Latest news with #environmentalPollution
Mail & Guardian
09-07-2025
- Health
- Mail & Guardian
Microplastics act as ‘rafts', increasing the threat to environmental and public health
African countries, including South Africa, have limited waste infrastructure and uneven water treatment systems, which exacerbates the problem of antibiotic resistance. Photo: Sustainable Seas Trust While antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is commonly linked to the overuse of antibiotics in hospitals and animal farming, an environmental contributor is increasingly coming into focus: microplastics. These small plastic particles, typically less than 5mm in diameter, are increasingly recognised not only as environmental pollutants but also as active vectors in the evolution and dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Although the crisis is unfolding worldwide, low- and middle-income countries are especially vulnerable because of limited infrastructure and inadequate waste management systems. A perfect storm for AMR These plastic surfaces create ideal conditions for the formation of microbial communities known as biofilms. Within these clusters, bacteria can exchange genetic material more efficiently, including antimicrobial resistance genes. Moreover, microplastics tend to adsorb antibiotics and heavy metals from their surroundings, increasing the selective pressure that favors resistant bacteria. As a result, microplastics are transforming natural ecosystems into incubators of resistance. And these resistant bacteria do not remain confined. They can spread through water, air, food, and even within the human body. A global crisis with local vulnerabilities According to recent estimates, One illustrative example is the Further south, South Africa presents a particularly telling case. Despite being one of the continent's most developed countries, its waste management infrastructure continues to face serious problems. A 2024 study conducted in Health systems on the front line The African continent bears a high burden of infectious diseases, many of which are still treated with older, widely available antibiotics. If AMR continues to spread unchecked, the consequences will be severe. This includes not only loss of human life but also increased pressure on already fragile healthcare systems. Microplastics are complicating efforts to control resistant infections in ways that are not yet fully understood or reflected in current policies. Environmental reservoirs of resistance are rarely included in surveillance systems, and when they are, microplastics are often overlooked as a contributing factor. Towards sustainable solutions Addressing this complex and interconnected crisis requires action on multiple fronts. First, it is essential to reduce plastic production and improve waste management, especially in urban areas. Policies such as bans on single-use plastics and incentives for recycling can make a meaningful difference, provided they are properly implemented and enforced. Second, environmental monitoring systems should begin to include both microplastics and antimicrobial resistance genes as indicators of ecosystem health. This would allow policymakers to detect hotspots and take action before resistance spreads further. Third, the scientific community must broaden its focus. Although most research on AMR has concentrated on clinical and agricultural settings, the environment must now be recognised as a critical front. This shift requires interdisciplinary collaboration among microbiologists, environmental scientists, engineers, and public health professionals. Encouragingly, several promising innovations are emerging. Nature-based solutions such as constructed wetlands, which use plants and microorganisms to clean wastewater, have shown potential to reduce both microplastic pollution and the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance genes. These systems are cost-effective, adaptable, and well suited to the needs of many African regions. The role of public awareness Perhaps most importantly, we must acknowledge that this is not solely a scientific matter. It is also a social and political issue. People need to be involved in and empowered to reduce plastic consumption, demand improved sanitation, and understand the connections between environmental pollution and human health. Educational campaigns, particularly those aimed at young people and urban populations, can help shift behaviours and build public momentum for change. Public interest media play a vital role in making these connections visible and accessible to the broader public. Dr Jose L Balcazar is Senior microbiologist at the Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA), Spain. His research explores the mechanisms and factors that promote antimicrobial resistance.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
This airborne toxin was discovered in the US for the first time
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, BGR may receive an affiliate commission. A new study from researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder included a shocking revelation. According to this new paper, published in ACS Environmental Au, researchers detected an unexpected airborne toxin in US air for the first time. The toxins in question are known as Medium Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (MCCPs). These toxins are considered toxic organic pollutants, and this is the first time they've been discovered in the air in the Western Hemisphere. The reason these toxins are considered organic is because they tend to be found around wastewater. Today's Top Deals Best deals: Tech, laptops, TVs, and more sales Best Ring Video Doorbell deals Memorial Day security camera deals: Reolink's unbeatable sale has prices from $29.98 As a result, these airborne toxins can end up being released when wastewater is removed from liquid in a treatment plant. It can also end up in biosolid fertilizer, which is likely the reason that the researchers detected it, as they were set up near fields that utilize the fertilizer to help grow its crops. The researchers say they can't guarantee that is where the toxins came from. However, they believe that it is a reasonable explanation for why the MCCPs are ending up in the air. Because as the 'sewage sludges,' which is how the researchers referred to the biosolid fertilizers, are spread across the fields, the toxins could very easily be released into the air. The smaller cousins of these airborne toxins, known as Short Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (SCCPs), are currently policed by the Stockholm Convention, and the EPA in the United States since 2009, though it's unclear how much longer the EPA will continue to police these types of toxins following massive changes under the Trump administration. The toxins are known to travel long distances and remain in the atmosphere for long periods of time, making them harmful to human health. The researchers believe that by regulating the SCCPs, though, we may have inadvertently increased the amount of MCCPs in the environment. It is currently just a hypothesis, but the researchers note that regulating one thing often ends up with another product filling that space, as the item is still needed in products where it was useful. The researchers detailed their findings in the new study, highlighting that they measured the air near the fields 24 hours a day for one month. They found that there were new patterns that looked different from the standard chemical compounds found in the fertilizer. With some additional research, they discovered they were airborne toxins known as chlorinated paraffins. MCCPs are similar in makeup to PFAS, which are often known as 'forever chemicals' because of how long they take to break down. Now that researchers have measured MCCPs in the wild, it's time to dig deeper and see just how widespread the toxins have spread, and whether or not the concentration within the air changes each season. The researchers say that despite identifying them and knowing they exist, we still don't know much about what MCCPs do when in the atmosphere, or even how they might affect human health long-term. More research will be needed to figure out just how dangerous these airborne toxins are. More Top Deals Amazon gift card deals, offers & coupons 2025: Get $2,000+ free See the
Zawya
15-06-2025
- General
- Zawya
Eritrea: Workshop on Reducing Environmental Pollution
A workshop aimed at addressing health problems affecting humans and livestock, as well as environmental pollution caused by unsafe waste management and plastic use, was conducted on 13 June in Barentu, Gash Barka Region. Mr. Abubeker Osman, Director General of Agriculture and Land in the region, stated that although directives have been issued at the national level to mitigate the impact of plastic use on the environment, plastic products are still widely used by the public. He noted that the workshop aimed to review the measures taken so far and to discuss further actions needed to ensure environmental safety. Mr. Abraha Gebreamlak, head of the Agriculture branch, provided an extensive briefing on environmental resources, their benefits, and the challenges related to solid and liquid waste management. He highlighted the coordinated efforts in areas such as Teseney and Akordet, where administrations and communities are working together to eliminate hazardous wastes, including plastic. He stressed the need to implement the existing national guidelines. Ambassador Mahmud Ali Hirui, Governor of the region, emphasized that environmental pollution caused by plastic is becoming increasingly alarming. He called for the establishment of a committee involving all administrations and relevant institutions to assess current waste management practices and plastic use, and to propose concrete measures for improvement. Participants conducted extensive discussions on the issues raised during the workshop and adopted various recommendations. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.
Zawya
26-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Libya says oil leak occurs in pipeline south of Zawiya city
An oil leak forced the shutdown of a pipeline south of Libya's city of Zawiya, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) said on Saturday. Zawiya, 40 km (25 miles) west of the capital Tripoli, is home to Libya's biggest functioning refinery, with a capacity of 120,000 barrels per day. The refinery is connected to the country's 300,000-barrels-per-day Sharara oilfield. The NOC posted a picture showing a stream of leaked oil in the desert. Flow from the Hamada oilfields through the affected pipeline was immediately halted, the company said in a statement. "In parallel with the maintenance work, a team of specialists is conducting an investigation to determine the causes of the leak. Arrangements and coordination are also underway to recover the leaked oil and address any resulting environmental pollution," the company added. (Reporting by Ayman Al-Warfali and Ahmed Elumami; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and David Gregorio)
Arab News
24-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Libya says oil leak occurs in pipeline south of Zawiya city
An oil leak forced the shutdown of a pipeline south of Libya's city of Zawiya, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) said on Saturday. Zawiya, 40 km (25 miles) west of the capital Tripoli, is home to Libya's biggest functioning refinery, with a capacity of 120,000 barrels per day. The refinery is connected to the country's 300,000-barrels-per-day Sharara oilfield. The NOC posted a picture showing a stream of leaked oil in the desert. Flow from the Hamada oilfields through the affected pipeline was immediately halted, the company said in a statement. "In parallel with the maintenance work, a team of specialists is conducting an investigation to determine the causes of the leak. Arrangements and coordination are also underway to recover the leaked oil and address any resulting environmental pollution," the company added.
