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Fulltext Albania and Kosovo-Albania Immigrants' Perceptions of Mental Well-Being and the Psychological Challenges Faced in Malaysia

Thartori V, Ismail NAH

J Migr Health, 2024;10:100234.
PMID: 38975293 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmh.2024.100234

BACKGROUND: Immigrants who relocate to a foreign country often face numerous stressors and challenges as they try to assimilate to a new culture. This transition can often have a significant impact on their mental well-being. In this qualitative study, we aim to explore and examine the life experiences of 16 Albanian and Kosovo-Albania immigrants who have settled in Malaysia, as well as those who previously resided in Malaysia but are now living in Australia and Albania.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate two main objectives: (i) to explore immigrants' psychological problems and how they perceive and approach mental well-being; and (ii) to identify the challenges and barriers that immigrants face in Malaysia.
METHODS: The data was obtained using a qualitative phenomenological case study, using in-depth semi-structured interviews. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed.
RESULTS: The study's findings indicate that immigrants' mental well-being is positively affected by inner peace, happiness, fulfilling family needs, a balanced life, and self-improvement. On the other hand, challenges related to visa and employment pass issues, difficulty in securing employment status, feeling like a foreigner, and lack of family support have a negative impact on their mental well-being.
IMPLICATIONS: The study's findings advocate for targeted support programmes to address the psychological challenges of Albanian immigrants. Prioritising inner peace and self-improvement benefits their mental well-being. Policymakers are encouraged to prioritise reducing employment pass difficulties and fostering an inclusive job market to improve employment opportunities for this community.
Quantification of multi-classes of endocrine-disrupting compounds in estuarine water

Ismail NAH, Wee SY, Kamarulzaman NH, Aris AZ

Environ Pollut, 2019 Jun;249:1019-1028.
PMID: 31146308 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.03.089

Emerging pollutants known as endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) are a contemporary global issue, especially in aquatic ecosystems. As aquaculture production through mariculture activities in Malaysia supports food production, the concentration and distribution of EDCs in estuarine water ecosystems may have changed. Therefore, this current study aims to prepare a suitable and reliable method for application on environmental samples. Besides, this study also presented the occurrence of EDCs pollutant in Pulau Kukup, Johor, where the biggest and most active mariculture site in Malaysia takes place. Analytical methods based on a combination of solid-phase extraction with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (Solid-phase extraction (SPE)-LC-MS/MS) have been modified and optimised to examine the level of targeted EDCs contaminant. In the current study, this method displays high extraction recovery for targeted EDCs, ranging from 92.02% to 132.32%. The highest concentration detected is diclofenac (<0.47-79.89 ng/L) followed by 17β-estradiol (E2) (<5.28-31.43 ng/L) and 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) (<0.30-7.67 ng/L). The highest percentage distribution for the targeted EDCs in the current study is diclofenac, followed by EE2 and dexamethasone with the percentages of 99.44%, 89.53% and 73.23%, respectively. This current study can be a baseline assessment to understand the pollution profile of EDCs and their distribution in the estuarine water of the mariculture site throughout the world, especially in Malaysia. Owing to the significant concentration of targeted EDCs detected in water samples, the need for further monitoring in the future is required.
Corrigendum to "Bisphenol A and alkylphenols concentrations in selected mariculture fish species from Pulau Kukup, Johor, Malaysia" [Mar. Pollut. Bull. 127 (2018) 536-540]

Ismail NAH, Wee SY, Aris AZ

Mar Pollut Bull, 2019 May;142:582.
PMID: 31232344 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.04.017
Multi-class of endocrine disrupting compounds in aquaculture ecosystems and health impacts in exposed biota

Ismail NAH, Wee SY, Aris AZ

Chemosphere, 2017 Dec;188:375-388.
PMID: 28892772 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.08.150

Fishes are a major protein food source for humans, with a high economic value in the aquaculture industry. Because endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) have been introduced into aquatic ecosystems, the exposure of humans and animals that depend on aquatic foods, especially fishes, should be seriously considered. EDCs are emerging pollutants causing global concern because they can disrupt the endocrine system in aquatic organisms, mammals, and humans. These pollutants have been released into the environment through many sources, e.g., wastewater treatment plants, terrestrial run-off (industrial activities, pharmaceuticals, and household waste), and precipitation. The use of pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and fertilizers for maintaining and increasing fish health and growth also contributes to EDC pollution in the water body. Human and animal exposure to EDCs occurs via ingestion of contaminated matrices, especially aquatic foodstuffs. This paper aims to review human EDC exposure via fish consumption. In respect to the trace concentration of EDCs in fish, types of instrument and clean-up method are of great concerns.
Bisphenol A and alkylphenols concentrations in selected mariculture fish species from Pulau Kukup, Johor, Malaysia

Ismail NAH, Wee SY, Aris AZ

Mar Pollut Bull, 2018 Feb;127:536-540.
PMID: 29475693 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.12.043

Endocrine disrupting compound (EDC) contamination in food is a global concern. Concerning potential environmental and human health exposed to EDCs via food intake, an experiment was conducted on the selected EDCs concentration in the mariculture fish, Trachinotus blochii (golden pomfret), Lutjanus campechanus (snapper), and Lates calcarifer (sea bass) at Pulau Kukup, Johor. Mariculture activity at Pulau Kukup involves active export of fishes to Singapore and Indonesia. The recovery of BPA (bisphenol A), 4OP (4-octylphenol), and 4NP (4-nonylphenol) were 61.54%-93.00%, 16.79%-17.13%, and 61.24%-71.49%, respectively. Relatively high concentration of BPA was recorded in T. blochii (0.322ng/g), followed by L. calcarifer (0.124ng/g) and L. campechanus (0.023ng/g). Furthermore, 4OP and 4NP were detected only in T. blochii at concentrations of 0.084ng/g and 0.078ng/g, respectively. The results of the present study provide insights on monitoring and managing mariculture activity in relation to environmental protection and food safety.
Fulltext Accumulation and risk assessment of heavy metals employing species sensitivity distributions in Linggi River, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Razak MR, Aris AZ, Zakaria NAC, Wee SY, Ismail NAH

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf, 2021 Mar 15;211:111905.
PMID: 33453636 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.111905

The constant increase of heavy metals into the aqueous environment has become a contemporary global issue of concern to government authorities and the public. The study assesses the concentration, distribution, and risk assessment of heavy metals in freshwater from the Linggi River, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Species sensitivity distribution (SSD) was utilised to calculate the cumulative probability distribution of toxicity from heavy metals. The aquatic organism's toxicity data obtained from the ECOTOXicology knowledgebase (ECOTOX) was used to estimate the predictive non-effects concentration (PNEC). The decreasing sequence of hazardous concentration (HC5) was manganese > aluminium > copper > lead > arsenic > cadmium > nickel > zinc > selenium, respectively. The highest heavy metal concentration was iron with a mean value of 45.77 μg L-1, followed by manganese (14.41 μg L-1) and aluminium (11.72 μg L-1). The mean heavy metal pollution index (HPI) value in this study is 11.52, implying low-level heavy metal pollutions in Linggi River. The risk quotient (RQ) approaches were applied to assess the potential risk of heavy metals. The RQ shows a medium risk of aluminium (RQm = 0.1125) and zinc (RQm = 0.1262); a low risk of arsenic (RQm = 0.0122) and manganese (RQm = 0.0687); and a negligible risk of cadmium (RQm = 0.0085), copper (RQm = 0.0054), nickel (RQm = 0.0054), lead (RQm = 0.0016) and selenium (RQm = 0.0012). The output of this study produces comprehensive pollution risk, thus provides insights for the legislators regarding exposure management and mitigation.
Organophosphorus Pesticide Multiresidues in Commercialized Asian Rice

Azlan NSM, Wee SY, Ismail NAH, Nasir HM, Aris AZ

Environ Toxicol Chem, 2020 10;39(10):1908-1917.
PMID: 32621623 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4813

The organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) commonly used in agricultural practices can pose a risk of potential exposure to humans via food consumption. We describe an analytical method for solid-phase extraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (SPE-HPLC-DAD) for the detection of OPPs (quinalphos, diazinon, and chlorpyrifos) in rice grains. The isolation of targeted residues was initiated with double extraction before SPE-HPLC-DAD, crucially reducing matrix interferences and detecting a wide range of multiple residues in rice grains. Coefficients of 0.9968 to 0.9991 showed a strong linearity, with limits of detection and quantification ranging from 0.36 to 0.68 µg/kg and from 1.20 to 2.28 µg/kg, respectively. High recoveries (80.4-110.3%) were observed at 3 spiking levels (50, 100, and 200 µg/kg), indicating good accuracy. The relative standard deviations of all residues (0.19-8.66%) validated the method precision. Sample analysis of 10 rice grain types (n = 30) available in the Asian market revealed that quinalphos, diazinon, and chlorpyrifos at concentrations of 1.08, 1.11, and 1.79 µg/kg, respectively, remained far below the maximum residue limits (0.01-0.5 mg/kg). However, regular monitoring is necessary to confirm that multiresidue occurrence remains below permissible limits while controlling pests. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1908-1917. © 2020 SETAC.
Occurrence of endocrine disrupting compounds in mariculture sediment of Pulau Kukup, Johor, Malaysia

Ismail NAH, Wee SY, Haron DEM, Kamarulzaman NH, Aris AZ

Mar Pollut Bull, 2020 Jan;150:110735.
PMID: 31784268 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110735

Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) such as hormones, pesticides, phenolic compounds, and pharmaceuticals compounds can cause adverse effects on humans, animals, and other living organisms. One of the largest mariculture areas situated in Pulau Kukup, Johor, Malaysia, is actively involved in exporting marine fish to other countries worldwide. This paper aims to provide baseline data on the level of EDC pollutants found in mariculture sediments in Malaysia since no reports have investigated this issue. Calculated samples recovered are between 50.39 and 129.10% at 100 ng/g spiking level. The highest concentration in the sediment samples was bisphenol A (0.072-0.389 ng/g dry weight) followed by diethylstilbestrol (<0.208-0.331 ng/g dry weight) and propranolol (<0.250-0.275 ng/g dry weight). Even though the concentrations of the targeted compounds obtained were low, their effects could become more evident longer term, which raises not only environmental health concerns but the potential risk to humans.
Validation of Egalitarian Education Questionnaire using Rasch Measurement Model

Rakami NMHN, Ismail NAH, Abu Kassim NL, Idrus F

J Appl Meas, 2020;21(1):91-100.
PMID: 32129771

This paper describes the process of assessing the unidimensionality and validity of egalitarian education (EE) items based on the Rasch measurement model. Egalitarian education was measured by a self-developed 5 EE items of Likert-scale format. The process of assessing the validity of EE items involved a collection of data from 400 Malay teachers, who are teaching in government school around peninsular of Malaysia where the measurement of construct validity for the overall EE items were established using Winsteps. Various Rasch measurement tools were utilized to demonstrate the true unidimensionality and validity measure of the EE items and in meeting the needs of the Rasch measurement model. The findings show that the validity and unidimensionality of EE items can be truly established and can satisfy the characteristics of the Rasch measurement model.
Pharmaceuticals, hormones, plasticizers, and pesticides in drinking water

Wee SY, Ismail NAH, Haron DEM, Yusoff FM, Praveena SM, Aris AZ

J Hazard Mater, 2022 02 15;424(Pt A):127327.
PMID: 34600377 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127327

Humans are exposed to endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in tap water via drinking water. Currently, most of the analytical methods used to assess a long list of EDCs in drinking water have been made available only for a single group of EDCs and their metabolites, in contrast with other environmental matrices (e.g., surface water, sediments, and biota) for which more robust methods have been developed that allow detection of multiple groups. This study reveals an analytical method of one-step solid phase extraction, incorporated together with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the quantification of multiclass EDCs (i.e., pharmaceuticals, hormones, plasticizers, and pesticides) in drinking water. Fifteen multiclass EDCs significantly varied in amount between field samples (p
Occurrence and distribution of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in mariculture fish and the human health implications

Ismail NAH, Aris AZ, Wee SY, Nasir HM, Razak MR, Kamarulzaman NH, et al.

Food Chem, 2021 May 30;345:128806.
PMID: 33352402 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.128806

The presence and distribution of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the mariculture fish from Pulau Kukup, Johor of Malaysia have been studied along with the impact on human health. Six different species of mariculture fish were collected, due to their high consumption in the Asian region-especially Malaysia, to assess their levels of EDCs. The highest concentration of EDCs detected in the muscle was dexamethasone (2.37-15.84 ng/g) and (0.77-13.41 ng/g), in the liver was dexamethasone (<2.54-43.56 ng/g) and progesterone (2.23-9.78 ng/g), and in the reproductive organ are dexamethasone (<2.54-37.23 ng/g) and caffeine (0.21-18.92 ng/g). The human health risk assessment in the current study suggested that there is no potential risk to the consumer because the hazard index was below 1 (HI