ABSTRACT
In this investigation, the positive impact of COVID-19 lockdown on heavy metals concentration and biological parameters in the shallow groundwater samples of Coimbatore city of South India was ascertained. The groundwater samples (n=15) were obtained from shallow open wells during before lockdown (24-25 February 2020) and after lockdown (2-3 June 2020) periods. These samples were analysed for heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Ni, Cr and Pb) and biological parameters (E. coli, Fecal coliforms, Fecal streptococci and Total coliforms). Fe concentration was within the permissible limit but, the concentrations of Mn, Ni, Cr and Pb were above the allowable limits for drinking uses as per the WHO. However, after lockdown the number of samples crossing the cutoff limit had considerably decreased (Mn: from 2 to 0 mg/L; Ni: from 13 to 10 mg/L; Cr: 7 to 5 mg/L and Pb: from 13 to 8 mg/L). The heavy metal pollution index (HPI) revealed that 176.75 km2 (67.4%) and 85.35 km2 (32.6%) areas fell under unsuitable and very poor categories, respectively, during the pre-lockdown period, whereas 138.23 km2 (52.6%), 118.98 km2 (45.3%) and 4.89 km2 (2.1%) areas fell under very poor, poor and good categories, respectively, during the post-lockdown period. Similarly, Total coliform, Fecal coliform and E. coli had decreased distinctly due to the pandemic lockdown. Therefore, the shutdown of small and large-scale industries during the lockdown period had improved the groundwater quality. The health risk assessment showed that 93%, 87% and 80% of pre-lockdown samples, and 87%, 80% and 73% of post-lockdown samples possessed non-carcinogenic risks (HI > 1) for children, female and male categories, respectively.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this Cross-sectional survey was to determine self-adaptive coping mechanisms associated with health distresses among the urban community-dwelling 50 elderly (Male=33, Female=17) population amidst pandemic situation in India. The respondents were telephonically interviewed. An open-ended semi-structured questionnaire comprising of fifteen questions on socio-demographic characteristics, utilisation of lockdown period, nature of physical activities, sleeping, and food habits before and after lockdown, priorities, and challenges during the lockdown, the impact of psycho-social support system and coping mechanisms of elderly people was used in the information collection. The interview transcripts were analysed using the thematic analysis method' Braun & Clarke (2006). The generated codes of the thematic content analysis included various components of health distress domains, namely mental health, social health, and physical health. Findings revealed that most of the mechanisms are overlapping and used by the elderly are not new to them, but their impact became more significant in this pandemic time. This study conveys the messages to gerontological social workers to integrate the 'strength-based approach' more comprehensively rather than traditional perspective while dealing with elderly cases in the era of the Covid-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Indian Journal of Gerontology is the property of Indian Gerontological Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)