Understanding the Occurrence and Fate of Atmospheric Microplastics and Their Potential Risks to Human Health: Protocol for a Cross-Sectional Analysis
BackgroundPlastic pollution has reached an alarming magnitude, defining the contemporary era as the “Plastic Age.” Uncontrolled plastic production and inadequate recycling processes have led to widespread contamination of the environment with micro and nanoplastics....
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JMIR Publications
2024-11-01
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| Series: | JMIR Research Protocols |
| Online Access: | https://www.researchprotocols.org/2024/1/e60289 |
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| author | Shaikh Sharif Hasan Abdus Salam Mohammad Moniruzzaman Md Aynul Bari Nirupam Aich Farjana Jahan Mahbubur Rahman Zubayer Islam Md Humayun Kabir Md Aftab Ali Shaikh Rubhana Raqib Sarker Masud Parvez |
| author_facet | Shaikh Sharif Hasan Abdus Salam Mohammad Moniruzzaman Md Aynul Bari Nirupam Aich Farjana Jahan Mahbubur Rahman Zubayer Islam Md Humayun Kabir Md Aftab Ali Shaikh Rubhana Raqib Sarker Masud Parvez |
| author_sort | Shaikh Sharif Hasan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundPlastic pollution has reached an alarming magnitude, defining the contemporary era as the “Plastic Age.” Uncontrolled plastic production and inadequate recycling processes have led to widespread contamination of the environment with micro and nanoplastics.
ObjectiveThe study aims to assess the environmental and human health consequences of exposure to microplastic particles (MPs) and their additives among plastic recycling workers in Dhaka. Specifically, it focuses on mapping the management pathways of plastic waste from collection to disposal, analyzing the types of MPs in the environment, and assessing the potential health impacts on plastic recycling workers.
MethodsA cross-sectional exploratory study design was used, consisting of exposed and nonexposed groups in plastic recycling sites in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The study will establish possible associations between different health consequences and microplastic particle exposure with a systematic approach involving plastic recycling hot spot detection, management pathway mapping, and detecting the presence of environmental MP. MPs and heavy metals will be detected from environmental samples using fluorescence microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Human exposure will be assessed by detecting the metabolites of bisphenol and phthalates from urine samples using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and thoroughly evaluating endocrine, reproductive, respiratory, and renal functions. The sample size was derived from the mean concentrations of urinary bisphenol and phthalates metabolites, requiring the participation of 168 respondents. A 1:1 exposure to nonexposed stratification would be sufficient to meet our study objectives, considering the conventional level of power and confidence interval. This study protocol (PR#22111) has received approval from the Research Review Committee and Ethical Review Committee of the icddr,b.
ResultsThe project was funded in August 2022. We started collecting environmental samples in January 2023 and completed participant enrollment, exposure survey, and biological sample collection by December 2023. We enrolled 84 adult plastic recycling workers with at least 5 years of exposure history and 84 nonexposed participants who were not involved with plastic recycling activities. Data analysis is currently underway, and the first results are expected to be submitted for publication in November 2024.
ConclusionsThe findings would provide valuable insights into the adverse impacts of microplastic pollution on both the environment and human health, aiding in better understanding the extent of the issue.
International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/60289 |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-86cba310375d4869b9bf885a2cfb2604 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1929-0748 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
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| series | JMIR Research Protocols |
| spelling | doaj-art-86cba310375d4869b9bf885a2cfb26042025-08-20T02:48:49ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Research Protocols1929-07482024-11-0113e6028910.2196/60289Understanding the Occurrence and Fate of Atmospheric Microplastics and Their Potential Risks to Human Health: Protocol for a Cross-Sectional AnalysisShaikh Sharif Hasanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5881-8399Abdus Salamhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5609-6828Mohammad Moniruzzamanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5651-9328Md Aynul Barihttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5559-908XNirupam Aichhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1896-8127Farjana Jahanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1662-4734Mahbubur Rahmanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0520-2683Zubayer Islamhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3454-7971Md Humayun Kabirhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1411-0943Md Aftab Ali Shaikhhttps://orcid.org/0009-0007-7160-1961Rubhana Raqibhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-8116-4511Sarker Masud Parvezhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2004-5065 BackgroundPlastic pollution has reached an alarming magnitude, defining the contemporary era as the “Plastic Age.” Uncontrolled plastic production and inadequate recycling processes have led to widespread contamination of the environment with micro and nanoplastics. ObjectiveThe study aims to assess the environmental and human health consequences of exposure to microplastic particles (MPs) and their additives among plastic recycling workers in Dhaka. Specifically, it focuses on mapping the management pathways of plastic waste from collection to disposal, analyzing the types of MPs in the environment, and assessing the potential health impacts on plastic recycling workers. MethodsA cross-sectional exploratory study design was used, consisting of exposed and nonexposed groups in plastic recycling sites in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The study will establish possible associations between different health consequences and microplastic particle exposure with a systematic approach involving plastic recycling hot spot detection, management pathway mapping, and detecting the presence of environmental MP. MPs and heavy metals will be detected from environmental samples using fluorescence microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Human exposure will be assessed by detecting the metabolites of bisphenol and phthalates from urine samples using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and thoroughly evaluating endocrine, reproductive, respiratory, and renal functions. The sample size was derived from the mean concentrations of urinary bisphenol and phthalates metabolites, requiring the participation of 168 respondents. A 1:1 exposure to nonexposed stratification would be sufficient to meet our study objectives, considering the conventional level of power and confidence interval. This study protocol (PR#22111) has received approval from the Research Review Committee and Ethical Review Committee of the icddr,b. ResultsThe project was funded in August 2022. We started collecting environmental samples in January 2023 and completed participant enrollment, exposure survey, and biological sample collection by December 2023. We enrolled 84 adult plastic recycling workers with at least 5 years of exposure history and 84 nonexposed participants who were not involved with plastic recycling activities. Data analysis is currently underway, and the first results are expected to be submitted for publication in November 2024. ConclusionsThe findings would provide valuable insights into the adverse impacts of microplastic pollution on both the environment and human health, aiding in better understanding the extent of the issue. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/60289https://www.researchprotocols.org/2024/1/e60289 |
| spellingShingle | Shaikh Sharif Hasan Abdus Salam Mohammad Moniruzzaman Md Aynul Bari Nirupam Aich Farjana Jahan Mahbubur Rahman Zubayer Islam Md Humayun Kabir Md Aftab Ali Shaikh Rubhana Raqib Sarker Masud Parvez Understanding the Occurrence and Fate of Atmospheric Microplastics and Their Potential Risks to Human Health: Protocol for a Cross-Sectional Analysis JMIR Research Protocols |
| title | Understanding the Occurrence and Fate of Atmospheric Microplastics and Their Potential Risks to Human Health: Protocol for a Cross-Sectional Analysis |
| title_full | Understanding the Occurrence and Fate of Atmospheric Microplastics and Their Potential Risks to Human Health: Protocol for a Cross-Sectional Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Understanding the Occurrence and Fate of Atmospheric Microplastics and Their Potential Risks to Human Health: Protocol for a Cross-Sectional Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding the Occurrence and Fate of Atmospheric Microplastics and Their Potential Risks to Human Health: Protocol for a Cross-Sectional Analysis |
| title_short | Understanding the Occurrence and Fate of Atmospheric Microplastics and Their Potential Risks to Human Health: Protocol for a Cross-Sectional Analysis |
| title_sort | understanding the occurrence and fate of atmospheric microplastics and their potential risks to human health protocol for a cross sectional analysis |
| url | https://www.researchprotocols.org/2024/1/e60289 |
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