Agricultural adsorbents are reported to have a remarkable performance for adsorption of dyes. In the present study, formaldehyde and sulphuric acid treated two agricultural adsorbents; potato peel and neem bark are used to adsorb methylene blue. On the whole, the acid-treated adsorbents are investigated to have high sorption efficiency compared to HCHO treated adsorbents. The percentage removal efficiency of H 2 SO 4 treated potato peel (APP) increases considerably high from 75 to 100 % with increase in adsorbent dose, whereas the removal efficiency of H 2 SO 4 treated neem bark (ANB) is found to be 98 % after adding the first dose only. The monolayer sorption behaviour of HCHO treated potato peel (PP) and APP is well defined by Langmuir, whereas the chemisorptions behaviour of HCHO treated neem bark (NB) and ANB is suggested by Temkin's isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity measured is highest in ANB followed by NB, PP and APP with the values of 1000, 90, 47.62 and 40.0 mg/g, respectively. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model fitted well with the observed data of all the four adsorbents. The results obtained reveal that NB and ANB both are good adsorbents compared to PP and APP.

Blood samples were collected during August 1992 and August 2002 from various hospitals of Haryana state and analyzed for the presence of HCH and DDT residues and the change in concentration of pesticide residues was calculated in terms of % reduction. The study revealed that the mean residue levels of total HCH in human blood samples have declined by 87.6% while those of total DDT have decreased by 98.9% during a gap of 10 years. The obtained results reveal that during 1992 p,p'-DDT was the major component with the mean value of 6.125 mg/L followed by p,p'-DDE, γ-HCH, α-HCH and β-HCH while in 2002, β-HCH and p,p'-DDE were comparable with mean value of 0.053 and 0.052 mg/L, respectively followed by p,p'-DDT, α-HCH and p,p'-DDD.

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The aim of the study was to compare the intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering efficacy and side effect profile of preservative free brimonidine 0.2%/timolol 0.5% fixed dose combination (BTFC) versus benzalkonium chloride (BKC) preserved brimonidine 0.2%/timolol 0.5% fixed dose combination.Methods: A prospective, randomized, comparative, 8-week study was conducted on sixty patients of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension. Enrolled patients were randomized into two groups (Group 1 and 2) with thirty patients in each group. Group 1 (Preservative free BTFC) patients were given preservative free brimonidine 0.2%/timolol 0.5% fixed dose combination one drop twice daily and Group 2 (BKC preserved BTFC) patients were given benzalkonium chloride preserved brimonidine 0.2%/timolol 0.5% fixed dose combination one drop twice daily for 8 weeks, and IOP was recorded at baseline and at 4 week and 8week visit at 9 am (before instillation of drug) and 11 am (post dose, peak effect). IOP lowering potential, side effect profile was noted at each visit and cost analysis was done for both the study drugs.Results: There was no statistically significant difference in patient demographics of the two groups. The mean age for Group 1 (Preservative free BTFC) was 62.97 years and for Group 2 (BKC preserved BTFC) was 61.67 years. In Group 1 (Preservative free BTFC), 18 (60%) were females and in Group 2 (BKC preserved BTFC), 16 (53.33%) were females. There was no statistical difference between the baseline IOP of both the groups. Significant reduction of IOP from the baseline was seen at both time points, throughout the follow up visits, in both the groups (p < 0.00001). Mean reduction from the baseline for Group 1 (Preservative free BTFC) was found to be 8.67 ± 1.30 mmHg (33.50%) and for Group 2 (BKC preserved BTFC) was 8.82 ± 1.98 mmHg (33.32%) and the difference between the two groups was statistically insignificant (p = 0.73). Although there was no statistically significant difference in number of each side effect encountered by the patients in both the groups but side effects did show higher tendency in number in Group 2 (BKC preserved BTFC) than in Group 1 (Preservative free BTFC). Using cost minimization analysis, it was found that BKC preserved BTFC costs Rs. 181.89 ± 5.96 ($ 2.39 ± 0.27) more than Preservative free BTFC to attain similar IOP lowering effect over 8 weeks. Conclusion:Preservative free 0.2% Brimonidine/0.5% Timolol fixed drug combination is an effective, safe and cheaper alternative to BKC preserved 0.2% Brimonidine/0.5% Timolol fixed drug combination in medical management of POAG.

Abstract:The textile dyeing and printing units in Sanganer town, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Discharge a huge volume of mostly untreated textile dye wastewater (10,000-15,000kl/day)