for next COVID-19 pandemic epicenter in India?

Although a nationwide lockdown was imposed in India amid COVID-19 outbreak since March 24, 2020, the COVID-19 infection is increasing day-by-day. Till June 10, 2021 India has recorded 29,182,072 COVID cases and 359,695 deaths. A number of factors help to influence COVID-19 transmission rate and prevalence. Accordingly, the present study intended to integrate the climatic parameters, namely ambient air temperature (AT) and relative humidity (H) with population mass (PM) to determine their influence for rapid transmission of COVID-19 in India. The sensibility of AT, H and PM parameters on COVID-19 transmission was investigated based on receiver operating characteristics (ROC) classification model. The results depicted that AT and H models have very low sensibility (i.e., lower area under curve value 0.26 and 0.37, respectively compared with AUC value 0.5) to induce virus transmission and discrimination between infected people and healthy ones. Contrarily, PM model is highly sensitive (AUC value is 0.912, greater than AUC value 0.5) towards COVID-19 transmission and discrimination between infected people and healthy ones and approximate population of 2.25 million must impose like social distancing, personal hygiene, etc. as strategic management policy. Therefore, it is predicted, India could be the next epicenter of COVID-19 outbreak because of its over population.

Time-Dependent Naphthalene Toxicity in Anabas testudineus (Bloch): A Multiple Endpoint Biomarker Approach.

Polyaromatic compounds are the major, widespread contaminants in the aquatic environment. However, the adverse impacts of these compounds on blood pathophysiology (hematological profiling and serum biochemical responses) are poorly understood. As a consequence, this study was intended to evaluate the toxic effects of naphthalene, one of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, on the blood pathophysiology of Anabas testudineus using multiple end-point biomarker approach. A. testudineus was exposed to short-term (1 and 5 d) and long-term (10, 15, and 21 d) naphthalene concentrations, that is, T1 (0.71 mg/L indicates 25% of LC50) and T2 (1.42 mg/L indicates 50% of LC50 value). The results disclosed significant decrease in red blood cells, hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume, and platelet levels, while other blood parameters, namely, white blood cells, percent lymphocyte, mean cell volume, mean corpuscular Hb, and mean corpuscular Hb concentration showed enhanced levels under naphthalene intoxication. Results were more detrimental under T2 concentration. Cholesterol, glucose, calcium, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein levels gradually increased throughout the different exposure periods under T1 and T2 concentrations, while the triglyceride level gradually decreased during exposure periods. Finally, integrated biomarker responses (IBR) analysis indicated that serum biochemical parameters are more powerful than hematological parameters for determining the naphthalene-induced fish health status. Additionally, the IBR study clearly identified that long-term (>5 d) exposure was more harmful than short-term (<5 d) naphthalene exposure. So, these responses may be derived as biomarkers for monitoring naphthalene pollution in an aquatic ecosystem.

Blood Biochemical and Erythrocytic Morpho-pathological Consequences of Naphthalene Intoxication in Indian Teleost, Anabas testudineus (Bloch).

Anabas testudineus (Bloch) was exposed to 0.71 mg/L and 1.42 mg/L (25 and 50% of LC50 value respectively) naphthalene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), for 21 days. Blood biochemical parameters and erythrocytic morphological alterations were assessed to describe the naphthalene toxicity. Biochemical analysis showed a significant increase in glutamic pyruvic transaminase, GPT (576.7 ± 11.79 and 608.9 ± 12.08 U/L, respectively) and alkaline phosphatase, ALP (12.9 ± 0.69 and 13.4 ±â€¯0.64 U/L, respectively) activities under two doses compared with control. Protein and albumin (ALB) content in blood decreased significantly, in comparison with control value in the tune of 22.67 ±â€¯1.04 and 23.97 ±â€¯1.24 g/dl, respectively and 10.7 ±â€¯0.79 and 11.1 ±â€¯0.67 g/dl, respectively. Erythrocytes showed varied symptomatic morphological changes under naphthalene exposure, which included severe denaturation, swelling in cells, appearance of sickle and tear drop cells, and cellular vacuolation. In particularly, the changes were more prominent under higher naphthalene exposure. Following the results, it has been able to establish that GPT, ALP, protein and ALB, and the morphological manifestations of erythrocytes would be good tools of biomarker in monitoring toxicological paradigm, especially to naphthalene exposure in aquatic bodies.

Time dependent ultrastructural alterations on the skin, eye, barbel and fins of the spawn of Clarias batrachus (Linn. 1758) exposed to UV-B radiation.

Present study highlighted the ultramicroscopic (SEM) alterations of the skin, eye, barbel, and fins of spawn of an air-breathing teleost (Clarias batrachus, Linn. 1758) induced by UV-B radiation (280-320 nm) at a dose (@4.07 × 10-20J/photon/m2) under the time-frame of 5, 10 and 15 min/d in the laboratory condition for the periods of 5 and 10 days. Limnological parameters revealed no significant changes throughout the period of experimentation which were measured by PCS Testr 35 Multi-Parameter. Morphometric analysis revealed that during the extended exposure period of 10 days the spawn size and weight were reduced as analysed through Specific Growth Rate (SGR). SGR values in terms of weight for 5 and 10 days under 3 time-frames were 17.12%, 12.52%, 11.46% and 9.09%, 6.43%, 6.09% respectively, which revealed a declined trend along with the exposure days. In the skin of C. batrachus, the compact regular orientation of the stratified epithelial cells and mucous cells became distorted and the microridges and double-ridged structures showed destruction and fragmentations. The body striations and microfolds became shrinked and swollen and finally degenerated to form a mass. The distribution of mucous cells throughout the epidermis was disorganised and releasing secretory contents on the surface through small pores. Appearance of huge quantity of biogenic semi-hexagonal plate like crystals (guanine platelets) on the skin surface of the body was the most significant observations during UV-B radiation. In the developmental phases the eyeball showed shrinkage loosing normal regular concave structure and to become a dome-shaped one. The supportive connective infoldings became loosened. The choroid coat displayed deformities and the iris deformed the pupil. The fibroblast on the epithelium and melanocytes depicted dispersed arrangement. The pairs of ventral barbels near the mouth depicted the presence of taste buds that became severely damaged exposing the sensory as well as neuroepithelial cells. Compact regular arrangement of the SECs was completely destroyed leaving long and deep channels inbetween them; the disintegrated concentric MRs also showed a mass.

Dose-specific biochemical and erythrocytic alterations of anthracene exposure on blood of Anabas testudineus (Bloch).

The present work is designed to compare the chronic toxicity of anthracene [one of the major constituents of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)] on Anabas testudineus (Bloch), in an air-breathing carnivorous fish, in laboratory condition under the exposure of two doses of LC50 value, i.e., 0.0075 mg/l (T1), i.e., 25% and 0.015 mg/l (T2) i.e., 50% for 21 days. A comprehensive comparison was recorded based on biochemical parameters and evaluated the erythrocytic alterations of blood components of the fish. It revealed an enhanced trend of activity of glutamic pyruvic transamin (GPT) 470.7 ±â€¯12.32, 546.6 ±â€¯13.22, 599.4 ±â€¯13.09 U/L and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) 9.2 ±â€¯0.61, 10.4 ±â€¯0.86, 10.9 ±â€¯0.74 U/L in control, T1 and T2 respectively; and reverse trend of protein (PRO) 26.63 ±â€¯1.32, 22.15 ±â€¯1.13, 22.29 ±â€¯1.02 g/dl and albumin (ALB) 11.9 ±â€¯0.71, 9.65 ±â€¯0.91, 10.05 ±â€¯0.94 g/dl in control, T1 and T2 respectively. Under T1 and T2 exposure conditions, it displayed the maximum alterations and appearance of tear drop-like cells (Tr), sickle cells (Sk), swelled cells (Sc) and vacuolated cells (Va) in comparison to control condition. An exclusive experimentation of the present work suggested that biochemical parameters and erythrocytic alterations may be useful tool as biomarkers to monitor the long term toxicological effects, especially to anthracene a constituent of PAHs, in any aquatic environment.