Toxicology at IgMin Research | Science Group

Microplastic pollution in oceans poses a complex global threat to marine ecosystems and human health. These ubiquitous plastic particles originate from diverse sources and become widely dispersed by ocean currents, contaminating remote regions worldwide. In the aquatic environment, microplastics cause physical harm to aquatic species through ingestion. They disrupt habitats and act as vectors for toxic chemicals through bioaccumulation in aquatic species, enter food webs, and impair marine ecosystem functions. For humans, microplastic exposure ...via seafood consumption, drinking water, and inhalation raises concerns about potential inflammatory, cytotoxic, and endocrine-disrupting diseases that are linked to cancer, reproductive problems, and metabolic disorders. Mitigating this pervasive pollution requires a multi-pronged approach, including policy interventions that minimize plastic use, improve waste management, encourage technological innovations for biodegradable alternatives, provide public awareness campaigns, and improve coordinated efforts across plastic stakeholders. Comprehensive strategies combining research, regulations, and public engagement are crucial to protect marine life and human health from the detrimental impacts of microplastic contamination. This paper provides an overview of the origins and pathways of microplastics and assesses the impacts of microplastic pollution on human health and the environment. This study also highlights the methodology, knowledge gaps, and future directions to facilitate research on microplastic removal and risk assessment in the oceans.Read more

The purposes of this study were to assess the concentrations of Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the cucumber Cucumis sativus from four farming areas of Peninsular Malaysia, to assess the HHRA of the five heavy metals in the collected samples. The cucumber was collected between May and December 2016 from Kg Ara Kuda (Penang), Kg. Sitiawan (Perak), Kuala Ketil (Kedah) and Jerantut (Pahang) of Peninsular Malaysia. For the edible fruity cucumber, the ranges of metal concentrations (mg/kg dry weight) from the four sites were 9.56-13.6 for Cu, 39.5-109 for... Fe, 0.18-2.19 for Ni, 0.74-2.78 for Pb and 17.5-62.0 for Zn. All the target hazard quotient values for Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in adults and children were found below 1.00 for the health risk assessment. The present investigation found no evidence of non-carcinogenic hazards associated with the intake of cucumber in relation to Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. However, it is important to regularly evaluate the levels of heavy metals in vegetables cultivated in these soils and adopt appropriate remediation procedures to reduce harmful effects on human health. Read more