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.
Development of a precise and delicate reaction has been acquired for the determination of vancomycin hydrochloride using batch and cloud point extraction (CPE) methods. The first method is based on the formation of azo dye as a result of diazotized dapsone coupled with vancomycin HCl (VAN) in a basic medium. The sensitivity of this reaction was enhanced by utilizing a nonionic surfactant (Triton X-114) and the cloud point extraction technique (second method). The azo dye formed was extracted into the surfactant-rich phase, dissolved in ethanol and detected at λmax 440 nm spectrophotometrically. The reaction was investigated using both batch and CPE methods (with and without extraction), and a simple comparison between the two
... Show MoreThis study was conducted during the spring season of 2023-2024 and the fall season of 2024-2025 at the fields of the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad, to investigate effects of irrigation intervals I1 ,I2 (3 and 6 days) , soil amendment with zeolite at three concentrations Z0 ,Z1,Z2 (0, 4, and 8 g. kg soil⁻¹), and foliar spraying with kaolin for three concentrations C0,C1,C2 (0, 0.5, and 1 g .L⁻¹). The results revealed that the treatment I1Z2C2 significantly excelled in leaf area, chlorophyll concentrations, and yield for both seasons, achieving 31.0 dm², 21.5 mg per 100 g fresh weight, and 1984.7 g in the first season, and 34.08 dm², 23.6 mg per 100 g fresh weight, and 2526.3 g in the
... Show MoreThis work compares the changes in optical and structural properties of cerium oxide (CeO2) when doped with different concentrations (3%,5%,7%, and 9%) of two oxides, In2O3 and Eu2O3. X-ray diffraction and spectrophotometry were employed in the visible, ultraviolet, and near-infrared regions. The findings demonstrated that CeO2 doped with In2O3 and Eu2O3 thin films were polycrystalline and had a cubic structure. The crystal size increased from 20.5 to 32.15 when Eu2O3 doping ratio increased from 0% to 7% and then decreased to 28.46 nm at 9%. While the crystal size showed an increase from 20.5 to 21.42 nm with the increase of the In2O3 doping ratio, while the lattice constant measured for cubic CeO2 changed opposite to that
... Show MoreThis work investigates the properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanocomposite films with varying multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) content, ranging from 2 to 8 wt.%. The films were prepared using a solution casting method and characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and tensile tests. The prepared PVA/MWCNT nanocomposite films exhibited optical band gap values ranging from 3.5 eV to 5.3 eV. XRD analysis confirmed the semi-crystalline nature of these nanocomposites. Mechanical properties, including hardness, yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and Young's modulus, were enhanced by increasing MWCNT content by up to 8%. Contact angle measurements showed an increase in hydrophobicity with in
... Show MoreThe human blood physiology is an active system that is closely connected with environmental and lifestyle changes, which affect such processes as erythropoiesis, coagulation, platelet activity, nitric oxide (NO) signaling system, and oxygen transport. It is a synthesis of evidence based on recent research (2020-2026) on four modulators that relate to each other physically: exercise, high-altitude hypoxia, climate change-induced high and low temperatures, and consumption of non-nutritive sugar substitutes such as erythritol. Adaptive changes that are generally observed in response to exercise and altitude are increased erythropoiesis and improved vascular functions, whereas maladaptive changes, including oxidative stress, inflammator
... Show MoreThe work presented in this research deals with the synthesis and physico-chemical characterization of Schiff base ligand (HL) created from vanillin with p-aminoazobenzene containing (N, O) as donor atoms. The synthesis ligand (HL) was characterized by the CHN, (FT-IR), (UV-Vis), (1H,13C-NMR) and mass spectroscopy, in addition the melting point were used to charac-terize the Schiff base. A series of mixed metal ligands complexes were formed by using Schiff base ligand (HL) as primary ligand and Paracetamol (PAR) as a secondary ligand with five divalent metal ions; Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd(II) and Hg. The formed complexes were characterized by using some analytical and standard spectroscopic methods; molar conductivity, magnetic susceptibil-ity, FT-IR,
... Show MoreA series of novel hybrid molecules containing 1,3,4-oxadiazole and 1,3,4-thiadiazole moieties bearing an ibuprofen moiety were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. A carboxylic acid compound with a 1,3,4-thiadiazole unit was synthesized via the coupling reaction of 5-(1-(4-isobutylphenyl) ethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-amine with benzoic acid. This compound was then used as the starting material to make several new 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives through ring closure reactions, after first converting it to its ester (methyl 4-(5-(1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl) benzoate) and then to the acid hydrazide (4-(5-(1-(4-isobutylphenyl) eth
... Show MoreSoft robotics offers a flexible alternative to rigid systems, enabling safe and adaptive interaction in biomedical, wearable, and unstructured environments. Among available actuation methods, soft electromagnetic actuators are notable for their fast response, low operating voltage, and ease of integration. However, some designs require pre-stretching mechanism, which produces an external force to maintain the separation between the coil and permanent magnets. Additionally, there is a mechanical complexity and difficulty in calibrating the spring parameters precisely. Furthermore, the pre-stretching mechanism increases the electromagnetic force required to counteract the opposing spring force, leading to a significant increase in power consu
... Show MoreOrthodontic education, besides some other factors, influences the confidence level of recently graduated dentists to diagnose subjects seeking orthodontic treatment and provide treatment plans. This study aims to explore the factors that influence the confidence level of undergraduate dental students to diagnose subjects seeking orthodontic treatment and provide treatment plans after graduation.
A qualitative study was undertaken using focus groups a
The article defines the relationship between the syntactic concept and the structural scheme of a sentence in modern scientific research from the standpoint of the linguistic cognitive approach; the definitions of the concepts “syntactic concept” and “structural scheme of a sentence” have been represented; a linguocognitive approach to the study of the structural schemes of a sentence through the prism of syntactic concepts has been proposed, which gives a new solution to the problem of the interaction of syntax and semantics; the mental and linguistic levels have been identified, as well as the principles of their interaction in the process of analysing the sentence.