In the gold ornaments manufacturing cottage industries, the gold metal grain dust waste particles are recovered from mercury (Hg) amalgam. The results on air samples from these industries during the recovery process have shown a high prevalence of Hg vapor (42.7 mg/m(3)). The blood concentration of Hg is elevated (79.1 microg/L) among workers when their blood samples are tested. The Hg toxicity is reflected in the reduction of glutathione peroxidase enzyme activity in RBC (49.317 mg/L of RBC) when compared with the data from control subjects (68.536 mg/L of RBC). These values are statistically significant. This would suggest that the Hg poisoning in goldsmiths is due to exposure. The results are discussed with relation to preventive measures.

No abstract

No abstract

Fibers come from natural and fossil resources and are an essential commodity widely used by textile industries. Considering current supply and future demands, the repurposing of agricultural residues into fibers is an eco-friendly, attractive option that might mitigate environmental pollution. In this review, we have summarized multiple alternate secondary sources for fiber production, with a case study using banana plant residual biomass, a common agricultural waste in many developing countries. Specifically, in this review we have compared the different processing methods, e.g., chemical, mechanical, or biological methods, for repurposing agricultural residual biomass (including banana waste) into fibers. The development and analysis of an integrated biorefinery approach is needed to promote the fiber production from various agro-residual biomasses within the framework of circular bioeconomic concepts.

No abstract