Papers

New approach into human health risk assessment associated with heavy metals in surface water and groundwater using Monte Carlo Method

Researchers used statistical modeling and Monte Carlo simulations to assess cancer and non-cancer health risks from heavy metals in water sources across Egypt's northwestern desert, finding that lead, cadmium, and chromium posed significant carcinogenic risks to both adults and children. Children faced especially high risk from skin contact with contaminated water, highlighting an urgent need for advanced water treatment in the region.

Production, characterization and performance of green geopolymer modified with industrial by-products

Researchers developed and tested geopolymer pastes — an eco-friendly cement alternative — made from industrial waste materials like metakaolin and cement kiln dust, finding that specific mixtures achieved good strength and water absorption properties suitable for construction applications.

Environmental fate, toxicological impact, and advanced treatment approaches: Atrazine degradation and emphasises on circular economy strategy

Researchers reviewed how atrazine — a widely used weedkiller that persists long in soil and water — harms aquatic ecosystems, disrupts hormones in animals, and poses cancer risks to humans, while examining chemical, biological, and microbial methods for breaking it down. The study highlights circular economy approaches and life cycle analysis as promising frameworks for reducing atrazine's long-term environmental footprint.

Zeolitic imidazolate framework@hydrogen titanate nanotubes for efficient adsorption and catalytic oxidation of organic dyes and microplastics

Sustainable development goals for industry, innovation, and infrastructure: demolition waste incorporated with nanoplastic waste enhanced the physicomechanical properties of white cement paste composites

Researchers tested whether adding nanoplastic waste (tiny plastic particles) alongside ultrafine demolition rubble as partial substitutes in white cement could improve its physical properties. The combination enhanced mechanical strength and durability, suggesting that nanoplastic waste from pandemic-era PPE could be repurposed as a construction material additive rather than polluting soils and waterways.

Efficient dye removal from industrial wastewater using sustainable activated carbon and its polyamide nanocomposite derived from agricultural and industrial wastes in column systems

Researchers fabricated sustainable activated carbon and polyamide nanocomposites from agricultural and industrial waste for efficient dye removal from industrial wastewater using column adsorption systems.

Biochar Reduces Nanoplastics Uptake by Lettuce and Alleviates Its Toxicity to the Plant

Researchers tested whether biochar could reduce nanoplastic uptake by lettuce and found that iron-doped biochar was particularly effective, lowering nanoplastic concentrations in leaves by approximately 60%. Both regular and iron-doped biochar also helped alleviate nanoplastic-induced metabolic disturbances in the plants and partially restored soil enzyme activity.

Insight into the photodegradation and universal interactive products of 2,2′,4,4′–tetrabromodiphenyl ether on three microplastics

Researchers investigated the photodegradation of a brominated flame retardant (BDE-47) on three types of microplastics under sunlight, finding that aged polystyrene inhibited degradation through light shielding while aged polypropylene and polyethylene promoted it through reactive oxygen species generation.

Material limitations in blood storage bags: A critical review of packaging-induced deterioration

This review examines how the materials used in blood storage bags, primarily PVC plasticized with DEHP, contribute to the degradation of stored blood products. The study highlights that plasticizer leaching, poor gas barrier properties, and the generation of micro- and nanoplastics actively accelerate blood product deterioration, and argues for a shift toward active, intelligent preservation systems using alternative materials.

A comprehensive study on the fire resistance properties of ultra-fine ceramic waste-filled high alkaline white cement paste composites for progressing towards sustainability

Researchers partially replaced white cement with ultra-fine ceramic waste particles to create construction composites with improved durability, lower porosity, and better resistance to heat, while also reducing manufacturing costs and the environmental footprint of cement production. The results suggest that waste ceramic materials can serve as a sustainable additive to improve the performance of building materials.

Controlling Multi-Drug-Resistant Traits of Salmonella Obtained from Retail Poultry Shops Using Metal–Organic Framework (MOF) as a Novel Technique

Researchers tested metal-organic frameworks as novel antibacterial agents against multi-drug-resistant Salmonella strains isolated from retail poultry shops in Egypt. The study found that a copper-nickel-cobalt metal-organic framework showed superior antibacterial efficiency compared to simpler formulations, suggesting these engineered materials could serve as promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics for controlling resistant foodborne pathogens.

Silica Nanoparticle Acute Toxicity on Male Rattus norvegicus Domestica: Ethological Behavior, Hematological Disorders, Biochemical Analyses, Hepato-Renal Function, and Antioxidant-Immune Response

Researchers assessed the acute toxicity of silica nanoparticles in male rats, finding significant hematological disorders, liver and kidney damage, oxidative stress, and immune system disruption at higher doses after 24 and 96 hours of exposure.

Production and optimization of bioplastic (Polyhydroxybutyrate) from Bacillus cereus strain SH-02 using response surface methodology

Researchers optimized conditions for a bacterium called Bacillus cereus to produce polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) — a biodegradable plastic made naturally by bacteria — achieving high yields using a statistical optimization method called response surface methodology. PHB is a promising alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics because it breaks down in the environment, potentially reducing long-term microplastic accumulation.

Synthesis and Characterization of Heterocyclic Compounds from Indole Butanoic Acid: Comprehensive Evaluation of Antibacterial and Anticancer Activate

Researchers synthesized and characterized heterocyclic compounds derived from indole butyric acid, evaluating their biological activity including antimicrobial and anticancer properties. Several synthesized compounds showed notable inhibitory activity against target cell lines and microorganisms, supporting further development of indole-derived heterocycles as pharmaceutical candidates.

Microplastics Interactions with PFAS and Co-transport in the Soil

This chapter reviewed the interactions between microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soil, examining how these two persistent pollutants interact and co-transport through soil profiles. Their combined presence can amplify environmental risks by facilitating PFAS mobility and bioavailability beyond what either contaminant achieves independently.

Ecofriendly sustainable synthetized nano-composite for removal of heavy metals from aquatic environment

An eco-friendly nano-composite was synthesized and tested for removing heavy metals from aquatic environments, achieving high removal efficiencies for multiple metals through adsorption. The material was developed using sustainable synthesis methods and biomass-derived components, offering a greener alternative to conventional adsorbents for water treatment.

Catalytic pyrolysis of waste polypropylene using low-cost natural catalysts

Researchers tested three low-cost natural minerals — kaolin, hematite, and white sand — as catalysts for converting waste polypropylene plastic into fuel oil through a heating process called pyrolysis. Kaolin performed best, boosting oil yield to over 80% and producing higher-quality lighter oils at a cost of just $0.28 per kilogram, offering a cheap way to turn plastic waste into usable fuel.

Isolation and Characterization of Brucella spp., Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Plastic Degrading Bacteria in Al-Ahsa Region, Saudi Arabia

Two bacterial isolates identified as Brucella species were isolated from plastic-contaminated water in Saudi Arabia and demonstrated LDPE plastic degradation capacity of 8.1% and 18.85% weight reduction respectively over the study period, confirmed by FTIR and GC-MS analyses.

Periodic and quasi-periodic one-dimensional phononic crystal biosensor: a comprehensive study for optimum sensor design

This study comprehensively investigated periodic and quasi-periodic one-dimensional phononic crystal structures as biosensors, optimizing design parameters to maximize sensitivity based on resonant acoustic bandgap properties. The findings offer a roadmap for engineering next-generation acoustic biosensing platforms.

Environmental perspectives of microplastic pollution in the aquatic environment: a review

Study of the Effect of Modification of Asphalt on the Rheological Properties Employing Microwave Radiation—An Aging Study

This paper is not about microplastics; it investigates how microwave radiation and aluminum chloride catalyst improve the rheological properties and aging resistance of rubber-modified asphalt (bitumen).

Fabrication of electrospun polyamide–weathered basalt nano-composite as a non-conventional membrane for basic and acid dye removal

Researchers fabricated an electrospun polyamide membrane reinforced with weathered basalt nanoparticles and found it effectively removed both basic and acid dyes from water, demonstrating its potential as an adsorptive nano-filtration material for industrial wastewater treatment.

Aptamer-Functionalized Electrochemical Sensors for Trace Detection of Water Contaminants

This review critically examines recent advances in electrochemical aptamer-based sensors for detecting priority water contaminants including cyanotoxins, pesticides, antibiotics, pathogenic bacteria, nanoplastics, and nitrogen, highlighting how integration of nanomaterials such as gold nanoparticles, graphene, and carbon nanotubes has significantly enhanced sensor sensitivity and selectivity.

Sampling and Processing of Microplastics from Water

This book chapter reviews methods for collecting, preparing, and detecting microplastics from water samples, addressing preprocessing steps to remove organic matter and the visual and spectroscopic techniques used for identification and quantification.