The increased load of plastic in waste streams after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has increased the possibility of microplastics (MPs) contamination channelling through the rivers and infiltrating the aquatic ecosystems. MPs in packaged water, community-stored water, groundwater, and surface water of Kaveri River (KR), Thamirabarani River (TR), Adyar River (AR), and Cooum River (CR) in Tamil Nadu were therefore investigated about 2 years after the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Using μFTIR and μRaman spectroscopy, polyamide, polypropylene, polyethylene, ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer resin, and polyvinyl chloride were identified as the primary polymer types.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlastics are a vital component of our daily lives in the contemporary globalization period; they are present in all facets of modern life. Because the bulk of synthetic plastics utilized in the market are non-biodegradable by nature, the issues associated with their contamination are unavoidable in an era dominated by polymers. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is extensively used in industries such as automotive, packaging, textile, food, and beverages production represents a major share of these non-biodegradable polymer productions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVaccines have proven effective in the treatment and prevention of numerous diseases. However, traditional attenuated and inactivated vaccines suffer from certain drawbacks such as complex preparation, limited efficacy, potential risks and others. These limitations restrict their widespread use, especially in the face of an increasingly diverse range of diseases.
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