Effect of air pollution on physiology and yield of mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

The silk is the protein polymer spun into fibers by the silkworms (Bombyx mori L). It is a textile fiber highly appreciated for its outstanding properties (handle, luster, dye ability, comfort). In addition silk has been recently investigated as a starting material for non-textile applications(23). In order to assess the effect of air pollution on the yield and quality of silk fibers, two locations of Murshidabad district, West Bengal, India had been chosen on the basis of the ambient air quality for rearing of mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori L. One location (Berhampore city) was considered polluted as about six Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) have been identified and the concentrations of them quantitated to be as high as 8.8 mu g/m(3) apart from heavy particulate matter in the ambient air sample of that area, while the other location (Kiriteswari village) was the control. Different biological indicators for the silkworms as well as yield and quality of silk fibers between the two sites were considered extensively and it was found that overall condition of the silkworms as well as the yield and quality of silk is better in less polluted areas.