Browsing by Author "Jayant Karwadiya"

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Agronomic practices and road proximity drive plastic pollution in agricultural soils: Insights from Bihar, India on weathering, elemental association, and ecological risk
(Elsevier Ltd, 2025) Jayant Karwadiya; Alok Ranjan Kerketta; Saurabh Kumar Pathak; S. Srivastava; Gopala Krishna Krishna Darbha
The widespread use of plastics in agriculture, particularly through mulching and polyhouse practices, has intensified concerns over soil contamination. However, limited research has addressed how spatial factors and agronomic practices, such as proximity to roads and mulching, influence macroplastics (MaP) and microplastics (MP) distribution in agricultural soils, particularly in India. This study assessed plastic contamination across 22 sites in six districts of Bihar, revealing mean MaP concentrations of 7.5 ± 3.6 particles kg−1 soil (d.w.) and MP levels ranging from 150 to 1460 particles kg−1 soil. MP concentrations were highest in mulched fields near roads (803 ± 371 particles kg−1), followed by distant mulched sites (657 ± 143 particles kg−1). Elevated levels were observed even in unmulched near-road fields (494 ± 327 particles kg−1), while the unmulched, distant fields (335 ± 76 particles kg−1) had the least contamination, indicating a combined influence of agricultural practices and road proximity. Polymer characterization revealed four types of MPs (PP > PE > PET > PS), with PE and PP accounting for over 95 % of the total. Weathering assessment via carbonyl index (CI) showed significantly higher values in MPs than MaPs, and field-extracted mulch films exhibited reduced contact angles relative to pristine films, indicating increased surface oxidation and hydrophilicity. Furthermore, MPs were found to adsorb multiple heavy metals, including Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd, Co, As, and Zn, highlighting risks of co-contaminant transport. Based on the MultiMP framework, all field types were classified as high-risk for MPs related impacts. These findings emphasize the need for sustainable plastic use in agriculture and call for targeted policy measures, including improved disposal practices and adoption of biodegradable alternatives, to mitigate long-term soil degradation and ecological harm. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd
Occurrence, Fate, and Remediation of Arsenic
(wiley, 2021) Gurudatta Singh; Anubhuti Singh; Reetika Shukla; Jayant Karwadiya; Ankita Gupta; Anam Naheed; Virendra Kumar Mishra
The contamination of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems by arsenic (As) is a very sensitive environmental issue due to its adverse impact on organisms. Although arsenic contamination is not only of anthropogenic origin, the problem of arsenic contamination in water sources in many areas has been considered calamitous because of its significant risk to different organisms. Many of the organisms are already suffering from the irreversible effects of arsenic poisoning. The disposal of industrial and mining waste has led to extensive contamination of land and water resources. It also causes a potential problem for food chain contamination. Awareness of arsenic poisoning to the mass majority of people has led to the development of efficient remediation technologies for its mitigation. There are many strategies for remediation such as coagulation-flocculation, membrane techniques, nanoparticles, and many more. In this chapter, different sources of arsenic contamination, health effects, and important management strategies currently being practiced for arsenic-contaminated areas (surface and groundwater) are shown. The chapter concludes with different remediation techniques for the removal of arsenic contaminants from water systems, and some are evolving as alternative green techniques. © 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved.
Potential of indigenous plant species for phytoremediation of arsenic contaminated water and soil
(Elsevier B.V., 2022) Shraddha Singh; Jayant Karwadiya; Sudhakar Srivastava; Prasanta Kumar Patra; V.P. Venugopalan
The presence of arsenic (As) and heavy metals in soil and water resources has serious impact on ecosystem as well as human health. In India, West Bengal (W.B.) is severely contaminated by higher levels of As in water, soil and growing plants/crops. The present study was designed to examine the remediation ability of indigenous plant species, growing naturally in the As contaminated Dakshin Panchpota village of Nadia district (W.B.). Soil and water samples, collected from the site, showed higher levels of arsenic and heavy metals. For the study, total twenty eight plants (eighteen terrestrial, ten aquatic) were collected from the contaminated area and among them ten terrestrial and seven aquatic plants showed bioaccumulation factor (BCF) > 1, suggesting their role in As remediation and site restoration. Althernanthera ficoides demonstrated highest accumulation as well as translocation of As (TF > 1) among all the terrestrial plants tested, showing its suitability for remediation of As contaminated soil. More As was recorded in shoots than the roots in Phyllanthus amarus and Cyanodon dactylon, showing their feasibility for phytoextraction purpose. Among aquatic plants, Eicchornia crassipes and Marsilea quadrifolia were found most effective for As remediation. Besides As, plants have also shown potential to tolerate and accumulate Fe, Zn, Cu and Cr in their tissues. Thus, the results of this study showed that the naturally growing plant species have potential to remediate As contaminated site in the presence of elevated concentrations of heavy metals and can play an important role in ecological restoration, however, care should be taken owing to medicinal properties possessed by some of the accumulators. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.