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Physical characterisation and stability study of formulated Chromolaena odorata gel

Zamram QAZM, Mohsin HF, Mohamad MM, Nor Hazalin NAM, Hamid KA

Curr Drug Deliv, 2021 Apr 18.
PMID: 33874872 DOI: 10.2174/1567201818666210419114809

AIM: Formulating topical products for skin delivery has always been a challenge for pharmaceutical scientists to fulfil good formulation criteria. Despite the challenges, gel-based drug delivery offers some advantages such that it is non-invasive, painless, avoidance of the first-pass metabolism and has satisfactory patient compliance.
OBJECTIVES: In this study, Chromolaena odorata gel and quercetin gel (bioactive flavonoid compound) were successfully formulated and compared with placebo and conventional wound aid gel. The chromatographic profilling was conducted to screen the presence of phytoconstituents. Subsequently, all formulated gels were subjected to physical characteristic and stability study.
METHODS: Reverse Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) of C.odorata methanolic leaves extract shows a distinct compound separation at retention time 8.4min to 34.8 min at 254nm. All gels were characterised by evaluating their rheological properties including storage modulus, loss modulus and plastic viscosity. Besides, texture analysis was performed to measure the gels' firmness, consistency, cohesiveness, and viscosity index.
RESULTS: From the observation, C. odorata gel demonstrated better spreadability as compared to the other gels, which acquired less work and favourable to be applied onto the skin. Moreover, C. odorata gel showed no changes in organoleptic properties and proven to be stable after 30 days of accelerated stability study at 40°C ± 2°C with relative humidity (RH) of 75%± 5%.
CONCLUSION: C. odorata gel has shown to be stable, reflecting the combination of materials used in the formulation, which did not degrade throughout the study. This work suggests the potential of this gel as a vehicle to deliver the active ingredients of C. odorata to the skin, which can be further explored as a topical application in antimicrobial wound management or other skin diseases study.

Matched MeSH terms: Plastics
Climate Change and the Esophagus: Speculations on Changing Disease Patterns as the World Warms

Lee YY, Roslan NS, Tee V, Koo TH, Ibrahim YS

Curr Gastroenterol Rep, 2023 Nov;25(11):280-288.
PMID: 37656421 DOI: 10.1007/s11894-023-00888-3

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Esophageal disorders, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), and esophageal cancer, may be affected by climate change. Our review describes the impact of climate change on risk factors associated with esophageal diseases and speculates how these climate-related factors impacted esophageal disorders and their management.
RECENT FINDINGS: Climate change is responsible for extreme weather conditions (shifts in rainfall, floods, droughts, and forest fires) and global warming. These consequences affect basic human needs of water and food, causing changes in population dynamics and pose significant threats to digestive health, including common esophageal disorders like GERD, EoE, and esophageal cancers. The changing patterns of esophageal diseases with climate change are likely mediated through risk factors, including nutrition, pollutants, microplastics, and the microbiota-gut-brain axis. The healthcare process itself, including GI endoscopy practices commonly employed in diagnosing and therapeutics of esophageal diseases, may, in turn, contribute to climate change through plastic wastage and greenhouse gas emissions, thus creating the climate change lifecycle. Breaking the cycle would involve changes at the individual level, community level, and national policy level. Prevention is key, with individuals identifying and remediating risk factors and reducing carbon footprints. The ABC (Advocacy, Broadcast, and Collaborate) activities would help enhance awareness at the community level. Higher-level programs such as the Bracing Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) would lead to broader and larger-scale adoption of public health adaptation strategies at the national level. The impact of climate change on esophageal disorders is likely real, mediated by several risk factors, and creates a climate change lifecycle that may only break if changes are made at individual, community, and national levels.

Matched MeSH terms: Plastics
Fulltext Dataset on the dynamic structural parameters of an old existing building exposed to earthquake loading before and after strengthening techniques - A case study, Lebanon

Kassem MM, Mohamed Nazri F

Data Brief, 2018 Dec;21:2262-2283.
PMID: 30555866 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2018.11.077

This paper provides data and information on Beirut Arab University׳s existing old building in Lebanon. The building was primarily designed to resist gravity loads only, with no attention to seismic or lateral load effects. The data shows that there is a need to improve the conditions of the existing old building by applying new features that function as seismic capacity resistance. The first feature was applied by adding RC-shear walls to the existing building, and the second feature was by implementing concentric steel bracing at the peripheral face of the building. In this article, a set of critical parameters to identify the seismic design of buildings was associated in this data. The parameters were described in terms of dynamic properties as follows: (a) natural fundamental period, (b) mode shapes, (c) torsional irregularity, (d) stiffness and ductility, and (e) plastic hinges formation. Particularly, the estimated cost analysis of added materials plays an important role in choosing the suitable retrofitting technique for old buildings.

Matched MeSH terms: Plastics
Fulltext Nano-cellulose biopolymer based nano-biofilm biomaterial using plant biomass: An innovative plant biomaterial dataset

Sharif Hossain ABM, Uddin MM, Fawzi M, Veettil VN

Data Brief, 2018 Apr;17:1245-1252.
PMID: 29845096 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2018.02.053

The nano-cellulose derived nano-biofilm keeps a magnificent role in medical, biomedical, bioengineering and pharmaceutical industries. Plant biomaterial is naturally organic and biodegradable. This study has been highlighted as one of the strategy introducing biomass based nano-bioplastic (nanobiofilm) to solve dependency on petroleum and environment pollution because of non-degradable plastic. The data study was carried out to investigate the nano-biopolymer (nanocellulose) based nano-biofilm data from corn leaf biomass coming after bioprocess technology without chemicals. Corn leaf biomass was used to produce biodegradable nano-bioplastic for medical and biomedical and other industrial uses. Data on water absorption, odor, pH, cellulose content, shape and firmness, color coating and tensile strength test have been exhibited under standardization of ASTM (American standard for testing and materials). Moreover, the chemical elements of nanobiofilm like K+, CO3--, Cl-, Na+ showed standard data using the EN (166).

Matched MeSH terms: Plastics
Fulltext Nano-cellulose based nano-coating biomaterial dataset using corn leaf biomass: An innovative biodegradable plant biomaterial

Sharif Hossain ABM, Uddin MM, Veettil VN, Fawzi M

Data Brief, 2018 Apr;17:162-168.
PMID: 29877503 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2017.12.046

The nanocellulose derived biodegradable plant biomaterial as nano-coating can be used in the medical, biomedical cosmetics, and bioengineering products. Bio-plastic and some synthetic derived materials are edible and naturally biodegradable. The study was conducted to investigate edible nano-biopolymer based nano-coating of capsules and drugs or other definite biomedical materials from corn leaf biomass. Corn leaf biomass was used as an innovative sample to produce edible nano-coating bioplastic for drug and capsule coating and other industrial uses. The data show the negligible water 0.01% absorbed by bio-plastic nanocoating. Odor represented by burning test was under the completely standard based on ASTM. Moreover, data on color coating, tensile strength, pH, cellulose content have been shown under standard value of ASTM (American standard for testing and materials) standard. In addition to that data on the chemical element test like K+,

CO

3

-
-

, Cl-, Na+ exhibited positive data compared to the synthetic plastic in the laboratory using the EN (166)) standardization. Therefore, it can be concluded that both organic (cellulose and starch) based edible nano-coating bioplastic may be used for drug and capsule coating as biomedical and medical components in the pharmaceutical industries.

Matched MeSH terms: Plastics
Fulltext Dataset on controlled production of polyhydroxyalkanoate-based microbead using double emulsion solvent evaporation technique

Govindasamy S, Syafiq IM, Amirul AA, Amin RM, Bhubalan K

Data Brief, 2019 Apr;23:103675.
PMID: 30788397 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2019.01.023

A significant source of microplastics is from the usage of microbeads in the market since petrochemical plastic bead is a material used in cosmetic scrubs. A possible way to counteract the problem is by the substitution of synthetic plastic to natural biodegradable polymer. Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is a general class of thermoplastic microbial polymer and it is the best alternative to some petrochemical plastics due to its biodegradability. Some PHA has earned its way into cosmetic application due to its biocompatibility. This data article reports data on the development of biodegradable microbeads by using the double emulsion solvent evaporation technique. Our data describe the extraction of biopolymer from marine bacteria that was cultivated in shaken flask culture, removal of endotoxins using oxidizing agent, the production of microbeads using a peristaltic pump with a specific flowrate and silicon tubing, and the cytotoxicity of the microbeads.

Matched MeSH terms: Plastics
Comparison studies on the percolation thresholds of binary mixture tablets containing excipients of plastic/brittle and plastic/plastic deformation properties

Amin MC, Fell JT

Drug Dev Ind Pharm, 2004;30(9):937-45.
PMID: 15554218

Percolation theory has been used with great interest in understanding the design and characterization of dosage forms. In this study, work has been carried out to investigate the behavior of binary mixture tablets containing excipients of similar and different deformation properties. The binary mixture tablets were prepared by direct compression using lactose, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Eudragit RS 100, and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). The application of percolation theory on the relationships between compactibility, Pmax, or compression susceptibility (compressibility), gamma, and mixture compositions reveals the presence of percolation thresholds even for mixtures of similar deformation properties. The results showed that all mixture compositions exhibited at least one discreet change in the slope, which was referred to as the percolation threshold. The PVC/Eudragit RS100 mixture compositions showed significant percolation threshold at 80% (w/w) PVC loading. Two percolation thresholds were observed from a series of binary mixtures containing similar plastic deformation materials (PVC/MCC). The percolation thresholds were determined at 20% (w/w) and 80% (w/w) PVC loading. These are areas where one of the components percolates throughout the system and the properties of the tablets are expected to experience a sudden change. Experimental results, however, showed that total disruption of the tablet physical properties at the specified percolation thresholds can be observed for PVC/lactose mixtures at 20-30% (w/w) loading while only minor changes in the tablets' strength for PVC/MCC or PVC/Eudragit RS 100 mixtures were observed.

Matched MeSH terms: Plastics/chemistry*
Fulltext Sustainable management using recycle and reuse of construction waste materials in Malaysia

Shaharin Hamid, Che Maznah Mat Isa, Shamer N. Felix, Nur Kamaliah Mustaffa

ESTEEM Academic Journal, 2020;16(1):47-58.
MyJurnal

Ineffective construction waste management has become a serious problem that impacted significantly to environmental pollutions especially in a developing country like Malaysia. Despite the enactment of law by the government, Malaysia is still far behind as compared to other countries like Denmark and Hong Kong in terms of implementation of recycling and reuse of construction waste. Recycling and reuse of waste materials seems to be a profitable method that will boost the
lifetime of landfills and cut down the usage of virgin natural resources. This paper discusses the practices of recycling and reuse of construction waste materials in the Klang Valley. A questionnaire survey was administered to 117 respondents from construction companies. The most common types of construction waste materials that can be recycled and reused are concrete, metal, asphalt, brick, plastic, cardboard, timber and glass. A descriptive analysis using Relative Important Index (RII) was used to rank the items asked in the survey. It was found that the most frequent types of recycling and reuse of construction waste materials based on ranking is timber,
while the key benefit of recycle and reuse of construction waste is reduction of landfill space. On the other hand, the key challenge that affects recycling and reuse of construction waste is the risk of contamination. This study is beneficial for all parties involved in construction activities to achieve a more sustainable construction in Malaysia and throughout the world.

Matched MeSH terms: Plastics
Fulltext Nano-plastics and gastric health: Decoding the cytotoxic mechanisms of polystyrene nano-plastics size

Han M, Zhu T, Liang J, Wang H, Zhu C, Lee Binti Abdullah A, et al.

Environ Int, 2024 Jan;183:108380.
PMID: 38141489 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108380

Gastrointestinal diseases exert a profound impact on global health, leading to millions of healthcare interventions and a significant number of fatalities annually. This, coupled with escalating healthcare expenditures, underscores the need for identifying and addressing potential exacerbating factors. One emerging concern is the pervasive presence of microplastics and nano-plastics in the environment, largely attributed to the indiscriminate usage of disposable plastic items. These nano-plastics, having infiltrated our food chain, pose a potential threat to gastrointestinal health. To understand this better, we co-cultured human gastric fibroblasts (HGF) with polystyrene nano-plastics (PS-NPs) of diverse sizes (80, 500, 650 nm) and meticulously investigated their cellular responses over a 24-hour period. Our findings revealed PS particles were ingested by the cells, with a notable increase in ingestion as the particle size decreased. The cellular death induced by these PS particles, encompassing both apoptosis and necrosis, showcased a clear dependence on both the particle size and its concentration. Notably, the larger PS particles manifested more potent cytotoxic effects. Further analysis indicated a concerning reduction in cellular membrane potential, alongside a marked increase in ROS levels upon PS particles exposure. This suggests a significant disruption of mitochondrial function and heightened oxidative stress. The larger PS particles were especially detrimental in causing mitochondrial dysfunction. In-depth exploration into the PS particles impact on genes linked with the permeability transition pore (PTP) elucidated that these PS particles instigated an internal calcium rush. This surge led to a compromise in the mitochondrial membrane potential, which in tandem with raised ROS levels, further catalyzed DNA damage and initiated cell death pathways. In essence, this study unveils the intricate mechanisms underpinning cell death caused by PS particles in gastric epithelial cells and highlighting the implications of PS particles on gastrointestinal health. The revelations from this research bear significant potential to shape future healthcare strategies and inform pertinent environmental policies.

Matched MeSH terms: Plastics/analysis
Distribution and importance of microplastics in the marine environment: A review of the sources, fate, effects, and potential solutions

Auta HS, Emenike CU, Fauziah SH

Environ Int, 2017 May;102:165-176.
PMID: 28284818 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2017.02.013

The presence of microplastics in the marine environment poses a great threat to the entire ecosystem and has received much attention lately as the presence has greatly impacted oceans, lakes, seas, rivers, coastal areas and even the Polar Regions. Microplastics are found in most commonly utilized products (primary microplastics), or may originate from the fragmentation of larger plastic debris (secondary microplastics). The material enters the marine environment through terrestrial and land-based activities, especially via runoffs and is known to have great impact on marine organisms as studies have shown that large numbers of marine organisms have been affected by microplastics. Microplastic particles have been found distributed in large numbers in Africa, Asia, Southeast Asia, India, South Africa, North America, and in Europe. This review describes the sources and global distribution of microplastics in the environment, the fate and impact on marine biota, especially the food chain. Furthermore, the control measures discussed are those mapped out by both national and international environmental organizations for combating the impact from microplastics. Identifying the main sources of microplastic pollution in the environment and creating awareness through education at the public, private, and government sectors will go a long way in reducing the entry of microplastics into the environment. Also, knowing the associated behavioral mechanisms will enable better understanding of the impacts for the marine environment. However, a more promising and environmentally safe approach could be provided by exploiting the potentials of microorganisms, especially those of marine origin that can degrade microplastics.
CAPSULE: The concentration, distribution sources and fate of microplastics in the global marine environment were discussed, so also was the impact of microplastics on a wide range of marine biota.

Matched MeSH terms: Plastics/analysis*
Nepenthes ampullaria (Nepenthaceae) Pitchers Are Unattractive to Gravid Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Chou LY, Dykes GA, Wilson RF, Clarke CM

Environ Entomol, 2016 Feb;45(1):201-6.
PMID: 26518035 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvv164

Nepenthes pitcher plants are colonized by a variety of specialized arthropods. As Aedes mosquitoes are container breeders, Nepenthes pitchers are a potential candidate oviposition site for vector species, such as Aedes aegypti (L.) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse). However, Aedes spp. are not commonly encountered in Nepenthes pitchers, and the environment inside the pitchers of some species is lethal to them. One exception is Nepenthes ampullaria Jack, whose pitchers are known to be colonized by Ae. albopictus on very rare occasions. Given that Ae. albopictus larvae can survive in N. ampullaria pitcher fluids, we sought to determine why pitcher colonization is rare, testing the hypothesis that gravid Aedes mosquitoes are deterred from ovipositing into container habitats that have similar characteristics to N. ampullaria pitchers. Using plastic ovitraps of different sizes, colors, and with different types of fluids (based on the characteristics of N. ampullaria pitchers), we compared oviposition rates by Aedes mosquitoes in urban and rural areas within the geographical range of N. ampullaria near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Ovitraps that were black and large (>250-ml capacity) accumulated significantly more eggs than ovitraps that were smaller, or green in color. In terms of size and color, small, green ovitraps are analogous to N. ampullaria pitchers, indicating that these pitchers are not particularly attractive to gravid Ae. albopictus. Although Aedes spp. are capable of colonizing N. ampullaria pitchers, the pitchers are relatively unattractive to gravid females and do not represent a significant habitat for larvae of dengue vectors at present.

Matched MeSH terms: Plastics
Occurrence, abundance, and distribution of microplastics pollution: an evidence in surface tropical water of Klang River estuary, Malaysia

Zaki MRM, Ying PX, Zainuddin AH, Razak MR, Aris AZ

Environ Geochem Health, 2021 Sep;43(9):3733-3748.
PMID: 33712970 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-021-00872-8

Microplastics have been considered as contaminants of emerging concern due to ubiquity in the environment; however, the occurrence of microplastics in river estuaries is scarcely investigated. The Klang River estuary is an important ecosystem that receives various contaminants from urbanised, highly populated areas and the busiest maritime centre in Selangor, Malaysia. This study investigates the abundance and characteristics of microplastics in surface water of the Klang River estuary. The abundance of microplastics ranged from 0.5 to 4.5 particles L-1 with a mean abundance of 2.47 particles L-1. There is no correlation between the abundance of microplastics and physicochemical properties, while there is a strong correlation between salinity and conductivity. The microplastics were characterised with a stereomicroscope and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to analyse size, shape, colour, and polymer composition. The microplastics in the surface water were predominantly in the 300-1000 μm size class, followed by > 1000 μm and

Matched MeSH terms: Plastics
Microplastic concentrations in river water and bed sediments in a tropical river: implications for water quality monitoring

Chen HL, Selvam SB, Ting KN, Gibbins CN

Environ Monit Assess, 2023 Jan 18;195(2):307.
PMID: 36652034 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10856-5

Recent increase in awareness of the extent of microplastic contamination in marine and freshwater systems has heightened concerns over the ecological and human health risks of this ubiquitous material. Assessing risks posed by microplastic in freshwater systems requires sampling to establish contamination levels, but standard sampling protocols have yet to be established. An important question is whether sampling and assessment should focus on microplastic concentrations in the water or the amount deposited on the bed. On three dates, five replicated water and bed sediment samples were collected from each of the eight sites along the upper reach of the Semenyih River, Malaysia. Microplastics were found in all 160 samples, with mean concentrations of 3.12 ± 2.49 particles/L in river water and 6027.39 ± 16,585.87 particles/m2 deposited on the surface of riverbed sediments. Fibres were the dominant type of microplastic in all samples, but fragments made up a greater proportion of the material on the bed than in the water. Within-site variability in microplastic abundance was high for both water and bed sediments, and very often greater than between-site variability. Patterns suggest that microplastic accumulation on the bed is spatially variable, and single samples are therefore inadequate for assessing bed contamination levels at a site. Sites with the highest mean concentrations in samples of water were not those with the highest concentrations on the bed, indicating that monitoring based only on water samples may not provide a good picture of either relative or absolute bed contamination levels, nor the risks posed to benthic organisms.

Matched MeSH terms: Plastics
Microplastics in green mussels (Perna viridis) from Jakarta Bay, Indonesia, and the associated hazards to human health posed by their consumption

Irnidayanti Y, Soegianto A, Brabo AH, Abdilla FM, Indriyasari KN, Rahmatin NM, et al.

Environ Monit Assess, 2023 Jun 26;195(7):884.
PMID: 37358711 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11535-9

The Jakarta Bay is the estuary for thirteen rivers that flow through densely populated and industrialized upstream regions. This condition has the potential to pollute the Jakarta Bay with microplastics that are transported from the upstream river. Meanwhile, people, particularly fishermen, continue to use Jakarta Bay for fishing and aquaculture. This study examined microplastics (MP) abundance in the whole tissues of green mussels (Perna viridis) grown in Jakarta Bay, Indonesia, and their health risks. MP was identified in all 120 green mussels, with fiber > film > fragment being the most common kinds. The abundance of fiber was 19 items/g of tissue, whereas the abundances of fragments and film were 14.5 items/g and 15 item/g, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy tests on MP from the tissues of green mussels showed that there were 12 different types of MP polymers. The estimated amount of MP that humans consume each year varied from 29,120 MP items/year to 218,400 MP items/year for different age groups. Based on the total mean number of MP found in the tissues of green mussels and the amount of shellfish consumed per person in Indonesia, it was estimated that people ate 775,180 MP through shellfish each year.

Matched MeSH terms: Plastics
Quantification and characterization of airborne microplastics in the coastal area of Terengganu, Malaysia

Chenappan NK, Ibrahim YS, Anuar ST, Yusof KMKK, Jaafar M, Ahamad F, et al.

Environ Monit Assess, 2024 Feb 07;196(3):242.
PMID: 38324118 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12381-z

Microplastics (MPs) pose a threat to ecosystems due to their capacity to bind with toxic chemicals. While the occurrence of MPs in aquatic environmental matrices like water, sediments, and biota is well studied, their presence in the atmosphere remains less understood. This study aimed to determine the presence of airborne MPs and their characteristics through ground-based sampling in the coastal city of Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia. Airborne MP samples were collected using passive sampling technique in December 2019. MPs were manually counted and identified using a stereomicroscope based on their colour and shape. The average deposition rate of airborne MPs during the sampling period was 5476 ± 3796 particles/m2/day, ranging from 576 to 15,562 particles/m2/day. Various colours such as transparent (38%), blue (25%), black (20%), red (13%), and others (4%) were observed. The predominant shape of airborne MPs was fibres (> 99%). The morphology structure of MPs observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed a cracked surface on MPs, suggesting weathering and irregular fragmentation. Further elemental analysis using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) showed the presence of heavy metals such as aluminium (Al) and cadmium (Cd) on the surface of MPs, attributed to the adsorption capacities of MPs. Polymer types of airborne MPs were analysed using attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), which revealed particles composed of polyester (PES), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP). The preliminary findings could provide additional information for further investigations of MPs, especially in the atmosphere, to better understand their sources and potential human exposure.

Matched MeSH terms: Plastics
Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics pollution in tropical agricultural soils in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Shanmugam SD, Praveena SM, Wahid SA, Liew JYC

Environ Monit Assess, 2024 Jan 12;196(2):144.
PMID: 38214797 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12330-w

Presently, microplastic pollution has emerged as a growing environmental risk around the world. Nevertheless, knowledge of the occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in tropical agricultural soil is limited. This study investigated the pollution of surface soil microplastics in two agricultural farms located at Klang Valley, Malaysia. An extraction method based on density separation by using saturated extraction solution (sodium sulfate, ρ = 2 g cm-3 and sucrose, ρ = 1.59 g cm-3 with a ratio 1:1, v/v) was carried out. The study revealed the mean particle size of soil microplastics with 3260.76 ± 880.38 μm in farm A and 2822.31 ± 408.48 μm in farm B. The dominant types of soil microplastics were fragments and films with major colors of white (59%) and transparent (28%) in farm A, while black (52%) and white (37.6%) in farm B. Representatives of soil microplastics detected polymers of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polycarbonate (PC), and polystyrene (PS). The sources of plastic products were black and white plastic pipes, black plastic films for vegetation, fertilizer bottles, plastic water containers and polystyrene storage boxes, and the breakdown processes, contributed to the microplastic pollution in these farms. The outcomes of this study will establish a better understanding of microplastic pollution in tropical agricultural soil in the Southeast Asian region. The findings would be beneficial as supportive reference for the endeavor to reduce microplastic pollution in agricultural soil.

Matched MeSH terms: Plastics*
Abatement of hazardous materials and biomass waste via pyrolysis and co-pyrolysis for environmental sustainability and circular economy

Chew KW, Chia SR, Chia WY, Cheah WY, Munawaroh HSH, Ong WJ

Environ Pollut, 2021 Mar 01;278:116836.
PMID: 33689952 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116836

The remarkable journey of progression of mankind has created various impacts in the form of polluted environment, amassed heavy metals and depleting resources. This alarming situation demands sustainable energy resources and approaches to deal with these environmental hazards and power deficit. Pyrolysis and co-pyrolysis address both energy and environmental issues caused by civilization and industrialization. The processes use hazardous waste materials including waste tires, plastic and medical waste, and biomass waste such as livestock waste and agricultural waste as feedstock to produce gas, char and pyrolysis oil for energy production. Usage of hazardous materials as pyrolysis and co-pyrolysis feedstock reduces disposal of harmful substances into environment, reducing occurrence of soil and water pollution, and substituting the non-renewable feedstock, fossil fuels. As compared to combustion, pyrolysis and co-pyrolysis have less emission of air pollutants and act as alternative options to landfill disposal and incineration for hazardous materials and biomass waste. Hence, stabilizing heavy metals and solving the energy and waste management problems. This review discusses the pyrolysis and co-pyrolysis of biomass and harmful wastes to strive towards circular economy and eco-friendly, cleaner energy with minimum waste disposal, reducing negative impact on the planet and creating future possibilities.

Matched MeSH terms: Plastics
Spatio-temporal variation of microplastic along a rural to urban transition in a tropical river

Chen HL, Gibbins CN, Selvam SB, Ting KN

Environ Pollut, 2021 Nov 15;289:117895.
PMID: 34364115 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117895

Microplastic pollution is widely recognised as a global issue, posing risks to natural ecosystems and human health. The combination of rapid industrial and urban development and relatively limited environmental regulation in many tropical countries may increase the amount of microplastic entering rivers, but basic data on contamination levels are lacking. This is especially the case in tropical South East Asian countries. In this paper, the abundance, composition and spatio-temporal variation of microplastic in the Langat River, Malaysia, were assessed, and the relationship between microplastic concentration and river discharge was investigated. Water samples were collected over a 12-month period from 8 sampling sites on the Langat, extending from forested to heavily urbanised and industrial areas. All 508 water samples collected over this period contained microplastic; mean concentration across all sites and times was 4.39 particles/L but extended up to 90.00 particles/L in some urban tributaries. Most microplastics were secondary in origin, and dominated by fibres. Microplastic counts correlated directly with river discharge, and counts increased and decreased in response to changes in flow. A time-integrated assessment of the microplastic load conveyed by the Langat suggested that the river is typically (50 % of the time) delivering around 5 billion particles per day to the ocean. The positive correlation between the concentration of microplastics and suspended sediments in the Langat suggested that continuously logging turbidity sensors could be used to provide better estimates of microplastic loads and improve assessment of human and ecological health risks.

Matched MeSH terms: Plastics
Marine microplastics in the ASEAN region: A review of the current state of knowledge

Curren E, Kuwahara VS, Yoshida T, Leong SCY

Environ Pollut, 2021 Nov 01;288:117776.
PMID: 34280748 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117776

Microplastic pollution is a prevalent and serious problem in marine environments. These particles have a detrimental impact on marine ecosystems. They are harmful to marine organisms and are known to be a habitat for toxic microorganisms. Marine microplastics have been identified in beach sand, the seafloor and also in marine biota. Although research investigating the presence of microplastics in various marine environments have increased across the years, studies in Southeast Asia are still relatively limited. In this paper, 36 studies on marine microplastic pollution in Southeast Asia were reviewed and discussed, focusing on microplastics in beach and benthic sediments, seawater and marine organisms. These studies have shown that the presence of fishing harbours, aquaculture farms, and tourism result in an increased abundance of microplastics. The illegal and improper disposal of waste from village settlements and factories also contribute to the high abundance of microplastics observed. Hence, it is crucial to identify the hotspots of microplastic pollution, for assessment and mitigation purposes. Future studies should aim to standardize protocols and quantification, to allow for better quantification and assessment of the levels of microplastic contamination for monitoring purposes.

Matched MeSH terms: Plastics
Increased transfer of trace metals and Vibrio sp. from biodegradable microplastics to catfish Clarias gariepinus

Jang FH, Wong C, Choo J, Aun Sia ES, Mujahid A, Müller M

Environ Pollut, 2022 Apr 01;298:118850.
PMID: 35041899 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118850

Microplastic ingestion has been documented in various aquatic species. This causes physical damage, and additionally contaminated microplastics transfer attached pollutants and microbial pathogens to ingesting organisms. Continued metal accumulation can lead to toxicity and adverse health effects; attached microbial pathogens can cause dysbiosis - which lowers host immunity and promotes infections. Catfish, Clarias gariepinus, are a major food source in Southeast Asia, a hotspot of plastic pollution. This study aimed to quantify the transfer of the trace metals copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) -at environmentally relevant concentrations-from microplastics (polyamide 12, PA12, and polylactic acid, PLA) to catfish. Fish were reared for three months and exposed to seven different combinations of feed, supplemented with plastics and metals. At monthly intervals, fish gills, intestines, liver, and edible muscles were analysed for Cu and Pb concentrations using ICP-OES, and the intestines content assessed for Vibrio sp.. Our results showed that biodegradable PLA transferred higher amounts of metals to catfish than expected and also led to increased Vibrio counts in the intestines compared to PA12. Trace metal accumulation was significantly different in varying tissues, with highest concentrations observed in the gills, followed by liver, intestines, and lastly edible muscles. The results of this study further support the existing evidence that microplastics act as efficient shuttles to concentrate and transfer metals. They also indicate that their uptake can cause dysbiosis (increased numbers of Vibrio sp.). Most importantly, however, our study highlights that biodegradable polymers, such as PLA, could actually pose a greater environmental threat when ingested compared to the more common polymers such as PA12.

Matched MeSH terms: Plastics

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