Sara Yasina Yusuf
Thumbnail Image
Preferred name
Sara Yasina Yusuf
Official Name
Sara Yasina, Yusuf
Alternative Name
Yusuf, S. Y.A.
Yusof, Sara Yasina
Yusuf, Sara Yasina
Yusuf, Sara Y.
Yusof, S. Y.
Sara, Y. Y.
Yusuf, S. Y.
Main Affiliation
Scopus Author ID
57221740411
Researcher ID
B-9242-2012

Research Output
Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
  • Publication
    Estimation of particulate emission generation in palm oil mill boiler
    (IOP Publishing, 2020)
    N R Jamian
    ;
    M Rashid
    ;
    S M M Muzi
    ;
    N Hussein
    ;
    D Munisamy
    ;
    K M Pa’ad
    ;
    A H M Ali
    ;
    Sara Yasina Yusuf
    The palm oil industries in Malaysia has been positively growth throughout the year, for it sustainable approach in terms of production and environmental protection. However, this industry also producing considerable amount of particulate emission from the process of burning its biomass waste of palm fibre and shell in the boiler. This study present a method to estimate the particulate emission that are being generated from the boiler. The method were done by analyzing the proximate analysis value of the ash content of palm fibre and shell found in this study. The particulate emission were physically collected from five palm oil mill boilers with boiler capacity ranging from 18-45 tonne/hour. The particulate stack fly ash was collected from the stack gas downstream of a multi-cyclones particulate arrestor according to the USEPA Method 17-Determination of particulate matter emissions from stationary sources. Meanwhile the sample of palm fibre and shell were collected to determine the proximate value. The estimation were then being further analyzed according to the particulate emission that were obtained by the real-stack sampling. In summary, the average moisture content, ash content, volatile matter and fixed carbon for palm shell found in this study are 19.3 ± 5.7%, 2.79 ± 2.2%, 74.3 ± 3.0, and 11.3 ± 4.3, respectively.). The average particulate concentration for these five mills is 2.2±0.9g/Nm3 and the air pollution control requirement are between 64 and 96% with reference to Clean Air Regulations 2014 of 0.15g/Nm3 which is very high to be achieve. It also can be estimated that 26% of the ash generated from the combustion of palm fibre and shell in palm oil mill boiler are being released at the stack.
  • Publication
    Evaluation of deposited atmospheric microplastic characteristic within Malaysia cities airshed
    (The Italian Association of Chemical Engineering, 2023)
    Hasnatul Azwani Hashim
    ;
    Nor Ruwaida Jamian
    ;
    Sara Yasina Yusuf
    ;
    Dewika Naidu
    ;
    Khairunnisa Mohd Paad
    ;
    Nur Fatiha Ishak
    The abundance of plastic pollution is a global issue posing a threat to all living things. The breakdown of plastic between 1 to 5,000 µm in size, known as microplastic (MPs), has commonly been found in all regions as an emerging environmental pollutant in recent years. Presence of MPs in the ambient air poses hazard to the environment and health as it can also carry other pollutant. Preliminary research has found that the MPs contamination in the air would give health effect such as lung inflammation and increase the risk of infertility and cancer. To date, the atmospheric MPs deposition in Malaysia is still unknown. In this regard, this research aims to evaluate the presence and characteristics of MPs in Malaysia. The deposition of atmospheric MPs sample was collected in Kuala Lumpur due to the high number of traffic activities and populations and the rural area, which is in Timah Tasoh, Perlis. The physical characteristics of MPs were categorized by shape, colours, and size using a stereo-zoom microscope. The most common MPs shapes and colours were fiber and black, respectively. The atmospheric MPs found a range between 50–5,000 µm in size. With increased worries about its effects on living species, MPs pollution is predicted to worsen during the ensuing decades. This data will provide a holistic picture of the MPs significant primary discoveries, knowledge gaps, and future challenges in comprehending this emerging contaminant.
  • Publication
    Assessing the concentration, distribution and characteristics of suspended microplastics in the Malaysian indoor environment
    (Elsevier B.V., 2025-01)
    M. Dewika
    ;
    Kalaimani Markandan
    ;
    Shalini Nagaratnam
    ;
    N. Ahmad Irfan
    ;
    Muhammad Amirul Aizat Mohd Abdah
    ;
    J. Nor Ruwaida
    ;
    Sara Yasina Yusuf
    ;
    Mohammad Khalid
    This study examines the concentration, distribution, and characteristics of suspended microplastics (MPs) across various indoor environments in Malaysia, including offices, classrooms, landed homes, and apartments. Over a six-week period, MPs were collected using a vacuum pump and analyzed through gravimetric analysis, stereomicroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The results revealed significant variability in MPs concentrations among different locations, with fibers identified as the predominant morphological type. The average counts of MPs in the respective environments were found to be 599 ± 182 in offices, 399 ± 52 in classrooms, 505.17 ± 203.78 in apartments, and 515 ± 134 in landed homes. Statistical analysis indicated no significant differences in MPs counts across the sampled locations. Fibers were consistently the most prevalent shape, followed by films and foams. The MPs were predominantly transparent, with sizes ranging from 101 to 500 μm. Notably, the estimated daily intake (EDI) of MPs was significantly higher in residential settings compared to offices and classrooms, raising potential health concerns regarding prolonged exposure. These findings underscore the pervasive presence of MPs in the Malaysian indoor environment and emphasize the urgent need for further research to identify their sources, assess health impacts, and develop effective mitigation strategies.
  • Publication
    Indoor and outdoor particulate matter concentrations in the vicinity of plastic waste processing industries
    ( 2020-12-29)
    Sara Yasina Yusuf
    ;
    Nur Liza Rahim
    ;
    Wazam W.Z.
    ;
    Naidu D.
    ;
    Jamian R.
    While plastic recycling has gained conclusive acceptance by various stakeholders as a preferable products’ end-of-life management, plastic waste processing industries may contribute to serious air pollutants emission and impair human health, especially if it is in uncontrolled conditions. Apart from toxic gas pollutants, this industry may also emit significant concentration of particulates matter or dust, notably via physical (shredding, sorting, and washing) and melt (re-granulation and reprocessing) processes. Meanwhile, in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia, public anguish is increasing in recent years due to mushrooming plastic waste recycling industries in its residential area. Thus, a study was conducted to analyse the day- and night-time ambient air PM10 levels and their relationship with selected meteorological parameters (ambient temperature, relative humidity and wind speed) at two different locations (Cinta Sayang Resort Villa, CSRV and Metro Specialist Hospital, HM) in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia. The mean ambient PM10 levels of Cinta Sayang Resort Villa (CSRV) and Metro Specialist Hospital (HM) were found exceeding the New Malaysia Ambient Air Quality Standard at 150 µg/m3 (24-hours), which were 568.082 ± 266.441 µg/m3 615.046 ± 355.672 µg/m3, respectively. Distribution of PM10 concentrations betwen day and night-time were found to be statistically insignificant at both sites. Meteorological parameters have also contributed to the trend of PM10 concentrations at both sites especially at HM. Inverse correlation with PM10 at CSRV was explained by the absence of moisture (or rain) at the site while the positive correlation observed at HM was due to the hot temperature-strong wind association at the site. Temperature was found to be the manipulating factor for PM10 at HM, via linear regression model developed at PMouth = - 4352.426 + 170.557 × Th with F(1, 8) = 15.224 at p < .005, accounting for 65.6% of the variation Thus, proper attention should be given to the particulates matter emitted in Sungai Petani, believed to be influenced by the uncontrolled emission from the plastic recycling industries.
      3  27
  • Publication
    Review of microplastics in the indoor environment: distribution, human exposure and potential health impacts
    (Elsevier, 2023)
    M. Dewika
    ;
    Kalaimani Markandan
    ;
    N Ahmad Irfan
    ;
    Muhammad Amirul Aizat Mohd Abdah
    ;
    J. Nor Ruwaida
    ;
    Sara Yasina Yusuf
    ;
    Mohammad Khalid
    The emergence of microplastics (MPs) pollution as a global environmental concern has attracted significant attention in the last decade. The majority of the human population spends most of their time indoors, leading to increased exposure to MPs contamination through various sources such as settled dust, air, drinking water and food. Although research on indoor MPs has intensified significantly in recent years, comprehensive reviews on this topic remain limited. Therefore, this review comprehensively analyses the occurrence, distribution, human exposure, potential health impact and mitigation strategies of MPs in the indoor air environment. Specifically, we focus on the risks associated with finer MPs that can translocate into the circulatory system and other organs, emphasizing the need for continued research to develop effective strategies to mitigate the risks associated with MPs exposure. Our findings suggest that indoor MPs impose potential risk to human health, and strategies for mitigating exposure should be further explored.
      2  7
  • Publication
    Unravelling the deposition of indoor microplastics at various heights across rooms
    (EDP Sciences, 2023)
    Chen Sin Yee
    ;
    Sara Yasina Yusuf
    ;
    Syazwaana Mohd Noor
    ;
    Nor Ruwaida Jamian
    ;
    Norazrin Ramli
    ;
    Dewika Naidu
    ;
    Matei Monica
    Microplastics (MP) are widely present in both outdoor and indoor environments. Extensive research has thoroughly documented the potential negative impacts of MPs on human health. This study utilized a deposited sample method for 3 weeks, with eight-hour daily exposures, using funnels and bottles to investigate the properties of MPs in the office and laboratory settings of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Technology (FCET), Universiti Malaysia Perlis. The characteristics examined included the deposition rate, size, form, and colour of the microplastics. Samples were collected at three different heights. The samples underwent pre-treatment procedures, such as physical counting and categorization (size, colour and shape). Micro-Raman analysis was performed to determine the primary polymer types. The deposition rate in the office was found to be 4,960 counts/(m2.h), while the rate in the laboratory was 6,940 counts/(m2.h). Human activities and the appearance of synthetic materials, especially from textiles, play a big role in the deposition rate of MPs in the environment. During the day, the rates were higher than at night. The results of the study showed that indoor MPs come in many different colours, with transparent and black being the most common. About 42% of the size range of fibrous MPs was between 200 μm and 2000 μm, and more than 15% of the particles were between 20 μm and 200 μm. Most of the time, fragments were smaller than strands. The most abundance polymers detected in both rooms were polycarbonate (PC), pigments and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).
      3  17
  • Publication
    Analysis of suspended atmospheric microplastics size at different elevation in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur
    (IOP Publishing, 2023)
    Muhammad Afiq Daniel Azmi
    ;
    N L N M Yasin
    ;
    Jamian NorRuwaida
    ;
    A H Hasnatul
    ;
    M Dewika
    ;
    Sara Yasina Yusuf
    Atmospheric microplastics can be found in the atmospheres of urban, suburban, and even remote locations. To date, limited studies have been done in investigating the microplastics contamination at different elevation. In this regard, suspended atmospheric microplastics were sampled at two different elevations in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. The sampling was done using SIBATA High-Volume Sampler HV-1000R pump for 24 hours sampling, twice a week for 10 weeks. The primary objective of this research is to analyze the size of the suspended atmospheric microplastics at different elevation which is ground level (H1) at1.5m and upper level (H2) at 10m. The finding shows that the range size of the microplastics at H1 is between 70 to 1855 μm and H2 is 102 to 5429 μm indicate that the microplastics size at higher elevation is larger compared to the lower ground. The range abundance of microplastic is also discussed where it is between 97 to 775 particle/m2/day, with the particulate concentration ranging from 16.39 to 96.81 μg/m3/day for both locations. The EDI indicate that children are much more exposed to polymer-based MPs by dust consumption than teenagers and adults, with 4.6 particle/kg.day at H1 and 3.4 particle/kg.day at H2.