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AbstractThe escalation of technological advancements, coupled with the increased use of hazardous chemicals, has emerged as a significant concern for human health. Exposure to environmental pollutants like heavy metals and pesticides (insecticides, herbicides and fungicides) is known to significantly contribute to various health problems, particularly affecting reproductive health. Disturbances in reproductive potential and reproductive toxicity in males are particularly worrisome. Existing literature suggests that exposure to these environmental pollutants significantly alters male reproductive parameters. Thus, it is imperative to thoroughly analyze, comprehend, and evaluate their impact on male reproductive toxicity. Oxidative stress and disruptions in redox equilibrium are major factors through which these pollutants induce changes in sperm parameters and affect the reproductive system. Insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides act as endocrine disruptors, interfering with the secretion and function of reproductive hormones such as testosterone and luteinizing hormone (LH), consequently impacting spermatogenesis. Additionally, heavy metals are reported to bio-accumulate in reproductive organs, acting as endocrine disruptors and triggering oxidative stress. The co-operative association of these pollutants can lead to severe damage. In this comprehensive review, we have conducted an in-depth analysis of the impact of these environmental pollutants on the male reproductive system, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms of action.

The present study examines the arsenic associated human health risk in Sri Lanka with due consideration to age and gender vulnerability. While the existing low-grade metamorphic rock carries less possibility of arsenic contamination, the usage of old generation arsenical pesticides may increase the future possibility of a catastrophe. Through a comprehensive Health Risk Index (HRI) it could be seen that the north part of the country carries higher risk for children below eight years of age to develop cancer in long run. Interestingly rainfall pattern correlates with arsenic vulnerable zones, denoting that high monsoon led recharge may prevent rapid anthropogenic fluctuations in anoxic zones thereby preventing vigorous formation of oxy-hydroxides. However, the possibility of sea-water intrusion due to excessive groundwater abstraction may change the major-ion chemistry soon which may impact the co-occurrence scenario of arsenic and fluoride. In this regard the study identifies the wetter regions and their shift from 1981 to 2018 to propose a more stable groundwater regime in terms of sea water intrusion. There exist few scientific literatures concerning the occurrence of arsenic in the groundwater of Sri Lanka but there exists no framework to provide a meaningful interpretation by combining all the available research outputs. The present study therefore provides a basis for understanding the existing groundwater arsenic contamination of Sri Lanka by providing a scientific framework to the studies done so far by various researchers in the past 30 years.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a promising approach to understand the actual prevalence of COVID-19 disease at the community level. Different studies have cited the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater samples. In the present study, eighteen influent wastewater samples from different sewage treatment plants and pumping stations (5 samples from Vadodara city, 4 from Gandhinagar, and 9 from Ahmedabad city) were collected and analyzed for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Gujarat state, India. The results showed the highest SARS-CoV-2 effective gene concentration in Vadodara (3078 copies/L), followed by Ahmedabad (2968 copies/L) and Gandhinagar (354 copies/L). On comparing the virus gene concentration in wastewater samples, the SARS-CoV-2 genetic material exhibited a positive relationship with the number of confirmed and active cases in in all three cities. However, a minor variation in SARS-CoV-2 effective gene concentration was seen between Vadodara and Ahmedabad despite a >2.5 and >1.5 folds differences in the cumulative number of confirmed and active cases, respectively. This may occur primarily due to the greater test positivity ratio in Vadodara (3.30%) than Ahmedabad (1.40%) and might be the higher number of asymptomatic patients in Vadodara. The study confirms the potential of the WBE that can be used at a large scale around the globe for better dealing with the pandemic situation.

The present study investigates the arsenic related health risk through possible consumption of groundwater in the Ganga (GFP) and the Brahmaputra (BFP) floodplains. Through our integrated chemical analysis of 507 groundwater samples, accounting all the possible dietary pathways of arsenic intake, it is revealed that GFP carries significantly higher risk in terms of cancer incidence as compared to BFP among different gender and age groups. While spatially a greater number of wells have higher arsenic in BFP but significant concentration peaks were observed in GFP where concentration reached to 106.03 μgL−1, almost 10 times higher than WHO limit. For both the floodplains, HQ remains above 1 for oral exposure ranging between 5.25 to 53.24 in the BFP and 5.6 to 57.6 in the GFP.

Increased concern has recently emerged pertaining to the occurrence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in aquatic environment during the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. While infectious SARS-CoV-2 has yet to be identified in the aquatic environment, the virus potentially enters the wastewater stream from patient excretions and a precautionary approach dictates evaluating transmission pathways to ensure public health and safety. Although enveloped viruses have presumed low persistence in water and are generally susceptible to inactivation by environmental stressors, previously identified enveloped viruses persist in the aqueous environment from days to several weeks. Our analysis suggests that not only the surface water, but also groundwater, represent SARS-CoV-2 control points through possible leaching and infiltrations of effluents from health care facilities, sewage, and drainage water. Most fecally transmitted viruses are highly persistent in the aquatic environment, and therefore, the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in water is essential to inform its fate in water, wastewater and groundwater and subsequent human exposure.