Department of Environmental Health & Toxicology

B.Sc Nursing College in Mangalore

Overview

The main research focus of the department is to understand the effects of contaminants and environmental stressors on human health and ecosystem function. The Department pursues research on a broad range of topics such as the biodegradation of toxic pollutants, the development of novel molecular tools for the detection of pathogenic bacteria, microbial ecology of contaminated ecosystems, geo-microbiology, soil nutrient cycling, and development of sustainable waste management and agriculture practices. Conventional microbiological tools along with the most advanced molecular tools (metagenomics and metatranscriptomics) are being employed to understand the diversity, distribution, and ecophysiology of archaea in the environment and their implications for public health. The research mission and goals of DEHT possibly identify and understand the key processes that affect public health and the environment, and help the government agencies to evaluate the risk assessment of pollutants. Faculty and students of DEHT seek practical solutions to complex environmental problems by interdisciplinary and integrative approaches.

Thrust Areas

  • Risk Assessment of Environmental Contaminants
  • Development of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) as a Plastic Alternative
  • Interaction of Bdellovibrio Predatory Bacterium with Plant Pathogens
  • Propagation of Trees and Medicinal Plants in vitro
  • Host-microbe Interaction and Environmental Toxicants
  • Degradation and Mitigation of Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC's) using Biological Agents
  • Bioremediation
  • Phytoremediation
  • Metabolite Analysis

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