Prevalence and characteristics of microplastic contamination in soft drinks and potential consumer exposure.

Microplastics (MPs) contamination in human food is a growing concern due to potential health risks. Recent studies have indicated that MPs have been found in various human tissues and organs, including the placenta, lungs, liver, and blood. This highlights the importance of investigating the presence and concentration of MPs in food products, as it directly relates to human health and safety.

Unveiling the abundance and potential impacts of microplastic contamination in commercial organic fertilizers/compost produced from different solid waste.

This study comprehensively investigated the abundance, morphologies, and polymer types of plastics, larger (1-5 mm) and smaller (< 1 mm) microplastics (MPs), in organic fertilizers using spectroscopic and microscopic methods. MPs abundance varied depending on the type of waste employed. MPs were detected in 80% of the investigated compost samples, while macro/meso plastics were found in only four samples.

Microplastic Pollution in High Population Density Zones of Selected Rivers from Southeast Asia.

Southeast Asia (SEA) faces significant environmental challenges due to rapid population growth and economic activity. Rivers in the region are major sources of plastic waste in oceans. Concerns about their contribution have grown, but knowledge of microplastics in the area is still limited.

Unraveling the mechanism of iodate adsorption by anthocyanin-rich fruit waste as green adsorbents for Applications of radioactive iodine remediation in water environment.

In aquatic settings, radioactive iodine from nuclear waste can exist as iodate (IO). This study explored the efficiency and mechanism of IO adsorption by minimally modified anthocyanin-based adsorbents. Pomegranate peels and mangosteen pericarps were selected from an initial screening test and could remove over 70% of 10 mg/L IO.

Preparation of heterogeneous cation exchange membrane and its contributions in enhancing the removal of Ni by capacitive deionization system.

Capacitive deionization (CDI), an emerging method to eliminate ions from water at a low cost, has garnered significant interest in recent years. This study evaluates the implication of cation exchange resin loading on the membrane via the nonsolvent-induced phase inversion method. After determining the quantity of resins efficiently loaded on the membrane, it was subsequently utilized as a cation exchange membrane in the membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) unit to examine the performance removal of Ni.

Microplastic contamination in Thai vinegar crabs (Episesarma mederi), giant mudskippers (Periophthalmodon schlosseri), and their surrounding environment from the Bang Pu mangrove forests, Samut Prakan province, Thailand.

The mangrove ecosystem becomes the receptacle for both land- and marine-based plastic waste. This study examines MPs contamination in the Bang Pu mangrove forests (BPMFs) in the inner Gulf of Thailand. For this, Thai vinegar crabs (TVCs) (Episesarma mederi) and giant mudskippers (GMs) (Periophthalmodon schlosseri) were investigated with their surrounding environment in both rainy and dry seasons.

Examining the endpoint impacts, challenges, and opportunities of fly ash utilization for sustainable concrete construction.

Fly ash has been widely used as a cement substitute to improve the sustainability of concrete. Although the advantages of fly ash have been extensively documented, there is a gap in understanding why its use in mass concrete applications remains low in some countries, such as the Philippines. Thus, this work aims to understand the issues that impede waste utilization, particularly fly ash in the concrete construction industry, quantify the impact of the current practice, and identify opportunities for sustainable fly ash utilization.

Waste management developments in the last five decades: Asian perspective.

Solid waste management was explored in Asia's last five decades, and the issues and challenges were identified. Waste generation has increased in all nations in the previous 50 years, although more recently, a declining trend has been observed in Japan and Korea. The composition has been predominantly organic, with 45-50% being kitchen waste.

Microplastics and heavy metals in a tropical river: Understanding spatial and seasonal trends and developing response strategies using DPSIR framework.

Microplastics (MPs) have become an increasingly popular topic in recent years due to the growing concern about their impact on human health and the environment. Rivers in Southeast Asia are the dominant source of plastics and MPs into the environment; however, research on MPs in rivers from the region is insufficient. This study aims to investigate the impacts of spatial and seasonal variations on the distribution of MPs with heavy metals in one of the top 15 rivers releasing plastics into oceans (Chao Phraya, Thailand).

Comparative environmental assessment of low and high CaO fly ash in mass concrete mixtures for enhanced sustainability: Impact of fly ash type and transportation.

The effect of fly ash type on the sustainability of concrete mixtures has yet to be quantified. This study aims to assess the environmental impacts of low calcium oxide (CaO) and high CaO fly ash in mass concrete mixtures from Thailand. The study analyzed 27 concrete mixtures with varying percentages of fly ash as a cement replacement (0%, 25%, and 50%) for 30 MPa, 35 MPa, and 40 MPa compressive strengths at specified design ages of 28 and 56 days.

Occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastic contaminated with heavy metals in a tropical river: Effect of land use and population density.

Microplastics are of concern due to their potential environmental risks. This research aims to find the effect of land use (agriculture, urban, and aquaculture) and population density on the abundance of microplastics contaminated with heavy metals in surface water and sediment of the Chao Phraya River in Thailand. Results indicated that population density is directly correlated with increased microplastic abundance.

Assessment of the environmental sustainability of municipal solid waste valorization by anaerobic digestion and by composting in Sri Lanka.

Municipal solid waste management (MSWM) remains a major concern in Sri Lanka, and various treatment methods have been deployed. Though both composting and anaerobic digestion have been effective in environmental decontamination, there are other environmental issues that should be assessed. This study aimed to evaluate the environmental impacts of a full-scale composting plant and an anaerobic digestion plant for managing the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) in Sri Lanka using life cycle assessment (LCA).

Unraveling microplastics removal in wastewater treatment plant: A comparative study of two wastewater treatment plants in Thailand.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are considered as a problematic pathway for microplastics (MPs) entering the oceans. This study compares the efficiency of MP removal in two different WWTPs (A and A) with a conventional treatment system located in Bangkok, Thailand. WWTP-A is equipped with a pilot-scale ultrafiltration (UF) as a final polishing step.

Investigation of microplastic contamination in blood cockles and green mussels from selected aquaculture farms and markets in Thailand.

Recent studies have indicated that bivalves are bioindicators for microplastic pollution since they are filter feeders and accumulate microplastics (MPs) during their feeding process. This study focused on the investigation of MPs in blood cockles (Tegillarca granosa) and green mussels (Perna viridis) from selected aquaculture farms and markets in Thailand. The abundance of MPs was identified by fluorescence microscopy with Nile Red tagging and the polymer detection by micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (micro-FTIR).

Comparative study of the environmental impacts of used cooking oil valorization options in Thailand.

Used cooking oil (UCO) is a valuable resource that can be utilized in different ways. Appropriate management of UCO waste can provide environmental and economic benefits, compared to improper disposal practices. This study assessed the environmental impacts of potential UCO valorization options in Thailand.

Mechanistic understanding of the increased photoactivity of TiO nanosheets upon tantalum doping.

Anatase TiO is doped with Ta cations through a hydrothermal route. Based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy, the Ta dopants exist in the 5+-oxidation state. The oxidation state is insensitive to the Ta loading amount.

Insights on microbial fuel cells for sustainable biological nitrogen removal from wastewater: A review.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have emerged as a promising technology for energy-efficient wastewater treatment. The feasibility of integrating biological nitrogen removal into MFC systems has been reported. However, better pollutant removal efficiency and power production need to be achieved at a lower cost for a sustainable wastewater treatment system.

Microplastics Contamination in Commercial Green Mussels from Selected Wet Markets in Thailand.

Mussels have been identified as sentinel organisms (around the world) that indicate microplastic (MP) pollution. Since they are filter feeders, they easily uptake MPs. Mussels sold in commercial markets have been identified as an ideal way to directly quantify human exposure to MPs through seafood consumption.

Reuse of waste sludge from water treatment plants and fly ash for manufacturing of adobe bricks.

Reuse of sludge from a water treatment plant and fly ash for the manufacturing of adobe brick is a feasible approach for practical applications due to the numerous benefits from the cost savings of construction materials and the reduction of environmental pollution. In this study, sludge from a groundwater treatment plant and fly ash from a thermal power plant were used as alternative aggregates to replace clay, a traditional component for brick making. The main objective of this study is to produce adobe bricks by using hydraulic press technology.

Environmental impact assessment of organic fraction of municipal solid waste treatment by anaerobic digestion in Sri Lanka.

The management of organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) has continued to be a significant challenge in Sri Lanka. Anaerobic digestion is one of the management options of OFMSW. However, it generates unavoidable environmental impacts that should be addressed.

Circulation of anodic effluent to the cathode chamber for subsequent treatment of wastewater in photosynthetic microbial fuel cell with generation of bioelectricity and algal biomass.

Synthetic wastewater containing 1500 mg L of COD was treated in the anode chamber for 5, 10, and 20 d. An anode chamber was conducted under anaerobic conditions with mixed culture bacteria inoculum attached to the anode. Anodic effluent was transferred to the cathode chamber for further treatment for 5, 10, and 20 d as the growth medium of Chlorella vulgaris.

ZnO nanoparticles for photodegradation of humic acid in water.

Humic acid (HA) is the most important precursor of toxic disinfection byproducts upon chlorination. Removing HA from water body is therefore critical in drinking water acquisition. In this research, ZnO nanoparticles are employed for photocatalysis under UV light at neutral pH to remove HA from a water environment.

Microplastic contamination in a conventional wastewater treatment plant in Thailand.

Plastic waste has become a global environmental concern. One type of plastic waste is microplastics (MPs), which can spread easily in the environment. Wastewater effluent is one of the land-based sources of MPs.

Microplastics pollution with heavy metals in the aquaculture zone of the Chao Phraya River Estuary, Thailand.

Microplastics have received special attention due to their potential risks to environments. However, data on microplastics in estuaries of the Southeast Asian region is still insufficient. This study investigated the abundance and characteristics of microplastics in the sediment and surface water of the Chao Phraya River Estuary, Thailand.

Bioelectrochemical technology for recovery of silver from contaminated aqueous solution: a review.

A large amount of silver-rich wastewater is generated from different industrial processes. This wastewater is not considered a waste, but a valuable source for recovery due to the precious silver (Ag). Previous studies have used traditional methods such as membrane filtration, electrolysis, chemical precipitation, electrochemical, and cementation for Ag recovery.