Hamed Ramezani Awal Riabi; Seyed Alireza Hajiseyed Mirzahosseini; Ali Firoozi Chahak; Ali Reza Mohammad zadeh; Jalil Imani Harsini
Abstract
Background and purpose: Today, polyethylene plastics have become a big problem of environmental health, i.e. excessive production of waste, and it has endangered the environment. But insects have come to the aid of the environment, and in the meantime, the large wax-eating moth (Galleria mellonella) ...
Read More
Background and purpose: Today, polyethylene plastics have become a big problem of environmental health, i.e. excessive production of waste, and it has endangered the environment. But insects have come to the aid of the environment, and in the meantime, the large wax-eating moth (Galleria mellonella) is able to digest polyethylene plastic, polyester, aluminum foil, and even fabric masks with the help of the microbiome of its larva's stomach. This study was also designed to investigate the ability of G. mellonella larvae to remove polyethylene plastic .Materials and methods: First, G. melonella larvae were collected from Gonabad honey apiaries in June 2022. The larvae were reared in the Gonabad University of Medical Sciences medical entomology laboratory with beeswax and synthetic food in plastic boxes and dark rooms (temperature 25±2 oC and humidity 33%). To feed the larvae, pieces of plastic film were cut into diameters (10×10 cm) from the freezer, garbage, and shopping bag (so-called with handles) and placed on ten Petri dishes with a diameter of (8×8 cm) containing ten larvae. Another petri dish (with a hole for larvae to breathe) was placed on the polyethylene films. The produced biomass of larvae related to each type of plastic was analyzed separately with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR).Results: Analysis of 8 types of biomass produced by larvae feeding from wax (control) compared to polyethylene plastics (target item) with FT-IRIt revealed functional groups C-CL, C=O, C=C, R-OH, CH2, -C-C-, which is a sign of polyethylene plastic degradation. Also, the comparison of the amount of plastic removal among the larvae fed on different types of polyethylene film revealed a significant difference (P<0.05).Conclusion: G. melonella larvae as a biological method can be effective in removing plastic from nature in the future.
Alireza Mirzahosseini; Fatemeh Ebrahimi; Nabiollah Mansouri
Abstract
Background and purpose: Industrial development, on one hand, creates harmful chemical products and industrial waste, including heavy metals. On the other hand, it increases energy consumption and leads to the release of atmospheric pollutants, causing environmental pollution. Bandar Abbas, compared to ...
Read More
Background and purpose: Industrial development, on one hand, creates harmful chemical products and industrial waste, including heavy metals. On the other hand, it increases energy consumption and leads to the release of atmospheric pollutants, causing environmental pollution. Bandar Abbas, compared to other areas of Hormozgan province, has a high concentration of industries. Therefore, it is necessary to study the pollution caused by these industries in the region's environment. The general purpose of this study is to investigate the amount of heavy metals associated with industrial activity.Materials and Methods: Ambient air sampling was conducted at seven locations in the region during winter and spring (2020). The sampling and preparation methods were based on EPA and NIOSH Standards. Sampling was performed using a High-Volume pump with a flow rate of 1.7 cubic meters per minute for a duration of 24 hours. The sampling device was installed at a height of 3 meters above the ground. The heavy metals in the collected samples were measured using the Varian Z220 atomic absorption spectrometer with the furnace technique. Circular fiberglass filters with a diameter of 47 mm were used for environmental sampling.Results: Based on the analysis of air particles, the concentration of heavy metals showed a decreasing trend as follows: V < Cd < Fe < Pb. The average concentrations of these elements were 0.0006, 0.0060, 0.0061, and 0.339 micrograms per cubic meter, respectively. With the exception of lead, the average concentration of these metals exceeded the limit value.Conclusion: The amount of suspended particles at all sampling locations exceeded the environmental standards. Additionally, except for vanadium, the average concentration of metals in the samples from residential areas was below the limit value.