Microplastic (MP) pollution is a prevalent and global threat to fish. MP contamination was investigated in Harpadon nehereus collected from the principal fishing harbors of India’s northwest coast. A total of 213 specimens were collected from the major fishing harbors of Gujarat state (Jakhau, Okha, and Jaffrabad) and Maharashtra state (Mumbai). In the laboratory, the morphometric parameters of the specimens, such as total length and body weight, were measured. The collected specimens were analyzed for MP isolation using the previously documented protocol. MPs were quantified under a stereomicroscope, and physical parameters were recorded. All the examined specimens were found to be contaminated with MPs, with an abundance of 6.98 ± 6.73 MPs/g. The maximum contamination of MPs was recorded at the study site in Jaffrabad, followed by Jakhau, Mumbai, and Okha. Morphometric analysis of MPs revealed threads to be the most dominant shape. Black and blue MPs with a 1–2 mm size were the predominant recorded types. The chemical composition of extracted MPs revealed polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polyurethane (PU) as polymer compositions. Conclusively, the findings highlighted a greater menace to seafood safety due to trophic transfer, which causes a hazardous effect on human health.

Schistosomiasis, which affects a large number of people worldwide, is among the most overlooked parasitic diseases. The disease is mainly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, southeast Asian countries, and South America due to the lack of adequate sanitation. The disease is mainly associated with poor hygiene, sanitation, and contaminated water, so it is also known as a disease of poverty. Three Schistosoma species (S. mansoni, S. japonicum, and S. haematobium) cause significant human infections. Co-infections with Schistosoma and other parasites are widely common. All these parasites may cause intestinal or urogenital schistosomiasis, where the disease may be categorized into the acute, sensitized, and chronic phases. The disease is more prevalent among school children, which may cause anemia and reduce development. Chronic infections frequently cause significant liver, intestinal, and bladder damage. Women exposed to contaminated water while performing normal duties like washing clothes might acquire urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS), which can cause tissue damage and raise the risk of blood-borne disease transmission, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. Praziquantel (PZQ) is the World Health Organization (WHO)-prescribed treatment for individuals who are known to be infected, but it does not prevent further re-infections with larval worms. Vaccine development and new molecular-based diagnosis techniques have promised to be a reliable approach to the diagnosis and prevention of schistosomiasis. The current review emphasizes the recent advancement in the diagnosis of schistosomiasis by molecular techniques and the treatment of schistosomiasis by combined and alternative regimes of drugs. Moreover, this review has also focused on the recent outbreak of schistosomiasis, the development of vaccines, and their clinical trials.

Pendimethalin (PND), a persistent dinitroaniline herbicide, poses significant ecological and human health risks due to its high stability, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. The present study explores microwave-assisted rapid synthesis of carbon nanospheres (CNSs) from Vachellia nilotica biochar (VNBC) for the removal of PND from an aqueous medium. The synthesized CNSs were characterized in detail using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM)–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and pHZPC to confirm the oxygen-rich functional groups, crystalline graphitic domains, spherical morphology, elemental composition, surface area, and surface charge. A batch adsorption study was conducted to evaluate the effect of initial concentration (30 mg L ^-1 –70 mg L ^-1 ), contact time (0 min–150 min), dose (2.5 mg–20 mg), and solution pH (2–12) at room temperature. The maximum removal efficiency (95.8%) and adsorption capacity (76.95 mg g ^-1 ) were achieved at 50 mg L ^-1 PND, pH 10, and a 50 mg dose of CNSs. Adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model in linear fitting, while non-linear modeling indicated the dominance of physisorption with intraparticle diffusion, indicating a hybrid mechanism. Isotherm studies showed the Langmuir and Freundlich models best describe the adsorption process, confirming monolayer–multilayer adsorption. Furthermore, the presence of multivalent salts enhanced the removal efficiency through strong ionic bridging interaction and higher regeneration capacity up to five cycles, demonstrating potential toward real-water applicability. Compared to the conventional adsorbent, CNSs exhibited superior performance with rapid synthesis (3 min) and higher capacity. These findings establish biochar-derived CNSs as a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and efficient adsorbent for pesticide remediation in contaminated waters.