Annual mean values of total Benzo(a)Pyrene Equivalent were much higher than 1 ng.m-3 over both the locations indicating higher lung cancer risk to the people living in this part of the Himalayas.Corona virus is highly uncertain and complex in space and time. Atmospheric parameters such as type of pollutants and local weather play an important role in COVID-19 cases and mortality. Many studies were carried out to understand the impact of weather on spread and severity of COVID-19 and vice-versa. A review study is conducted to understand the impact of weather and atmospheric pollution on morbidity and mortality. Studies show that aerosols containing corona virus generated by sneezes and coughs are major route for spread of virus. Viability and virulence of SARS-CoV-2 stuck on the surface of particulate matter is not yet confirmed. Studies found that an increase in particulate matter concentration causes more COVID-19 cases and mortality. Gaseous pollutant and COVID-19 cases are positively correlated. Local meteorology plays crucial role in the spread of corona virus and thus mortality. Decline in number of cases with rising temperature observed. Few studies also find that lowest and highest temperatures were related to lesser number of cases. Similarly humidity shows negative or no relationship with COVID-19 cases. Rainfall was not related whilst wind-speed plays positive role in spread of COVID-19. Solar radiation threats survival of virus, areas with lower solar radiation showed high exposure rate. Air quality tremendously improved during lockdown. A significant reduction in PM10, PM2.5, BC, NOx, SO2, CO and VOCs concentration were observed. Lockdown had a healing effect on ozone; significant increase in its concentration was observed. Aerosols Optical Depths were found to decrease up to 50%.The combined pollution of heavy metals and antibiotics in soil has attracted increasing attention due to their negative effects on plant growth. The aims of this study were to evaluate the phytotoxicity of single and combined sulfamethazine (SMT) and cadmium (Cd), selected as target pollutants in soil, on growth and physiological response of pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.). Results revealed that the soil spiked with 10 mg kg-1 Cd inhibited the pakchoi growth regardless of SMT addition. The combined effect of SMT and Cd stress on uptake of SMT or Cd by pakchoi were concerned with their combined concentration. The combined influence of high concentrations SMT and Cd (1 and 10 mg kg-1) exposure on the Cd content of pakchoi showed antagonistic effects and synergistic effects, respectively. Besides, oxidative substances and enzyme activity of pakchoi tissue were affected by Cd and SMT exposure in the soil, particularly by their joint stress. This mainly expressed as the increase of malondialdehyde (MDA), H2O2 content and antioxidant enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT)), which could be ascribed to the induction of Cd and SMT stress. Additionally, the SMT-Cd combined stress caused more reduction in nutrients (vitamin C and sugar) of pakchoi than the correspondingly single Cd stress. In conclusion, the SMT and Cd in soil lead to their accumulation and oxidative damage in pakchoi, which disturb the antioxidant defense system and ultimately adversely affect growth and quality of pakchoi.Microcystins-LR (MC-LR) acts as a possible carcinogen for humans and causes a serious risk to public environmental health. The current study aimed to evaluate the interaction between MC-LR exposure and prostate cancer development and elucidate the underlying mechanism. In this study, mice were exposed to MC-LR at various doses for 180 days. MC-LR was able to induce the progression of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) and microinvasion. Furthermore, MC-LR notably increased angiogenesis and susceptibility to prostate cancer in vivo. In vitro, over 25 weeks of MC-LR exposure, normal human prostate epithelial (RWPE-1) cells increased secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and colony formation, features typical for cancer cells. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/ml162.html These MC-LR-transformed prostate epithelial cells displayed increased expression of forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2); abrogation of FOXM1 or COX-2 activity by specific inhibitors could abolish the invasion and migration of MC-LR-treated cells. In conclusion, we have provided compelling evidence demonstrating the induction of a malignant phenotype in human prostate epithelial cells and the in vivo development of prostate cancer by exposure to MC-LR, which might be a potential tumor promoter in the progression of prostate cancer.Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been identified as an important pathway of microplastics to the environment. Most studies have focused on wastewater effluent, but generally only a small fraction of microplastics entering WWTPs are present in treated effluent. Instead, the majority of microplastics are expected to be retained in the sludge. To our knowledge, there is limited information on microplastics in sludge/biosolids from Australian WWTPs, despite 75% of biosolids produced in Australia being used for agriculture. This study evaluated the abundance of microplastics throughout the treatment trains of three WWTPs in Australia. The fate of microplastics >25 μm during treatment and their release to the environment was evaluated using an audit approach. The highest microplastic concentrations were detected in the influent, with fibres the dominant form of microplastic found. The screening and grit removal process preceding primary treatment removed 69-79% of microplastics, with these microplastics transported to landfill. Only 0.2-1.8% of the total microplastics in the influent were present in the final effluent, while 8-16% were retained in biosolids. This equates to between 22.1 × 106 to 133 × 106 microplastic particles per day released in effluent, between 864 × 106 to 1020 × 106 microplastic particles per day in biosolids, and between 4100 × 106 to 9100 × 106 microplastic particles per day transported to landfill. This study shows for the first time that most microplastics are retained during the initial screening and grit removal process with the load of microplastics going to landfill an order of magnitude greater than that in biosolids. Landfills may thus be an important sink (and potential future source) of microplastics from wastewater.