Environmental Research and Planetary Health

High School Students’ Awareness of Environmental Issues in Indonesia: A Mini Review

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

There were several environmental challenges in urban areas, especially related to solid waste management. Learning and community engagement in schools were crucial to promoting sustainability and environmental awareness. A mini-review was conducted to explore the potential of student-led efforts to divert organic waste, specifically fallen dry leaves. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), we examined how environmental awareness impacted pro-environmental behavior. Students contributed to sustainable waste management by becoming aware of environmental issues and taking action. Educating students about environmental issues played a crucial role in cultivating environmental awareness. By integrating environmental concepts into the curriculum and organizing extracurricular activities, schools prepared students to address environmental challenges. Even after specific programs such as Adiwiyata were concluded, challenges remained in sustaining environmental initiatives. Schools needed to prioritize environmental education, engage students in active participation, and create an environment that fostered a sustainable culture to ensure long-term impact. Schools made a real difference to the environment by managing organic waste and promoting environmental awareness.

Fire Safety Awareness and Practices in a Longhouse: A Study in Sarawak, Malaysia

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Longhouses in Sarawak were deeply rooted in Indigenous culture but faced significant fire risks due to their wooden structures, open-flame cooking, and poor electrical installations. This study aimed to explore fire safety knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among a longhouse community in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 46 respondents using a 25-item questionnaire (Cronbach’s α = 0.76), and data were analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The results revealed that 61% (M = 21.39, SD = ±5.43) of respondents had good fire safety knowledge, 87% (M = 27.74, SD = ±4.77) demonstrated a positive attitude, and 63% (M = 14.72, SD = ±2.56) engaged in good fire safety practices. However, correlation analysis showed no significant relationships (p > 0.05) between knowledge and attitude (r = -0.05), knowledge and practice (r = 0.27), or attitude and practice (r = 0.11), suggesting that knowledge alone did not ensure behavioral change. Factors such as lack of training and risk perception might have influenced fire safety practices. These findings highlighted the need for targeted fire safety interventions, including hands-on training, community engagement, and improved access to fire prevention tools, and emphasized that strengthening fire safety education and policy enforcement was essential to reduce fire incidents in longhouse communities.

Surface Water Quality: A Case Study of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember Surabaya, Indonesia

Fadilla Azzahrani Puspa, Ira Shavina Inora Rahma — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study evaluated the surface water quality at two lakes on the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) campus in Surabaya, Indonesia from October to December 2024. Water samples from ITS Lake Eight (SS1) and the ITS Student Dormitory Lake (SS2) were analyzed for eight parameters: Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Total Dissolved Solids TDS, pH, temperature, Electrical Conductivity (EC), and turbidity. The results showed that COD, BOD, DO, and turbidity exceeded national quality standards at both locations, while TDS and pH remained within acceptable limits. SS2 exhibited poorer water quality than SS1 due to its proximity to dormitory drainage and domestic waste pollution. Seasonal variations significantly affected water quality, with BOD and COD increasing during the dry season and DO, TDS, and turbidity rising during the rainy season. The main pollution sources were organic matter decomposition and anthropogenic activities, leading to eutrophication and algal growth.

Health Worker Performance and Prevalence of Diarrhoea: A Cross-Sectional Study

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Diarrhea has been one of the major health issues, particularly among children, and the performance of healthcare workers in implementing effective diarrhea programs has been crucial for its prevention and treatment. The success of diarrhea control may be influenced by the performance of healthcare workers; however, implementation has remained suboptimal in some areas, including the Marawola Community Health Center, which has experienced fluctuating diarrhea incidence rates. The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of healthcare workers' performance in implementing diarrhea programs on the prevalence of diarrhea cases among children. This study employed quantitative design with a cross-sectional approach, conducted in the service area of the Marawola Health Center in 2024. The study sample consisted of 77 respondents selected using stratified random sampling. Data was collected through questionnaires, and analysis was performed using logistic regression. The results of the logistic regression analysis indicated that the performance of healthcare workers in implementing the diarrhea program significantly affected the incidence of diarrhea in children (p = 0.017), although the constant value was not statistically significant (p = 0.163). This suggests that other factors need to be considered in addition to healthcare worker performance when optimizing the diarrhea program for children. In conclusion, the performance of healthcare workers needs to be improved in the implementation of diarrhea programs for children. Strategies such as training, supervision, the use of technology, and community involvement can be implemented. Further research is needed to explore other factors influencing the effectiveness of these programs.

Systematic Review of Microplastic Characterization Methods and Associated Toxicological Outcomes in Fish

Christian Henrich A. Garin — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as significant aquatic pollutants, yet standardized protocols for their detection and biological impact assessment remain limited. This study systematically evaluated current analytical methods used for microplastic identification and synthesized existing evidence on their reported health effects in fish. Following the PRISMA framework, a comprehensive literature search identified eight eligible studies encompassing both laboratory and field investigations. Results indicated that Raman and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were the most frequently employed analytical techniques. Raman spectroscopy demonstrated greater sensitivity for MPs smaller than 20 μm, whereas FTIR provided reliable identification of larger particles. Stereomicroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were also utilized, although they offered limited chemical specificity. The reviewed studies revealed species- and condition-dependent toxicological outcomes. Smaller MPs induced more pronounced oxidative stress, apoptosis, and genotoxicity, particularly in liver and muscle tissues, with perch appearing more sensitive than zebrafish. Additionally, polymer type, particle size, exposure duration, exposure route, and concentration were key determinants of toxicity. Overall, polystyrene and polypropylene were consistently linked to stronger biochemical disruptions, whereas polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) exhibited site-specific effects in wild-caught fish. These findings underscore the need for multi-analytical approaches and integrated biomarker assays to improve MP detection and ecological risk assessment in aquatic organisms.