scholarly journals Microplastic Contamination in the Human Gastrointestinal Tract and Daily Consumables Associated with an Indonesian Farming Community

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 12840
Author(s):  
Anjar Tri Wibowo ◽  
Husna Nugrahapraja ◽  
Ruri Agung Wahyuono ◽  
Izzatul Islami ◽  
Muhammad Husain Haekal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Average Concentration ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Freshwater Organisms ◽  
Farming Community ◽  
Indonesian Population ◽  
Soybean Cake ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Study Participants

Plastic is one of the most abundant pollutants in the environment. As a result of natural physical processes, large plastic waste is degraded into microsized particles (<5 mm) called microplastics. Because of their size, abundance, and durability, microplastics are widely distributed in the environment, contaminating food and water intended for human consumption. The extent of microplastic contamination in the human body is still unclear because there are few studies concerning microplastic contamination in human specimens and, in most studies, data were collected from city dwellers. Despite having the fourth largest population and being the fourth largest plastic waste producer in the world and second largest plastic polluter in the ocean, there are currently no data with respect to microplastic exposure for the Indonesian population. Several studies have reported on microplastic contamination in seafood and freshwater organisms from Indonesia, and it is likely that microplastics have contaminated the gastrointestinal tracts of Indonesians. Using Raman spectroscopy, we detected microplastic contamination in 7 out of 11 analyzed stool samples collected from a farming community in the highland village of Pacet, East Java, Indonesia. Polypropylene (PP) was the most abundant and prevalent type of microplastic observed, and it was found in four of the positive samples with an average concentration of 10.19 microgram per gram of feces (µg/g). Microplastics were also detected at high concentrations in tempeh (soybean cake, a staple protein source for Indonesians), table salts, and toothpaste, which were regularly consumed and used by the study participants. PP was particularly high in table salts (2.6 µg/g) and toothpaste (15.42 µg/g), suggesting that these products might contribute to the gastrointestinal contamination in the studied population. This pilot study indicated microplastic contamination in the rural Indonesian population and in their daily consumables, demonstrating the far-reaching extent of microplastic pollution beyond urban areas.

scholarly journals Microplastic Contamination in Human Stools, Foods, and Drinking Water Associated with Indonesian Coastal Population

Environments ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 138
Author(s):  
Arif Luqman ◽  
Husna Nugrahapraja ◽  
Ruri Agung Wahyuono ◽  
Izzatul Islami ◽  
Muhammad Husain Haekal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Average Concentration ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Food Chains ◽  
The World ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Staple Foods ◽  
Study Participants

Approximately 381 million tons of plastic are produced globally every year, and the majority of it ends up as pollutants. In the environment, plastic waste is fragmented into microplastic particles less than 5 mm in size; owing to their small size, durability, and abundance, they can easily be dispersed, incorporated into the food chains, and enter the human body. The extent of microplastic exposure in the human body has become a major concern in many countries, including in Indonesia, the second largest plastic waste contributor in the world. Here, we report the detection of microplastics in human stools collected from a fisherman community in the coastal area of Surabaya, Indonesia. Microplastics were found in more than 50% of samples analyzed with a concentration ranging from 3.33 to 13.99 µg of microplastic per gram of feces (µg/g). HDPE was observed as the most prevalent type of microplastic, with an average concentration of 9.195 µg/g in positive samples. Different types of microplastics were also detected in seafood, staple foods, drinking water, table salts, and toothpaste, which were regularly used and consumed by the study participants. Results from this preliminary study indicate widespread contamination of microplastic in the human body and in consumables associated with the coastal populations of Indonesia.

OZONE DAMAGE AND SEMIMATURE-TISSUE NEEDLE BLIGHT OF EASTERN WHITE PINE

1967 ◽  
Vol 45 (11) ◽  
pp. 2047-2061 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. N. Linzon
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Average Concentration ◽  
Atmospheric Ozone ◽  
White Pine ◽  
Eastern White Pine ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Apparent Relationship ◽  
Coulometric Method ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Needle Blight

Investigations were conducted in forests remote from large urban areas to determine whether there was any cause and effect relationship between naturally occurring atmospheric ozone (O3) and semimature-tissue needle blight (SNB) of eastern white pine (Pinus strobus). The daily average concentration of atmospheric ozone, relative to cracking by rubber test strips, was determined for three seasons and no apparent relationship was found between excessive rubber cracking and the occurrence of outbreaks of SNB on susceptible white pines. The repeated application of vitamin C, a reducing agent, to newly developing needles of susceptible white pines, did not prevent the appearance of the symptoms of SNB or retard subsequent symptom development. In fumigation experiments with artificially produced ozone, concentrations of over 0.60 p.p.m., as measured by the manual potassium iodide method, or 0.40 p.p.m. by the coulometric method, were required to produce severe markings on the new needles of the white pine under study. Foliage on material derived from trees non-susceptible to SNB was more responsive to these high concentrations of ozone and exhibited more uniform damage than foliage derived from trees susceptible to SNB. The macroscopic and microscopic symptoms of damage caused by excess ozone were dissimilar from the typical symptoms of SNB. The results of these investigations indicate that naturally occurring atmospheric ozone in stands of eastern white pine is not an incitant of SNB.

scholarly journals Changes in Water Quality of the River das Antas as It Passes through Rural and Urban Areas

Urban Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Valdemir Antoneli ◽  
Manuel Pulido-Fernández ◽  
João Anésio Bednarz ◽  
Leonardo Brandes ◽  
Michael Vrahnakis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Area ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Rural And Urban Areas ◽  
Ph Values ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Feasible Option ◽  
Decreasing Ph ◽  
The City

The catchment area of River das Antas (Irati, Paraná, Brazil) is of high importance both for human consumption and irrigation. Within Irati, this river passes through a rural area and through the city of Irati, crossing both poor and rich neighbourhoods. We selected three study areas downstream (a rural area, poor community, and rich neighbourhood) in which we measured turbidity, the concentration of sediments and pH during rainy days. Our results showed downstream trends of increasing turbidity and concentrations of sediments with decreasing pH. The values of turbidity and of concentration of sediments were significantly different in the rural area, while the pH values were significantly different between the three study areas. These findings highlight the effect of agricultural activities in the generation of sediments and turbidity. The—presumably expected—effects of organic urban waste from the poor neighbourhood were also detected in the pH values. We conclude that efforts should be made to ensure that land planning and training/education programmes on sustainable farming practices are undertaken by the authorities to reduce water pollution and its effects on water bodies during rainfall events, since paving streets is not a feasible option in the short term due to the high costs associated with this measure.

scholarly journals Prevalence of acute diarrhea and associated factors among children under five in semi-urban areas of northeastern Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarikuwa Natnael ◽  
Mistir Lingerew ◽  
Metadel Adane
Keyword(s):  
Acute Diarrhea ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Children Under Five ◽  
Under Five ◽  
Under Five Children ◽  
Study Participants

Abstract Background Diarrheal disease is still one of the most common causes of mortality and morbidity in children under five in developing countries, including Ethiopia. Lack of specific data on the prevalence of acute diarrhea and associated factors among under-five children in the semi-urban areas of Gelsha, found in northeastern Ethiopia’s South Wollo zone, remains a major gap. Therefore, this study was designed to provide data that is important for proper planning of intervention measures to reduce the problem in this area. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 340 systematically selected children under five in semi-urban areas of Gelsha from January to March 2019. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire and an observational checklist. Bivariable (crude odds ratio [COR]) and multivariable analysis (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]) were employed using binary logistic regression model with 95% CI (confidence interval). Variables with a p-value < 0.05 from the multivariable analysis were declared as factors significantly associated with acute diarrhea. Result The prevalence of acute diarrhea among children under five in the study area was 11% (95%CI: 7.8–14.3%). About two-thirds (63.60%) of study participants used water from improved sources. About half (54.90%) of study participants practiced poor handwashing and 45.10% practiced good handwashing. We found that factors significantly associated with acute diarrhea were a child’s age of 12–23 months (AOR = 4.68, 95% CI: 1.45–1.50), the presence of two or more under-five children in the house (AOR = 2.84, 95% CI: 1.19–6.81), unimproved water sources (AOR = 2.97, 95% CI: 1.28–6.87) and presence of feces around the pit hole/slab/floor of the latrine (AOR = 3.34, 95% CI: 1.34–8.31). Conclusion The prevalence of acute diarrhea among children under five was relatively high. To reduce the problem, various prevention strategies are essential, such as the provision of health education to mothers/caregivers that focuses on keeping sanitation facilities clean and child care, and construction of improved water sources. Furthermore, implementing a strong health extension program, advocating an open defecation-free environment, and practicing a community-led total sanitation and hygiene approach might be helpful to sustainably reduce childhood diarrhea.

Night-time chemistry of biomass burning plumes in urban areas: A dual mobile chamber study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Spiro Jorga ◽  
Kalliopi Florou ◽  
Christos Kaltsonoudis ◽  
John Kodros ◽  
Christina Vasilakopoulou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Mass Spectra ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Organic Aerosol ◽  
Photochemical Activity ◽  
Organic Nitrate ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
High Concentrations

&lt;p&gt;Biomass burning including residential heating, agricultural fires, prescribed burning, and wildfires is a major source of gaseous and particulate pollutants in the atmosphere. Although, important changes in the size distributions and the chemical composition of the biomass burning aerosol during daytime chemistry have been observed, the corresponding changes at nighttime or in winter where photochemistry is slow, have received relatively little attention. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that nightime chemistry in biomass burning plumes can be rapid in urban areas using a dual smog chamber system.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Ambient urban air during winter nighttime periods with high concentrations of ambient biomass burning organic aerosol is used as the starting point. Ozone was added in the perturbed chamber to simulate mixing with background air (and subsequent NO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; production and aging) while the second chamber was used as a reference. Following the injection of ozone rapid organic aerosol (OA) formation was observed in all experiments leading to increases of the OA concentration by 20-70%. The oxygen to carbon ratio of the OA increased by 50% on average and the mass spectra of the produced OA was quite similar to that of the oxidized OA mass spectra reported during winter in urban areas. Good correlation was also observed with the produced mass spectra from nocturnal aging of laboratory biomass burning emissions showing the strong contribution of biomass burning emissions in the SOA formation during cold nights with high biomass burning activities. Concentrations of NO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; radicals as high as 25 ppt were measured in the perturbed chamber with an accompanying production of 0.2-1.2 &amp;#956;g m&lt;sup&gt;-3&lt;/sup&gt; of organic nitrate. These results strongly indicate that the OA in biomass burning plumes can evolve rapidly even during wintertime periods with low photochemical activity.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Temporal and spatial variation on heavy metal concentrations in the oyster Ostrea equestris on the northern coast of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

2005 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G Ferreira ◽  
A. L. S. Machado ◽  
I. R. Zalmon
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Spatial Variation ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Average Concentration ◽  
Northern Coast ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Janeiro State ◽  
Ostrea Equestris

Heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) concentrations were determined by ICP-AES in Ostrea equestris from three beaches (Barra do Furado, Buena, and Ponta do Retiro) on the northern coast of Rio de Janeiro State. The average concentration was 0.8 ± 0.18, 0.4 ± 0.21, 58 ± 25.6, 249 ± 52.3, 11 ± 1.31, 0.55 ± 0.16, 0.13 ± 0.11, and 1131 ± 321 µg.g-1 dry weight for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn respectively. Significant spatial variation (p < 0.05) between the samples areas occurred for Cr, Pb, and Zn with higher values in Barra do Furado; and for Cu in Ponta do Retiro. Significant temporal variations (p < 0.05) were observed for all metals except Cu. Temporal variability may be related to changes in the inputs of metals associated with suspended particles. Concentrations were similar to those found in areas under low pollution impact, except for Zn, the high concentrations of which probably reflect the physiological characteristics of these organisms.

scholarly journals Summertime PM<sub>2.5</sub> ionic species in four major cities of China: nitrate formation in an ammonia-deficient atmosphere

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1711-1722 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. K. Pathak ◽  
W. S. Wu ◽  
T. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Ionic Species ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Average Concentration ◽  
Phase Reaction ◽  
Gas Phase Reaction ◽  
Particulate Pollution ◽  
Aerosol Acidity ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
High Concentrations

Abstract. Strong atmospheric photochemistry in summer can produce a significant amount of secondary aerosols, which may have a large impact on regional air quality and visibility. In the study reported herein, we analyzed sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium in PM2.5 samples collected using a 24-h filter system at suburban and rural sites near four major cities in China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Lanzhou). Overall, the PM2.5 mass concentrations were high (with a mean value of 55–68 gμgm−3), which reflects the long-known particulate pollution in China's large urban centers. We observed very high concentrations of sulfate and nitrate at the Beijing and Shanghai sites, and, in particular, abnormally high levels of nitrate (24-h average concentration up to 42 gμgm−3 and contributing up to 25% of the PM2.5 mass) in the ammonium-poor samples. The Beijing and Shanghai aerosols were characterized by high levels of aerosol acidity (~220–390 nmol m−3) and low levels of in-situ pH (−0.77 to −0.52). In these samples, the formation of the observed high concentrations of particulate nitrate cannot be explained by homogeneous gas-phase reaction between ammonia and nitric acid. Examination of the relation of nitrate to relative humidity and aerosol loading suggests that the nitrate was most probably formed via the heterogeneous hydrolysis of N2O5 on the surface of the moist and acidic aerosols in Beijing and Shanghai. In comparison, the samples collected in Lanzhou and Guangzhou were ammonium-rich with low levels of aerosol acidity (~65–70 nmol m−3), and the formation of ammonium nitrate via the homogeneous gas-phase reaction was favored, which is similar to many previous studies. An empirical fit has been derived to relate fine nitrate to aerosol acidity, aerosol water content, aerosol surface area, and the precursor of nitrate for the data from Beijing and Shanghai.

scholarly journals Measurements in a highly polluted Asian mega city: observations of aerosol number size distribution, modal parameters and nucleation events

2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Mönkkönen ◽  
I. K. Koponen ◽  
K. E. J. Lehtinen ◽  
K. Hämeri ◽  
R. Uma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Size Distribution ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Geometric Standard Deviation ◽  
Modal Parameters ◽  
Number Size Distribution ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Rural Sites ◽  
Aitken Mode

Abstract. Diurnal variation of number size distribution (particle size 3-800nm) and modal parameters (geometric standard deviation, geometric mean diameter and modal aerosol particle concentration) in a highly polluted urban environment was investigated during October and November 2002 in New Delhi, India. Continuous monitoring for more than two weeks with the time resolution of 10min was conducted using a Differential Mobility Particle Sizer (twin DMPS). The results indicated clear increase in Aitken mode (25-100nm) particles during traffic peak hours, but towards the evenings there were more Aitken mode particles compared to the mornings. Also high concentrations of accumulation mode particles (>100nm) were detected in the evenings only. In the evenings, biomass/refuse burning and cooking are possible sources beside the traffic. We have also shown that nucleation events are possible in this kind of atmosphere even though as clear nucleation events as observed in rural sites could not be detected. The formation rate of 3nm particles (J3) of the observed events varied from 3.3 to 13.9cm-3s-1 and the growth rate varied from 11.6 to 18.1nmh-1 showing rapid growth and high formation rate, which seems to be typical in urban areas.

scholarly journals The potentional of plants to cleanup metals from an old landfill site

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yahya Jani ◽  
Charlotte Marchand ◽  
William Hogland
Keyword(s):  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Hazardous Materials ◽  
Average Concentration ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Landfill Site ◽  
Group Company ◽  
Timothy Grass ◽  
Xrf Scanning ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
The Stability

Old landfill sites contain different hazardous materials like heavy metals which have the ability to affects the entire environment. These places are sometimes covered by plants to increase the stability of the soil and to reduce the effects of erosion. 15 soil samples (3 samples from each place) and 5-7 timothy-grass (Phleum pretense) plants from 5 different places were taken from an old landfill place in an active landfill site in Högbytorp /Sweden owned by Ragn-sells Group Company. XRF scanning was used to analyze the metal content of soil samples and of plants. High concentrations of metals were detected in the soil samples like Fe with an average of about 25000 ppm, Mn about 250 ppm and 2800 ppm of Ti. The plants results showed an average concentration of Fe in the shoots about 730 ppm, Mn about 60 ppm and Ti about 1760 ppm. On the other hand, the roots results showed an average concentration of about 10 000 ppm of Fe, about 160 ppm of Mn and 2200 ppm of Ti. These results gave the indication that the Timothy-grass has the ability to extract metals from contaminated soils and can help to cleanup these soils.

Correlation between Chlorophyll-a Concentration and Environmental Factors in Jihongtan Reservoir

2011 ◽  
Vol 356-360 ◽  
pp. 959-962
Author(s):  
Ji Ping Ma ◽  
Cui Jie Rui ◽  
Jian Hua Ge ◽  
Yu Hua Liu ◽  
Zhi Wen Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Dissolved Oxygen ◽  
Statistical Method ◽  
Chlorophyll A ◽  
Potassium Permanganate ◽  
Total Nitrogen ◽  
Average Concentration ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
High Concentrations

Based on the Jihogntan reservoir’s monitoring data from 2006 to 2009, eutrophication of Jihongtan reservoir was assessed. The result showed that the nutrition level of the Jihongtan reservoir was middle in recent years. The average concentration of chlorophyll-a(Chla) was higher in summer and autumn than in spring and winter. The correlation between concentration of Chla and some environmental factors was studied by statistical method, and seasonal variation of Chla and the extent of eutrophication were also analyzed. The results showed that the correlations between Chla and total nitrogen(TN), dissolved oxygen(DO) and transparency were significantly negative, and that between Chla and total phosphorus(TP), temperature(T) and potassium permanganate index(COD Mn) were significantly positive. The growth of phytoplankton was promoted by TP and TN at low concentrations, and inhibited by TN at high concentrations.

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