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Human populace of Assam, India repeatedly exposed to high concentration of iron in groundwater results in adverse health effects like hemochromatosis, liver cirrhosis and siderosis. In the present study, human hair and nail analysis were carried out to establish a possible relationship between iron toxicity and its deposition among the residents. Nail and hair iron concentrations ranged from 28.2 to 1046 μg g −1 ( n =114) and 26.5–838 ( n =108) μg g −1 levels, respectively, among all the study participants. The iron content of the groundwater (421–5340 μg L −1 ) ( n =64) used for drinking purposes was positively correlated with both nail ( r =0.788, p <0.0001) and hair ( r =0.709, p <0.0001) iron concentrations. Age- and sex-matched controls corresponding to each group were selected from population residing in other parts of the country where groundwater does not have excess iron. All the study groups included population drinking iron-contaminated water above the WHO/BIS limit (>300 µg L −1 ) for 5 years (Group 1), for more than 5–10 years (Group 2) and for more than 10 years (Group 3). Results suggested that the participants consuming groundwater exceeding the WHO limit of iron had significantly more iron accumulation than those using groundwater containing ≤300 μg L −1 iron ( p <0.01). There was statistically higher concentration of iron in the nail samples than the hair samples in all the study groups ( p <0.01). There was a positive correlation in iron concentration and the residence time of the participants ( p <0.01). Iron levels in the male participants were significantly higher than the female participants in the present study ( p <0.01). The current findings are sufficiently compelling to warrant more extensive study of iron exposure through drinking water and adverse effects to the human in the areas where iron concentration is high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livelihood strategies of rural and urban Assam are becoming more interdependent. The rural-urban linkage is influencing livelihood in both positive and negative ways as market forces are increasingly determining all livelihood strategies. The study reveals that the working population unanimously consider that livelihood is not as easy as it was for the previous generation. Factors like unsuitable weather for cultivation, price fluctuation, competition from better/cheap/substitute products, and the reluctant attitude of the younger generation towards rural livelihood activities are mainly responsible for making livelihoods harder. Products with a variety in different price ranges have brought significant changes primarily in rural livelihood activities. Sustainability of livelihood is now more dependent on practicing diversification as it compels households to be more vigilant and adopt the change occurring over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article talks about folklore studies in Assam, India. It is reported that folklore studies in Assam include the study of both tribal and non-tribal folklore. It began in the end of the nineteenth century. Some colonial scholars published their work including J.D. Anderson and P.R.T. Gordon It is stated that their studies were collections and had certain biases. Further it is reported that the colonial collectors used their value for evaluation of oral literature and customs of the communities. Also it is stated that folklore studies in India were mainly done for the establishment of a literary history of the regional languages of the country.