No abstract

To assess the surface water quality of Sukhna Lake, 13 physico-chemical parameters like temperature, pH, transparency, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, total dissolved salts, chloride, total Aalkalinity, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, nitrate and phosphate were investigated on monthly basis for a period of two year (July 2016–June 2018) by using standard procedures. The results were compared with the values or ranges mentioned by standard organizations (WHO and BIS) for assessing the water quality and these revealed that the lake water was turbid and under DO distress. Various water quality indices like water quality index (WQI), Canadian Council Ministry of Environment (CCME)-WQI and comprehensive pollution index (CPI) were used to assess the water quality status in the Sukhna Lake. The range of WQI (59.74–83.49) indicated that the water quality status of the lake belonged to good category while those of CCME-WQI (52.4–81.61) revealed that water quality fallen from marginal to good category and those of CPI (0.4–0.7) indicated fair state of water in the lake. Overall the water quality in Sukhna Lake has been found deteriorated during second year in comparison the first year during the study time.

Freshwater molluscs are the integral part of every aquatic ecosystem and help not only in the ecosystem’s functioning but also enable the ecologists to judge the health of their abode. These shelled animals are used as the best biomonitoring tools worldwide. Gradually declining water quality of freshwater bodies owing to multiple factors, their biodiversity is also facing threat. Majority of the freshwater bodies near human vicinities are facing anthropogenic interventions, habitat destructions and overexploitation and the same is being reflected by the elimination of sensitive molluscan species and survival as well as abundance of other tolerant ones. The current study has been undertaken to understand the Malacofauna biodiversity in Morni hills, Panchkula, Haryana. During the study, total 359 gastropods both aquatic and land snails were collected. Pre-monsoon season witnessed greater molluscan abundance, 8.46 times, than post-monsoon. The molluscan biodiversity, 7 species, 7 Genera and 5 families, namely Filopaludina bengalensis, Melanoides tuberculata, Radix luteola, Gyraulus ladacensis, Indoplanorbis exustus, Ariophanta interrupta and Macrochlamys indica.Shannon-Weiner Index (H) and Simpson Diversity Index (D) for both seasons indicated higher species diversity during post monsoon season. Melanoides tuberculata was found to be dominant during pre-monsoon while Filopaludina bengalensis during post monsoon season.

Chandigarh, a U.T., is an educational hub in North India having all types of professional and non-professional institutions invites recurring gush of students from all its adjoining states and countries. The city with its two satellite towns hosts many universities, more than two dozen of colleges and numerous other training institutions. The city has witnessed an exponential growth of native and migrant female’s population in the past 2-3 decades. Majority of these female have been found to be the first generation migrants from their native places. This fair sex population was found subjected to multi-factorial distresses which manifest in the form of varied types of health issues that push them to get trapped in the vicious cycle of self-medication. The present study was an outcome of personal interactions, group interactions and collection of data through questionnaires from 150 young females comprising of undergraduate and postgraduate students and young employees (50 each). The results were presented in the form of percentages within their respective group and amongst total respondents. The study revealed the prevalence of maximum distress (>85%) amongst young professionals or early age employees followed by final year P.G. students (>60%) and UG students (>50%). Prevalence of self-medication has also been found in parallel lines with the stress levels of the respondents. [Professionals (82.6%) > P.G. (69.7%) >UG (42.8%)]. The most commonly used drugs by them were belonging to various categories like analgesic, antipyretics, antibiotics, weight reduction formulations, dermatological applications, anti-anxiety drugs etc. The results projected that such an indiscriminate use of these drugs is a matter of social, medical and economic concerns. Present study also purposes some of the suggestive measures to check this menace.

No abstract