Faculty Publications
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Item Characterization and proinflammatory response of airborne biological particles from wastewater treatment plants(2011) Gangamma, S.; Patil, R.S.; Mukherji, S.Wastewater contains a variety of microorganisms, and unit operations in the plants could release these biological components into the air environment. These airborne biological particles could have adverse health effects on plant workers and the downwind population. This study provides a first report on the concentration and characterization of the airborne biological particles in six wastewater treatment plants in Mumbai, India. The study indicates that 49% and 27% of the samples exceed, respectively, the exposure limit for airborne endotoxin and bacteria in occupational settings. Endotoxin was identified as the single most important component of the particulate matter responsible for induction of proinflammatory indicator (tumor necrosis factor-?) in in vitro assay. Identification of several clinically important bacterial species in the samples suggests that the workers at the treatment plant are exposed to opportunistic and infectious bacteria. Principal component analysis was used to identify the groups among the bacterial species which serves as the signature for transport study. Analysis also shows that the component related to spore-forming bacteria is present in all samples. © 2011 American Chemical Society.Item Characteristics of airborne bacteria in Mumbai urban environment(Elsevier, 2014) Gangamma, S.Components of biological origin constitute small but a significant proportion of the ambient airborne particulate matter (PM). However, their diversity and role in proinflammatory responses of PM are not well understood. The present study characterizes airborne bacterial species diversity in Mumbai City and elucidates the role of bacterial endotoxin in PM induced proinflammatory response in ex vivo. Airborne bacteria and endotoxin samples were collected during April-May 2010 in Mumbai using six stage microbial impactor and biosampler. The culturable bacterial species concentration was measured and factors influencing the composition were identified by principal component analysis (PCA). The biosampler samples were used to stimulate immune cells in whole blood assay. A total of 28 species belonging to 17 genera were identified. Gram positive and spore forming groups of bacteria dominated the airborne culturable bacterial concentration. The study indicated the dominance of spore forming and human or animal flora derived pathogenic/opportunistic bacteria in the ambient air environment. Pathogenic and opportunistic species of bacteria were also present in the samples. TNF-? induction by PM was reduced (35%) by polymyxin B pretreatment and this result was corroborated with the results of blocking endotoxin receptor cluster differentiation (CD14). The study highlights the importance of airborne biological particles and suggests need of further studies on biological characterization of ambient PM. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.Item Source apportionment of lead and cadmium by chemical characterization of PM2.5(Enviro Media rktem@pn3.vsnl.net.in, 2016) Srinikethan, G.; Ayare, A.Particulate matter below 2.5 micron (PM2.5) and its existence in atmosphere is observed in most of major cities in India and abroad. Health impacts of such pollutant on human being leading asthma and chronic bronchitis in India in last decade. Pune city in Maharashtra state of India is rapidly emerging as mega city in India due to its urbanization and modernization. Particulate matter and trace elements in it are causing severe effects on people of Pune. In present study, trace elements like lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in PM2.5 at Pune city in Maharashtra, India were measured with the help of PM2.5 sampler and chemical characterization of Pb and Cd was done to determine the concentrations in the ambient air. The source apportionment of Pb and Cd was done by applying US EPA positive matrix factorization model to identify the sources and quantitative distribution of these elements at receptor location of Katraj in Pune city. The main objective was to identify and determine health impacts of Pb and Cd as well as PM2.5. The results of the study shall help urban planners, air quality planners and people of medicine to initiate urban air pollution management in Pune city.Item Studies on Toxicity of Fluoride and Impact of Endemic Fluorosis from Groundwater Resources of Bagalkot District, Karnataka – Geospatial Information System Approach(Geological Society of India, 2019) Gaonkar, S.M.; Karabasannavar, S.S.; Patil, V.B.B.; Kalashetty, M.B.; Kalshetty, B.M.Fluorine is most electronegative element, never occurs in free state due to its high reactivity. In most of the places of the world drinking water from underground sources is invariably contaminated with fluoride. The concentration of fluoride according to the WHO standard allowed upper limit is 1.5 ppm whereas as per Indian standard, the allowed upper limit is 1.0 mg/litre. Fluoride ion gets contaminated in drinking water due to weathering of the soil and rocks and the groundwater sources of granite belt of Bagalkot district, contain much higher concentration of fluoride (up to 6 or 7 ppm). In this survey it is found that the concentration of fluoride even at 1.34 ppm has caused tooth decay with the permanent brown scales on the teeth. © 2019, Geological Society of India.