Microplastics (MPs), including polymers such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polystyrene (PS), are widespread environmental contaminants detected in air, water, soil, and food. These particles originate from the breakdown of larger plastics and from direct industrial and consumer sources, including packaging, textiles, and personal care products. MPs enter the human body primarily through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact, with food, water, and air serving as major exposure pathways. Once internalized, MPs have been found in various human tissues and biological fluids, indicating their capacity for bioaccumulation. Toxicological studies in experimental models and occupational settings link MP exposure to oxidative stress, inflammation, cellular dysfunction, and potential organ toxicity, including effects on the gastrointestinal, respiratory, immune, reproductive, and nervous systems. PVC microplastics, in particular, are associated with liver toxicity and increased cancer risk in occupationally exposed populations. MPs can also act as vectors for environmental pollutants and plastic-associated chemicals, further amplifying health risks. This review summarizes the classification, major sources, exposure routes, and toxicological activity of MPs. A comprehensive understanding of MP properties is essential for developing effective strategies to mitigate their persistent harmful effects on public health and the environment. Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Adsorption experiments were carried out using two different low-cost sorbent materials, date seeds and olive seeds. These sorbents used as a single phase (not as mixture) to remove cadmium ions from simulated wastewater by adsorption process. The equilibrium time was found at 2 hr. The experiments include different parameters such sorbent type and weight and contact time. It was found that both of olive seed and date seed have approximately the same adsorption capacity (qm) with 15.644 mg/g and 15.2112 mg/g, respectively. Equilibrium isotherms and kinetic studies have been carried out. Langmuir isotherm model better fits the experimental data compared with the Freundlich isotherm for olive seed, while Freundlich isotherm fits for date se
... Show MoreToday’s world confronts various threats from different sources. Similar to deprivation of energy, economic facilities, or political deposition, educational poisoning is one of the dangerous phenomena that result from distorting and corrupting the ethical and educational components of teaching by various material and non – material means.This paper sheds light on the concept of the educational system which is not a mere process of teaching, but rather an endless process of socialization that begins in the family and develops into religious, ethical, scientific and mythological systems, all of which form the cognitive component. It also defines the necessary means by which it is transmitted from one generation into another. The educati
... Show MoreRenewable energy sources - realities of the present and future options
Many of the directories indicate that the global energy system begin with a period of transition from total dependence on fossil energy sources, particularly oil, Into a new era in which renewable energy sources play an important role in meeting the growing needs of energy demand. There are many factors that will contribute to the strengthening of this trend towards transformation, which also will decide how quickly this transformation of renewable energy systems effectively in the global system of energy demand.
These factors, In brief: the size of environmental pollution and cl
... Show MoreThis research estimates the effect of independent factors like filler (3%, 6%, 9%, 11% weight fraction), normal load (5N, 10N, 15N), and time sliding (5,7 , 9 minutes) on wear behavior of unsaturated polyester resin reinforced with jute fiber and waste eggshell and, rice husk powder composites by utilizing a statistical approach. The specimens polymeric composite prepared from resin unsaturated polyester filled with (4% weight fraction) jute fiber, and (3%, 6%, 9%, 11% weight fraction) eggshell, and rice husk by utilizing (hand lay-up) molding. Dry sliding wear experiments were carried utilizing a standard (pin on disc test setup) following a well designed empirical schedule that depends on Taguchi’s experimental design L9 (MINIT
... Show MoreSoils encounter cyclic loading conditions in situ, for example during the earthquakes and in the construction sequences of pavements. Investigations on the local scale displacements of the soil grain and their failure patterns under the cyclic loading conditions are relatively scarce in the literature. In this study, the local displacement fields of a dense sand layer interacting with a rigid footing under the plane-strain condition are examined using both experiments and simulations. Three commonly used types of cyclic loading conditions were applied on the footing. Digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) is used to measure the local scale displacement fields in the soil, and to understand the ev
Al-Yaqubi was biased in favor of Shia. May be du to his choice of source, materials. All historians as with other human beings are biased in their attitudes and preconceptions in one degree or another as well as in one direction or another.
The choice of source materials, their nature and the use made of them is an important index for measuring the achievement of ang historian.
Several specific questions arise. What sources did author use that were either unknown to or were not employed by his predecessors and contemporaries for whatever reason?
What sources are common to al- Yaqubi and his colleagues among the early Arab historians and what evidence of tendentiousness can be ascert- ained in these? To what extent can the author
A lotic ecosystem is considered a source of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere where it becomes supersaturated with CO2, which contributes to the global carbon cycle. To enhance our comprehension of the roles of CO2 in rivers, an outdoor experiment was designed with controlled carbon source inputs to investigate the roles of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in the phytoplankton community. Plastic enclosures were installed in the Tigris River within Baghdad for that goal. Samples were collected on the first day, as well as on the 5th and the 12th days from 14 enclosures. The enclosures were treated by artificial glucose (C6H12O6) (10, 20, 30mg/ l) as DOC sources, while sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) (1
... Show MoreThe heavy metals mainly include Pb, Hg, Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, Ag, etc. The heavy metals,Pb,Cu,Zn are considered most toxic to humans, fishes and environment. highly concentrations of heavy metals are harmful They destabilize ecosystems because of their bioaccumulation in organisms, and toxic effects on biota and even death in most living beings. All heavy metals, in spite some of them are essential micronutrients, have their toxic effects on living organisms via metabolic interference and mutagenesis. The bioaccumulation of toxic metals can happen in the body and food chain. So, the toxic metals generally exhibit chronic toxicity. The heavy metals like Pb has significant toxic effec
Objective: to assess the awareness and knowledge of our medical students regarding dose levels of imaging procedures and radiation safety issues, and to conclude how the curriculum of clinical radiology in the college medical program impacts such knowledge.
Subjects and methods: this is a cross-sectional study conducted among 150 medical students in Alkindy College of Medicine between January 2021 to July 2021, regardless of their age or gender. The study included six grades according to the year 2020-2021. A questionnaire consisting of 12 multiple-choice questions was conducted via an online survey using Google Forms. The questions were divided into two parts
... Show MorePhytoremediation is one of the methods to remove various types of pollutants from water and soil using plants. Salvinia molesta, an aquatic plant, is chosen in this study to determine its ability to degrade diesel as the pollutant in synthetic wastewater with different diesel concentrations (0, 8,700, 17,400, and 26,100 mg/L) for 14 days. Total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) has been used as an indicator to represent diesel concentration variation in wastewater. Degradation of TPH was 85.1% for diesel concentration of 8,700 mg/L, compared with only 53.9% in the corresponding control without plant. While, acute toxicity on S. molesta exposed in diesel concentrations of 17,400 and 26,100 mg/L was observed and eventually had
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