Pesticides are unavoidable and are primarily used for crop protection against various insects, and play a vital role in increasing crop productivity. Pesticides cause various health hazards to humans and also pollute the soil, water, air, and food for several years [1]. Many types of research have been aimed at minimizing the application of pesticide usage through genetic engineering, integrated pest management, and biocontrol agents, but still pesticides are being applied in huge quantities in developing countries [2-3]. Profenofos is an organophosphorus pesticide that may be applied against the lepidopteran insects on different crops like cotton, maize, soybean, vegetables, and sugar beet [4].

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Background: The objective of this study was to determine chromosomal damage in occupational workers of the radiation department from three different hospitals, Faisalabad, Pakistan exposed for a long term to ionizing radiations using micronucles (MN) assay. A comparison between exposed and non-exposed subjects (controlled) of same age exhibited a significant an increase in the number of micronuclei in occupational workers. MN frequency increases with an increase in age and duration of exposure in both sexes but higher in females. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at the District Head Quarter Hospital (DHQ), Punjab Institute of Nuclear Medicine (PINUM) and Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan. The total 145 subjects were selected from these hospitals. The subjects were divided into two groups. The control group (N= 40) (20 males and 20 females) of healthy subjects (no exposure) and the second group of subjects (N=105) (68 males and 37 females) subjects of occupational workers who were indirectly exposed to radiation. Blood samples (2ml) were collected in sodium heparinised vaccutainer tubes through venipuncture from both the groups. Disposable syringes were used for this purpose. For the evaluation of MN yield, slides were prepared by following the method of Jorge et al. (2004). Results: A significant difference in micro nuclear induction was observed between the occupational subjects and the control subjects and as well as in females and in males (P < 0.01). Females are more vulnerable to ionizing radiation than males. In females, MN yield was two times higher than males. MN frequency was increased with an increase in age and duration of exposure in both sexes, but higher in females and may be due to an increase in chromosomal loss in hospital workers. There is an individual response to the physical noxa, depending on sex, age and exposure. Smoking and drinking habits do not have a significant effect in increasing the number of MN in occupationally exposed workers. Conclusion: It was concluded that females are more vulnerable to ionizing radiations than males. MN test can be used as a biomarker with a predictive value for the estimation in occupationally exposed subjects.

Polypropylene microplastics are the primary pollutant in aquatic ecosystems and their toxicity assessment study remains limited. The proposed study focuses on acute exposure of polypropylene microplastic in Daphnia similis, which alters the biochemical parameter due to the accumulation of microplastics in the digestive tract. Moreover, the commercially available polypropylene bags have been converted into microplastic using xylene. FTIR results showed the absence of xylene residue in prepared microplastics particles and it was spherical shaped, size range (FE-SEM) from 11.86µm – 44.62µm. The outcome of the impact reveals that acute exposure to polypropylene microplastic in D. similis leads to immobilization. Further, the biochemical results showed that ingestion of microplastics increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. This leads to an increase in the antioxidant enzymes of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and a non-antioxidant enzyme of reduced glutathione (GSH) and also oxidative stress effects in lipid (lipid peroxidation - LPO), protein (Carbonyl protein - CP) gradually increases due to production of free radicals in D. similis. In addition, the neurotransmitter enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) level diminished. These results reflect that accumulation of polypropylene microplastic should exacerbate harmful pollutants on filter-feeding organisms.