Browse publications by year: 2024

  1. Dahiya R, Sutariya VB, Gupta SV, Pant K, Ali H, Alhadrawi M, et al.
    Pathol Res Pract, 2024 Jul 01;260:155444.
    PMID: 38986361 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2024.155444
    Lung cancer is still a global health challenge in terms of high incidence, morbidity, and mortality. Recent scientific studies have determined that pyroptosis, a highly inflammatory form of programmed cell death, can be identified as a potential lung cancer therapeutic target. The NLRP3 inflammasome acts as a critical mediator in this process and, upon activation, activates multiprotein complex formation as well as caspase-1 activation. This process, triggered by a release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, results in pyroptotic cell death. Also, the relationship between the NLRP3 inflammasome and lung cancer was justified by its influence on tumour growth or metastasis. The molecular pathways produce progenitive mediators and remake the tissue. Finally, targeting NLRP3 inflammasome for pyroptosis induction and inhibition of its activation appears to be a promising lung cancer treatment approach. This technique makes cancer treatment more promising and personalized. This review explores the role of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and its possibilities in lung cancer treatment.
  2. Wu Y, Awang SR, Ahmad T, You C
    Geriatr Nurs, 2024 Jul 09;59:48-59.
    PMID: 38986429 DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2024.06.033
    In light of the ongoing global health crisis, the significance of leadership within the healthcare sector has intensified. Given this consideration, the significance of appropriate leadership styles cannot be overstated. The objective of this paper is to critically review published studies on leadership elements in the healthcare sector. Using Bibliometrix R package and VOS viewer, we conducted bibliometric and network analyses on publications retrieved from the Web of Science (WOS) database, with content analysis integrated throughout the paper to deepen understanding. Ultimately, 243 articles were identified as relevant. The findings revealed transformational leadership emerges as the most extensively discussed leadership style. 91% of the articles' theme focus on quantitative research methods. This study synthesizes the influencing factors of the three most frequently discussed leadership styles-transformational, authentic, and ethical leadership-emphasizing the importance of job satisfaction and organizational citizenship behavior. And provides direction for future research through thematic analysis.
  3. Husain NAC, Jamaluddin H, Jonet MA
    Int J Biol Macromol, 2024 Jul 08;275(Pt 2):133721.
    PMID: 38986972 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133721
    Flavin reductases play a vital role in catalyzing the reduction of flavin through NADH or NADPH oxidation. The gene encoding flavin reductase from the thermophilic bacterium Geobacillus mahadii Geo-05 (GMHpaC) was cloned, overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) pLysS, and purified to homogeneity. The purified recombinant GMHpaC (Class II) contains chromogenic cofactors, evidenced by maximal absorbance peaks at 370 nm and 460 nm. GMHpaC stands out as the most thermostable and pH-tolerant flavin reductase reported to date, retaining up to 95 % catalytic activity after incubation at 70 °C for 30 min and maintaining over 80 % activity within a pH range of 2-12 for 30 min. Furthermore, GMHpaC's catalytic activity increases by 52 % with FMN as a co-factor compared to FAD and riboflavin. GMHpaC, coupled with 4-hydroxyphenylacetate-3-monooxygenase (GMHpaB) from G. mahadii Geo-05, enhances the hydroxylation of 4-hydroxyphenylacetate (HPA) by 85 %. The modeled structure of GMHpaC reveals relatively conserved flavin and NADH binding sites. Modeling and docking studies shed light on structural features and amino acid substitutions that determine GMHpaC's co-factor specificity. The remarkable thermostability, high catalytic activity, and general stability exhibited by GMHpaC position it as a promising enzyme candidate for various industrial applications.
  4. Tien XY, Lee YK, Wong PF, Khor YS, Murugan DD, Abdullah I
    Drug Discov Ther, 2024;18(3):199-206.
    PMID: 38987208 DOI: 10.5582/ddt.2024.01034
    Senolytics are drugs that specifically target senescent cells. Flavonoids such as quercetin and fisetin possess selective senolytic activities. This study aims to investigate if chalcones exhibit anti-senescence activities. Anti-senescence effect of 11 chalcone derivatives on the replicative senescence human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) and human fetal lung fibroblasts (IMR90) was evaluated. Compound 2 (4-methoxychalcone) and compound 4 (4-bromo-4'-methoxychalcone) demonstrated increased cytotoxicity in senescent HAEC compared to young HAEC, with significant differences on IC50 values. Their anti-senescence effects on HAEC exceeded fisetin. Higher selectivity of compound 4 toward HAEC over IMR90 could be attributed to 4-methoxy (4-OMe) substitution at ring A (R1). Chalcone derivatives have potentials as senolytics in mitigating replicative senescence, warranting further research and development on chalcones as anti-senescent agent.
    MeSH terms: Aorta/cytology; Aorta/drug effects; Cell Line; Cells, Cultured; Humans; Structure-Activity Relationship; Inhibitory Concentration 50
  5. Sha'ari NI, Ismail A, Abdul Aziz AF, Suddin LS, Azzeri A, Sk Abd Razak R, et al.
    BMC Public Health, 2024 Jul 10;24(1):1846.
    PMID: 38987743 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19300-4
    BACKGROUND: A growing proportion of people experience incomplete recovery months after contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). These COVID-19 survivors develop a condition known as post-COVID syndrome (PCS), where COVID-19 symptoms persist for > 12 weeks after acute infection. Limited studies have investigated PCS risk factors that notably include pre-existing cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which should be examined considering the most recent PCS data. This review aims to identify CVD as a risk factor for PCS development in COVID-19 survivors.

    METHODS: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist, systematic literature searches were performed in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases from the earliest date available to June 2023. Data from observational studies in English that described the association between CVD and PCS in adults (≥ 18 years old) were included. A minimum of two authors independently performed the screening, study selection, data extraction, data synthesis, and quality assessment (Newcastle-Ottawa Scale). The protocol of this review was registered under PROSPERO (ID: CRD42023440834).

    RESULTS: In total, 594 studies were screened after duplicates and non-original articles had been removed. Of the 11 included studies, CVD including hypertension (six studies), heart failure (three studies), and others (two studies) were significantly associated with PCS development with different factors considered. The included studies were of moderate to high methodological quality.

    CONCLUSION: Our review highlighted that COVID-19 survivors with pre-existing CVD have a significantly greater risk of developing PCS symptomology than survivors without pre-existing CVD. As heart failure, hypertension and other CVD are associated with a higher risk of developing PCS, comprehensive screening and thorough examinations are essential to minimise the impact of PCS and improve patients' disease progression.

    MeSH terms: Humans; Risk Factors; Survivors/statistics & numerical data
  6. Tee PYE, Krishnan T, Cheong XT, Maniam SAP, Looi CY, Ooi YY, et al.
    Fungal Biol Biotechnol, 2024 Jul 10;11(1):7.
    PMID: 38987829 DOI: 10.1186/s40694-024-00176-3
    Medicinal mushrooms, such as Taiwanofungus camphoratus, Inonotus obliquus, and Tropicoporus linteus, have been used in traditional medicine for therapeutic purposes and promotion of overall health in China and many East Asian countries for centuries. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated the large amounts of bioactive constituents (such as polysaccharides, triterpenoids, and phenolic compounds) available in these medicinal mushrooms and their potential therapeutic properties. Due to the rising demand for the health-promoting medicinal mushrooms, various cultivation methods have been explored to combat over-harvesting of the fungi. Evidence of the robust pharmacological properties, including their anticancer, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and antiviral activities, have been provided in various studies, where the health-benefiting properties of the medicinal fungi have been further proven through numerous clinical trials. In this review, the cultivation methods, available bioactive constituents, therapeutic properties, and potential uses of T. camphoratus, I. obliquus and T. linteus are explored.
  7. Tang MC, Wong KH, Azman AS, Lani R
    Animal Model Exp Med, 2024 Jul 10.
    PMID: 38987937 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12471
    Vector-borne diseases caused by arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are a considerable challenge to public health globally. Mosquito-borne arboviruses, such as Chikungunya, Dengue, and Zika viruses, cause a range of human illnesses and may be fatal. Currently, efforts to control these diseases still face challenges due to growing vector resistance towards insecticides, urbanization, and limited effective antiviral treatments and vaccines. Animal models are crucial in antiviral research on mosquito-borne arboviruses, playing a role in understanding disease mechanisms, vaccine development, and toxicity testing, but the application of animal models still faces the challenges of ethical considerations and animal-to-human translational success. Genetically engineered mouse models, hamster models and non-human primate (NHP) are currently used in arbovirus research, but new models such as tree shrews and novel humanized mice are emerging. In the context of Malaysian research, the use of long-tailed macaques as potential NHP models for arbovirus research is possible; however, it faces the ethical dilemma of using an endangered species for scientific purposes. Overall, animal models play a crucial role in advancing infectious disease research, but a balance between medical research and species conservation must be upheld.
  8. Bai X, Xiao W, Soh KG, Zhang Y
    Front Public Health, 2024;12:1415477.
    PMID: 38989125 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1415477
    PURPOSE: Falls are the leading cause of accidental death among older persons, with postmenopausal women facing a greater hazard of falling due to osteoporosis. This study aimed to examine the effects of Taijiquan practice on balance control and functional fitness in at-risk females.

    METHODS: Chinese women who self-reported a tendency to fall and had a baseline one-leg stand test time (4.1 s in the Taijiquan group) below the national average for their age group (60-64 years: 10.9 s, 65-69 years: 9.9 s) were assigned to either a control group (n = 26, mean age = 63.9 years) or a Taijiquan group (n = 24, mean age = 63.9 years). The Taijiquan group participated in a 12-week supervised intervention, while the control group maintained their daily activities. The average duration of each exercise session was 52 min. Static balance and functional fitness were assessed at the beginning and end of the intervention.

    RESULTS: After 12 weeks, the Taijiquan group significantly outperformed the control group in terms of balance, flexibility, and muscular fitness (all p 

    MeSH terms: Aged; China; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Tai Ji*
  9. Abusalah MAH, Choudhary P, Bargui H, Ahmed N, Abusalah MAH, Choudhary OP
    Ann Med Surg (Lond), 2024 Jul;86(7):3801-3805.
    PMID: 38989193 DOI: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000001970
  10. Cheng M, Zhou X, Xue Y, Zhou E, Hu J, Xu J, et al.
    J Gastrointest Oncol, 2024 Jun 30;15(3):1214-1223.
    PMID: 38989400 DOI: 10.21037/jgo-24-358
    BACKGROUND: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a rare malignancy of the digestive tract, characterized by a remarkably poor prognosis. Currently, there is a controversy on the relationship between type 2 diabetes (T2D) and GBC. Additionally, no definitive conclusions were established regarding the causal relationships between alcohol intake frequency (AIF), age at menarche (AAM) and GBC. The objective of this study was to elucidate the causal association between T2D, AIF, AAM, and GBC.

    METHODS: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with exposures and outcomes were sourced from the Integrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU) Open Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) database. Specifically, the data of GBC comprised 907 East Asians (pathological results of all cases were registered into Biobank Japan) and 425,707 SNPs; T2D comprised 655,666 Europeans with 5,030,727 SNPs; AIF comprised 462,346 Europeans and 9,851,867 SNPs; AAM comprised 243,944 Europeans and 9,851,867 SNPs. The measurement of exposure traits is collected uniformly from the UK Biobank (UKB) database and presented in the form of standard deviation (SD) or the logarithmic form of the odds ratio (logOR). We employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to discern the causalities between T2D, AIF, AAM, and GBC. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to identify and address potential heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy, and outliers.

    RESULTS: Our findings indicated that T2D reduced GBC risk [odds ratio (OR) =0.044; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.004-0.55; P=0.015, inverse variance-weighted (IVW)]. However, no causal relationship was observed between AIF (OR =0.158; 95% CI: 5.33E-05 to 466.84; P=0.65, IVW), AAM (OR =0.19; 95% CI: 0.0003-140.34; P=0.62, IVW), and GBC. Sensitivity analysis revealed no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy, heterogeneity, or outliers, suggesting the robustness and reliability of our conclusions.

    CONCLUSIONS: T2D emerged as a potentially protective factor against GBC, whereas neither AIF nor AAM demonstrated a causal relationship with GBC risk. Regulation of glucose metabolism may be one of the methods for preventing GBC.

  11. Panjasawatwong N, Avihingsanon A, Menétrey C, Ribeiro I, Salvadori N, Swanson A, et al.
    Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 2024 Jul 09;68(7):e0000824.
    PMID: 38767383 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00008-24
    Ravidasvir (RDV) is a novel NS5A inhibitor that exhibits potent pan-genotypic inhibition of hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication. Sofosbuvir (SOF) plus RDV was demonstrated to be efficacious and safe in adults with active HCV infection, including those living with HIV (LWHIV), in the STORM-C-1 trial. We assessed the population pharmacokinetics (PK) of RDV in a sub-study nested within STORM-C-1 conducted in Thailand and Malaysia. SOF (400 mg) plus RDV (200 mg) was administered orally once daily for 12 weeks to adults with chronic HCV infection, but without cirrhosis and for 24 weeks to those with compensated cirrhosis. Intensive and sparse PK samples were collected at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after treatment initiation. Population PK parameters of RDV and the impact of covariates were evaluated using nonlinear mixed-effects modeling. Five hundred ninety-four participants were included, 235 (40%) had compensated cirrhosis, and 189 (32%) were LWHIV. RDV plasma concentrations were best described by a two-compartment model with first-order elimination. Oral clearance (CL/F) and volume of distribution (Vd/F) parameters were allometrically scaled on fat-free mass. Concomitant antiretroviral treatment (ART) increased RDV CL/F by 30%-60%, with efavirenz-based ART having the largest impact. Females had 16% lower RDV CL/F than males, and higher albumin levels reduced RDV central volume of distribution. While several covariates impact RDV CL/F and Vd/F, the effect on RDV exposures was not clinically relevant based on the efficacy data reported in this diverse Asian adult population. There were no meaningful drug-drug interactions in adults LWHIV on ART.
    MeSH terms: Sofosbuvir/pharmacokinetics; Sofosbuvir/therapeutic use; Adult; Alkynes; Benzimidazoles; Cyclopropanes; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Liver Cirrhosis/drug therapy; Male; Middle Aged; Thailand; Hepacivirus/drug effects; Hepacivirus/genetics; Benzoxazines/pharmacokinetics; Benzoxazines/therapeutic use
  12. Lee JY, Lim MCX, Koh RY, Tsen MT, Chye SM
    Metab Brain Dis, 2024 Jun;39(5):985-1004.
    PMID: 38842660 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-024-01368-x
    Neurodegeneration, known as the progressive loss of neurons in terms of their structure and function, is the principal pathophysiological change found in the majority of brain-related disorders. Ageing has been considered the most well-established risk factor in most common neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is currently no effective treatment or cure for these diseases; the approved therapeutic options to date are only for palliative care. Ageing and neurodegenerative diseases are closely intertwined; reversing the aspects of brain ageing could theoretically mitigate age-related neurodegeneration. Ever since the regenerative properties of young blood on aged tissues came to light, substantial efforts have been focused on identifying and characterizing the circulating factors in the young and old systemic milieu that may attenuate or accentuate brain ageing and neurodegeneration. Later studies discovered the superiority of old plasma dilution in tissue rejuvenation, which is achieved through a molecular reset of the systemic proteome. These findings supported the use of therapeutic blood exchange for the treatment of degenerative diseases in older individuals. The first objective of this article is to explore the rejuvenating properties of blood-based therapies in the ageing brains and their therapeutic effects on AD. Then, we also look into the clinical applications, various limitations, and challenges associated with blood-based therapies for AD patients.
    MeSH terms: Alzheimer Disease/metabolism; Alzheimer Disease/therapy; Animals; Brain/metabolism; Brain/pathology; Humans
  13. Abdo AIK, Nordin F, Tye GJ
    Int Immunopharmacol, 2024 Aug 20;137:112371.
    PMID: 38852516 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112371
    IL-23 is a double-subunit cytokine that plays an important role in shaping the immune response. IL-23 was found to be associated with several autoinflammatory diseases by generating sustained inflammatory loops that lead to tissue damage. Antibody neutralization of IL-23 was proven to be effective in ameliorating associated diseases. However, antibodies as large proteins have limited tissue penetration and tend to elicit anti-drug antibodies. Additionally, anti-IL-23 antibodies target only one subunit of IL-23 leaving the other one unneutralized. Here, we attempted to isolate a recycling single domain antibody by phage display. One of IL-23 subunits, p19, was expressed in E. coli fused to Gamillus protein to stabilize the α-helix-only p19. To remove Gamillus binders, two biopanning methods were investigated, first, preselection with Gamillus and second, challenge with IL-23 then on the subsequent round challenge with p19-Gam. The isolation of calcium-dependent and pH-dependent recycling binders was performed with EDTA and citrate buffers respectively. Both methods of panning failed to isolate high-affinity and specific p19 recycling binders, while from the second panning method, a high affinity and specific p19 standard binder, namely H11, was successfully isolated. H11 significantly inhibited the gene expression of IL-17 and IL-22 in IL-23-challenged PBMCs indicating H11 specificity and neutralizing ability for IL-23. The new binder due to its small size can overcome antibodies limitations, also, it can be further engineered in the future for antigen clearance such as fusing it to cell penetrating peptides, granting H11 the ability to clear excess IL-23 and enhancing its potential therapeutic effect.
    MeSH terms: Escherichia coli/genetics; Humans; Inflammation/immunology; Peptide Library; Interleukin-23/immunology; Interleukin-23/metabolism; Cell Surface Display Techniques
  14. Zhang B, Wang J, Abdullah AB
    Clinics (Sao Paulo), 2024;79:100404.
    PMID: 38936289 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinsp.2024.100404
    OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the effects of art therapy on anxiety among children and adolescents.

    METHODS: We searched several databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase (via Ovid), PsychINFO (through EBSCO), and The Cochrane Library, comprising the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Additionally, Chinese databases such as CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) and Wan Fang Data were explored from their beginnings until October 22, 2023. Studies that investigated the impact of art therapy on anxiety compared to a control group were included. The methodological quality of these randomized controlled trials was evaluated using the Cochrane Handbook's risk of bias instrument.

    RESULTS: Six studies involving 422 participants were included. The findings indicated a notable decrease in anxiety symptoms due to art therapy, with a Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) of -1.42, 95% Confidence Interval (95%CI -2.33, -0.51), p < 0.002. Notably, there was pronounced heterogeneity, as evidenced by Tau2 = 1.41, Chi2 = 101.19, df = 6, and I² = 94%, with Z = 3.06.

    CONCLUSION: Art therapy significantly improved the anxiety symptoms of children and adolescents, positioning it as an effective means of treating anxiety.

    MeSH terms: Adolescent; Child; Female; Humans; Male; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic*; Treatment Outcome
  15. Mutmainna I, Gareso PL, Suryani S, Tahir D
    PMID: 38980276 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4976
    The use of bioplastics is a new strategy for reducing microplastic (MP) waste caused by petroleum-based plastics. This problem has received increased attention worldwide, leading to the development of large-scale bioplastic plants. The large amount of MPs in aquatic and terrestrial environments and the atmosphere has raised global concern. This article delves into the profound environmental impact of the increasing use of petroleum-based plastics, which contribute significantly to plastic waste and, as a consequence, to the increase in MPs. We conducted a comprehensive analysis to identify countries that are at the forefront of efforts to produce bioplastics to reduce MP pollution. In this article, we explain the development, degradation processes, and research trends of bioplastics derived from biological materials such as starch, chitin, chitosan, and polylactic acid (PLA). The findings pinpoint the top 10 countries demonstrating a strong commitment to reducing MP pollution through bioplastics. These nations included the United States, China, Spain, Canada, Italy, India, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Belgium, and the Netherlands. This study underscores the technical and economic obstacles to large-scale bioplastic production. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-20. © 2024 SETAC.
  16. Gopalan J, Buthiyappan A, Rashidi NA, Sufian S, Abdul Raman AA
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2024 Jul;31(33):45887-45912.
    PMID: 38980479 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34173-1
    This study investigates the synthesize of activated carbon for carbon dioxide adsorption using palm kernel shell (PKS), a by-product of oil palm industry. The adsorbent synthesis involved a simple two-step carbonization method. Firstly, PKS was activated with potassium oxide (KOH), followed by functionalization with magnesium oxide (MgO). Surface analysis revealed that KOH activated PKS has resulted in a high specific surface area of 1086 m2/g compared to untreated PKS (435 m2/g). However, impregnation of MgO resulted in the reduction of surface area due to blockage of pores by MgO. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) demonstrated that PKS-based adsorbents exhibited minimal weight loss of less than 30% up to 500 °C, indicating their suitability for high-temperature applications. CO2 adsorption experiments revealed that PKS-AC-MgO has achieved a higher adsorption capacity of 155.35 mg/g compared to PKS-AC (149.63 mg/g) at 25 °C and 5 bars. The adsorption behaviour of PKS-AC-MgO was well fitted by both the Sips and Langmuir isotherms, suggesting a combination of both heterogeneous and homogeneous adsorption and indicating a chemical reaction between MgO and CO2. Thermodynamic analysis indicated a spontaneous and thermodynamically favourable process for CO2 capture by PKS-AC-MgO, with negative change in enthalpy (- 0.21 kJ/mol), positive change in entropy (2.44 kJ/mol), and negative change in Gibbs free energy (- 729.61 J/mol, - 790.79 J/mol, and - 851.98 J/mol) across tested temperature. Economic assessment revealed that the cost of PKS-AC-MgO is 21% lower than the current market price of commercial activated carbon, indicating its potential for industrial application. Environmental assessment shows a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (381.9 tCO2) through the utilization of PKS-AC-MgO, underscoring its environmental benefits. In summary, the use of activated carbon produced from PKS and functionalised with MgO shows great potential for absorbing CO2. This aligns with the ideas of a circular economy and sustainable development.
    MeSH terms: Adsorption; Carbon/chemistry; Charcoal/chemistry; Magnesium Oxide/chemistry
  17. Alzahrani A, Hassan MA, Alsubaie S
    Environ Geochem Health, 2024 Jul 09;46(8):295.
    PMID: 38980526 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-024-02065-5
    This research focuses on examining the potential impact of charcoal briquettes and lumps on human health due to the emissions they release, and verifying their quality standards. Quality assessment was conducted using a device capable of measuring toxic gases to identify contaminants from various sources such as biomass, synthetic resins, coal, metals, and mineral matter. Toxicity assessments were carried out on five types of briquettes and two varieties of lump charcoal. All charcoal samples were subjected to elemental analysis (SEM/EDAX), including the examination of Ca, Al, Cr, V, Cu, Fe, S, Sr, Si, Ba, Pb, P, Mn, Rb, K, Ti, and Zn. The results showed that burning lump charcoal had toxicity indexes ranging from 2.5 to 5, primarily due to NOx emissions. Briquettes, on the other hand, exhibited higher toxicity indices between 3.5 and 6.0, with CO2 being the main contributor to toxicity. The average 24-h CO content of all charcoal samples exceeded the World Health Organization's 24-h Air Quality Guideline of 6.34 ppm, with a measurement of 37 ppm. The data indicates that most of the products tested did not meet the prevailing quality standard (EN 1860-2:2005 (E) in Appliances, solid fuels and firelighters for barbecuing-Part 2: Barbecue charcoal and barbecue charcoal briquettes-Requirements and test method, 2005), which specifies a maximum of 1% contaminants, with some products containing as much as 21% impurities. The SEM analysis revealed irregularly shaped grains with an uneven distribution of particles, and the average particle size distribution is quite broad at 5 μm. Malaysia Charcoal had the highest calorific value at 32.80 MJ/Kg, with the value being influenced by the fixed carbon content-higher carbon content resulting in a higher calorific value.
    MeSH terms: Air Pollutants/analysis; Air Pollutants/toxicity; Environmental Monitoring/methods; Humans
External Links