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Unmanaged plastic waste significantly increases dengue burden
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Trash that piles up instead of getting properly disposed of—especially plastic containers and litter—can collect rainwater and become breeding grounds for the mosquitoes that spread dengue fever. Researchers found that areas with more mismanaged plastic waste had a measurably higher dengue burden, suggesting that better trash collection and disposal could be a practical tool for fighting this disease. This matters because dengue already infects millions of people yearly, and tackling plastic pollution might offer a two-for-one benefit: a cleaner environment and fewer mosquito-borne infections.
Plastic pollution is increasingly recognized as a global environmental challenge, yet its role as a measurable driver of infectious disease risk remains poorly quantified. We developed a material-specific extension of the WHO-recommended Breteau Index (BI) that incorporated discarded waste into r...
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Prediksi Pengaruh Implementasi Kegiatan Pemberantasan Sarang Nyamuk (PSN) Terhadap Kejadian DBD
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This case-control study found that the practice of eradicating mosquito breeding sites (PSN) through draining stagnant water, covering water containers, and burying waste was the most influential factor in reducing dengue hemorrhagic fever incidence in East Jakarta. Households that consistently practiced PSN had significantly lower rates of dengue infection. While focused on vector-borne disease prevention, the study's emphasis on proper waste burial and environmental management connects to broader waste management practices that also affect microplastic distribution in the environment.
Plastic pollution and infectious diseases
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Researchers reviewed how plastic pollution contributes to the spread of infectious diseases. The study suggests that plastic debris holding water can encourage arthropod-borne diseases by providing habitats for disease vectors, and that microplastic and nanoplastic particles may also interact with pathogens in ways that affect disease transmission in both humans and livestock.
Characterization of microplastics found in mosquito oviposition habitats
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Researchers found microplastics in 36 potential mosquito breeding sites in Texas, with higher concentrations in artificial containers and tires than in natural water bodies. Fragments and fibers were the most common forms, and scanning electron microscopy revealed microbial biofilms forming on the plastic surfaces. This study raises a novel concern: microplastic pollution in standing water may interact with mosquito biology and breeding, potentially affecting disease transmission dynamics.
Plastic pollution reshapes snail intermediate host life history: implications for schistosomiasis transmission
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Plastic pollution in freshwater environments is making it easier for snails that carry a dangerous disease called schistosomiasis to survive and reproduce, which could lead to more people getting infected. This matters because schistosomiasis affects millions of people worldwide, and if plastic trash is helping the snails thrive, the disease could spread more easily in areas where people use contaminated water. Understanding this connection helps scientists predict disease outbreaks and develop better prevention strategies in communities that rely on rivers and lakes.
A perspective on the impacts of microplastics on mosquito biology and their vectorial capacity
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This perspective paper explored how microplastic pollution in aquatic environments could affect mosquito biology and their ability to transmit diseases. Researchers suggest that microplastics in the water where mosquito larvae develop could influence their growth, survival, and potentially their capacity to carry pathogens, representing an understudied intersection between plastic pollution and public health.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.