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Item Applications and implications of carbon nanotubes for the sequestration of organic and inorganic pollutants from wastewater(Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2023) Majumder S.;Dhara B.;Mitra A.K.;Dey S.The rapid growth in the population, industrial developments, and climate change over the century have contributed to a significant rise in aquatic pollution leading to a scarcity of clean, reliable, and sustainable water sources and supply. Exposure through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal absorption of organic/inorganic compounds such as heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, dyes, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) discharged from municipalities, hospitals, textile industries, food, and agricultural sectors has caused adverse health outcomes in aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Owing to the high surface area, photocatalytic activity, antimicrobial, antifouling, optical, electronic, and magnetic properties, the application of nanotechnology offers unique opportunities in advanced wastewater management strategies over traditional approaches. Carbon nanomaterials and associated composites such as single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT), multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), and carbon nanotubes (CNT) buckypaper membranes have demonstrated efficiency in adsorption, photocatalytic activity, and filtration of contaminants and thus show immense potentiality in wastewater management. This review focuses on the application of CNTs in the sequestration of organic and inorganic contaminants from the aquatic environment. It also sheds light on the aquatic pollutant desorption processes, current safety regulations, and toxic responses associated with CNTs. Critical knowledge gaps involving CNT synthesis, surface modification processes, CNT-environment interactions, and risk assessments are further identified and discussed.Item Microbial strategies for degradation of microplastics generated from COVID-19 healthcare waste(Environmental Research, 2023) Dey S.;Anand U.;Kumar V.;Kumar S.;Ghorai M.;Ghosh A.;Kant N.;Suresh S.;Bhattacharya S.;Bontempi E.;Bhat S.A.;Dey A.COVID-19 pandemic has led to the generation of massive plastic wastes, comprising of onetime useable gloves, masks, tissues, and other personal protective equipment (PPE). Recommendations for the employ of single-use disposable masks made up of various polymeric materials like polyethylene, polyurethane, polyacrylonitrile, and polypropylene, polystyrene, can have significant aftermath on environmental, human as well as animal health. Improper disposal and handling of healthcare wastes and lack of proper management practices are creating serious health hazards and an extra challenge for the local authorities designated for management of solid waste. Most of the COVID-19 medical wastes generated are now being treated by incineration which generates microplastic particles (MPs), dioxin, furans, and various toxic metals, such as cadmium and lead. Moreover, natural degradation and mechanical abrasion of these wastes can lead to the generation of MPs which cause a serious health risk to living beings. It is a major threat to aquatic lives and gets into foods subsequently jeopardizing global food safety. Moreover, the presence of plastic is also considered a threat owing to the increased carbon emission and poses a profound danger to the global food chain. Degradation of MPs by axenic and mixed culture microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, microalgae etc. can be considered an eco-sustainable technique for the mitigation of the microplastic menace. This review primarily deals with the increase in microplastic pollution due to increased use of PPE along with different disinfection methods using chemicals, steam, microwave, autoclave, and incineration which are presently being employed for the treatment of COVID-19 pandemic-related wastes. The biological treatment of the MPs by diverse groups of fungi and bacteria can be an alternative option for the mitigation of microplastic wastes generated from COVID-19 healthcare waste.Item Microplastics in mangroves with special reference to Asia: Occurrence, distribution, bioaccumulation and remediation options(Science of the Total Environment, 2023) Talukdar A.;Kundu P.;Bhattacharjee S.;Dey S.;Dey A.;Biswas J.K.;Chaudhuri P.;Bhattacharya S.Microplastics (MPs) are a new and lesser-known pollutant that has intrigued the interest of scientists all over the world in recent decades. MP (<5mm in size) can enter marine environments such as mangrove forests in a variety of ways, interfering with the health of the environment and organisms. Mangroves are now getting increasingly exposed to microplastic contamination due to their proximity to human activities and their position as critical transitional zones between land and sea. The present study reviews the status of MPs contamination specifically in mangrove ecosystems situated in Asia. Different sources and characteristics of MPs, subsequent deposition of MPs in mangrove water and sediments, bioaccumulation in different organisms are discussed in this context. MP concentrations in sediments and organisms were higher in mangrove forests exposed to fishing, coastal tourism, urban, and industrial wastewater than in pristine areas. The distribution of MPs varies from organism to organism in mangrove ecosystems, and is significantly influenced by their morphometric characteristics, feeding habits, dwelling environment etc. Mangrove plants can accumulate microplastics in their roots, stem and leaves through absorption, adsorption and entrapment helping in reducing abundance of microplastic in the surrounding environment. Several bacterial and fungal species are reported from these mangrove ecosystems, which are capable of degrading MPs. The bioremediation potential of mangrove plants offers an innovative and sustainable approach to mitigate microplastic pollution. Diverse mechanisms of MP biodegradation by mangrove dwelling organisms are discussed in this context. Biotechnological applications can be utilized to explore the genetic potential of the floral and faunal species found in the Asian mangroves. Detailed studies are required to monitor, control, and evaluate MP pollution in sediments and various organisms in mangrove ecosystems in Asia as well as in other parts of the world.Item Algae and bacteria consortia for wastewater decontamination and transformation into biodiesel, bioethanol, biohydrogen, biofertilizers and animal feed: a review(Environmental Chemistry Letters, 2023) Anand U.;Dey S.;Parial D.;Federici S.;Ducoli S.;Bolan N.S.;Dey A.;Bontempi E.Traditional wastewater treatment has been aimed solely at sanitation by removing contaminants, yet actual issues of climate change and depletion of natural resources are calling for methods that both remove contaminants and convert waste into chemicals and fuels. In particular, biological treatments with synergic coupling of microalgae and bacteria appear promising to remove organic, inorganic, and pathogen contaminants and to generate biofuels. Here, we review the use of algae and bacteria in the treatment and valorization of wastewater with focus on cell-to-cell adhesion, wastewater properties, and techniques for algae harvesting and production of biodiesel, bioethanol, biohydrogen, exopolysaccarides, biofertilizers, and animal feeds.Item Biotechnological methods to remove microplastics: a review(Anand U.;Dey S.;Bontempi E, 2023) Anand U.;Dey S.;Bontempi E.;Ducoli S.;Vethaak A.D.;Dey A.;Federici S.Microplastics pollution is major threat to ecosystems and is impacting abiotic and biotic components. Microplastics are diverse and highly complex contaminants that transport other contaminants and microbes. Current methods to remove microplastics include biodegradation, incineration, landfilling, and recycling. Here we review microplastics with focus on sources, toxicity, and biodegradation. We discuss the role of algae, fungi, bacteria in the biodegradation, and we present biotechnological methods to enhance degradation, e.g., gene editing tools and bioinformatics.Item Food chain microplastics contamination and impact on human health: a review(Environmental Chemistry Letters, 2024) Eze C.G.;Nwankwo C.E.;Dey S.;Sundaramurthy S.;Okeke E.S.Microplastics have been recently detected in many environmental media and living organisms, yet their transfer and toxicity to humans are poorly known. Here, we review microplastic transfer in the food chain with focus on microplastic pollution sources, methods to analyze microplastics in food, health impact of food-related microplastic exposure, and remediation of microplastic pollution. Microplastic pollution sources include seafood, food additives, packaging materials, and agricultural and industrial products. Remediation techniques comprise the use of microbial enzymes and biofilms. Microplastic detection methods in food rely on separation and quantification by optical detection, scanning electron micrography, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Human health impact following microplastic ingestion include cancers, organ and respiration damage, and reproductive impairments. Overall, microplastic toxicity is mainly due to their ability to enter the metabolism, adsorption into the circulatory system for translocation, and difficulty, if not impossibility, of excretion. This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institutionItem Molecular Mechanisms of Arsenic Resistance in Bacteria: A Systematic Analysis Following the PRISMA Model(Geomicrobiology Journal, 2024) Tamang L.D.;Wangmo S.;Dey S.;Bhattacharya S.Arsenic ranked 20th in abundance on the earth’s crust, poses a threat to all living organisms, and has affected over 30 million people worldwide. While bacteria play a crucial role in detoxifying and modifying arsenic to a harmless form, the complex nature of the biological methods involved in the process makes it difficult to comprehend. The present study followed the PRISMA protocols to search PubMed and evaluated eligible studies up to March 20, 2023, and their references to understand the mechanisms and diversity of arsenic resistance in bacteria. The search yielded 1140 studies, of which 196 were included in the systemic review. According to the studies reviewed, most of the arsenic resistant bacteria were isolated from soil, water, and mining tails, and the highest MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) for arsenate is 900 mM, while for arsenite, it is 180 mM. Exiguobacterium sp. As-9 exhibited the highest amount of MIC for arsenate (700 mM) and arsenite (180 mM) and can remove 99% of arsenic in less than 20 h. The transfer of arsenic in bacterial cell mainly consists of arsenite and arsenate uptake, using glycerol channel G1pF or aquaporin (AQP) and the phosphate transport system respectively. Bioremediation using bacteria to remove or detoxify arsenic toxicity is a cost-effective, and environment friendly method. The potentials of arsenic resistant microorganisms need to be harnessed to mitigate arsenic pollution in contaminated land and water.