Challenges to promoting eco-industry parks in Malaysia: A case study of Rawang Integrated Industrial Park

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Malaysia is a developing country, and its economic growth has caused the increase in the generation of industrial waste in terms of its volume. The...     

Use of different soft tissues of Perna viridis a s biomonitors of bioavailability and contamination by heavy metals (Cd,Cu, Fe,Pb, Ni,and Zn) in a semi-enclosed intertidal water,the Johore Straits

Green-lipped mussels, Perna viridis, were collected from the eastern and western parts of the Johore Straits in September 2004 and January 2005. Based on the heavy metal concentrations in the different soft tissues (gonad, foot, mantle, gills, muscle, and remaining soft tissues) of these mussel samples, the eastern part of the Johore Straits (which is divided into two portions by a causeway), recorded higher levels of bioavailability and contamination by Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn when compared to the western part, while Kg. Pasir Puteh in the eastern part was found to record the highest bioavailability and contamination by heavy metals. The use of different soft tissues of P. viridis as biomonitors of bioavailability and contamination by Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, and Zn in the semi-enclosed Johore Straits is proposed, since erroneous results due to spawning and the problem of defecation before dissection could be overcome. Hence, a more accurate interpretation of the bioavailability and contamination by heavy metals in coastal waters could be obtained. To our knowledge, this is the most detailed study on the bioavailability and contamination of heavy metals in the Johore Straits on the Malaysian side of the waterway carried out by using the different soft tissues and metal distribution based on the Mussel Watch approach.     

Anthropogenic impacts on heavy metal concentrations in the coastal sediments of Dumai, Indonesia

Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni and Fe were determined in the surface sediments to investigate the distributions, concentrations and the pollution status of heavy metals in Dumai coastal waters. Sediment samples from 23 stations, representing 5 different site groups of eastern, central and western Dumai and southern and northern Rupat Island, were collected in May 2005. The results showed that heavy metal concentrations (in microg/g dry weight; Fe in %) were 0.88 (0.46-1.89); 6.08 (1.61-13.84); 32.34 (14.63-84.90); 53.89 (31.49-87.11); 11.48 (7.26-19.97) and 3.01 (2.10-3.92) for Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni and Fe, respectively. Generally, metal concentrations in the coastal sediments near Dumai city center (eastern and central Dumai) which have more anthropogenic activities were higher than those at other stations. Average concentration of Cd in the eastern Dumai was slightly higher than effective range low (ERL) but still below effective range medium (ERM) value established by Long et al. (Environmental Management 19(1):81-97, 1995; Environmental Toxicology Chemistry 17(4):714-727, 1997). All other metals were still below ERL and ERM. Calculated enrichment factor (EF), especially for Cd and Pb, and the Pollution load index (PLI) value in the eastern Dumai were also higher than other sites. Cd showed higher EF when compared to other metals. Geo-accumulation indices (I(geo)) in most of the stations (all site groups) were categorized as class 1 (unpolluted to moderately polluted environment) and only Cd in Cargo Port was in class 2 (moderately polluted). Heavy metal concentrations found in the present study were comparable to other regions of the world and based on the calculated indices it can be classified as unpolluted to moderately polluted coastal environment.     

Characterization of titanium oxide optical band gap produced from leachate sludge treatment with titanium tetrachloride

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study investigated the coagulation performance of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) for leachate treatment and preparation of titanium oxide (TiO2)...     

Plant-based coagulants/flocculants: characteristics,mechanisms, and possible utilization in treating aquaculture effluent and benefiting from the recovered nutrients

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The increasing intensification of the aquaculture industry requires the development of new strategies to reduce the negative impacts of wastewater on...     

Synthesis of piperazine functionalized magnetic sporopollenin: a new organic-inorganic hybrid material for the removal of lead(II) and arsenic(III) from aqueous solution

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The present work describes the successful functionalization/magnetization of bio-polymeric spores of Lycopodium clavatum (sporopollenin) with...     

Development of statistical models for predicting muscle and mental activities during repetitive precision tasks

This study was conducted to develop muscle and mental activities on repetitive precision tasks. A laboratory experiment was used to address the objectives. Surface electromyography was used to measure muscle activities from eight upper limb muscles, while electroencephalography recorded mental activities from six channels. Fourteen university students participated in the study. The results show that muscle and mental activities increase for all tasks, indicating the occurrence of muscle and mental fatigue. A linear relationship between muscle activity, mental activity and time was found while subjects were performing the task. Thus, models were developed using those variables. The models were found valid after validation using other students’ and workers’ data. Findings from this study can contribute as a reference for future studies investigating muscle and mental activity and can be applied in industry as guidelines to manage muscle and mental fatigue, especially to manage job schedules and rotation.     

Tualang honey supplementation improves oxidative stress status among chronic smokers

Free radicals induced by cigarette smoking have been linked to an increase in oxidative stress resulting in smoking-related cardiovascular diseases. However, the possible effect of honey that has antioxidant property in improving oxidative stress status among smokers has not yet been reported. Hence, this study was to determine the effects of 12-week Tualang honey supplementation on F₂-isoprostanes, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and total antioxidant status among chronic smokers. A total of 32 non-smokers and 64 chronic smokers were recruited from Quit Smoking Clinic and Health Campus, Universiti Sains, Malaysia. Smokers were randomized into two groups (n = 32/group) namely smokers without supplementation and smokers with honey supplementation (20 g/day) for 12 weeks. Blood was obtained from non-smokers and smokers at pre-intervention and from smokers at post-intervention. During pre-intervention, the levels/activity of F₂-isoprostanes, total antioxidant status, and catalase were significantly higher while superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were lower in smokers than non-smokers. During post-intervention, in supplemented smokers, there were significant decrease in F₂-isoprostanes and increase in total antioxidant status, glutathione peroxidase and catalase levels/activities compared with pre-intervention. This study indicates that honey supplementation improves oxidative stress status suggesting a beneficial role of honey in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.     

Research trends in biodiversity loss: a bibliometric analysis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Although increased attempts to preserve biodiversity ecosystems have been widely publicized, bibliometric research of biodiversity loss remains...