Department of Chemistry

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Browsing Department of Chemistry by Author "Awolesi, Oluwafemi"

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    Microplastics and Nano-Plastics: From Initiation to Termination
    (Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 2023-01-31) Awolesi, Oluwafemi; Oni, Peter; Arwenyo, Beatrice
    Following the advent of the Industrial Revolution, plastic pollution has been a serious environmental issue while micro- and nano-plastics have been a cy nosure of researchers’ attention in the twenty-first century. This is due to the improved knowledge of its ecotoxicological effects and the global pushfor ward towards sustainability. There is a growing concern that the increasing presence of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in aquatic habitats poses a threat to marine life, and it is predicted that nanoplastics will be just as ubi quitous as macro- and micro-plastics, but far more destructive to living or ganisms due to their ability to infiltrate cells. Recent research has shown that marine and freshwater biota become entangled with plastic litter, which dis rupts the ecosystem. Aquatic creatures are known to absorb and deposit these new pollutants in their digestive systems, as has been documented in several studies. More recent research has also examined their co-occurrence and tox icity with other emerging contaminants, including their prevalence and ef fects in food, air, and soil. Using articles extracted from a six-year period from Scopus, ACS Publications and Google Scholar, this review explores the origins, fates, occurrence in the food chain, exposure routes, cellular interac tions of microplastics and nano-plastics, in addition to the ecotoxicological impacts, analytical methods, and the potential remedies for combating pollu tion and toxicity. Ultimately, this review is a comprehensive, updated adden dum to available reviews on micro- and nano-plastics.
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    PFAS: Ecological Implications, Remedial Actions and Ethical Considerations
    (Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment, 2023-08-31) Awolesi, Oluwafemi; Oni, Peter; Oshinowo, Abiodun; Olubusoye, Boluwatife S.; Owusu, Faustina; Pama, Simeon Sunday; Osobamiro, Temitope; Ongwech, Acaye; Awolesi, Omotoyosi; Arwenyo, Beatrice
    The C-F bond is one of the strongest in organic chemistry. It is responsible for the great stability of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as “PFAS”, a group of man-made chemicals that include perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Thermal stability, surface activity, dielectric characteristics, chemical resistance, and inertness are just a few of the technical advantages that this group has over hydrocarbons, and since the 1950s, these chemicals have been largely utilized in a variety of domestic and industrial endeavors. The hydrophilic and lipophilic nature of this class of chemicals accounts for its uniqueness. Up until today, the chemistry and ecotoxicology of these chemicals continue to emerge. Issues concerning the destructive power of ignorance expedited by an ineffective regulatory institution continue to show that manufacturing chemicals are insufficient without giving serious thought to issues of openness and humanity’s awareness of its own safety. When discussing the nature of humanity and how it can be defined or redefined, it is important to allude to the significance of integrating business with ethics in its various forms. This paper highlights the importance of holding polluters accountable for PFAS contamination cleanup costs while emphasizing the need for chemical manufacturers to test and disclose the health and environmental effects of PFAS compounds. In addition, the sources, types, properties, applications, distribution, toxicological implications, regulations, and analytical methods associated with PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are explored. The effectiveness of the remedial methods described in this paper needs to be progressively tested while exploring other sustainable approaches.