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We conducted a cross-sectional study of Aedes vectors to assess the risk of dengue transmission and arbovirus outbreaks in Sargodha district, Pakistani Punjab. Pupae and 3rd and 4th instar larvae of the predominant vectors, Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus mosquitoes, were collected from houses and containers using different tools. Containers were catalogued according to type, location, sun exposure, lid status, water type, and water status. Breeding Preference Ratio (BPR) and larval indices were calculated. Sixty-seven of 1782 houses and 28 of 1494 containers were found infested. Among positive containers, discarded tires had the highest BPR (2.22), followed by barrels and polythene sheets (1.72). The highest absolute counts of Aedes mosquitos were found in plastic drums, whereas other species of mosquitos were highly detected also in jerry cans. The water containers with the highest infestation rates were indoors, in shady locations, only partially covered, and held clean or rain water. Awan and Farooq colonies were identified as high-risk areas, based on a high House Index (5.97 and 4.93, respectively). Our survey suggests that local authorities should promptly address the issue of growing vector populations, particularly in the Awan colony (to be referred as Priority class II area), in order to stem the risk of future epidemics. The number of mosquitoes can be substantially reduced by better handling specific breeding sites and educating people to properly store water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmlands contamination with heavy metals (HMs) can be considered a global issue especially in developing countries. The current study investigates the various pollution indices, potential ecological risk index (PERI) and human health risk caused by HMs in selected regions of Punjab Province, Pakistan. Farmlands soil samples were collected, acid‐extracted, and analyzed using ICP‐MS (Agilent 7500c) for selected HMs. All the HMs were found within permissible limits set by worldwide regulatory authorities except Cd, which exceeded its limit in 68% farmland soils of the study area. The CF values for Cd showed high (CF ≥ 6) degree of contamination to considerable level of contamination (3 ≤ CF ≤ 6). The CD values indicated from low (CD ≤ 6) to moderate (6 ≤ CD ≤ 12) level of contamination. The Igeo indices for all HMs were unpolluted except for Cd (moderately polluted 1≤ Igeo ≤ 2). For Cd the EF values were extremely severe (EF ≥ 50) in the farmland soils of two regions (Lahore and Faisalabad), while moderately severe (5 ≤ EF ≤ 10) in one region (Multan). The PERI values were moderate (150 ≤ RI ≤ 300) in the same two regions and low (RI ≤ 150) in other localities. The HQ and HI values for adults and children were less than one and observed in order of ingestion > dermal > inhalation. Furthermore, the RI values were observed higher than 1.0 × 10−4 for Cd (Lahore and Faisalabad regions) and Cr (Multan and Faisalabad regions) in children working in farmlands and likely exposed to high cancer risk. This study helps to fill the knowledge gap existing about conventional agricultural practices responsible for farmlands degradation and associated health risk. In the past, no one has conducted such a comprehensive research work to identify farmlands degradation factors. Furthermore, the minimization of pollutants must be the top priority of the regulatory authorities and state to reduce contaminant inputs and immobilization in soil through implementation of environmental protection laws and regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]