Ku Mohd Kalkausar Ku Yusof

Background and Aims: Previous studies have detected microplastics in bowel tissues, but have been limited by small sample sizes. Our study expanded the data collection from two countries at different time points (United States from 1993 to 1999 and Malaysia from 2023 to 2024) with the aim of comparing the physical and polymer characteristics of microplastics found in colorectal cancer samples. Materials and Methods: Microplastics were extracted from the tissues using a chemical digestion method of 10% potassium hydroxide, and examined under a stereomicroscope. Further surface morphology and polymeric composition were analyzed with a scanning electron microscope and micro‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results: Microplastics were detected in all 50 samples (25 from the United States and 25 from Malaysia), with a higher abundance found in the Malaysian samples (32.2 ± 48.14 particles/g) compared to the American samples (25.00 ± 40.57 particles/g). Both population samples exhibited similar shapes, with fibers being the most abundant. American samples have longer microplastics (Category II = 501–1000 µm) than the Malaysian samples (Category I = < 500 µm). Both population samples exhibited surface roughness on their microplastics and similar polymer types including polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA) and polycarbonate (PC). Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) was only observed in the American samples. Conclusion: Microplastics are detected in colorectal cancer samples of both populations collected from two different time points but with similar and also distinct physical and polymer characteristics.

The global production of plastics in 2020 alone is estimated at 367 million metric tons [1]. Mismanaged plastic wastes may lead to the formation of tiny plastics with the size of less than five mm, called as microplastics, into the environment via wind and water runoff [2]. These plastics can be broken down via weathering […]

Malaysia reported its first COVID-19 case on January 25, 2020, and the cases have continued to grow, necessitating the implementation of additional measures. Hence, determining the factors responsible for the significant increase in COVID-19 cases is the top priority issue for the government to take necessary action and ultimately restrain this virus before the vaccine availability. Researchers had predicted that air pollution had an indirect relationship with COVID-19 in terms of virus infections. As a result, this study focuses on the link between the Air Pollutant Index (API) and COVID-19 infections. The initial data set consists of daily confirmed COVID-19 cases in Malaysia and API readings obtained from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Department of the Environment (DOE). The results show that Klang (S22) recorded the highest mean of API which at 62.70 while the lowest is at Limbang (S37) (25.37). Next, due to the implementation of Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia and reducing social movement, 27 stations recorded a good level of API compare to the stations that recorded moderate and unhealthy levels. There is positive relationship between API and COVID-19 at each of the region which are North 0.4% (R²=0.004), Central 2.1% (R²=0.021), South 0.04% (R²=0.0004), East 1.6% (R²=0.016), Sarawak 0.2% (R²=0.002), meanwhile Sabah recorded negative correlation at 4.3% (R²=0.043). To conclude, the API value did not have a strong relationship with the rising number of COVID-19 daily cases.

Rapid urbanization and industrial development in the Langat Basin has disturbed the groundwater quality. The populations’ reliance on groundwater sources may induce possible risks to human health such as cancer and endocrine dysfunction. This study aims to determine the groundwater quality of an urbanized basin through 24 studied hydrochemical parameters from 45 groundwater samples obtained from 15 different sampling stations by employing integrated multivariate analysis. The abundance of the major ions was in the following order: bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) > chloride (Cl⁻) > sodium (Na⁺) > sulphate (SO₄²⁻) > calcium (Ca²⁺) > potassium (K⁺) > magnesium (Mg²⁺). Heavy metal dominance was in the following order: Fe > Mn > Zn > As > Hg > Pb > Ni > Cu > Cd > Se > Sr. Classification of the groundwater facies indicated that the studied groundwater belongs to the Na-Cl with saline water type and Na-HCO₃ with mix water type characteristics. The saline water type characteristics are derived from agricultural activities, while the mixed water types occur from water–rock interaction. Multivariate analysis performance suggests that industrial, agricultural, and weathering activities have contributed to groundwater contamination. The study will help in the understanding of the groundwater quality issue and serve as a reference for other basins with similar characteristics.