Showkat Mir

Bio: Showkat Mir is an academic researcher from Sambalpur University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Malaria & Mosquito control. The author has co-authored 2 publications.

Chemical Methods for Control of Mosquito Vector

Abstract: Vector-borne diseases take a big toll of life each year in most of the tropical and subtropical countries including India. Among the number of insect species that act as a vector, mosquitos play a critical role in the transmission of numerous deadly diseases. Some of the major mosquito-borne diseases that incur a great economic loss to the public include malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, chikungunya, filariasis, and encephalitis. Malaria alone affects some 3.2 billion people living in 117 endemic countries and has been reported to cause over 1 million deaths annually. As per the Indian Council of Medical Research report, ~1000 people lose their lives each year due to malaria infection out of 2 million confirmed cases. However, WHO reports estimate much higher annual death in India of about 15 million confirmed cases and 20,000 deaths. As per WHO reports, India is the major hub of malaria infection contributing 77% of total malaria in Southeast Asia. Worldwide death toll because of these vector-borne diseases especially that transmitted by a mosquito is very high in low-income countries despite the availability of effective curative measures. Controlling and managing the mosquito population below the economic injury level is the most preferred preventive strategies in vector-borne disease control. Initially, environmental management was the major tool in eradicating mosquito populations in a locality which though was sustainable barely effective in controlling the mosquito population in various set up resulting in epidemics. The necessity to have an effective and rapid vector control measure was achieved with the discovery of DDT during World War II that was miraculous in eliminating the mosquito population rapidly. The use of chemicals in vector control progressed rapidly thereafter resulting in the development of several classes of chemicals in the market. Some of these chemicals are natural such as pyrethrin, however, most of them are synthetic chemicals that are non-biodegradable and have severe negative environmental impacts. The use of chemicals based on synthetic insecticides is the first line control measure for mosquitoes all over the world now. However, the development of resistance against these insecticides in the mosquito population has recently forced the scientists and clinicians to look for effective alternatives that could offer lasting solutions to this age-old long battle against insects. The present chapter attempts to give an overview of the chemicals species used for mosquito control and their impact on health and the environment.

Modifying engineered nanomaterials to produce next generation agents for environmental remediation.

Abstract: The application of pristine nanomaterials (PNMs) for environment remediation remains challenging due to inherently high potential for aggregation, low stability, sub-optimum efficiency, and non-uniformity in size and toxicity. Conversely, modified nanomaterials (MNMs) approaches have shown significant potential to enhance the technical and economic efficiency of conventional nanoscale remediation strategies by decreasing aggregation of nanomaterials by imparting electrostatic, electrosteric or steric repulsion between particles. Furthermore, the solubility enhancing agents in MNMs have been shown to increase metal bioavailability and accelerate the breakdown of pollutants. As such, it is imperative to modify nanomaterials for unlocking their full potential and expanding their range of applications. However, there is no comprehensive review in the literature that evaluates the efficacy and environmental impact of MNMs against PNMs in the environment. This critical review identifies major barriers preventing the widescale application of nano-enabled remediation and discusses strategies to increase the stability and activity of nanomaterials at reaction sites. The higher reactivity and versatility of MNMs, along with novel properties and functionalities, enable effective removal of a range of chemical pollutants from complex environmental matrices. Additionally, MNMs show significant improvement in mobility, reactivity, and controlled and targeted release of active ingredients for in situ remediation. However, the uncertainties associated with the adverse effects of some modification agents of MNMs are not well-understood, and require further in-depth investigations. Overall, our findings show that MNMs are potentially more efficient, cost-effective, and resilient for remediation of soil and sediment, water, and air pollution than PNMs. The possible action mechanisms of MNMs have been demonstrated for different environmental compartments. Conclusively, this work provides a path forward for developing effective nano-enabled remediation technologies with MNMs, which are widely applicable to a range of environmental contamination scenarios.