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We compare, the prevalence, fate, and sources of Bisphenol A both globally and in India. India has the highest concentration of BPA and Bisphenol S(BPS) in general, with vegetables, particularly corn, beans, strings, and raw or canned vegetables, being the largest contributors. Among all the matrices, bisphenols (BPs) are found in the highest concentration in food, followed by surface water, wastewater, and indoor dust. BPA, BPS, and BPF are the most commonly reported analogues in India, with BPA being the most dominant category used worldwide. The highest concentration of BPs is observed in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana that are three major agricultural states of India however, there is still a research gap regarding the dietary exposure to BPs on an individual level. Environmentally detected BPA occurs in a range of below detection to 10636 ng. L−1, with significant geographic variations. Interestingly, the order of abundance in India was maximum for BPS, which is contrary to the global average, where BPA is observed as most abundant. BPS is found to be the most common BPs analogue in surface water worldwide, with limited removal efficiency by both naturally remediation and conventional treatment methods. Similar patterns were observed in the US-India and Japan-Korea regions in terms of their source-sink-prevalence-fate dynamics. The probability of exceeding safe concentrations of BPs is higher in India and Korea, suggesting that these countries are more vulnerable to high prevalence concentrations and the subsequent public health hazards. [Display omitted] • Indian and global scenarios of Bisphenol are compared for source, fate & prevalence. • Worldwide BPS is found dominant in surface water with restricted removal efficiency. • In India BPS was the most prevalent BP analogue contrary to the global abundance of BPA. • The US-India, & Japan-Korea exhibit similar source-sink-prevalence-fate dynamics. • Probability exceedance suggests India and Korea are vulnerable to high concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We quantified the occurrences and seasonal variations of the target endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) at four (two major municipals, and two academic institutions) WWTPs in Dehradun city, Uttarakhand, India. The results showed estrone in higher concentrations at μgL−1 levels in influent among the WWTPs, compared to triclosan (TCS) at ngL−1 levels. An astounding concentration of 123.95 μgL−1 was recorded for the estrone in the influent, which is to date the highest ever recorded, globally. Statistical data treatment was performed to test the distribution of the data (Shapiro-Wilk, Anderson-Darling, Lilliefors, and Jarque-Bera tests), and the significant difference between the mean of the wastewater sample population (ANOVA: F statistics, p values, Mann-Whitney test, Tukey's and Dunn's post hoc analysis). Statistical data treatment indicated EDCs concentration with a bi-modal distribution. The Shapiro-Wilk, Anderson-Darling, Lilliefors, and Jarque-Bera tests elucidate a non-normal distribution for the EDCs sample data. A statistically significant difference (F = 8.46; p < 0.0001) in the seasonal data for the abundance of the target EDCs at the WWTPs have been observed. Highest and significantly different mean EDCs concentrations were recorded during the monsoon, compared to the spring (p = 0.025) and summer (p = 0.0004) seasons in the influent waters. The mean influent concentrations of TCS and estrone in monsoon were 66.45 ngL−1 and 78.02 μgL−1, respectively. Maximum removals were recorded for TCS, while maximum negative removal of ∼293% was observed for estrone in the WWTPs. Particularly, the high levels of estrone in the wastewater pose a significant threat as estrone presence could be led to feminization, dysregulation of reproduction in organisms, and carcinogenesis processes in the environment. This study critically highlights the limitation of the WWTPs in the treatment, degradation, and assimilation of EDCs leading to their hyperaccumulation at WWTP effluents, thereby posing a substantial threat to nearby aquatic ecosystems, human health, and the ecological balance of the region. • Highest estrone concentration in wastewater ever reported, globally. • High estrone enrichment in effluents due to steroidal interconversion is an emerging threat. • Significant difference in treatment capability of EDCs across treatment systems. • High EDCs concentrations in underground drainage sewer networks during monsoon. • Negative removal rates for estrone were observed in the WWTPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • TGA at three heating rates is performed to access the kinetics of treated sunnhemp. • KAS, FWO, Friedman and Starink methods used to find activation energy of pyrolysis. • Pre exponential factor (A) is calculated using DAEM method. • Linear relationship between E a and ln A is established with R2 = 0.95. • Standard deviation calculated to validate the activation energy values. Sun hemp fibers are natural fibers obtained from plants grown in India and nearby countries. It is lignocellulosic biomass having the complex structure of hemicelluloses, cellulose and lignin. Chemical treatment of natural fibers is in practice to enhance the properties being used as reinforcement. Alkaline-treated fiber was sampled and thermal stability along with kinetic parameters was assessed with thermo gravimetric data at heating rates 10, 20 and 30 °C/min using four model-free methods Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS), Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), Friedman (FM), Starink (STAR) along with Distributed activation energy model (DAEM) to calculate pre-exponential factor. The calculated activation energy E a by these model-free methods were in the range of 93.3–104.8 kJ/mol and pre-exponential factor (A) was observed between the range 46.6 x103–90.5 x106/min by the DAEM method. The standard deviation (σ) calculated from average activation energy using all four methods was 4.5 kJ/mol, which showed the consistency in the methods employed to determine the activation energy of sun hemp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brahmaputra river system (BRS) produces the largest discharge in India, supplying water to more than 62 million inhabitants. The present study aims to quantify the environmental elements that affect the spatio-temporal variation of nutrients in the Brahmaputra river system (BRS). The association of physico-chemical characteristics of floodplain sediments with the distribution pattern of P during wet and dry periods in different depths were also studied. The seasonal variation suggest that the average dissolved inorganic nitrogen and dissolve inorganic phosphorus are found higher in monsoon while the average dissolve silica were higher in post-monsoon. The spatial variation of dissolve inorganic phosphate and nitrate concentration suggests both the nutrient are higher in upstream sites. The DiS concentrations tended to be higher in downstream. In 70% of the sampled tributaries, the average molar ratio for dissolved inorganic nitrogen/dissolved inorganic phosphorous (DIN/DIP) was greater than 16:1, which indicates phosphate limited biological productivity. In contrast, an average molar ratio of dissolved inorganic silica/DIN (DSi/DIN) of 3.8 ± 3.0 favoured diatom growth in those tributaries where DSi/DIN molar ratio was lower than 1, indicating eutrophication. The BRS transported 24.7, 5.93, and 312 × 104 tons/year−1 of DIN, PO 4 –P and SiO 2 –Si, respectively. The depth-wise variation of P -fraction during monsoon suggests that the authigenic phosphorus was most abundant followed by Fe-bound, exchangeable, detrital and organic. In the post-monsoon, Fe-bound P was found at a higher concentration followed by authigenic phosphorus. High nutrient concentrations with more δ18O depleted water implied precipitation being the major source of nutrients in the BRS. [Display omitted] • Characterization of nutrient loads on the Brahmaputra River System (BRS) is carried out. • Hydro-geochemistry, P -fractionation, and isotopic ratios are coupled to understand nutrient dynamics. • Phosphate limitation and eutrophication, in parts of the BRS were detected. • Authigenic phosphorus was most abundant followed by Fe-bound, exchangeable, detrital and organic. • High nutrient with depleted δ18O water implied precipitation being the major source of nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we present an eight-month longitudinal study of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) in Ahmedabad, India, where wastewater surveillance was introduced in September 2020 after the successful containment of the first wave of COVID-19 to predict the resurge of the infection during the second wave of the pandemic. The study aims to elucidate the weekly resolution of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA data for eight months in wastewater samples to predict the COVID-19 situation and identify hotspots in Ahmedabad. A total of 287 samples were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA using RT-PCR, and Spearman's rank correlation was applied to depict the early warning potential of WBE. During September 2020 to April 2021, the increasing number of positive wastewater influent samples correlated with the growing number of confirmed clinical cases. It also showed clear evidence of early detection of the second wave of COVID-19 in Ahmedabad (March 2021). 258 out of a total 287 samples were detected positive with at least two out of three SARS-CoV-2 genes (N, ORF- 1 ab, and S). Monthly variation represented a significant decline in all three gene copies in October compared to September 2020, followed by an abrupt increase in November 2020. A similar increment in the gene copies was observed in March and April 2021, which would be an indicator of the second wave of COVID-19. A lead time of 1-2 weeks was observed in the change of gene concentrations compared with clinically confirmed cases. Measured wastewater ORF- 1 ab gene copies ranged from 6.1 x 10 2 (October 2020) to 1.4 x 10 4 (November 2020) copies/mL, and wastewater gene levels typically lead to confirmed cases by one to two weeks. The study highlights the value of WBE as a monitoring tool to predict waves within a pandemic, identify local disease hotspots within a city, and guide rapid management interventions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)