Microplastics have become a hot topic in environmental discussions. These tiny plastic particles are everywhere. They are in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and even the food we eat. But did you know they can also enter our bodies through a more direct route? Intravenous (IV) drips, often used in hospitals, can introduce microplastics into our bloodstream. Th...
Mercury is a sneaky pollutant. It can travel far from its source and end up in unexpected places. This is a problem for freshwater turtles. They are already struggling with habitat loss and over-collection. Now, they face another threat: mercury pollution. Mercury finds its way into water bodies. It can come from industrial activities or even natural processes. Once...
The mouth is a bustling city of tiny organisms. These are not the kind of residents you can see with the naked eye. They are bacteria, and they make up what is known as the oral microbiome. This microbiome is believed to be crucial for human health. Yet, there is a surprising lack of detailed studies about it in the general population. The oral microbiome is a compl...
Lakes are often seen as peaceful places, but they can hide dangers. Heavy metals in freshwater lakes can be a big problem. These metals can harm both the lake's ecosystem and the people who eat fish from these lakes. This issue has not been studied much, especially in lakes affected by water diversions. Water diversions are big projects that move water from one ...
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a new alert. It's about something called "forever chemicals" found in sewage sludge used as fertilizer. These chemicals, known as PFAS, are used in things like nonstick pans and stain-resistant carpets. They don’t break down and can stick around in the environment for a long time. The EPA's study found that while ...
Water scarcity is a growing problem that will affect half of the world's population. It's not just about having enough water; it's about how it affects our health and daily lives. When water is scarce, people get sick from water-borne diseases, don't have enough to eat or drink, and can't work or go to school. Droughts also make air quality worse with dust and smoke....
Dust aerosols are a big deal. They mess with our climate, our health, and how plants grow. But what happens when we change the land around? That's what scientists found out using a special computer model called WRF-Chem. They looked at how land changes in northern China from 2000 to 2020 affected dust levels. Over two decades, about 293, 300 square kilometer...
A cat from Oregon passed away after consuming pet food that was found to contain bird flu. This rare event has led to a recall of the raw frozen turkey-based cat food sold across several U. S. states and Canada. The product, made by Northwest Naturals, was strictly consumed by the indoor cat, proving the food was the source of the virus. The affected batch has specif...
Have you ever thought about what happens to all the plastic we throw away? A lot of it ends up in the air we breathe as microplastics. These tiny plastic pieces, less than 5 millimeters in size, are everywhere, from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains. They come from things like old tires, fibers from clothes, and even the dust that collects in our homes. Sc...
Have you ever wondered what lurks beneath the surface of Johor Waters when it comes to marine life? A recent study took a deep dive into the heavy metal levels of stingrays from Pontian, Muar, and Batu Pahat. These metals, like copper, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, can build up in the rays' bodies, posing potential risks to humans who consume them. The ...