Heavy metal contamination of water resources significantly impacts water quality. This study assesses heavy metal concentrations along the Periyar’s industrial belt through 14 surface water samples and 14 riverbank soil samples analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The results reveal high concentrations of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in surface waters that exceed aquatic life standards. The study also reports high levels of zinc (Zn) and nickel (Ni) in riverbank soils. Ecological and biological risk assessments indicate extreme risks from cadmium (Cd) in surface water and nickel (Ni) in soil, highlighting considerable health risks through both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic assessments. Notably, the hazard index for soil surpasses that of surface water and nickel (Ni) which poses a significant carcinogenic risk. The results suggest significant pollution in the Periyar River, exceeding established regulatory thresholds, with heavy metals playing a prominent role in its deterioration. Sustained efforts in pollution management and broader environmental considerations are critical in restoring this essential resource and thereby sustaining livelihoods.

The issues of sewage disposal and contamination of surface waters in lakes are rapidly rising due to urbanisation, technological advances, and growing populations. Over the past few decades, the water quality of Dal Lake has experienced significant degradation, rendering it unsuitable for domestic consumption and diminishing its visual appeal. This report aims to provide an overview of the current state of water quality in Dal Lake. Water quality can be evaluated using various physio-chemical and biological indicators such as turbidity, pH, taste, odour, iron, fluoride, total dissolved solids (TDS), conductivity, nitrate, phosphorus, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and coliform bacteria. Water samples were randomly sampled from several locations in Dal Lake, spanning from Dal-gate to Hazratbal. Based on the test findings and data, we observed that majority of the lake's surface is covered by weeds. This is caused by a high concentration of nitrate and phosphorus, which leads to the siltation of the lake water. Bacteriological contamination was found along the entire span of Dal Lake. The primary factor contributing to the diminished water quality of the lake is the introduction of untreated sewage, detergents, and runoff from floating gardens and houseboats. Focus group discussions were held with participants and some awareness programmes were also held to educate the people on the lakes degradation and suggestions for improving the same.

Pollution in the Noyyal river is a well-known and documented issue and recently, heavy metal contamination has become a serious issue requiring immediate attention. So, to understand the severity of heavy metal contamination in the surface water and sediments of the Noyyal river, a comprehensive study was conducted. About 27 surface water samples and 25 sediment samples were collected at different sites along the Noyyal river. The concentrations of heavy metals were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The Noyyal river's surface water showed significant variations with nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) concentrations exceeding acceptable limits for irrigation and aquatic life. Lead (Pb) concentrations were within acceptable limits for irrigation but potentially harmful to aquatic organisms. Noyyal river sediments also contained varying concentrations of chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and gallium (Ga). Various assessment indices were employed to assess the eco-biological and human health risks associated with heavy metal contamination. The results highlighted alarming ecological and biological risks due to the accumulation of trace metals. Sediments exhibited high ecological risk (ERI values ranging from 43.81 to 371.43), while surface water samples intended for irrigation and aquatic purposes displayed extreme risks (ERI values exceeding 1200) to agricultural crops and aquatic organisms. The probability of toxicity to aquatic organisms, particularly benthic communities, was over 76% according to the biological risk assessment. The study also identified potential non-carcinogenic risks associated with metals like chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) in the sediments. Moreover, elevated levels of Cr, Ni, and Cu in both sediments and surface water were likely to pose significant carcinogenic risks to exposed adults. Additionally, the heavy metal toxicity load in both surface water and sediments exceeded permissible limits, highlighting the urgent need for efficient removal strategies.

The process of microbial mineral precipitation has proven to be highly effective in addressing a wide range of pollutants in different environments. The objective of this study is to utilize the mineralization abilities of microbial strains found in the Noyyal River basin, which is home to a significant textile center in India, in order to both remove the color from reactive blue 4 and promote biomineralization. Promising results were obtained from the microbial isolates Streptomyces sp., Rhodococcus ruber, and Bacillus sp., and their consortium which demonstrated the ability to induce biomineralization and decolorize reactive blue 4. Characterization of the obtained biominerals through X-ray diffraction and FT-IR analysis showed the presence of well-crystallized polymorphs of calcium carbonate, along with other organic compounds. SEM-EDX analysis of biominerals formed during biomineralization-assisted decolourization of RB4 revealed distinct morphologies and elemental composition of the biominerals produced by microbial interactions with dye molecules. Further, to assess the safety and efficacy of these biominerals, zebrafish embryo toxicity tests were conducted by comparing biominerals produced during dye decolourization with the pure reactive blue 4 dye. Zebrafish embryos treated with biominerals exhibited normal developmental patterns, whereas those exposed to reactive blue 4 displayed mortality and abnormal hatching rates. The heart rates of the Zebrafish embryos were normal for controls and biomineral groups, but lower for RB4-exposed embryos. In conclusion, this study underscores the potential of biomineralization in remediating dye-contaminated wastewater, offering circular solutions for waste reduction and resource utilization.

The development of any countr y is thought to be largely dependent on access to clean water and sanitary facilities.Any of them cannot be analysed in isolation because there has always been a strong connection between two.Every developing nation, like India, should be concerned when a sizable rural population continues to experience problems with water and sanitation.The government implemented numerous effective projects to address this issue.The Swacch Bharat Project (Gramin), started by the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narender Modi ji, has built a significant number of toilets in rural regions throughout the course of this five-year period (2014-2019), although the issue of subpar sanitation in villages still exists.Rural women continue to experience pain and have several sanitization-related difficulties.The construction of toilets alone will not suffice to address this serious and deeply ingrained problem.The community's longstanding customs that have persisted may be one of the reasons.Despite the efforts of the government and local NGOs, citizens in the Indian state of Haryana's Mewat area still experience sanitation issues.Also, we noted that the infection was more common in the female population than the male population.Those who utilised open defecation exhibited greater positive results for parasite infection.It was discovered during the study that the usage of toilets depends on a number of different criteria, including physical structure, accessibility (distance), water supply, and most crucially, habit or behaviour of users.This study focuses on the problems with cleanliness and the waterfront that the locals in the study region confront.Even though open defecation continues to be a major source of water contamination and the spread of communicable diseases have immediate negative effects on public health, our research supports the hypothesis that the area's significant female participation in livestock and agricultural management as well as improper waste disposal practises may all contribute to the area's infection prevalence.

Earth is endowed with sufficient reserves to meet all of our needs. It is the fact that all living organisms use the planet's resources to the extent that they require them. Humans, on the other hand, are the only creatures on the planet who enjoy and even exploit resources beyond their necessity. To be more precise, due to population surge, rapid industrialization, and urbanization, there is a need to meet both the demands and luxuries. The Earth's species are dependent on the ecosystem service functions which are driven by climate stability. Climate-triggered health illnesses are currently showing new trends and are expected to increase in the future if the current climate disturbances persist. In brief, climate instability (warming or cooling) undeniably provides suitable ground for vector and zoonotic life cycles. Climate-related morbidity and mortality are developing public health concerns that, if not addressed properly, will have serious corollaries. This chapter summarizes the various factors responsible for climate variability-induced health impacts.

Earth is endowed with sufficient reserves to meet all of our needs. It is the fact that all living organisms use the planet's resources to the extent that they require them. Humans, on the other hand, are the only creatures on the planet who enjoy and even exploit resources beyond their necessity. To be more precise, due to population surge, rapid industrialization, and urbanization, there is a need to meet both the demands and luxuries. The Earth's species are dependent on the ecosystem service functions which are driven by climate stability. Climate-triggered health illnesses are currently showing new trends and are expected to increase in the future if the current climate disturbances persist. In brief, climate instability (warming or cooling) undeniably provides suitable ground for vector and zoonotic life cycles. Climate-related morbidity and mortality are developing public health concerns that, if not addressed properly, will have serious corollaries. This chapter summarizes the various factors responsible for climate variability-induced health impacts.

The microbial diversity in the Indian caves is inadequately characterized. This study reports on the culturable microbial communities in caves from the Indian sub-continent. This study aims to expand the current understanding of bacterial diversity in the speleothems and wall deposits from Krem Soitan, Krem Lawbah, Krem Mawpun in Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India. A culture-dependent approach was employed for elucidating the community structure in the caves using MALDI-TOF spectrometry and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. A high bacterial diversity and a greater bacterial taxonomic diversity is reported using MALDI-TOF spectrometry and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. High microbial enumerations were observed on dilute nutrient agar (5.3 × 103 to 8.8 × 105) followed by M9 minimal medium (4 × 104 to 1.7 × 105) and R2A medium (1.0 × 104 to 5.7 × 105). A total of 826 bacterial isolates were selected and preserved for the study. 295 bacterial isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF spectrometry and the isolates which showed no reliable peaks were further identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. A total 91% of the bacterial diversity was dominated by Proteobacteria (61%) and Actinobacteria (30%). In addition, bacterial phyla include Firmicutes (7.45%), Deinococcus-Thermus (0.33%) and Bacteroidetes (0.67%) were found in the samples. At the genus level, Pseudomonas (55%) and Arthrobacter (23%) were ubiquitous followed by Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Brevundimonas, Deinococcus, Flavobacterium, Paenibacillus, Pseudarthrobacter. Multivariate statistical analysis indicated that the bacterial genera formed separate clusters depending on the geochemical constituents in the spring waters suitable for their growth and metabolism. To the best of our knowledge, there are no previous geomicrobiological investigations in these caves and this study is a pioneering culture dependent study of the microbial community with many cultured isolates.

Environmental awareness generation is the most effective tool to bring about a change in society with respect to cleanliness, environmental health, hygiene, social stigmas stigmas, taboos and so on.For bringing about environment awareness in the society, programs can be executed through "folk songs, nukkad-natak, folk dance, and pamphlet distribution, advertisement vehicles, creating and distributing appropriate information, education and communication (IEC) material to targeted beneficiaries.Awareness generation can be of various types.It depends primarily on the theme which it focuses on.They include the following: Behavioral Change programs, social stigmas redressal, personality development programs, environmental awareness, and financial literacy programs.Behavioral change programmes primarily aim to change the beneficiaries' attitudes or behaviours.Maintaining a clean environment, for example, and changing the practise of defecating in the open.We have dealt with such groundlevel awareness efforts in our research.The study presents its findings in the form of case studies.Social stigma redressing programmes are frequently linked to discrimination and exclusion, as well as a lack of education and awareness among the general public.Stigma can be a danger and a roadblock to a country's growth.Health emergencies, such as the Covid-19 outbreak, have resulted in social stigma and discrimination against persons of various ethnic backgrounds.Similarly, awareness programs focusing on environmental issues, financial literacy, and personality development (Skill development) basically involve active participation of community as well as the trainers or facilitators to get the best results.Some awareness programmes were held on a regular basis in the village in question.Further research reveals a shift in community behaviour.Because the process of raising awareness is inclusive, it engages people from all walks of life.Meanwhile, adolescent girls, children, mothers, and the elderly are the true beneficiaries.Changes in behaviour, cleanliness of the environment (environment), lower disease transmission rates, reduced social stigmas and taboos, lower school dropout rates, and effective menstrual hygiene management are all examples of the effects.In a word, we can state that successful implementation of environmental awareness programmes requires active community participation.

Noyyal River is an important river that flows through the districts of Coimbatore, Tirupur, and Erode in Tamil Nadu, India. This river is the prime source of water for agricultural and domestic purposes in the above districts. This study evaluates the surface water quality of the Noyyal river and its suitability for drinking and agricultural uses. For this study, samples were collected from 27 locations along the Noyyal river from its source to sink. The water quality index (WQI) values were designated and, except for two samples out of 27, all the other samples were categorized as poor, very poor, and unfit for consumption. The parameters evaluated to assess the water quality of the Noyyal river for irrigation include Electrical conductivity (EC), Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), Soluble sodium percentage (SSP), Residual sodium carbonate (RSC), Magnesium hazard (MH), Kelly’s ratio (KR), and Permeability index (PI). USSL (U.S. Salinity Laboratory) diagram analysis helped to classify the samples 1 and 2 of the Noyyal river in the C1S1 and C2S1 category, which indicates low salinity-low sodium and medium salinity-low sodium, respectively. The rest of the samples fall under the category of very high salinity and very high sodium waters. Other indices like RSC, magnesium hazard, soluble sodium percentage, Kelly’s ratio, and permeability index signified that majority of the collected samples fall in the category of unsuitable for agricultural use and they need special management practices. The Principle component analysis determined the four PCs that explained 84.88% of the total variance in the data structure. The present study concludes that we cannot use the surface water of the Noyyal river directly without treatment and strict management practices should be implemented for the sustainable use of the resource.

The current research focuses on the quality of the Jhelum River, which flows through Srinagar in Kashmir, India.Over the course of eight months (April to November 2021), water samples from various points along the river were collected and tested to assess the water quality based on several factors such as turbidity, taste and odour, total hardness, arsenic, nitrate, sulphate, fluoride, iron, pH, and biological parameters.7.7 was the highest pH value ever recorded.The lowest turbidity found was 0.9, while the maximum turbidity found was 19.7.The waters had a hardness of 250 mg/l and 375 mg/l, respectively.In majority of the criteria, the water at the site where the wastes were released into the river was found to be more contaminated than the water at the other sites.Almost all the parameters were within the permissible limits except for biological contamination.The focused group discussion and interaction with locals showed an indication of people's knowledge, attitudes, and awareness about water quality, cleanliness, and contamination in the Kashmir Valley.Environmental awareness is the most effective strategy for bringing about societal change for environmental health.Therefore, some awareness programmess were conducted based on the focused group discussions held.Some awareness programmes were held on a regular basis in the village in question.Further research reveals a shift in community behaviour.Because the process of raising awareness is inclusive, it engages people from all walks of life.Meanwhile, adolescent girls, children, mothers, and the elderly are the true beneficiaries.Changes in behaviour, cleanliness of the environment (environment), lower disease transmission rates, reduced social stigmas and taboos, lower school dropout rates, and effective menstrual hygiene management are all examples of the effects.In a word, we can state that successful implementation of environmental awareness programmes requires active community participation.

The present study focuses on detection of pollutants in the Ayad River flowing through Udaipur city in Rajasthan (India).Water samples from three different locations of the river were collected and analyzed over a period of three months from June 2020 to August 2020 to determine the water quality on various parameters such as Total Hardness, Total Dissolved Solids, Chloride, Sulphate, Fluoride, Iron, pH, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Dissolved Oxygen (DO) etc.The highest pH value recorded was 8.96, the lowest DO was 1.10 mg/l, and the highest values of COD and BOD were found to be 480.0mg/l and 162.0 mg/l respectively.It was observed that the water at the location where the industrial effluents were discharged into the river was more polluted as compared to the other two locations with respect to most of the parameters.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has rendered a large proportion of the workforce unable to commute to work, to mitigate the spread of the virus.This has induced a shift in the working arrangements of millions of employees to Work-from-Home (WFH).The aim of this study was to evaluate the impacts of WFH on holistic health of workers and analyze the significant stressors among each category of social, mental and physical well-being.Approximately 30% participants reported substantial continuity of WFH considering the physical-mental issues, whereas more than 50% preferred WFH considering social-impacts.Subjective responses from two online surveys were analyzed to understand factors associated with holistic health.Vulnerable population was identified under each human-variable.While some unhealthful behaviors appeared to have been aggravated, other more healthful behaviors also emerged.Due to the flexibilities offered, it is possible that WFH may continue to some degree in future.To make this arrangement feasible and contribute effectively towards productive work, organizations will require to implement formalized decisions on continuity of WFH model based on the individual impact analysis considering demographic and professional variables of different workers.Based on the study recommendations have been made for longitudinal studies to investigate the dynamics of remote-work.

Geomicrobiology involves the role of microorganisms in geological environments and geochemical processes. Extreme environments such as caves, hot springs, deep-sea hydrothermal vents, marine environments, extreme cold environments such as Arctic and Antarctic, deserts, and heavily polluted environments, host diverse microbial species of varied interest. Researchers from various fields are partnering to investigate such microorganisms for a variety of environmental and health applications. It is estimated that our planet still has 99.99 percent of its microbial divers ity unexplored. So, to delve deeply into the exploration of microbial diversity and its functions, the metagenomic approach acts as a lens for a broader picture than traditional culturing methods. The metagenomics approach entails the direct investigation of microorganisms in specific environmental samples. Several such discoveries have made significant contributions to medicine, pharmaceutical industries, bioremediation, biodegradation, biomineralization, biomining, biofuel production, space exploration, and other fields. Thus, this article discusses the identification of extreme microbes and their possible potential applications in the environment and health. INTRODUCTION Geomicrobiology is a cutting-edge area of researchthat involves the interactions of microbes with earthly processes. Microorganisms though invisible are the rulers of the planet. Microorganisms isolated from extreme environments have a wide range of applications in environmental and health sciences. Our planet has room for every kind of extremities like boiling heat (Thermophiles) and freezing temperatures (Psychrophiles), highly acidic (Acidophiles) and basic conditions (Alkaliphiles), extremely high pressure (Barophiles) and low pressure, regions of high radiation intensities, nutrient-rich and deficient conditions, and also the combination of two or more such extremes. Microbes that live in harsh environments have a unique metabolic potential that allows them to survive in such extremities. Indeed, these microorganisms cannot survive in the absence of the extreme conditions to which they have adapted. To identify unknown microbial diversity conventional culture-dependent methods are not enough, because these methods can be used only for the predefined hypothesis of known diversity. So to overcome the roadblock of conventional culture methods, the meta-analysis of the environmental samples i.e the cultureindependent methods will pave the way. Recently the search for novel microbes in extreme environments has become the frontier research subject. To unravel the estimated 99.99 percentage of microbial diversity, metagenomics analysis will act as a lens to zoom in on the untapped organisms. The main objective of this review paper is to discuss the identification and the applications of microorganisms isolated from extreme environments in the field of environment and healthcare. Culture dependent and independent methods for characterization of geomicrobiome The microbial diversity in environmental samples can be Abirami Subramanian and Sushmitha Baskar* Environmental Studies, School of Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Studies (SOITS) Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Maidan Garhi, New Delhi 110068.

Geomicrobiology involves the role of microorganisms in geological environments and geochemical processes.Extreme environments such as caves, hot springs, deep-sea hydrothermal vents, marine environments, extreme cold environments such as Arctic and Antarctic, deserts, and heavily polluted environments, host diverse microbial species of varied interest.Researchers from various fields are partnering to investigate such microorganisms for a variety of environmental and health applications.It is estimated that our planet still has 99.99 percent of its microbial divers ity unexplored.So, to delve deeply into the exploration of microbial diversity and its functions, the metagenomic approach acts as a lens for a broader picture than traditional culturing methods.The metagenomics approach entails the direct investigation of microorganisms in specific environmental samples.Several such discoveries have made significant contributions to medicine, pharmaceutical industries, bioremediation, biodegradation, biomineralization, biomining, biofuel production, space exploration, and other fields.Thus, this article discusses the identification of extreme microbes and their possible potential applications in the environment and health.