Chapter Alumni YOSH UPM santuni anak-anak yatim dalam YOSH Putra Recharge YOSH Raya

KLANG, 26 Mei – Chapter Alumni YOSH Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) menyantuni 51 orang anak-anak yatim daripada Pusat Kebajikan Mahabbah dan anak-anak yatim qariah Masjid Bandar Bukit Raja (MBBR) Klang dalam program YOSH Putra® Recharge: YOSH Raya baru-baru ini

Public awareness level and occurrence of pharmaceutical residues in drinking water with potential health risk: a study from Kajang (Malaysia)

Studies on the occurrence of pharmaceutical residues in drinking water were conducted especially in developed countries. However, limited studies reported the occurrence of pharmaceutical residues in developing countries. Thus, this study is conducted to fill the knowledge gap of pharmaceutical residue occurrences in developing countries, particularly in Malaysia, along with public awareness level and its potential human health risk. This study investigates public awareness level of drinking water quality and pharmaceutical handling, the occurrence of nine pharmaceutical residues (amoxicillin, caffeine, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, dexamethasone, diclofenac, nitrofurazone, sulfamethoxazole, and triclosan) and potential human health risks in drinking water from Kajang (Malaysia) using commercially competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. In general, the public awareness level of Kajang population showed poor knowledge (82.02%), and less positive attitude (98.88%) with a good practice score (57.3%). Ciprofloxacin was detected at the highest concentration (0.667 ng/L) while amoxicillin was at the lowest concentration (0.001 ng/L) in drinking water from Kajang (Malaysia). Nevertheless, all the reported occurrences were lower than previous studies conducted elsewhere. There was no appreciable potential human health risk for all the pharmaceutical residues as the risk quotient (RQ) values were less than 1 (RQ < 1). The results of this study will provide authorities with quantitative knowledge and resources to improve drinking water risk management and regulation in Malaysia

Occurrence and potential human health risk of pharmaceutical residues in drinking water from Putrajaya (Malaysia)

Occurrence of pharmaceutical residues in drinking water has been widely reported in countries that have registered steady economic growth. This can exert concerns among the general consumers, prompting them to explore the potential human health risks associated with continuous exposure to pharmaceuticals. However, such an occurrence is rarely reported in developing or under-developed countries. To give more contexts, this study looked at the presence of nine pharmaceutical residues in drinking water (amoxicillin, caffeine, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, dexamethasone, diclofenac, nitrofurazone, sulfamethoxazole, and triclosan) at Putrajaya residential area in Malaysia. Additionally, the potential health risks associated with contaminated drinking water were investigated. This study has found the presence of pharmaceutical residue concentrations up to 0.38 ng/L, with the highest concentration of caffeine (0.38 ng/L) and the lowest concentration of diclofenac (0.14 ng/L). In comparison, all the nine pharmaceutical residues were substantially lower than previously reported studies. In general, Hazard Quotient (HQ) values indicated that low potential health hazards were present for all age groups. Nevertheless, quantitative occurrences of pharmaceutical residues in drinking water will help guide future toxicological studies to examine other chronic effects, while canvassing for proper framework to look into the water risk management and regulation in Malaysia

Occurrence, human health risks, and public awareness level of pharmaceuticals in tap water from Putrajaya (Malaysia)

Pharmaceutical residue pollution remains as an underexplored issue, especially in Asian countries. Along with that line, the purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of pharmaceutical residues in tap water and its associated potential health risks, involving a total of 80 Putrajaya residents. Besides, this study also aimed to evaluate public awareness (knowledge, attitude, and practice) levels with regards to pharmaceutical handling. The highest pharmaceutical residue occurrence was cafeine (0.38 ng/L) while the lowest was diclofenac (0.14 ng/L). These pharmaceutical residue occurrences in tap water were linked with rapid urbanization and industrialization in river water, poor removal efciencies in wastewater and drinking water treatment plants as well as improper pharmaceutical waste handling and disposal from the general public. The potential health risks (RQT) indicated residents in Putrajaya with ages between 61 and 75 were exposed to the highest health risks caused by the pharmaceutical residues in tap water. In general, low public awareness (knowledge, attitude, and practice) levels were identifed with only 44.5% of Putrajaya population having good knowledge, 27.5% having good attitude and 1.6% having good practice related to pharmaceutical handling and its efect to tap water quality. Findings of this study refected the importance of public awareness program to educate the general public on proper unused/expired handling and disposal to minimize pharmaceutical pollution

Pharmaceuticals residues in selected tropical surface water bodies from Selangor (Malaysia): occurrence and potential risk assessments

This study investigated the occurrence of nine pharmaceuticals (amoxicillin, caffeine, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, dexamethasone, diclofenac, nitrofurazone, sulfamethoxazole, and triclosan) and to evaluate potential risks (human health and ecotoxicological) in Lui, Gombak and Selangor (Malaysia) rivers using commercial competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit assays. Physicochemical properties of these rivers showed the surface samples belong to Class II of Malaysian National Water Quality Standards which requires conventional treatment before consumption. All the pharmaceuticals were detected in all three rivers except for triclosan, dexamethasone and diclofenac which were not detected in few of sampling locations in these three rivers. Highest pharmaceutical concentrations were detected in Gombak river in line of being as one of the most polluted rivers in Malaysia. Ciprofloxacin concentrations were detected in all the sampling locations with the highest at 299.88 ng/L. While triclosan, dexamethasone and diclofenac concentrations were not detected in a few of sampling locations in these three rivers. All these nine pharmaceuticals were within the levels reported previously in literature. Pharmaceutical production, wastewater treatment technologies and treated sewage effluent were found as the potential sources which can be related with pharmaceuticals occurrence in surface water samples. Potential human risk assessment showed low health risk except for ciprofloxacin and dexamethasone. Instead, ecotoxicological risk assessment indicated moderate risks were present for these rivers. Nevertheless, results confirmation using instrumental techniques is needed for higher degree of specificity. It is crucial to continuously monitor the surface water bodies for pharmaceuticals using a cost-effective prioritisation approach to assess sensitive sub-populations risk

Public awareness level and occurrence of pharmaceutical residues in drinking water with potential health risk in Kajang, Malaysia

The presence of pharmaceutical residues in drinking water has been a subject of concern and received growing attention from environmental and health agencies worldwide. This is because pharmaceutical residues can pose negative ecotoxicological risks from a long-term exposure. In addition, the most used conventional drinking water treatment technology is ineffective for complete removal of these pollutants. Currently there is rising on global spending for medicine however the public awareness level on its disposal practice is less explored in Malaysia. Objective: To study the public awareness level on drinking water quality, occurrence of pharmaceutical residues in drinking water and potential human health risks. Methodology: The study was conducted in selected residential areas throughout Kajang. A set of modified questionnaire was administered to the respondents to assess the public awareness level and drinking water sample was taken to analyse the occurrence of pharmaceutical residues. The drinking water samples were analysed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the potential human health risk were calculated. Statistical analysis involved in this study were descriptive and Spearman’s rho analysis. Spearman’s rho was to investigate the correlation between knowledge, attitude and practice variables for drinking water quality and pharmaceutical residues in drinking water. Results: In general, the Kajang population posed poor knowledge for drinking water quality (71.91%) and pharmaceutical residues in drinking water (78.65%), less positive attitude for drinking water quality (88.76%) and pharmaceutical residues in drinking water (94.38%) and poor practice for drinking water quality (58.43%) and pharmaceutical residues in drinking water (69.66%). There was a moderate positive correlation between attitude score for pharmaceutical residues in drinking water and practice score for pharmaceutical residues in drinking water (r =0.541, p=0.000). All the selected pharmaceuticals were presence in drinking water samples from 0.001 to 0.667 ng/L. The highest concentration was denoted for ciprofloxacin (0.667 ng/L) while amoxicillin (0.001 ng/L) was the lowest. Nevertheless, these reported concentrations were found to be lower than studies conducted elsewhere. Besides, findings showed no adverse human health risk effect (RQ<1) from the pharmaceutical residues exposure via drinking water. Conclusion: This study has contributed to the extension of sparse information on public awareness level towards drinking water quality and pharmaceutical residues in drinking water in Malaysia, particularly for Kajang population. In addition, output of this study has provided information to fulfil the knowledge gap in pharmaceutical residues occurrence in drinking water and the potential human health risk. Besides, findings from this study can provide guideline to decision makers and authorities to improve current existing drinking water risk management and regulations related with emerging pollutants in Malaysia