Microplastics (MPs) degrade through various abiotic processes (thermal, mechanical, hydrolytic, and photo-oxidative) and biotic processes involving microorganisms. This study investigates specific bacteria, fungi, and algae that contribute to MP biodegradation, focusing on species like Bacillus, Rhodococcus, and Pseudomonas, which produce enzymes such as PETase, laccases, and peroxidases to break down high- and low-density polyethylene. However, the biodegradation process varies based on environmental factors and the durability of plastics. There is an urgent need to use advanced methods to understand degradation and its byproducts. Microbial degradation holds promise for addressing MPs, but further research is needed to enhance efficiency and develop sustainable solutions. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd

Understanding the global water flux is vital to comprehend different hydrological components of the planet. The precise quantification of the global water budget is important to understand the global water cycle. While the first attempts in closing the global water budget date back to the early 1900s, we still have not been able to comprehensively understand the global water cycle. The past few decades have witnessed significant interests among the researchers worldwide in understanding the global water budget considering various ecological, hydrological, and climatic parameters and using data from various sources, such as ground observations or satellite information. However, a certain degree of uncertainty still prevails in the global or regional models developed till date. Here, we discuss some recent advances in this context, taking into account continent-wise analyses of the various significant attempts made by different researchers in varying geographical conditions, and using different tools. These findings will eventually lead to deeper understanding and advancements in the existing approaches aiding in the closure of the global water budget.

Deep marine sediments are rich in microbial diversity, which holds metabolic repertoire to modulate biogeochemical cycles on a global scale. We undertook the environmental microbiome inhabiting the Gulf of Kathiawar Peninsula as a model system to understand the potential involvement of the deep marine sediment microbial community and as a cohort in the carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur biogeochemical cycles. These gulfs are characterized by dynamic tidal variations, diverse sediment textures, and nutrient-rich waters, driven by coastal processes and the interaction between natural coastal dynamics and anthropogenic inputs that shape its microbial community diversity. Our findings suggest that carbon fixation was carried out by Gamma-proteobacteria with CBB cycle-related genes or by microbial participants with Wood-Ljungdahl pathway-related genes. Microbial communities involved in nitrogen metabolism were observed to be rich and diverse, and most microbial communities potentially contribute to the nitrogen cycle via processing nitrogen oxides. Bacteria belonging to the KSB1 phylum were also found to fix nitrogen. The sulfur cycle was spread throughout, with Verrucomicrobiota phylum being a major contributor. The varying napAB genes, significantly lower in the Gulf of Kutch compared to the Gulf of Cambay and the Arabian Sea, mediated nitrate reduction. Dynamics between these pathways were mutually exclusive, and organic carbon oxidation was widespread across the microbial community. Finally, the proteobacteria phylum was highly versatile and conceivably contributed to biogeochemical flux with exceptionally high abundance and the ability to form metabolic networks to survive. The work highlights the importance of critical zones and microbial diversity therein, which needs further exploration

Pesticide poisoning through contaminated water, soil, or food is often linked to the widespread use of chemical pesticides in Indian agriculture. While many studies have reported the association between pesticide exposure and human health impacts, it has been challenging to disseminate this information to a broader population at state and national levels. Consequently, no state-level database exists correlating pesticide use with cancer rates in India. Here, we provide a comprehensive outlook focusing on the challenges of correlating these factors to develop a comprehensive geospatial database at the national level. A data-mining approach can help identify cancer hotspots, supporting informed policymaking

Owing to the urgent and escalating environmental crisis of water pollution through anthropogenic wastewater generated from various sources, the development of novel and innovative bioremediation strategies that are equally sustainable is highly necessitated. The present study embarks on an integrated omics-based exploration, complemented by a thorough literature synthesis, to critically evaluate and enhance hybrid algal-bacterial systems for effective wastewater treatment. Drawing on case studies and research from diverse geographic regions, we explore how these technologies inform the design and optimization of both engineered and natural treatment systems. The review emphasizes the integration of multi-omics data to support sustainable, targeted bioremediation strategies and underscores the cross-disciplinary convergence of environmental engineering, molecular biology, and systems ecology. This global and holistic perspective positions omics as a cornerstone for advancing the next generation of wastewater treatment solutions. Comprehensive analyses of the efficacies of different treatment methods used to remediate organic pollutants, heavy metals, nutrients, and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), including antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), were carried out, thus underscoring the pivotal role of microbial diversity and metabolic activity in the complex process of contaminant elimination. While prior research has predominantly focused on isolated components, the current study presents a holistic approach, merging state-of-the-art high-throughput metagenomics and transcriptomics techniques. This innovative combination illuminates the functional dynamics of microbial communities operating within the hybrid system under a range of operational conditions. The primary critical findings reveal significant shifts in microbial community structure and gene expression patterns, which are intricately linked to enhanced efficiencies in nutrient uptake and contaminant removal. In addition, the study also situates these findings within the expansive framework of omics-based bioremediation research, providing a clear and structured pathway for identifying prevailing knowledge gaps and directing future optimization efforts. Collectively, these contributions not only deepen our understanding of microbial community functions but also pave the way for designing next-generation bio-based wastewater treatment systems driven by the intricate interplay of microbial dynamics.

A growing number of businesses are facing criticism for engaging in environmentally damaging practices. Despite advancements in technology and operational efficiency, the environmental challenges confronting businesses have become increasingly urgent. As disclosure requirements have expanded, the importance of reporting standards for environmental sustainability has risen. This study explores the impact of corporate environmental reporting on the financial performance of listed manufacturing firms in Ghana. It analyses 10years (2012–2021) of annual reports from 20 publicly traded manufacturing companies, using panel regression and content analysis to assess the data. The findings reveal that environmental sustainability disclosure has a positive and significant effect on return on equity (ROE) and net profit margin. Furthermore, disclosures related to health, safety, and community development initiatives have a strong positive impact on ROE. The study recommends that policymakers develop guidelines, especially for environmental reporting, to aid firms in preparing their annual reports. It also suggests that corporate accountants expand their expertise and collaborate with environmental and ecological experts. This research offers valuable insights for policymakers and provides a foundation for further investigation into the effects of corporate environmental reporting on the performance of listed firms in sub?Saharan Africa.

Micro and nano-plastics (MNPs) have been considered one of the major emerging contaminants that require immediate attention. Their potential impact on the natural ecosystems is yet to be understood, especially their associations with other contaminants like heavy metals and organisms essential for the sustenance of life, i.e., microbes. Microplastics (MPs) also act as sources and carriers of pollutants, similar to macro and mesoplastics, that leach harmful chemicals such as Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs), Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs), Endocrine Disruptive Chemicals (EDCs), etc. They also behave like super sponge materials which adsorb microbes such as antibiotic resistance bacteria (ARBs), and coronavirus, making their concentration much higher than the ambient environment. Among these microbes, heavy metal-resistance (MRGs) and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) carry immense significance. The present study provides an in-depth review analysis of the works published related to the association of MPs to heavy metals and ARGs. 1526 articles were investigated after the dataset was subjected to a three-stage screening process. A scientometric analysis revealing details about the most productive and influential journals, co-authorship details, most influential publications, most cited keywords, and most active countries in the research domain was conducted. This provided significant information regarding various aspects of the published works of literature. Subsequently, a qualitative discussion was carried out wherein a detailed discussion with regard to the trends in research on sub-areas in the broad domain was conducted. This resulted in identifying the gaps in the available literature, which paved the way for providing a framework for future research. Through this study, it is expected that the readers will be exposed to a summary of the overall research that has been conducted to date, and the manuscript will act as a guide for future research.

This chapter briefly discusses Indian electronics industry, followed by a discussion on the literature on determinants of productivity. The Indian electronics industry has a 2.3 per cent share in India's GDP, while the overall manufacturing share is below 20 percent. Given the importance of the electronics industry as an independent contributor to the growth of the economy and the input contribution to other sectors, the growth and productivity performance of this industry are crucial from the point of the overall growth of the economy. The electronics industry holds strategic importance at firm-(or country-) level with extensive usage in military, space and security systems, and partly explains the inter-firm (or country) competition to innovate, acquire and maintain the technology gap. The electronics industry is highly capital-, skill-and scale-intensive. It requires specialized materials and components leading to emergence of GVCs, such that manufacturing and knowledge production are spread across geography.