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Exploration of microplastics from personal care and cosmetic products and its estimated emissions to marine environment: An evidence from Malaysia

Praveena SM, Shaifuddin SNM, Akizuki S

Mar Pollut Bull, 2018 Nov;136:135-140.
PMID: 30509794 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.09.012

This study aims understand microplastics from personal care and cosmetic products in Malaysia via quantification and characterization of microplastics together with emission estimation to marine environment. A total of 214 respondents from all over Malaysia were surveyed with identification of top ten personal care and cosmetic products usage. Particles found in facial cleaner/scrub and toothpaste were colored and colorless with majority of granular shapes. Particles in toothpaste were found between 3 and 145 μm while particles in facial cleaner/scrub were found to be between 10 and 178 μm, stipulating the presence of microplastics. Plastic polymers (LDPE and polypropylene) were found in all facial cleaner/scrub samples while only plastic polymers (LDPE) were present in toothpaste sample G. A total of 0.199 trillion microplastics are expected to be released annually to marine environment in Malaysia. Personal care and cosmetic products are seen as one of the microplastics sources for Malaysia and worldwide.
Impact of heat stress on health-related symptoms and physiological changes among workers at a palm oil mill in Mukah, Sarawak, Malaysia

Vallennie V, Isa SNI, Mazlan AZ, Shaifuddin SNM

Med J Malaysia, 2024 Mar;79(Suppl 1):82-87.
PMID: 38555890

INTRODUCTION: The palm oil (PO) industry is one of the most important sectors in the Malaysian economy. Workers at PO mills are, however, at risk for a number of health and safety issues, including heat stress, as the PO is one of the industries with high heat exposure. Heat stress occurs when a person's body cannot get rid of excess heat. Heat stress can result in heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat rash, and heat stroke. It also results in physiological and psychological changes that can have an impact on a worker's performance. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of heat stress on health-related symptoms and physiological changes among workers in a PO mill.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a PO mill located in Mukah, Sarawak, Malaysia. Thirty-one workers from the four workstations (sterilizer, boiler, oil, and engine rooms) were selected as the respondents in this study. Wet Bulb Globe Thermometer was used in this study to measure the environmental temperature (WBGTin). Body core temperature (BCT), blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR) were recorded both before and after working in order to assess the physiological effects of heat stress on workers. A set of questionnaires were used to determine sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents and their symptoms related to heat stress. Data were then analyzed using SPSS Ver28.
RESULTS: The WBGTin was found to be above the ACGIH threshold limit value of heat stress exposure in the engine room, sterilizer, and boiler workstations (>28.0°C). Additionally, there was a significant difference in the worker's BCT in these three workstations before and after work (p<0.05). Only the systolic BP and HR of those working at the boiler workstation showed significant difference between before and after work (p<0.05). The most typical symptoms that workers experience as a result of being exposed to heat at work include headache and fatigue. However, statistical analysis using Spearman Rho's test showed that there is no correlation between heat stress level with physiological changes and health-related symptoms among study respondents (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION: Results of the present study confirmed that workers in PO mill were exposed to high temperatures while at work. Although the evidence indicates the physiological parameters in general are not significantly affected while working, it also demonstrated that worker's body adapts and acclimates to the level of heat. Even so, precautions should still be taken to reduce future heat exposure. It is recommended that a physiological study be carried out that focuses on cognitive function impairment to support the evidence regarding the effects of heat stress on PO mill workers.
Pharmaceuticals residues in selected tropical surface water bodies from Selangor (Malaysia): Occurrence and potential risk assessments

Praveena SM, Shaifuddin SNM, Sukiman S, Nasir FAM, Hanafi Z, Kamarudin N, et al.

Sci Total Environ, 2018 Nov 15;642:230-240.
PMID: 29902621 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.058

This study investigated the occurrence of nine pharmaceuticals (amoxicillin, caffeine, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, dexamethasone, diclofenac, nitrofurazone, sulfamethoxazole, and triclosan) and to evaluate potential risks (human health and ecotoxicological) in Lui, Gombak and Selangor (Malaysia) rivers using commercial competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit assays. Physicochemical properties of these rivers showed the surface samples belong to Class II of Malaysian National Water Quality Standards which requires conventional treatment before consumption. All the pharmaceuticals were detected in all three rivers except for triclosan, dexamethasone and diclofenac which were not detected in few of sampling locations in these three rivers. Highest pharmaceutical concentrations were detected in Gombak river in line of being as one of the most polluted rivers in Malaysia. Ciprofloxacin concentrations were detected in all the sampling locations with the highest at 299.88 ng/L. While triclosan, dexamethasone and diclofenac concentrations were not detected in a few of sampling locations in these three rivers. All these nine pharmaceuticals were within the levels reported previously in literature. Pharmaceutical production, wastewater treatment technologies and treated sewage effluent were found as the potential sources which can be related with pharmaceuticals occurrence in surface water samples. Potential human risk assessment showed low health risk except for ciprofloxacin and dexamethasone. Instead, ecotoxicological risk assessment indicated moderate risks were present for these rivers. Nevertheless, results confirmation using instrumental techniques is needed for higher degree of specificity. It is crucial to continuously monitor the surface water bodies for pharmaceuticals using a cost-effective prioritisation approach to assess sensitive sub-populations risk.

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