Sustainable Environmental Insight

Optimized Adsorption of Sulfonamide Antibiotics from Milk Using Organically Modified Bentonite Clay

2026-04-24T01:25:13+00:00

Sulfonamide antibiotic residues in milk are considered highly dangerous to human health and food safety due to their persistence and potential for bioaccumulation. Conventional removal methods were often costly and inefficient, highlighting the need for sustainable and effective alternatives. The study aimed to assess the efficiency of organically modified bentonite clay (OMB-16) in the removal of sulfonamide antibiotics (sulfadimidine sodium, sulfadiazine, and sulfaguanidine) from milk and to optimize the conditions to achieve maximum adsorption capacity. The extraction efficiency of OMB-16 was evaluated in comparison with unmodified bentonite, and key parametersm including solution pH, adsorbent loading, and elution solvent—were optimized. Quantification was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography with an ultraviolet detector (HPLC-UV), which demonstrated that OMB-16 exhibited better extraction performance than untreated bentonite. The recovery percentages using OMB-16 reached 90% for sulfadimidine and sulfadiazine, which were higher than the 80% and 75% recoveries obtained using unmodified bentonite, respectively. The best results were achieved at a mildly acidic pH of 4–5, while methanol was identified as the most efficient desorption solvent. The intra- and inter-day precision of the OMB-16 method was also evaluated, and the results confirmed that the method was reproducible. It was further observed that the HPLC-UV method was sensitive and specific, demonstrating good linearity (R² ≥ 0.99) and low limits of detection. Overall, this study showed that OMB-16 was an effective and reliable adsorbent for removing pharmaceutical residues from complex food matrices such as milk, with potential applications in food safety monitoring and residue analysis.

Climate Change Impacts on Wildlife: A Structured Review of Mechanisms, Recent Evidences, and Conservation Strategies

2026-04-24T01:25:12+00:00

Climate change posed a significant threat to global biodiversity, affecting wildlife across terrestrial, marine, and polar ecosystems. This review aimed to synthesize the mechanisms through which climate change impacted wildlife and to evaluate recent empirical evidence (2020–2025). A structured literature search was conducted using major scientific databases, and studies were categorized based on climatic drivers and ecological responses. The synthesis indicated that rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, extreme weather events, and oceanic changes were driving shifts in species distributions, phenology, and population dynamics. Case studies revealed increasing risks of trophic mismatches, habitat loss, and species decline across diverse ecosystems. The review further evaluated conservation strategies, highlighting the roles of climate mitigation, habitat connectivity, and ecosystem-based adaptation. The inclusion of literature up to early 2025 ensured that the review reflected the most recent scientific findings and evolving climate impacts on wildlife. These findings underscored the need for integrated, evidence-based approaches to enhance wildlife resilience under accelerating climate change.

A Systematic Review on Biodiversity and Ecological Integrity of Himalayan Freshwater Lakes

2026-04-24T01:25:13+00:00

The western Himalayan region, particularly the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, was home to many freshwater lakes that represented ecologically critical systems sustaining high biodiversity and various essential ecosystem services, including nutrient cycling, climate regulation, and livelihood support. These lakes differed in size, altitude, and ecological characteristics. They contained diverse species of plankton and fish, which were key components of the aquatic food web, served as bioindicators of water quality, and played a crucial role in ecosystem functioning. This review aimed to assess the biodiversity and ecological integrity of freshwater lakes, with a focus on understanding the relationship between biological diversity, water quality, and environmental stressors. A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. For data collection, Google Scholar, PubMed, ResearchGate, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases were searched using relevant keywords. Studies published between 2010 and 2025 focusing on freshwater lakes of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh were included, addressing ecological integrity, including water quality, biodiversity, trophic status, and pollution. The review revealed that these lakes supported diverse and functionally important planktonic and fish communities that regulated primary productivity and acted as reliable bioindicators of water quality. However, increasing anthropogenic pressures, including pollution, urbanisation, overexploitation, and unregulated tourism, were degrading water quality and disrupting ecological balance. Climate change, particularly glacial retreat and shifting precipitation regimes, further exacerbated these impacts, accelerating ecosystem instability and biodiversity loss. Overall, the freshwater lakes of the Himalayan region were under significant stress due to anthropogenic effects and climate change, resulting in declining water quality and biodiversity loss. To prevent further biodiversity loss and maintain ecological integrity, effective conservation strategies, strict policy implementation, and community participation were required to ensure long-term ecological sustainability.