Articles

Pesticides Residues In, Vegetables and Fruits: A Review

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To feed the growing global population, it is essential to increase agricultural production. Due to health consciousness and prosperity, the consumption of fruits and vegetables, particularly in developing countries, has increased manifold in the last 50 years. To achieve these, the use of pesticides is one of the tools. Pesticides are also used for public health protection (to protect from vector-borne diseases). About 1000 compounds (organic and inorganic) are used as active ingredients of pesticides. Organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides are not only highly toxic but persist for decades. Those organochlorine pesticides which were banned 40 years ago are still found in vegetables and fruits. The pesticides from soil and water are accumulated in fruits and vegetables, and some of the vegetables are often consumed raw. Consumption of pesticide-contaminated fruits and vegetables by humans causes adverse health effects to humans. The short-term adverse effects on humans are asthma, sore throat, eye and skin irritation, and diarrhea, while long-term effects are cancer, neurological disorders, reproductive problems, diabetes, etc. This review aims to report the concentration of the commonly used pesticides in fruits and vegetables and their impact on humans. The present study will provide data for policymakers to formulate guidelines for the reduction of health risks to humans caused by the consumption of pesticide-contaminated fruits and vegetables.

A Study on Effects of Anthropological Noise on Marine Life

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Out of all type of pollutions that exist, noise is considered as the most annoying one. Ambient noise has increasingly posed a problem to marine beings over the decades. Modern day humans have infested oceans with noise pollution. Noise can easily blanket a vast area below the surface of water and have underlying effects as a result. Whales and a few other cetacean species use a combination of sounds to create vocalizations. The use of SONAR and seismic guns underwater has caused a major hearing loss issue in cetaceans and altered their unique calls. Invertebrates; that consist of gastropods, annelids, cephalopods, etc.; too are affected by deep sea noise. Marine animals have found it difficult to sense their prey or predator, communicate with their species or even navigate through the oceans due to deep sea noise. The alienating noise creates a bubble around the ecosystem it travels through causing the habitants to experience a sudden parasympathetic surge and force them to flee.