Plants can be used as both passive biomonitors and biomitigators in urban and industrial environments to indicate the environmental quality and to ameliorate pollution level in a locality. Many studies reveal that plants are negatively affected by the ambient levels of air pollutants. The present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of air pollution on comparative basis with reference to changes in photosynthetic pigments, plant height, leaves, as well as, biochemical parameters of plants of different sites around Udaipur city receiving varying levels of pollution load. The investigated tree species Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. (Family: Fabaceae) exhibited a reduction in various physiological and biochemical growth parameters that correspond with air pollution levels at different sites. The tree species growing in polluted and control areas were compared with respect to foliar dust load, leaf area, and chlorophyll and total carbohydrate and total protein concentration in the leaves. Our studies suggest that D. sissoo Roxb. can successfully be grown in an area for monitoring air pollution, where it is mild and droughts are common. It will prove as an ideal tree species to control pollution effectively beside acting as a shade tree and being a source of food for birds and animals. By plantation of D. sissoo Roxb., mitigative measure at the polluted sites to control generation of particulate matter and the air quality required can be ensured. Our results also confirm that industrial and vehicular air pollution level in Udaipur city is shifting beyond limits.
The purpose of the study was to conduct screening with Pap smear cytology and HPV testing among study women. The study also aimed to further perform a correlation analyses of HPV prevalence with demographic data. Methods: The present study collected demographic, epidemiologic and clinical information of women of aged group 20-60 years with gynaecological abnormalities who attended the gynaecology and cancer OPD at a tertiary care health center. Results: Majority of the study participants were young married women and did not have any formal education (85.5%). Mean (SD) age at the time of first pregnancy among the study subjects was 16.8 (2.7) years. Majority of the study participants were below poverty line (88.2%). A total of 68.6% of the study subjects had an HPV infection. Among those that had an HPV infection, majority had HPV 16 infection (95.4%). In the remaining 4.6%, HPV 18 was present. Findings show that with increasing age, HPV prevalence increases. Also, early age at marriage, lack of education, increased parity, early age at first pregnancy, poor sanitation, use of tobacco and belonging to below poverty line were significant risk factors for HPV infection in this cohort. Conclusion: The study reported a high prevalence of HPV infection in rural women attending the Gynaecology and Cancer OPD of a tertiary care hospital. Several important risk factors for the HPV infection were also identified. These were early age at marriage, lack of education, increased parity, early age at first pregnancy, poor sanitation, use of tobacco and belonging to below poverty line. These findings call for more efforts to increase awareness pertaining to HPV infection and cervical cancer among rural women.
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