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The present study pertains to assessing the heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Pb, and Zn) contents of untreated and treated effluents of two textile industries and agricultural soil samples in the vicinity of these industries located in Ludhiana, Punjab (India). The genotoxicity of the effluents samples was estimated using Allium cepa root chromosomal aberration assay. The exposure of Allium cepa roots to untreated effluents from both industries resulted in the reduction of mitotic index (MI) and increase in chromosomal aberrations in the root tip meristematic cells when compared to those that were exposed to the treated effluents indicating the significant genotoxic potential of untreated effluents. Risk characterization of soil sample was carried out by calculating the potential ecological and human health risks of heavy metals. The hazard index was observed to be less than 1, indicating there was no potential health risk of heavy metals in soil samples. Furthermore, bioaccumulation potential studies on plant species grown in the vicinity of these industries have shown that bioaccumulation factor (BAF) varied as Ricinus communis L. > Chenopodium album L. > Cannabis sativa L. with Co and Pb having maximum and minimum values, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Punjab, the advent of new technology in agriculture has increased production, productivity, and the demand for and wages of agricultural labourers. The continuously rising demand for and wages of hired farm labourers started attracting labourers to Punjab from the other states of India. The influx of migrant casual agricultural labourers into Punjab has caught the attention of many researchers. However, the scholars have paid little attention to the migrant permanent farm servants. The common views of the farming community on the migrant permanent farm servants are: (i) they are very productive, (ii) they are essential for the conduction of all farming activity in Punjab, and (iii) they are ready to work for less wages than other workers. The present study examines these views and fills the gaps in literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]