Sarva Mangala Praveena | UPM - Universiti Putra Malaysia (original) (raw)

Papers by Sarva Mangala Praveena

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2022

Introduction: : In Malaysia, various environmental projects have been introduced in schools to in... more Introduction: : In Malaysia, various environmental projects have been introduced in schools to increase environmental awareness among school children. However, limited quantitative information of these environmental education projects to increase school children awareness. Objective: This study aims to assess the awareness (knowledge, attitude, and practices) level of water conservation initiatives in a primary school in Melaka (Malaysia). Associations between knowledge, attitude, and practices of water conservation were also assessed among the school children. Methods: : In this study, a total of 151 school children from Convent Infant Jesus (1) Primary School in Melaka (Malaysia) have involved as respondents in a questionnaire survey. Questionnaire survey was utilized to obtained information on knowledge, attitude and practice of water conservation awareness among primary school children. Results: The results indicate that only 33.8% of the school children had good knowledge of water conservation. Meanwhile, 43% of the school children had good attitude towards water conservation awareness. A total of 74.8% of good practices among the school children indicate that they were willing to implement ways to conserve water in school and at home. Weak significant positive linear correlations for knowledge and attitude, knowledge and practices, and attitude and practices were observed among school children in terms of water conservation. Conclusion: Quantitative knowledge, attitude and practices information obtained from this study will be translated in the development of suitable water conservation education module for school children to increase their awareness.

Water Conservation & Management

Water resources are rapidly declining in Malaysia due to various challenges such as climate chang... more Water resources are rapidly declining in Malaysia due to various challenges such as climate change, pollution, urbanisation, and high-water domestic consumption. On the other hand, water conservation initiatives in Malaysia are mainly concentrated in commercial and residential buildings while public buildings such as schools have been underutilized. Water conservation initiatives in Malaysian schools are seen to be able to conserve a significant amount of water and manage water supply responsibly, given the high annual rainfall received throughout the year and the huge rooftop catchment area. Thus, this study aims to assess the performance and sustainability assessment of water conservation initiative in Convent Infant Jesus (1) Primary School in Malacca (Malaysia). Water footprint findings demonstrated lavatory usage accounted for nearly 60% of overall water consumption in the selected primary school. The rainwater harvesting system was selected as this method enables the use of a renewable source (rainwater) and it conveniently fit with the existing building rooftop and plumbing system to engender high sustainability potential. After several months of operation, the rainwater harvesting system at school lavatory has led to significant reductions between 24m 3 and 278m 3 of water use along with water bill saving of USD285. Sustainable assessment has indicated that all the six dimensions were well balanced with scores greater than 50% and continued improvements will increase the project's sustainability in the future. This water conservation initiative can be implemented in any school worldwide with a similar water footprint for significant water savings and sustainable water management.

This study examined the impacts of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the environment in ... more This study examined the impacts of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the environment in the Southeast Asia region using qualitative content analysis to analyze the textual data of published studies and other online references such as the organizational reports. Besides, the materiality assessment particularly the Global Reporting Initiative was conducted by analyzing short-and long-term impacts from the stakeholders' (local and regional policymakers) perspective. The positive effects of COVID-19 lockdown and movement restriction on the regional environment identified in this study included a reduction in air pollution, improvement of air and water quality, lower noise levels, and reduced land surface temperature. In contrast, the negative effects encompassed a rise in the use of plastics and the generation of medical waste in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Materiality assessment findings have offered insights on the need of stakeholders' importance for further to deal with huge amount of waste, inadequate waste management facilities and system, explore the effectiveness of such sustainable work and lifestyle changes, utilize real-time monitoring air quality data and future prediction responses for climate change mitigation and adaptation policies as well as consideration towards new green technologies for clean energy in each Southeast Asian country and at regional level. It is anticipated that this study will contribute towards a better understanding of the impacts of COVID-19 on environmental sustainability in the Southeast Asia region, particularly from the perspective of the stakeholders.

Indoor dust acts as a media for heavy metal deposition. Past studies have shown that heavy metal ... more Indoor dust acts as a media for heavy metal deposition. Past studies have shown that heavy metal concentration in indoor dust is affected by local human activities and atmospheric transport can have harmful effects on human health. Additionally, children are more sensitive to heavy metals due to their hand-to-mouth behaviour and rapid body development. However, limited information on health risks were found in past dust studies as these studies aimed to identify heavy metal concentrations and sources of indoor dust. The objective of this review is to discuss heavy metal concentration and sources influencing its concentration in indoor dust. Accordingly, high lead (Pb) concentration (639.10 μg/g) has been reported in heavy traffic areas. In addition, this review paper aims to estimate the health risk to children from heavy metals in indoor dust via multiple exposure pathways using the health-risk assessment (HRA). Urban areas and industrial sites have revealed high heavy metal concentration in comparison to rural areas. Hazard index (HI) values found in arsenic (As), chromium (Cr) and Pb were 21.30, 1.10 and 2.40, respectively, indicate that non-carcinogenic elements are found in children. Furthermore, most of the past studies have found that carcinogenic risks for As, cadmium (Cd), Cr and Pb were below the acceptable total lifetime cancer risk (TLCR) range (1 × 10 −6 –1 × 10 −4). The results of health risk assessment in this review show that carcinogenic risk exists among children. Hence, this proves that future studies need to focus on children's carcinogenic risk in indoor dust studies in order to find out the sources of heavy metals in indoor dust. This review highlights the importance of having the HRA application using bioavailable heavy metal concentration as it provides more accurate health-risk estimation. Moreover, this review is also useful as a reference for policy decision making in protecting children's health.

This study investigated the public health risk linked with microbial quality of drinking water fr... more This study investigated the public health risk linked with microbial quality of drinking water from vending machines in Seri Kembangan city (Malaysia) using epidemiological and Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) approaches. This study was also conducted to understand associations between reported health symptoms and daily water intake information. Following WHO guidelines on water safety, QMRA were performed was to estimate burden of disease from E. coli from water vending machines. Triplicate drinking water samples from water vending machines were collected from six sampling areas around the city, analysed for E. coli, information of health symptoms and daily water intake was obtained from 121 respondents by questionnaires. The results indicated the highest numbers of E. coli levels were found in Seri Serdang (45e68 CFU/100 mL) and Taman Pinggiran Putra (45e62 CFU/100 mL). Escherichia coli levels in drinking water samples from water vending machines obtained from Seri Ser-dang, Taman Pinggiran Putra, Taman Equine, Balakong and Serdang Jaya exceeded both Malaysian Drinking Water Quality and WHO Drinking Water Quality guidelines. Reported health symptoms were only significantly linked to brand which likely to be associated with regular maintenance of water vending machine. All the drinking water samples from water vending machines except from Lestari Perdana have exceeded the health based target outcomes by QMRA. Combination of epidemiology and quantitative microbial risk assessment have provided a clear understanding of public health risks and gateway for a better management of water vending machines.

This study aims to determine the status of potentially toxic element concentrations of road dust ... more This study aims to determine the status of potentially toxic element concentrations of road dust in a medium-sized city (Rawang,

This present study investigates Escherichia coli (E.coli) contamination to indicate beach sand qu... more This present study investigates Escherichia coli (E.coli) contamination to indicate beach sand quality along Port Dickson coastal area and perceived health risk symptoms among beachgoers. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analyses was used to understand the beach management framework in Port Dickson coastline. E. coli colonies in beach sand ranged from 60 cfu/100 g to 4113 cfu/100 g, the highest was found at Tanjung Gemuk and the lowest at Tanjung Tuan. This variation was due to location of the former at the sewage outlet of nearby hotels and dilution factor. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis output has highlighted the best match between environmental trends (opportunities and threats) and internal capabilities (strengths and weakness) which can be applied to beach management in Port Dickson coastline. Thus, identification and prioritization of future multidisciplinary studies is vital to fill in the knowledge gap and address sustainable performance towards beach management in Port Dickson coastline.

This study was designed to determine the particle size distribution and develop road dust index c... more This study was designed to determine the particle size distribution and develop road dust index combining source and transport factors involving road dust for dust pollution quantification in Rawang. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to identify possible sources of potentially toxic elements and spot major pollution areas in Rawang. The health risks (carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic) to adults and children were assessed using the hazard index and total lifetime cancer Risk, respectively. A total of 75 road dust samples were collected and particle sizes (1000, 500, 250, 160, 125 and 63 µm) were determined. Concentrations of potentially toxic elements (Cu, Cd, Co, Cr, Pb, Ni, Zn and As) in particle size of 63 µm were analyzed. The results demonstrated that the highest grain size of 250 µm has contributed almost more than 25% of atmospheric particulate pollution. The highest potentially toxic element concentration was Pb (593.3 mg/kg), whereas the lowest was Co (5.6 mg/kg). Road dust index output indicated that pollution risk fell into moderate levels in eastern and northern areas of Rawang. Similarly, PCA results revealed that potentially toxic elements (Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, Ni and Cr) were linked with anthropogenic sources (urbanization process, industrial and commercial growth, urban traffic congestion) in northern and southern parts of Rawang. Cobalt and As concentrations were explained mainly from natural sources. Noncarcinogenic risk by hazard index value more than 1.0 was indicated for adults and children. Similarly, carcinogenic risk by total lifetime cancer risk value also showed carcinogenic risks among adults and children.

Objective: This cross sectional study was to model the soil-plant transfer mechanism of Cd in fer... more Objective: This cross sectional study was to model the soil-plant transfer mechanism of Cd in fern leaves and the health risk associated. Method: A total of 29 fern leaves and soil were sampled from several locations in oil palm plantation and wet market in Pontian, Johor, between June to September 2015. Acid digestion method and Na2EDTA solution were used to digest the sample and the Cd concentration were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The soil-plant transfer mechanism was calculated by Transfer Factor quotient (TF) and human health risk was assessed by Target Hazard Quotient (THQ). Results: In general, Cd was higher in red fern leaves (2.26 ± 0.06 µg/kg) compared to the green fern (0.48 ± 0.10 µg/kg). Cd was also slightly higher in red fern sampling soil (3.32 ± 0.03 µg/kg) compared to green fern soil (2.87 ± 0.005 µg/kg) (Z=-2.402, p = 0.016). Cd in fern leaves and soil samples were within the acceptable range specified by the Malaysia Food Regulation 1985 (1 x 103 µg/kg) and the Dutch reference value (8 x 102 µg/kg). There was no significant correlation between Cd in soil with the fern leaves. Cd was highly accumulated in the roots of red fern leaves (0.71 ± 0.60 µg/k). The soil-plant transfer mechanism indicated that TF was high in root-soil (0.98 µg/kg) and shoot-soil (0.51 µg/kg) of red fern. The THQ demonstrated that the reference population was within the acceptable of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk.

In recent years, environmental concerns over ultra-trace levels of steroid estrogens concentratio... more In recent years, environmental concerns over ultra-trace levels of steroid estrogens concentrations in water samples have increased because of their adverse effects on human and animal life. Special attention to the analytical techniques used to quantify steroid estrogens in water samples is therefore increasingly important. The objective of this review was to present an overview of both instrumental and non-instrumental analytical techniques available for the determination of steroid estrogens in water samples, evidencing their respective potential advantages and limitations using the Need, Approach, Benefit, and Competition (NABC) approach. The analytical techniques highlighted in this review were instrumental and non-instrumental analytical techniques namely gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS), enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA), radio immuno assay (RIA), yeast estrogen screen (YES) assay, and human breast cancer cell line proliferation (E-screen) assay. The complexity of water samples and their low estrogenic concentrations necessitates the use of highly sensitive instrumental analytical techniques (GC-MS and LC-MS) and non-instrumental analytical techniques (ELISA, RIA, YES assay and E-screen assay) to quantify steroid estrogens. Both instrumental and non-instrumental analytical techniques have their own advantages and limitations. However, the non-instrumental ELISA analytical techniques, thanks to its lower detection limit and simplicity, its rapidity and cost-effectiveness, currently appears to be the most reliable for determining steroid estrogens in water samples.

Environment International, 2014

Keywords: 17α-ethynylestradiol EE2 Estrogen Estradiol Pollutants Biota 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2)... more Keywords: 17α-ethynylestradiol EE2 Estrogen Estradiol Pollutants Biota 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) is a synthetic hormone, which is a derivative of the natural hormone, estradiol (E2). EE2 is an orally bio-active estrogen, and is one of the most commonly used medications for humans as well as livestock and aquaculture activity. EE2 has become a widespread problem in the environment due to its high resistance to the process of degradation and its tendency to (i) absorb organic matter, (ii) accumulate in sediment and (iii) concentrate in biota. Numerous studies have reported the ability of EE2 to alter sex determination, delay sexual maturity, and decrease the secondary sexual characteristics of exposed organisms even at a low concentration (ng/L) by mimicking its natural analogue, 17β-estradiol (E2). Thus, the aim of this review is to provide an overview of the science regarding EE2, the concentration levels in the environment (water, sediment and biota) and summarize the effects of this compound on exposed biota at various concentrations, stage life, sex, and species. The challenges in respect of EE2 include the extension of the limited database on the EE2 pollution profile in the environment, its fate and transport mechanism, as well as the exposure level of EE2 for better prediction and definition revision of EE2 toxicity end points, notably for the purpose of environmental risk assessment.

Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2014

Abstract An attempt has been made to delineate the hydrochemistry for a small island based on the... more Abstract An attempt has been made to delineate the hydrochemistry for a small island based on the major ions and heavy metal concentrations. In this investigation, six sampling campaigns were conducted to measure the concentrations of major ions (Ca, Mg, Na, K, HCO 3, Cl, and SO 4) and heavy metals (Zn, Cr, Pb, Mn, As, and Cu) in groundwater samples collected from seven sampling stations (boreholes) located on Kapas Island, Terengganu, Malaysia. The distribution of major ions is illustrated by a piper plot where ...

Many cases of dermatologic complication were reported with the use of skin lightening products. T... more Many cases of dermatologic complication were reported with the use of skin lightening products. This study assessed the skin lightening practice and health symptoms among female students. Self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 104 female
students (56 undergraduates and 48 postgraduates) aged 24 ± 2 years in Universiti PutraMalaysia. A total of 60.6% (N = 63) of the
female students used skin lightening products (61.9% of undergraduates and 38.1% of postgraduates). Reasonable price (𝑁 = 35, 55.6%) and ingredients (𝑁 = 29, 46%) were considered the most important factors in the product selection. Most respondents
purchased the product from drugstores (𝑁 = 39, 61.9%). Twenty-two respondents (34.9%) in this study experienced skin problem from the products they used. Skin peeling (N = 13, 12.5%) and acne (N = 9, 8.7%) were the most frequent symptoms experienced.
Most of the respondents have the perception that lighter skin provides high self-esteem (N = 56, 53.8%) and looks beautiful and
healthier (N = 54, 51.9%).The use of skin lightening products is common among female students in this study and some of these products can cause skin problems such as skin peeling, acne, and itching.

Reviews on Environmental Health, 2014

Abstract Toenail is metabolic end product of the skin, which can provide information about heavy ... more Abstract Toenail is metabolic end product of the skin, which can provide information about heavy metal accumulation in human cells. Slow growth rates of toenail can represent heavy metal exposure from 2 to 12 months before the clipping. The toenail is a non-invasive biomarker that is easy to collect and store and is stable over time. In this systematic review, the suitability of toenail as a long-term biomarker was reviewed, along with the analysis and validation of toenail and confounders to heavy metal. This systematic review has included 30 articles chosen from a total of 132 articles searched from online electronic databases like Pubmed, Proquest, Science Direct, and SCOPUS. Keywords used in the search included "toenail", "biomarker", "heavy metal", and "drinking water". Heavy metal in toenail can be accurately analyzed using an ICP-MS instrument. The validation of toenail heavy metal concentration data is very crucial; however, the Certified Reference Material (CRM) for toenail is still unavailable. Usually, CRM for hair is used in toenail studies. Confounders that have major effects on heavy metal accumulation in toenail are dietary intake of food and supplement, smoking habit, and overall health condition. This review has identified the advantages and limitations of using toenail as a biomarker for long-term exposure, which can help future researchers design a study on heavy metal exposure using toenail.

Environmental Earth Sciences, 2014

ABSTRACT Urban areas with rapid industrial development have major impacts on environmental soil q... more ABSTRACT Urban areas with rapid industrial development have major impacts on environmental soil quality. This study was carried out to determine contamination assessment of heavy metal concentration of urban soil from Klang district (Malaysia). Health risk assessment was used to determine potential health risks (carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks) in both adults and children. Moreover, this study was also used to identify the most significant contaminant and exposure pathway with regard to Klang urban soil. Mean bioavailability of heavy metal concentrations were found in the order of Fe (6.65 mg/kg) > Zn (5.61 mg/kg) > Cu (2.96 mg/kg) > Co (0.22 mg/kg) > Cd (0.14 mg/kg) > Pb (0.11 mg/kg) > Cr (0.10 mg/kg). Maximum values of Cd (0.64 mg/kg), Cu (52.14 mg/kg) and Pb (9.18 mg/kg) have exceeded some guidelines and standard values. Study findings showed that total carcinogenic risks values of Cd, Cr and Pb are more than incremental lifetime (1.0E-05). This indicates the likehood of having cancer threat for adults and children. While for total non-carcinogenic risk, none of the heavy metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn) showed Hazard Index values more than one indicating there is no any potential non-carcinogenic risks for adults and children in study area. From this study, Cd is the most significant contaminant as maximum concentration value has exceeded soil guidelines and potential to have carcinogenic risks to adults and children. Pathway order for both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks is ingestion > dermal > inhalation where ingestion pathway contributed the most to potential health risks involving urban soil of Klang.

Reviews on Environmental Health, 2013

In vitro digestion models are currently being used to detect heavy metals in soil, foods, consume... more In vitro digestion models are currently being used to detect heavy metals in soil, foods, consumer products, and house dust. However, determining the bioavailability of heavy metals using such models has limited applications compared with total heavy metal determination. This paper provides an overview of current trends in the development and utilization of in vitro digestion models for soil, foods, consumer products and house dust, as well as information that can be used to develop in vitro digestion models. We found that these models are applied more on food samples than on other samples, and that in vitro digestion models can be used in exposure and health risk assessments, which help determine cancer and non-cancer risks. Thus, this review improves our understanding and provides suggestions for a health risk assessment application using in vitro digestion model outputs.

Reviews on Environmental Health, 2013

This article provides an overview of research on mercury (Hg) contamination in Malaysia and its e... more This article provides an overview of research on mercury (Hg) contamination in Malaysia and its evolution from 1979 to 2012. The objective of this paper was to review and provide an understanding of Hg exposures in the environment, humans, and food in Malaysia. Hg concentration in the environment is high in areas of West Port, Malacca Straits, Prai, and Johor because these areas receive anthropogenic metal loads brought about by industrial activities. Hg concentration in humans is related to seafood intake (dietary), environmental conditions, and different geographical locations. Hg levels in food showed higher concentration in the West coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Hg concentration is also present in the country's tropical fruits, which is related to agrochemical and fertilizer usage. This review showed that there is an urgent need to identify Hg toxicology and bioaccumulation as well as the health effects of Hg exposure in different ecological compartments. This review aims to provide helpful recommendations for future Hg biomonitoring and research in Malaysia.

BioMed Research International, 2014

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) concentrat... more A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in blood, urine, and drinking water as well as the health implications on 100 residents in an urban and a rural community. Results showed the blood As, urinary Cd, DNA damage, and water As and Cs were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in the rural community. Findings showed significant (P < 0.005) correlations between blood As and DNA damage with household income, years of residence, and total glasses of daily water consumption among the rural residents. The urinary NAG concentrations, years of residence, milk powder intake (glass/week), and seafood intake (per week) were significantly correlated (P < 0.005) with urinary Cd concentrations among respondents. In addition, urinary Cd level significantly influenced the urinary NAG concentrations (P < 0.001). The rural respondents experienced significantly higher lymphocyte DNA damage and blood As influenced by their years of residence and water consumption. The Cd in drinking water also resulted in the rural respondents having significantly higher urinary NAG which had a significant relationship with urinary Cd.

Heavy metals in urban soils are associated with direct and indirect human health risks. This stud... more Heavy metals in urban soils are associated with direct and indirect human health risks. This study examined bioavailability of heavy metal (Pb, Cd, Cr and As) in urban soil of Seri Kembangan (Malaysia) and their risks to human health. Bioavailability of heavy metal concentration (arsenic, lead, cadmium and chromium) were analysed by a simplified physiologically based extraction test. Both noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were assessed using health index and total lifetime cancer risk, respectively. Average concentrations of bioavailability heavy metal were found in the order of Pb (2668.8 mg/kg) > Cr (74 mg/kg) > Cd (47.5) > As (13.75 mg/kg). For non-cancer, average hazard index values of heavy metal order were Pb(1.27) > Cr(0.11) > Cd(0.05). For As, total cancer risk values of Seri Kembangan urban soil (7.2E-6) were lower than the tolerable lifetime cancer risk for regulatory purposes (1E-5). Ingestion pathway is the most contributed pathway for both cancer and non-cancer risks. Land use type is found to be the main contributor which influences heavy metal exposure corresponding to health risk assessment output. Industrial areas were found to have hazard index values were lesser than residential areas in Seri Kembangan urban soil. Location areas in Seri Kembangan as near major roads with large amount of traffics were found to be more higher with HI more than 1, indicating high heavy metal contamination in urban soil due to vehicular emissions. This study has showed that realistic estimation of human health risk of heavy metal contamination in urban soils needs combination of land use type with bioavailability heavy metal concentration.

The incorporation of silver nanoparticles into a range of low-cost materials as an antibacterial ... more The incorporation of silver nanoparticles into a range of low-cost materials as an antibacterial water filter treatment is a relatively new solution to drinking-water problems. This review discusses the use of potential low-cost materials (ceramic, polymeric, polyurethane, agricultural waste and fibre) by incorporating silver nanoparticles as an antibacterial water filter to remove Escherichia coli (E. coli). These low-cost materials have shown potential efficiency in the removal of E. coli, and the silver concentration in the effluent is below the permissible limits. Future perspectives and current knowledge gaps concerning low-cost materials incorporated with silver nanoparticles were also identified. The future perspectives (strengths and opportunities) of these low-cost materials include cost effectiveness, easy availability and consumption of minimal electricity. On the other hand, the knowledge gaps (threats and weaknesses) of these low-cost materials include the depletion of silver from the surface and the surface-coating technique. The potential risks to human health due to silver nanoparticles are still unclear and need more sensitive detection equipment and methods. Nevertheless, this review helps us determine the potential of low-cost materials incorporated with silver nanoparticles to treat microbial-contaminated drinking water, especially in developing and poor countries.

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2022

Introduction: : In Malaysia, various environmental projects have been introduced in schools to in... more Introduction: : In Malaysia, various environmental projects have been introduced in schools to increase environmental awareness among school children. However, limited quantitative information of these environmental education projects to increase school children awareness. Objective: This study aims to assess the awareness (knowledge, attitude, and practices) level of water conservation initiatives in a primary school in Melaka (Malaysia). Associations between knowledge, attitude, and practices of water conservation were also assessed among the school children. Methods: : In this study, a total of 151 school children from Convent Infant Jesus (1) Primary School in Melaka (Malaysia) have involved as respondents in a questionnaire survey. Questionnaire survey was utilized to obtained information on knowledge, attitude and practice of water conservation awareness among primary school children. Results: The results indicate that only 33.8% of the school children had good knowledge of water conservation. Meanwhile, 43% of the school children had good attitude towards water conservation awareness. A total of 74.8% of good practices among the school children indicate that they were willing to implement ways to conserve water in school and at home. Weak significant positive linear correlations for knowledge and attitude, knowledge and practices, and attitude and practices were observed among school children in terms of water conservation. Conclusion: Quantitative knowledge, attitude and practices information obtained from this study will be translated in the development of suitable water conservation education module for school children to increase their awareness.

Water Conservation & Management

Water resources are rapidly declining in Malaysia due to various challenges such as climate chang... more Water resources are rapidly declining in Malaysia due to various challenges such as climate change, pollution, urbanisation, and high-water domestic consumption. On the other hand, water conservation initiatives in Malaysia are mainly concentrated in commercial and residential buildings while public buildings such as schools have been underutilized. Water conservation initiatives in Malaysian schools are seen to be able to conserve a significant amount of water and manage water supply responsibly, given the high annual rainfall received throughout the year and the huge rooftop catchment area. Thus, this study aims to assess the performance and sustainability assessment of water conservation initiative in Convent Infant Jesus (1) Primary School in Malacca (Malaysia). Water footprint findings demonstrated lavatory usage accounted for nearly 60% of overall water consumption in the selected primary school. The rainwater harvesting system was selected as this method enables the use of a renewable source (rainwater) and it conveniently fit with the existing building rooftop and plumbing system to engender high sustainability potential. After several months of operation, the rainwater harvesting system at school lavatory has led to significant reductions between 24m 3 and 278m 3 of water use along with water bill saving of USD285. Sustainable assessment has indicated that all the six dimensions were well balanced with scores greater than 50% and continued improvements will increase the project's sustainability in the future. This water conservation initiative can be implemented in any school worldwide with a similar water footprint for significant water savings and sustainable water management.

This study examined the impacts of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the environment in ... more This study examined the impacts of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the environment in the Southeast Asia region using qualitative content analysis to analyze the textual data of published studies and other online references such as the organizational reports. Besides, the materiality assessment particularly the Global Reporting Initiative was conducted by analyzing short-and long-term impacts from the stakeholders' (local and regional policymakers) perspective. The positive effects of COVID-19 lockdown and movement restriction on the regional environment identified in this study included a reduction in air pollution, improvement of air and water quality, lower noise levels, and reduced land surface temperature. In contrast, the negative effects encompassed a rise in the use of plastics and the generation of medical waste in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Materiality assessment findings have offered insights on the need of stakeholders' importance for further to deal with huge amount of waste, inadequate waste management facilities and system, explore the effectiveness of such sustainable work and lifestyle changes, utilize real-time monitoring air quality data and future prediction responses for climate change mitigation and adaptation policies as well as consideration towards new green technologies for clean energy in each Southeast Asian country and at regional level. It is anticipated that this study will contribute towards a better understanding of the impacts of COVID-19 on environmental sustainability in the Southeast Asia region, particularly from the perspective of the stakeholders.

Indoor dust acts as a media for heavy metal deposition. Past studies have shown that heavy metal ... more Indoor dust acts as a media for heavy metal deposition. Past studies have shown that heavy metal concentration in indoor dust is affected by local human activities and atmospheric transport can have harmful effects on human health. Additionally, children are more sensitive to heavy metals due to their hand-to-mouth behaviour and rapid body development. However, limited information on health risks were found in past dust studies as these studies aimed to identify heavy metal concentrations and sources of indoor dust. The objective of this review is to discuss heavy metal concentration and sources influencing its concentration in indoor dust. Accordingly, high lead (Pb) concentration (639.10 μg/g) has been reported in heavy traffic areas. In addition, this review paper aims to estimate the health risk to children from heavy metals in indoor dust via multiple exposure pathways using the health-risk assessment (HRA). Urban areas and industrial sites have revealed high heavy metal concentration in comparison to rural areas. Hazard index (HI) values found in arsenic (As), chromium (Cr) and Pb were 21.30, 1.10 and 2.40, respectively, indicate that non-carcinogenic elements are found in children. Furthermore, most of the past studies have found that carcinogenic risks for As, cadmium (Cd), Cr and Pb were below the acceptable total lifetime cancer risk (TLCR) range (1 × 10 −6 –1 × 10 −4). The results of health risk assessment in this review show that carcinogenic risk exists among children. Hence, this proves that future studies need to focus on children's carcinogenic risk in indoor dust studies in order to find out the sources of heavy metals in indoor dust. This review highlights the importance of having the HRA application using bioavailable heavy metal concentration as it provides more accurate health-risk estimation. Moreover, this review is also useful as a reference for policy decision making in protecting children's health.

This study investigated the public health risk linked with microbial quality of drinking water fr... more This study investigated the public health risk linked with microbial quality of drinking water from vending machines in Seri Kembangan city (Malaysia) using epidemiological and Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) approaches. This study was also conducted to understand associations between reported health symptoms and daily water intake information. Following WHO guidelines on water safety, QMRA were performed was to estimate burden of disease from E. coli from water vending machines. Triplicate drinking water samples from water vending machines were collected from six sampling areas around the city, analysed for E. coli, information of health symptoms and daily water intake was obtained from 121 respondents by questionnaires. The results indicated the highest numbers of E. coli levels were found in Seri Serdang (45e68 CFU/100 mL) and Taman Pinggiran Putra (45e62 CFU/100 mL). Escherichia coli levels in drinking water samples from water vending machines obtained from Seri Ser-dang, Taman Pinggiran Putra, Taman Equine, Balakong and Serdang Jaya exceeded both Malaysian Drinking Water Quality and WHO Drinking Water Quality guidelines. Reported health symptoms were only significantly linked to brand which likely to be associated with regular maintenance of water vending machine. All the drinking water samples from water vending machines except from Lestari Perdana have exceeded the health based target outcomes by QMRA. Combination of epidemiology and quantitative microbial risk assessment have provided a clear understanding of public health risks and gateway for a better management of water vending machines.

This study aims to determine the status of potentially toxic element concentrations of road dust ... more This study aims to determine the status of potentially toxic element concentrations of road dust in a medium-sized city (Rawang,

This present study investigates Escherichia coli (E.coli) contamination to indicate beach sand qu... more This present study investigates Escherichia coli (E.coli) contamination to indicate beach sand quality along Port Dickson coastal area and perceived health risk symptoms among beachgoers. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analyses was used to understand the beach management framework in Port Dickson coastline. E. coli colonies in beach sand ranged from 60 cfu/100 g to 4113 cfu/100 g, the highest was found at Tanjung Gemuk and the lowest at Tanjung Tuan. This variation was due to location of the former at the sewage outlet of nearby hotels and dilution factor. Strength, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis output has highlighted the best match between environmental trends (opportunities and threats) and internal capabilities (strengths and weakness) which can be applied to beach management in Port Dickson coastline. Thus, identification and prioritization of future multidisciplinary studies is vital to fill in the knowledge gap and address sustainable performance towards beach management in Port Dickson coastline.

This study was designed to determine the particle size distribution and develop road dust index c... more This study was designed to determine the particle size distribution and develop road dust index combining source and transport factors involving road dust for dust pollution quantification in Rawang. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to identify possible sources of potentially toxic elements and spot major pollution areas in Rawang. The health risks (carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic) to adults and children were assessed using the hazard index and total lifetime cancer Risk, respectively. A total of 75 road dust samples were collected and particle sizes (1000, 500, 250, 160, 125 and 63 µm) were determined. Concentrations of potentially toxic elements (Cu, Cd, Co, Cr, Pb, Ni, Zn and As) in particle size of 63 µm were analyzed. The results demonstrated that the highest grain size of 250 µm has contributed almost more than 25% of atmospheric particulate pollution. The highest potentially toxic element concentration was Pb (593.3 mg/kg), whereas the lowest was Co (5.6 mg/kg). Road dust index output indicated that pollution risk fell into moderate levels in eastern and northern areas of Rawang. Similarly, PCA results revealed that potentially toxic elements (Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, Ni and Cr) were linked with anthropogenic sources (urbanization process, industrial and commercial growth, urban traffic congestion) in northern and southern parts of Rawang. Cobalt and As concentrations were explained mainly from natural sources. Noncarcinogenic risk by hazard index value more than 1.0 was indicated for adults and children. Similarly, carcinogenic risk by total lifetime cancer risk value also showed carcinogenic risks among adults and children.

Objective: This cross sectional study was to model the soil-plant transfer mechanism of Cd in fer... more Objective: This cross sectional study was to model the soil-plant transfer mechanism of Cd in fern leaves and the health risk associated. Method: A total of 29 fern leaves and soil were sampled from several locations in oil palm plantation and wet market in Pontian, Johor, between June to September 2015. Acid digestion method and Na2EDTA solution were used to digest the sample and the Cd concentration were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The soil-plant transfer mechanism was calculated by Transfer Factor quotient (TF) and human health risk was assessed by Target Hazard Quotient (THQ). Results: In general, Cd was higher in red fern leaves (2.26 ± 0.06 µg/kg) compared to the green fern (0.48 ± 0.10 µg/kg). Cd was also slightly higher in red fern sampling soil (3.32 ± 0.03 µg/kg) compared to green fern soil (2.87 ± 0.005 µg/kg) (Z=-2.402, p = 0.016). Cd in fern leaves and soil samples were within the acceptable range specified by the Malaysia Food Regulation 1985 (1 x 103 µg/kg) and the Dutch reference value (8 x 102 µg/kg). There was no significant correlation between Cd in soil with the fern leaves. Cd was highly accumulated in the roots of red fern leaves (0.71 ± 0.60 µg/k). The soil-plant transfer mechanism indicated that TF was high in root-soil (0.98 µg/kg) and shoot-soil (0.51 µg/kg) of red fern. The THQ demonstrated that the reference population was within the acceptable of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk.

In recent years, environmental concerns over ultra-trace levels of steroid estrogens concentratio... more In recent years, environmental concerns over ultra-trace levels of steroid estrogens concentrations in water samples have increased because of their adverse effects on human and animal life. Special attention to the analytical techniques used to quantify steroid estrogens in water samples is therefore increasingly important. The objective of this review was to present an overview of both instrumental and non-instrumental analytical techniques available for the determination of steroid estrogens in water samples, evidencing their respective potential advantages and limitations using the Need, Approach, Benefit, and Competition (NABC) approach. The analytical techniques highlighted in this review were instrumental and non-instrumental analytical techniques namely gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS), enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA), radio immuno assay (RIA), yeast estrogen screen (YES) assay, and human breast cancer cell line proliferation (E-screen) assay. The complexity of water samples and their low estrogenic concentrations necessitates the use of highly sensitive instrumental analytical techniques (GC-MS and LC-MS) and non-instrumental analytical techniques (ELISA, RIA, YES assay and E-screen assay) to quantify steroid estrogens. Both instrumental and non-instrumental analytical techniques have their own advantages and limitations. However, the non-instrumental ELISA analytical techniques, thanks to its lower detection limit and simplicity, its rapidity and cost-effectiveness, currently appears to be the most reliable for determining steroid estrogens in water samples.

Environment International, 2014

Keywords: 17α-ethynylestradiol EE2 Estrogen Estradiol Pollutants Biota 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2)... more Keywords: 17α-ethynylestradiol EE2 Estrogen Estradiol Pollutants Biota 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) is a synthetic hormone, which is a derivative of the natural hormone, estradiol (E2). EE2 is an orally bio-active estrogen, and is one of the most commonly used medications for humans as well as livestock and aquaculture activity. EE2 has become a widespread problem in the environment due to its high resistance to the process of degradation and its tendency to (i) absorb organic matter, (ii) accumulate in sediment and (iii) concentrate in biota. Numerous studies have reported the ability of EE2 to alter sex determination, delay sexual maturity, and decrease the secondary sexual characteristics of exposed organisms even at a low concentration (ng/L) by mimicking its natural analogue, 17β-estradiol (E2). Thus, the aim of this review is to provide an overview of the science regarding EE2, the concentration levels in the environment (water, sediment and biota) and summarize the effects of this compound on exposed biota at various concentrations, stage life, sex, and species. The challenges in respect of EE2 include the extension of the limited database on the EE2 pollution profile in the environment, its fate and transport mechanism, as well as the exposure level of EE2 for better prediction and definition revision of EE2 toxicity end points, notably for the purpose of environmental risk assessment.

Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2014

Abstract An attempt has been made to delineate the hydrochemistry for a small island based on the... more Abstract An attempt has been made to delineate the hydrochemistry for a small island based on the major ions and heavy metal concentrations. In this investigation, six sampling campaigns were conducted to measure the concentrations of major ions (Ca, Mg, Na, K, HCO 3, Cl, and SO 4) and heavy metals (Zn, Cr, Pb, Mn, As, and Cu) in groundwater samples collected from seven sampling stations (boreholes) located on Kapas Island, Terengganu, Malaysia. The distribution of major ions is illustrated by a piper plot where ...

Many cases of dermatologic complication were reported with the use of skin lightening products. T... more Many cases of dermatologic complication were reported with the use of skin lightening products. This study assessed the skin lightening practice and health symptoms among female students. Self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 104 female
students (56 undergraduates and 48 postgraduates) aged 24 ± 2 years in Universiti PutraMalaysia. A total of 60.6% (N = 63) of the
female students used skin lightening products (61.9% of undergraduates and 38.1% of postgraduates). Reasonable price (𝑁 = 35, 55.6%) and ingredients (𝑁 = 29, 46%) were considered the most important factors in the product selection. Most respondents
purchased the product from drugstores (𝑁 = 39, 61.9%). Twenty-two respondents (34.9%) in this study experienced skin problem from the products they used. Skin peeling (N = 13, 12.5%) and acne (N = 9, 8.7%) were the most frequent symptoms experienced.
Most of the respondents have the perception that lighter skin provides high self-esteem (N = 56, 53.8%) and looks beautiful and
healthier (N = 54, 51.9%).The use of skin lightening products is common among female students in this study and some of these products can cause skin problems such as skin peeling, acne, and itching.

Reviews on Environmental Health, 2014

Abstract Toenail is metabolic end product of the skin, which can provide information about heavy ... more Abstract Toenail is metabolic end product of the skin, which can provide information about heavy metal accumulation in human cells. Slow growth rates of toenail can represent heavy metal exposure from 2 to 12 months before the clipping. The toenail is a non-invasive biomarker that is easy to collect and store and is stable over time. In this systematic review, the suitability of toenail as a long-term biomarker was reviewed, along with the analysis and validation of toenail and confounders to heavy metal. This systematic review has included 30 articles chosen from a total of 132 articles searched from online electronic databases like Pubmed, Proquest, Science Direct, and SCOPUS. Keywords used in the search included "toenail", "biomarker", "heavy metal", and "drinking water". Heavy metal in toenail can be accurately analyzed using an ICP-MS instrument. The validation of toenail heavy metal concentration data is very crucial; however, the Certified Reference Material (CRM) for toenail is still unavailable. Usually, CRM for hair is used in toenail studies. Confounders that have major effects on heavy metal accumulation in toenail are dietary intake of food and supplement, smoking habit, and overall health condition. This review has identified the advantages and limitations of using toenail as a biomarker for long-term exposure, which can help future researchers design a study on heavy metal exposure using toenail.

Environmental Earth Sciences, 2014

ABSTRACT Urban areas with rapid industrial development have major impacts on environmental soil q... more ABSTRACT Urban areas with rapid industrial development have major impacts on environmental soil quality. This study was carried out to determine contamination assessment of heavy metal concentration of urban soil from Klang district (Malaysia). Health risk assessment was used to determine potential health risks (carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks) in both adults and children. Moreover, this study was also used to identify the most significant contaminant and exposure pathway with regard to Klang urban soil. Mean bioavailability of heavy metal concentrations were found in the order of Fe (6.65 mg/kg) > Zn (5.61 mg/kg) > Cu (2.96 mg/kg) > Co (0.22 mg/kg) > Cd (0.14 mg/kg) > Pb (0.11 mg/kg) > Cr (0.10 mg/kg). Maximum values of Cd (0.64 mg/kg), Cu (52.14 mg/kg) and Pb (9.18 mg/kg) have exceeded some guidelines and standard values. Study findings showed that total carcinogenic risks values of Cd, Cr and Pb are more than incremental lifetime (1.0E-05). This indicates the likehood of having cancer threat for adults and children. While for total non-carcinogenic risk, none of the heavy metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn) showed Hazard Index values more than one indicating there is no any potential non-carcinogenic risks for adults and children in study area. From this study, Cd is the most significant contaminant as maximum concentration value has exceeded soil guidelines and potential to have carcinogenic risks to adults and children. Pathway order for both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks is ingestion > dermal > inhalation where ingestion pathway contributed the most to potential health risks involving urban soil of Klang.

Reviews on Environmental Health, 2013

In vitro digestion models are currently being used to detect heavy metals in soil, foods, consume... more In vitro digestion models are currently being used to detect heavy metals in soil, foods, consumer products, and house dust. However, determining the bioavailability of heavy metals using such models has limited applications compared with total heavy metal determination. This paper provides an overview of current trends in the development and utilization of in vitro digestion models for soil, foods, consumer products and house dust, as well as information that can be used to develop in vitro digestion models. We found that these models are applied more on food samples than on other samples, and that in vitro digestion models can be used in exposure and health risk assessments, which help determine cancer and non-cancer risks. Thus, this review improves our understanding and provides suggestions for a health risk assessment application using in vitro digestion model outputs.

Reviews on Environmental Health, 2013

This article provides an overview of research on mercury (Hg) contamination in Malaysia and its e... more This article provides an overview of research on mercury (Hg) contamination in Malaysia and its evolution from 1979 to 2012. The objective of this paper was to review and provide an understanding of Hg exposures in the environment, humans, and food in Malaysia. Hg concentration in the environment is high in areas of West Port, Malacca Straits, Prai, and Johor because these areas receive anthropogenic metal loads brought about by industrial activities. Hg concentration in humans is related to seafood intake (dietary), environmental conditions, and different geographical locations. Hg levels in food showed higher concentration in the West coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Hg concentration is also present in the country's tropical fruits, which is related to agrochemical and fertilizer usage. This review showed that there is an urgent need to identify Hg toxicology and bioaccumulation as well as the health effects of Hg exposure in different ecological compartments. This review aims to provide helpful recommendations for future Hg biomonitoring and research in Malaysia.

BioMed Research International, 2014

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) concentrat... more A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in blood, urine, and drinking water as well as the health implications on 100 residents in an urban and a rural community. Results showed the blood As, urinary Cd, DNA damage, and water As and Cs were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in the rural community. Findings showed significant (P < 0.005) correlations between blood As and DNA damage with household income, years of residence, and total glasses of daily water consumption among the rural residents. The urinary NAG concentrations, years of residence, milk powder intake (glass/week), and seafood intake (per week) were significantly correlated (P < 0.005) with urinary Cd concentrations among respondents. In addition, urinary Cd level significantly influenced the urinary NAG concentrations (P < 0.001). The rural respondents experienced significantly higher lymphocyte DNA damage and blood As influenced by their years of residence and water consumption. The Cd in drinking water also resulted in the rural respondents having significantly higher urinary NAG which had a significant relationship with urinary Cd.

Heavy metals in urban soils are associated with direct and indirect human health risks. This stud... more Heavy metals in urban soils are associated with direct and indirect human health risks. This study examined bioavailability of heavy metal (Pb, Cd, Cr and As) in urban soil of Seri Kembangan (Malaysia) and their risks to human health. Bioavailability of heavy metal concentration (arsenic, lead, cadmium and chromium) were analysed by a simplified physiologically based extraction test. Both noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were assessed using health index and total lifetime cancer risk, respectively. Average concentrations of bioavailability heavy metal were found in the order of Pb (2668.8 mg/kg) > Cr (74 mg/kg) > Cd (47.5) > As (13.75 mg/kg). For non-cancer, average hazard index values of heavy metal order were Pb(1.27) > Cr(0.11) > Cd(0.05). For As, total cancer risk values of Seri Kembangan urban soil (7.2E-6) were lower than the tolerable lifetime cancer risk for regulatory purposes (1E-5). Ingestion pathway is the most contributed pathway for both cancer and non-cancer risks. Land use type is found to be the main contributor which influences heavy metal exposure corresponding to health risk assessment output. Industrial areas were found to have hazard index values were lesser than residential areas in Seri Kembangan urban soil. Location areas in Seri Kembangan as near major roads with large amount of traffics were found to be more higher with HI more than 1, indicating high heavy metal contamination in urban soil due to vehicular emissions. This study has showed that realistic estimation of human health risk of heavy metal contamination in urban soils needs combination of land use type with bioavailability heavy metal concentration.

The incorporation of silver nanoparticles into a range of low-cost materials as an antibacterial ... more The incorporation of silver nanoparticles into a range of low-cost materials as an antibacterial water filter treatment is a relatively new solution to drinking-water problems. This review discusses the use of potential low-cost materials (ceramic, polymeric, polyurethane, agricultural waste and fibre) by incorporating silver nanoparticles as an antibacterial water filter to remove Escherichia coli (E. coli). These low-cost materials have shown potential efficiency in the removal of E. coli, and the silver concentration in the effluent is below the permissible limits. Future perspectives and current knowledge gaps concerning low-cost materials incorporated with silver nanoparticles were also identified. The future perspectives (strengths and opportunities) of these low-cost materials include cost effectiveness, easy availability and consumption of minimal electricity. On the other hand, the knowledge gaps (threats and weaknesses) of these low-cost materials include the depletion of silver from the surface and the surface-coating technique. The potential risks to human health due to silver nanoparticles are still unclear and need more sensitive detection equipment and methods. Nevertheless, this review helps us determine the potential of low-cost materials incorporated with silver nanoparticles to treat microbial-contaminated drinking water, especially in developing and poor countries.