Negligible radiological impact of Indian nuclear power plants on the environment and the public: Findings from a 20-year study.

Nuclear power plants, recognized for their extended operational life, minimal greenhouse gas emissions, and high-power density, are deemed as reliable energy sources. Nonetheless, concerns persist regarding the radioactive discharges from these plants and their potential impact on health and the environment. To comprehend the radiological implications of such releases, this study presents, for the first time, an analysis of radiological data from 7 Indian nuclear power plants (NPPs), collected by Indian environmental survey laboratories (ESL) over the past two decades (2000-2020). This dataset encompasses radioactivity concentrations in the atmospheric, aquatic, and terrestrial environments within a 30 km radius of each NPP, as well as the annual cumulative external gamma doses recorded by environmental thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLDs). The analysis yielded several key findings: (i) Radioactivity concentrations around the NPPs were low and comparable to values measured at other nuclear power plant sites worldwide; (ii) Tritium concentrations in receiving water bodies were <1 % of the internationally recommended limit of 10,000 Bq/l; (iii) The estimated total radiation doses to the public were at most 10 % of the stipulated regulatory dose limit of 1000 µSv and consistently decreased over the study period and (iv) Variations in doses among the NPP sites were primarily attributed to legacy technology used in specific reactors. These results indicate efficient and secure reactor operations and the minimal contribution of Indian nuclear power plants to anthropogenic doses in the country. The findings hold potential significance for reinforcing India's commitment to advancing its nuclear power program.

Small-scale (Phase II) evaluation of the efficacy and residual activity of SumiShield® 50 WG (clothianidin 50%, w/w) for indoor residual spraying in comparison to deltamethrin, bendiocarb and pirimiphos-methyl for malaria vector control in Karnataka state, India.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: There is an urgent need of introducing new insecticide molecules with novel modes of action to counter the ever growing insecticide-resistance in mosquito vectors. In the present study, a new insecticide molecule, SumiShield 50 WG (clothianidin 50%, w/w) was investigated for its efficacy as an indoor residual spray along with its residual action in comparison to deltamethrin, pirimiphos-methyl and bendiocarb. METHODS: The study area included three villages in Almatti Dam catchment area in Bagalkot district, Karnataka, India. Spraying was done using Hudson sprayers with the following dosages-Clothianidin, 300 mg AI/m2; deltamethrin, 25 mg AI/m2; bendiocarb, 400 mg AI/m2; and pirimiphos-methyl, 1 g AI/m2. Cone bioassays were conducted on cement and mud plastered surfaces at fortnightly intervals to assess the bioefficacy and residual activity. Mosquito densities in the sprayed houses were recorded at regular intervals for assessment of the insecticidal efficacy. Filter paper samples collected from the sprayed houses were analyzed for insecticide content sprayed on different wall surfaces at the Walloon Agricultural Research Institute, Gembloux, Belgium. RESULTS: Chemical content analysis of filter paper samples revealed that the applied to target ratios were in the acceptable range (1 + 0.5) for all the treatment types. Duration of persistence of effectiveness of bendiocarb (≥80% mortality in cone bioassays) was 19 to 21 wk on cement plastered surfaces and 15 to 19 wk on mud plastered surfaces. Duration of persistence of effectiveness of deltamethrin was 17 to 21 wk on both mud and cement plastered surfaces and that of pirimiphos-methyl was 15 to 19 wk. For SumiShield, it was 17 to 25 wk on both types of surfaces, indicating slow action of SumiShield. The densities of Anopheles culicifacies were lower in bendiocarb sprayed houses throughout the observation period, followed by pirimiphos methyl, deltamethrin and clothianidin sprayed houses. In case of other mosquitoes also, similar trend was observed. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Considering the persistence of effectiveness of SumiShield on sprayed surfaces, effectiveness in reducing the density of mosquitoes, operational feasibility, safety and community acceptance, the formulation of clothianidin is a better option for IRS for the control of insecticide-resistant mosquito vectors.

Village-scale (Phase III) evaluation of the efficacy and residual activity of SumiShield® 50 WG (Clothianidin 50%, w/w) for indoor spraying for the control of pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles culicifacies Giles in Karnataka state, India.

OBJECTIVE: There is an urgent need to test and incorporate new molecules with promising efficacy and novel mode of action to control insecticide-resistant mosquito vectors for disease control. We tested a new compound, clothianidin (SumiShield 50 WG), for its efficacy as an indoor residual spray (IRS) for the control of pyrethroid-resistant Anopheles culicifacies (Diptera: Culicidae) in comparison with pirimiphos methyl (Actellic CS) as a positive control. METHODS: Ten villages were selected, five each for IRS with clothianidin (300 mg AI/m2 ) and pirimiphos methyl (1000 mg AI/m2 ) in Almatti Dam catchment area in Karnataka state, India. Entomological parameters were monitored in these sprayed villages using standard methods. Assessment of quality of spray was performed by analysing the insecticide content in the filter paper samples collected from sprayed houses. Perceptions of spray men and inhabitants were recorded post-spray on safety of these molecules. RESULTS: The mean applied to target ratio of content was 1.7 (n = 29) for clothianidin and 1.8 (n = 50) for pirimiphos methyl on filter paper samples analysed. Residual activity (≥80% mortality in exposed mosquitoes) after 24 h post-exposure of SumiShield WG was 5 months and increased to 6 months when the holding period was extended to 120 h and that of Actellic CS was 3 months at 24-h holding period and extended to 4 months at 120-h extended holding period. The mean densities of An. culicifacies in both arms fell drastically post-spray. In light trap collections, density of mosquitoes collected indoors was lower than outdoors in both arms indicating effectiveness of IRS. SumiShield WG was more efficacious in reducing the per-structure density than Actellic CS. The proportion of nulliparous mosquitoes was higher than that of parous mosquitoes during post-spray collections in both arms. The majority of adverse events reported were transitory and subsided without medication. CONCLUSION: Indoor residual spraying with SumiShield WG was found effective, operationally feasible and safe, and it is effective for up to 6 months.

Control of Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus, the vectors of dengue and chikungunya, by using pheromone C21 with an insect growth regulator: Results of multicentric trials from 2007-12 in India.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Aedes mosquito control has gained much importance nowadays in view of rise in number of reported cases of dengue and chikungunya in India and other countries. In the present study, C21 attracticide (containing a pheromone and an insect growth regulator­IGR, developed by Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE), Gwalior, India was tested for its feasibility for surveillance and control of Aedes mosquito in a multicentric mode from October 2007 to June 2012 in urban (Delhi, and Bengaluru district, Karnataka) and suburban (Alappuzha district, Kerala) settings of the country in three phases. METHODS: Across the randomly selected households in each study area, two to four containers treated with attracticide (experimental) and untreated (control) were placed and monitored by trained surveillance workers on weekly/ fortnightly basis for determining the presence of eggs, larvae and pupae. Container positivity, percent larvae, egg and pupae collected were determined during different phases and analyzed statistically using SPSS 18.0. RESULTS: Container positivity was found statistically significant at Bengaluru and Alappuzha, Kerala while in Delhi, it was found non-significant. Eggs collected from experimental containers were significantly higher in comparison to control at all the locations except Delhi. Also larvae collected from control containers were significantly higher at all the locations except Bengaluru. Pupae collected from control containers remained significantly higher at all the locations as no pupal formation was recorded from experimental containers. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The use of C21 attracticide hampered pupal formation, thus inhibiting adult population in the study areas. The study established that C21 attracticide was efficacious in the field conditions and has potential for use in surveillance and management of dengue and chikungunya mosquitoes.

A note on the insecticide susceptibility status of principal malaria vector Anopheles culicifacies in four states of India.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: The major malaria vector, Anopheles culicifacies Giles is reported to contribute ~ 65% of the malaria cases in India. This species developed resistance to DDT and later to HCH, malathion and also to pyrethroids in some states due to their use in the national malaria control programme. In the present study, insecticide susceptibility of this species was monitored in four states of India. METHODS: To determine insecticide susceptibility status of the major malaria vector An. culicifacies, adult mosquitoes were collected from different localities of 32 tribal districts in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal during October/November 2009-10. Mosquitoes were collected from stratified ecotypes comprising a group of districts in West Bengal and individual districts in three other states. Mosquitoes were exposed to papers treated with WHO diagnostic dose: 4% DDT, 5% malathion and 0.05% deltamethrin following the WHO tube method. RESULTS: RESULTS provided the susceptibility status of An. culicifacies to different insecticides used in the public health programme in 32 districts in four states. An. culicifacies was found resistant to DDT (mortality range 0-36%) in all the 32 districts; to malathion it was resistant in 14 districts, verification required in 10 districts and susceptible in eight districts (mortality range 32.2-100%). It was resistant to deltamethrin in four districts, verification required in 11 districts and susceptible in 17 districts (mortality range 43.3-100%). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Development of widespread resistance to insecticides used in public health sprays for vector control including to pyrethroids in An. culicifacies in the surveyed districts is of great concern for the malaria control programme as the major interventions for vector control are heavily reliant on chemical insecticides, mainly synthetic pyrethroids used both for indoor residual spraying and for long-lasting insecticidal nets. Thus, there is a need to periodically monitor and update the susceptibility status of malaria vector(s) to suggest alternative vector control strategies for effective disease management.

Socio-economic-political-cultural aspects in malaria control programme implementation in southern India.

Objective. A Socio-economic-political-cultural (SEPC) study was undertaken under the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) initiative to understand the process of programme implementation and how far in the changing malaria context, the broader environment has been understood and programme components have undergone changes. Material and Methods. Two studies were carried out; first in four villages under the primary health unit (PHU) Banavaralu in Tiptur Taluka in September 2002 and the second one in April 2003 in four villages in Chitradurga district, namely, Kappagere, Kellodu in Hosadurga Taluka, and Vani Vilas Puram and Kathrikenhally in Hiriyur Taluka. Focus group discussion and key interviews were adopted to collect the qualitative data. Results. Gender discrimination and lack of empowerment of women came out strongly in social analysis. In the rural elected bodies called Panchayats, the concept of health committees was not known. Health committees as one of the important statutory committees under every Panchayat were nonexistent in reality in these villages. Financial difficulties at Grama Panchayat level and also meager budget allocation for health have led to indifferent attitude of Panchayat members towards health. It was observed that there were generally no specific cultural practices in relation to malaria cure. Cultural and traditional practices in malaria-related issues were not predominant in the community except for some sporadic instances. Conclusion and Recommendation. SEPC study is an important indicator in malaria control programme. It is ultimately the community that takes the major decision directly or indirectly and the health authority must guide them in right direction.

Comparative larvicidal activity of different species of Ocimum against Culex quinquefasciatus.

Ocimum is a genus of aromatic herbs, undershurbs or shrubs distributed in the tropical and warm temperate regions of the world. Larvicidal activity of essential oils and different extracts of O. sanctum, O. basilicum and O. gratissimum were compared on laboratory reared and field collected larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus. Thin layer chromatographic analysis revealed that all the three species have similar components and results showed the presence of steroids and triterpenoids. The larvicidal activity was determined in terms of LD50 value on late third or early fourth instar larvae for a period of 24 h. A comparison of LD50 value has shown that O. basilicum is more active than the other two species. The LD50 value of O. basilicum and O. sanctum oil were 39.31 and 40.02 on laboratory reared larvae and 129.53 and 139.49 on field collected larvae. Laboratory reared larvae were more sensitive than field collected larvae.

Field evaluation of lambda-cyhalothrin (ICON 10 CS) indoor residual spraying against Anopheles culicifacies in India.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Field trials of lambda-cyhalothrin 10 CS (ICON 10 CS) in indoor residual spraying (IRS) with 25 mg a.i./m2 against Anopheles culicifacies was undertaken vs malathion IRS (25% WP-2 g a.i./m2) in Tumkur district, Karnataka; vs deltamethrin IRS (2.5% WP-20 mg a.i./m2) in Dharmapuri district; and vs lambda-cyhalothrin (10 WP-25 mg a.i./m2) in Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu, India. METHODS: Spray operations in the experimental villages were done by the National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR) and in the control villages by the respective State Health Department staff. Persistence of efficacy of insecticide sprayed in villages was assessed by contact bioassays against vector mosquitoes. Entomological indicators such as per structure density, parity rates of vector mosquitoes and sporozoite rates were measured in all the three study areas using standard procedures. Mass blood surveys and active fever case detections were carried out in experimental and control villages to study the impact of IRS on malaria transmission. RESULTS: Persistence of effectiveness of ICON 10 CS was observed up to 2-3 months in all the three study areas. ICON 10 CS was found effective at par with or better than the insecticides used in the national programme in reducing the mosquito densities and in interrupting malaria transmission in the study villages. Vector density, parity rates and malaria cases considerably reduced in the ICON 10 CS-sprayed villages. CONCLUSION: Field trials at three sites have established that ICON 10 CS formulation was relatively more effective than malathion 25% WP, deltamethrin 2.5% WP and lambda-cyhalothrin 10% WP in some evaluation parameters like indoor resting mosquitoes, parity rates in vector mosquitoes and persistence of effectiveness. It can be used for IRS for malaria vector control with two rounds of spray at an interval of 3 months for curtailing the malaria transmission and an additional round is recommended in perennial malaria transmission areas.

Larvivorous fish in wells target the malaria vector sibling species of the Anopheles culicifacies complex in villages in Karnataka, India.

Malaria was a major problem in a sericulture area of Karnataka, south India, where Anopheles culicifacies s.l. and A. fluviatilis s.l. were considered to be the main vectors. Sibling species complexes of these two species were analysed in three ecologically different villages. Among A. culicifacies, only sibling species A and B were found. In Puram, a village with 22 wells, species A predominated; species B predominated in a village with four wells and a stream, and in a village with a stream and no wells. Poecilia reticulata fish were introduced into all wells and streams in the villages, and after one year no vectors were found in Puram, and all, or nearly all, A. culicifacies were species B in the other two villages. All A. fluviatilis belonged to the sibling species T. Blood meal analysis indicated that a few of the A. culicifacies collected had fed on humans while all the A. fluviatilis had fed on bovines. Before the introduction of fish, the annual parasite incidence for malaria was high in Puram, but much lower in the other two villages. From 1998 (over one year after release of fish) until 2003, no malaria cases were detected in the three villages.

Widespread occurrence of the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (Pfcrt) gene haplotype SVMNT in P. falciparum malaria in India.

The Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (Pfcrt) K76T mutation and haplotype (amino acids 72-76) and the P. falciparum multidrug resistance 1 (Pfmdr1) mutation (N86Y) were analyzed as markers of chloroquine resistance in the DNAs of 73 blood samples from patients with P. falciparum malaria in India. Seventy of the 73 DNAs had the Pfcrt K76T mutation. Of these, 66 had the SVMNT haplotype and four had CVIET, the African/Southeast Asian haplotype. Only 20 of 69 DNAs had the Pfmdr1 N86Y mutation. It is surprising that the Pfcrt haplotype in India is predominantly SVMNT, rather than that seen in Southeast Asia. The widespread prevalence of the Pfcrt K76T mutation is a cause for concern.

Entropy generation method to quantify thermal comfort.

The present paper presents a thermodynamic approach to assess the quality of human-thermal environment interaction and quantify thermal comfort. The approach involves development of entropy generation term by applying second law of thermodynamics to the combined human-environment system. The entropy generation term combines both human thermal physiological responses and thermal environmental variables to provide an objective measure of thermal comfort. The original concepts and definitions form the basis for establishing the mathematical relationship between thermal comfort and entropy generation term. As a result of logic and deterministic approach, an Objective Thermal Comfort Index (OTCI) is defined and established as a function of entropy generation. In order to verify the entropy-based thermal comfort model, human thermal physiological responses due to changes in ambient conditions are simulated using a well established and validated human thermal model developed at the Institute of Environmental Research of Kansas State University (KSU). The finite element based KSU human thermal computer model is being utilized as a "Computational Environmental Chamber" to conduct series of simulations to examine the human thermal responses to different environmental conditions. The output from the simulation, which include human thermal responses and input data consisting of environmental conditions are fed into the thermal comfort model. Continuous monitoring of thermal comfort in comfortable and extreme environmental conditions is demonstrated. The Objective Thermal Comfort values obtained from the entropy-based model are validated against regression based Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) values. Using the corresponding air temperatures and vapor pressures that were used in the computer simulation in the regression equation generates the PMV values. The preliminary results indicate that the OTCI and PMV values correlate well under ideal conditions. However, an experimental study is needed in the future to fully establish the validity of the OTCI formula and the model. One of the practical applications of this index is that could it be integrated in thermal control systems to develop human-centered environmental control systems for potential use in aircraft, mass transit vehicles, intelligent building systems, and space vehicles.

Effects of volatile anesthetics on the direct and indirect protein kinase C-mediated enhancement of alpha1E-type Ca(2+) current in Xenopus oocytes.

The effect of the volatile anesthetics (VAs) halothane (0.59 mM) and isoflurane (0.70 mM) on protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated modulation of alpha1E type of high-voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels was examined in Xenopus oocytes coexpressing m1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) or 1, 2-dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol (DOG) was used to activate PKC directly, whereas indirect activation was induced with acetyl-beta-methylcholine (MCh). The interaction between PKC activators and VAs was examined by perfusing either VA before, during, or after the administration of PMA, DOG, or MCh. In addition, the effect of VAs was studied after the down-regulation of PKC. The application of VAs inhibited Ba(2+) current (I(Ba)), whereas PMA (500 nM), DOG (100 microM), or MCh (1 and 10 microM) markedly potentiated I(Ba). VAs inhibited PMA- or DOG-enhanced I(Ba) to the same extent as seen in controls. The inhibition of I(Ba) induced by VAs was not reversed by PMA or DOG. The administration of VAs in combination with PMA, DOG, or MCh (1 microM) led to the inhibition of I(Ba). MCh (10 microM) counteracted the inhibitory effect of VAs when administered together and reversed the inhibition of I(Ba) produced by VAs. These differences in the responses between PMA and MCh (10 microM) may be based on the involvement of various pools of PKC. It is suggested that VAs act directly at the membrane, because they blocked the membrane-based action of PMA, whereas the receptor-based action of MCh was only partially blocked. It is possible that some PKC isoforms may not be a direct target of VAs.

Analysis and quantification of mental stress and fatigue using Maxwell relations from thermodynamics.

Several experimental and theoretical techniques have been developed to analyze both physical and psychological stresses. These techniques have relied mainly on certain parameters based on physiological, behavioral, and performance related data. This study is based on a thought experiment which describes the technique to quantify mental stress based on physiological responses using the entropy concept. It relates different physiological parameters using the Maxwell relations of thermodynamics with a systems approach. Data for testing this analytical approach were obtained from an experimental study which was conducted to determine the effects of a mentally stressful situation (final examination) on the common physiological responses (blood pressure, pulse rate, and oral body temperature) of students. The results indicated that the imposed mental stress causes significant changes in physiological responses. The Maxwell relations of thermodynamics were used to quantify the level of stress under different conditions. The results obtained from these relations validated the principles of thermodynamics as applied to the human system.

Seasonality of indoor resting anophelines in stone quarry area of District Allahabad, U.P.

Alongitudinal study was conducted in four indicator villages of PHC Shankargarh, District Allahabad, U.P. from July 1991 to June 1992 to have information on seasonality of indoor resting anopheline species in silica sand/hard stone quarry area. Fourteen anopheline species namely, An. aconitus (0.35%), An. annularis (17.03%), An. barbirostris (0.09%), An. culicifacies (36.74%), An. fluviatilis (0.13%), An. nigerrimus (0.01%), An. pallidus (4.40%), An. splendidus (0.02%), An. stephensi (0.01%), An. subpictus (40.84%), An. tessellatus (0.15%), An. turkhudi (0.004%), An. vagus (0.20%) and An. varuna (0.02%) were collected. An. culicifacies, An. subpictus and An. annularis were found throughout the year. An. fluviatilis, An. pallidus, An. vagus and An. aconitus were also observed in all the seasons except extreme summer. However, An. barbirostris and An. splendidus were collected only in monsoon/post-monsoon and winter seasons. An. tessellatus and An. stephensi were recorded in winter and spring seasons. An. nigerrimus and An. varuna were recorded in winter, while An. turkhudi in spring. Prolonged high vector density may be attributed to the extended malaria transmission in this area.

Correlation of malaria endemicity with An. culicifacies sibling species composition and malaria antibody profile in district Allahabad (U.P.).

Entomological, parasitological and serological surveys were conducted between October 1989 and November 1990 in 27 villages (population 33,250) belonging to three topographically different areas of district Allahabad, viz. Gangapar, Doaba and Yamunapar. A good correlation existed in all the three areas between malaria incidence vis-a-vis An. culicifacies sibling species composition and malaria antibodies titre in the populations. In Gangapar and Doaba villages, An. culicifacies densities were low and the proportions of vector species A and C were much less than that of species B, the non-vector species. Low endemicity of malaria was supported by low antibody titres observed in the population. In contrast, in Yamunapar villages An. culicifacies densities were high, species A and C together were almost equal to species B, and malaria incidence as well as antibody titre were high. Based on these observations, district Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, could be divided into two zones, low malaria transmission zone--Gangapar and Doaba areas and high malaria transmission zone--Yamunapar area.

Malaria in Shankargarh PHC, Allahabad District (U.P.): a clinical report.

A longitudinal study of malaria incidence recorded at malaria clinic of MRC, Shankargarh, during 1988-1991 showed the immense popularity of the clinic in quarry area. In clinical cases, SPR and SfR gradually increased from 45.6 and 18.2 in 1988 to 52.5 and 34.5 respectively in 1991. Increase in malaria cases during the reporting period was mainly contributed by P. falciparum cases. Peaks of vivax and falciparum malaria were recorded in September and October respectively. Extended transmission in Shankargarh region might be attributed to the influx of quarry labourers after post-monsoon season. SfR for 0 to 1-year age group malaria cases was found to be relatively low as compared to the higher age groups. Only 56 per cent of malaria-positive patients reported in the clinic had fever.

A theoretical study of acriflavin-DNA binding.

A theoretical study of binding behaviour of acriflavin, a well-known mutagen, with DNA base pairs such as AT, GC, TA and CG has been performed using CNDO/2 method to compute net atomic charges and dipoles located at various centres in acriflavine as well as base pairs. Acriflavine-DNA base pair interactions have been evaluated using second order perturbation method with multicentered multipole approximation. Only minimum energy configurations have been reported. Results have been discussed with a view to obtain a comparative behaviour of other similar dyes like proflavine and acridine orange.

Stacking interactions between demethylated ellipticines and DNA base pairs--a quantum mechanical study.

A study of the binding behaviour of ellipticine compounds, derivatives of pyrido (4-3b) carbazole, has been carried out to elucidate the relationship between the drug-activity and demethylation of ellipticine. An all valence electron method (CNDO/2) has been employed to compute molecular charge distribution corresponding to various atomic centres of ellipticines and DNA base pairs. Using these atomic charges and dipoles, intermolecular interaction energy has been calculated with the help of second order perturbation theory and multicentered-multipole expansion technique. A comparative analysis of the binding patterns for nor-5,11-dimethyl-ellipticine and nor-11-methyl-ellipticine has been presented vis-a-vis ellipticine. Attempt has been made to correlate interaction energy studies with demethylation of ellipticine and the possible binding patterns.

Chloroquine sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum in Shankargarh block of Allahabad district (U.P.).

Chloroquine sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum was carried out in Shankargarh block of Allahabad district, U.P. to confirm the presence of resistant strain in the area. A total of 47 cases were subjected to in vivo extended test, of which resistance was detected in 11 cases at R-II/R-III level and in 9 cases at R-I level. One case out of 18 subjected to standard 7-day in vivo test showed resistance at R-III level. Micro in vitro test was done for 24 cases, of which growth was seen in 21 control samples. Out of these 7 cases were found to be resistant. The significance of the findings are discussed.