In recent scenario, fluorosis is now going to be a severe problem throughout the globe due to toxic effects of fluoride (F) on both plants, animals and humans. Natural geological sources and increased industrialization have contributed greatly to the increasing incidence of F-induced human and animal health issues. The toxic effects of high doses of F may adversely affect human health by causing skeletal fluorosis, dental fluorosis, bone fractures, the formation of kidney stones, decreased birth rates, weakening of thyroid functionality and impair intelligence, particularly in children. High concentrations of F in soil may seriously threaten the life of plants, devastate soil microbial activity, disrupt the soil ecology and causes soil and water pollution. Hydrogen fluorides (HF) in gaseous form accumulated in the leaves of sensitive plants against a concentration gradient and HF mainly damages the plant by entering into its body in the form of gas and affects a variety of plant physiological processes. In this review we discuss about the effect of fluoride toxicity on plant, human and soil health and its mitigation strategies.

We show, both analytically and numerically, that for a nonlinear system making a transition from one equilibrium state to another under the action of an external time dependent force, the work probability distribution is in general asymmetric. PACS numbers:We consider a system in contact with a heat bath, which is driven out of equilibrium by an external time dependent force. This force drives it from an equilibrium state A to another equilibrium state B. It was shown by Jarzynski [1, 2, 3] that the equilibrium free energy difference, ∆F between these states can be related to the probability distribution of the work done W in taking the system from A to B. In particular, e −∆F KT = e −W KT *

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Aims: To investigate the effect of combination between foliar zinc and boron on groundnut growth, yield, nutrient uptake and its accumulation in pods. Study Design:  Completely random design (CRD). Place and Duration of Study: Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Nadia, West Bengal, India during 2016. Methodology: The pot experiment was comprised of three levels of Zn (0, 0.5 and 0.75% Zn), three levels of B (0, 0.3 and 0.45% B) and their combinations. The treatments were replicated thrice. Zn and B were applied through foliar spray twice at vegetative and flower initiation stage. Chlorophyll content, leaf area, root–shoot dry biomass, plant height, nutrient uptake and nutrient concentrations in pods were studied. Results: Foliar spray of Zn and B jointly increased the leaf area to the tune of 55% and 29% at flowering and pod formation stages, respectively. Despite sole application of B and Zn increased the leaf chlorophyll content in groundnut; the combined applications were much more prominent. Moreover, lower level of Zn combined with higher level of B significantly (p<0.05) had higher uptake of N (18.8%), P (11.5%) and K (5.9%) over higher level of sole Zn application. The improved biomass accumulation of groundnut amplified the efficient utilization of primary nutrients and resulted in higher nutrient uptake as well as their concentration in pods. Groundnut when sprayed with elevated doses of Zn and B produced the maximum yield (30.8 g/plant). Conclusion: Spraying of Zn and B increased plant biomass, leaf area, chlorophyll content noticeably and with the increase in concentration of Zn and B in spray, the increment became quite intense. The combined spray of Zn and B at critical growth stages promoted better growth and productivity of groundnut.

Risk assessment of arsenic toxicity through ground water-soil-rice system in Maldah district,

Aims: This investigation is aimed to conduct a delineation study to know the spatial distribution of available cationic micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn) in red and lateritic soils of Jhargram district of West Bengal and their relationship with soil chemical properties. Study Design: Spatial distribution. Place and Duration of Study: Geo-referenced 253 surface soil (0-15 cm depth) samples were collected from eight blocks (Gopiballavpur- 1, Gopiballavpur- 2, Nayagram, Jhargram, Sankrail, Jambani, Binpur- 2 and Binpur- 1) of Jhargram district of West Bengal, India during 2017- 2018. Methodology: Grid based detailed block wise soil sampling has been carried out in long term crop growing fields of Jhargram district of West Bengal.The collected soil samples were analyzed and their cationic micronutrient status were depicted through nutrient index and fertility maps. Geographical information system (GIS) is an important tool to identify the risk areas. In our study Arc Info GIS has been used to prepare the spatial distribution maps of available cationic micronutrients and soil chemical properties (pH and organic carbon) of different blocks of this district. Results: The pH, organic carbon content, available Zinc, Copper, Iron and Manganese content in soils were in the range of 3.68-7.6, 0.15-2.01 (%), 0.56-5.52, 2.4-11.76, 31.6-208.4 and 6.32-99.74 mg kg-1, respectively, with the mean value of 4.97,0.64 (%),2.21, 5.75, 114.68 and 41.87 mg kg-1 respectively. The lowest zinc content has been recorded from the soils of Gopiballavpur- 2 block. Conclusion: The calculated NIV and spatial distribution maps clearly indicated that there is no deficiency of Iron, Manganese and Copper in this region. Zinc status did not resemble with other cationic micronutrient status which was mostly low to medium with some patches of deficiencies. Soil pH has significant positive relation with Iron. Copper has significant positive relation with soil organic carbon.

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Arsenic (As), a toxic trace element, is of great environmental concern due to its presence in soil, water, plant, animal and human continuum. Its high toxicity and increased appearance in the biosphere have triggered public concern. The present study measured arsenic (As) concentrations in soil, groundwater and rice plant samples of five selected blocks of Maldah district, West Bengal, India. Soil, irrigation water and rice plant samples were collected from fields from the selected study areas. The results revealed the presence of As in higher concentrations than the maximum permissible limit of As in irrigation water (0.1 mg L− 1by WHO and Indian standard) in groundwater of Manikchak (0.553 ± 0.17 mg L− 1, Kaliachak III (0.528 ± 0.20 mg L− 1), Kaliachak II (0.449 ± 0.15 mg L− 1), Kaliachak I (0.207 ± 0.19 mg L− 1) The level of As in soil was also found to higher in those four blocks. The As content in rice grain and field is positively correlated with As content in irrigation water. The analysis of As of locally grown rice, showed the presence of its concentration higher than recommended safe level of As in rice by FAO/WHO (0.2 mg Kg-1) in some villages. The data of consumption of rice per day in the survey was used for the measurement of average daily dose and hazard quotient. Kaliachak III, Manikchak and Kaliachak II showed HQ greater than 1, indicating the possibility of non-carcinogenic health hazard. The study emphasized the severity of As problem in remote areas of West Bengal, India where people consume As tainted rice due to lack of awareness about the As problem and associated health issues.