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This study examines the uranium, fluoride, and nitrate dispositions in groundwater as well as potential health risks in Kota district, Rajasthan, India. Total 198 groundwater samples were collected in both dry and wet periods and analyzed for physicochemical parameters along with U, F−, and NO3− using standard methods. Results indicate that the electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, alkalinity, Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3−, Cl−, NO3−, and F− exceed the WHO standard limits of drinking water in both periods. Uranium concentration is at the broader of drinking water permissible limit (30 μg/L) and found about 1.05 times more. Nitrate and fluoride concentrations ranged from 9.8 to 412.0 mg/L and 0.1 to 4.0 mg/L for the dry season, while in the wet period, they varied from 10.0 to 954.0 mg/L and 0.1 to 3.5 mg/L, respectively. Correlation studies show a significantly strong positive correlation between uranium and total alkalinity and carbonate. Natural background levels (NBLs) were explored to assess the source of groundwater pollution. It shows that the second inflection points of NBLs estimated for NO3−, F−, and U are about 168 mg/L, 1.2 mg/L, and 7.3 μg/L, respectively, during the experimental period. The USEPA technique was used to evaluate the non-carcinogenic health risks associated with consuming the NO3− and F−-contaminated groundwater. The health risks in Kota district show that children are more at risk than adults. The risk assessment of uranium reveals that the excess cancer risk (ECR) and hazard quotient (HQ) are found to be below the standard limits, but a high concentration of uranium (31.6 μg/L) is observed at Amarpura village of Digod block. This study will provide a baseline of uranium, fluoride, and nitrate dispositions in groundwater for simulating mass transport model and safe use of drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drug trafficking problem in Rajasthan is quite common as Rajasthan is the largest state in India, and many international and interstate borders surround it. Illicit traffickers can add unlimited diluents and adulterants to heroin. Only 5% or less than that alkaloid is present; the rest is of diluents and adulterants. Adulterants can associate with a significant risk of overdose, which may lead to death due to severe poisoning. Thus, the purity of drugs may vary, and the presence and percentage of diluents and adulterants depend on the region. The present article aims to identify and separate diluents and adulterants from diacetylmorphine drug samples. The illicit drug samples were deposited for investigations in the narcotics division of the state forensic science laboratory, Jaipur. During studies, sophisticated instruments like GCMS confirmed the preliminary results obtained from TLC and color tests. The variety and quantity of adulterants and diluents differ in all the samples, but the pattern is similar. The extensive and widespread cutting agent of illicit drugs used to analyze these drug samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is one of the most detrimental environmental stressors to plants with the potential to decrease crop yields and affect agricultural sustainability. Native bacteria with beneficial traits enhance plant growth and help avoid and reverse the effects of drought in plants to a greater extent. In the present study, we aimed to (i) isolate drought tolerant Bacillus isolates from the rhizosphere soil of wheat crop grown at different locations in Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan state and (ii) further evaluate their ability to enhance plant growth and induce drought tolerance in wheat ( Var. HD-2967) grown under drought stress conditions. Of more than 100 isolates, two putative Bacillus isolates capable of tolerating 30 % polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG-6000) [equivalent to -9.80 MPa (Megapascal)] were identified as Bacillus altitudinis DT-89 and Bacillus paramycoides DT-113. These isolates exhibited different plant growth promoting (PGP) attributes such as phosphate solubilization, and production of siderophore, exopolysaccharide, ammonia, indole acetic acid and cytokinin at low osmotic stress of 10% PEG-6000 but shown variable response at higher osmotic stress particularly at 30% PEG-6000. However, they did not show any antifungal activity and one isolate was negative for phosphate solubilization. Of two strains, B. altitudinis DT-89 function more prominently with respect to plant growth promotion and drought tolerance to plant in the early stage but protective traits of B. paramycoides DT-113 was more prominent after 75 days as evident by increased EPS (164%), root dry weight (144.44%), chlorophyll content (90.26%), SOD (389%) and proline (99.3%). The results support both the strains as a potential candidate to alleviate drought stress and enhance plant growth in the drought regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]