Rural Coastal Areas Research Articles

Study on factors affecting resilience behaviours of residents in coastal rural community management in response to typhoons

Coastal rural areas are highly vulnerable to a variety of climate-related disasters, including severe typhoons, extreme temperatures, and other environmental changes, each significantly damaging their ecosystems, economies, and communities. To more effectively predict, respond to, and recover from adverse events, and to maintain community stability and prosperity in these areas, building community resilience has become a central objective in coastal management. A comprehensive understanding of residents' resilience behaviours is essential for bolstering community resilience. Existing research primarily focuses on the causes and intervention strategies associated with residents' resilience, yet it neglects the mechanisms underlying residents' resilience behaviours. This study focuses on typhoon disasters in coastal rural areas, applying the Rural Coastal Community Resilience framework for the first time to expand typhoon resilience behaviours among coastal rural residents from five dimensions. It utilizes the widely recognized Theory of Planned Behaviour model, incorporating three critical variables essential for resilience building-risk perception, trust in community agencies, and community support-to analyse the mechanisms of resilience behaviours. The findings indicate that perceived behavioural control is the foremost predictor of resilience behaviours during typhoons and contrary to traditional views, trust in community agencies did not impact behavioural intentions positively. Moreover, community support, acting as a moderating factor, significantly facilitated the transformation from intentions to behaviours, highlighting the importance of external support. These innovative findings provide valuable strategies and insights for resilience building in coastal rural areas.

Winter thermal study in coastal rural dwellings: focus on elderly comfort in Chinese cold coastal regions

ABSTRACT With the continuous progress of China’s rural revitalization and the increasing aging population in coastal rural areas, it has become a research focus to make the indoor thermal environment more suitable for the elderly, especially in winter. This study took Qingdao’s coastal rural areas in the cold region of China as an example. A field survey was conducted in 110 coastal rural dwellings, and four typical dwellings were selected for on-site measurements. This study collected information on the characteristics of local residential buildings, the primary living spaces for the elderly, heating methods, and thermal satisfaction. It also documented the energy expenditure and thermal conditions of the surveyed dwellings. The research findings indicate that the current heating system, while capable of partially improving the indoor thermal environment, is still affected by poor thermal insulation performance. As a result, there are issues such as low average indoor temperature, significant temperature fluctuations, and overall thermal instability. The findings of this study provide comprehensive information on the heating modes used in coastal rural dwellings, and the results can be utilized to evaluate and further improve the thermal environment of dwellings in cold coastal rural areas.

Evolution and prediction of rural ecological environment quality in eastern coastal area of China

Introduction: Rural ecological environment construction, as a pivotal component of the rural revitalization strategy and ecological civilization construction strategy, plays an indispensable role in promoting sustainable agricultural development and safeguarding ecological security. An accurate assessment and prediction of Rural Ecological Environment Quality (REEQ) serves as the theoretical basis to achieving these goals, and provide scientific guidance for future rural ecological environment construction and planning. The field of regional ecology, proposed in the mid-20th century, represents an emerging interdisciplinary domain that integrates ecology, geography, and economics. It plays a pivotal role in addressing large-scale ecological challenges and fostering social sustainability. As global urbanization continues to advance, urban ecological environments undergo significant transformations under the pressures of intense human activities. Scholars have increasingly focused on the essence, evolutionary patterns, and causal mechanisms shaping urban ecological environment quality. Consequently, ecological environment assessments have evolved from singular pollution evaluations to comprehensive ecological appraisals. However, coastal rural area with complex geographical conditions and fragile ecological environments are often neglected and marginalized. Currently, there are few specialized evaluation systems for REEQ, making it difficult to accurately reveal the evolution pattern of rural ecological environment. This weakens its guidance on practical rural ecological environment governance and restoration.Methods: The Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model can simplify the identification process of driving factors for REEQ, reflect the feedback mechanism between indicators, and is conducive to scientific and accurate evaluation of REEQ. Therefore, we constructed an evaluation index system for REEQ based on the PSR. We measured REEQ in the eastern coastal area of China, analyzed its spatiotemporal characteristics and development trends, and used the obstacle degree model to identify obstacle factors. It is beneficial for rural areas to grasp the evolution laws of REEQ, provide theoretical basis for the formulation of sustainable development policies, and provide scientific policy recommendations.Results: Our findings indicate that: 1) From 2000 to 2020, REEQ in the eastern coastal area of China has continuously improved, with the index value increasing from 0.454 to 0.525, a total growth of 15.64%. The number of high-level REEQ areas increased from 0 to 29, showing a positive development trend. 2) High-density areas of REEQ in the eastern coastal area of China are concentrated in the northern parts of Guangdong and Zhejiang provinces. The center of REEQ has shifted from the southwest to the northeast. 3) The obstacle degrees of various criteria layers in REEQ are relatively stable, with the response subsystem being the highest, followed by the state and pressure subsystems. Forest coverage, per capita grain production, effective irrigation rate of farmland, afforestation area in the current year, per capita disposable income of rural residents, and per capita mechanical power of farmers are the main obstacle indicators. 4) From 2020 to 2035, REEQ in the eastern coastal area of China will continue to improve. The standard deviation ellipse will move towards the northwest, the center will shift from the southwest to the northeast, the rotation angle will slowly decrease, showing a northwestward trend.

Assessing Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior in Household Solid Waste Management in Northern Vietnam

Abstract Rapid urbanization and population growth in Northern Vietnam have exacerbated in domestic solid waste (DSW), posing environmental challenges. Law on environmental protection (2020) promoting source separation, a disconnect persists between policy and public action. This study addresses this gap by employing a Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior (KAB) approach to conduct a novel regional analysis of DSW management practices. A stratified random sampling design was utilized, with 1,000 people participating from five different regions of Northern Vietnam: delta rural areas, mountainous rural areas, coastal rural areas, tourism development areas, and urban areas. Data analytic techniques, including descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression analysis, were employed to uncover factors that influence DSW management behavior in each location. The research revealed significant regional variations in KAB aspects of DSW services. While positive attitudes towards responsible SWM practices (80% of people) were evident, the number of factors influencing DSW management varied (3-6) across regions. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, guiding the development of targeted interventions that align with national law. This paves the way for more effective, regionally-tailored waste management practices in Vietnam.

Need Assessment for Coastal Tourism Area in the Face of Tsunami Risk: The Case of Pangandaran

As the fourth world's longest coastline, coastal tourism has become a significant component of Indonesia’s economy. Approximately 57% of this coastline is prone to the deadliest coastal hazard, i.e., tsunami. The progressive development of the tourism industry has created a massive increase in built infrastructure, hotels, roads, electrical and water distribution systems, and an increased number of people, including tourists and tourism workers, in rural coastal tourism areas. Due to the tsunami threat, rural coastal tourism regions' economic and social development faces enormous potential losses in lives and infrastructure and disruption of economic activity, especially for small and medium business enterprises. However, this coastal tourism industry has failed to engage in proper disaster risk reduction strategy and tourism business resilient building in most tourist destination regions in Indonesia. To address these complex problems, this study explores the adaptation of the concept of Business Continuity Plan of a single enterprise to upscale to an area or zone, i.e., the Area Business Continuity Planning, to enhance the holistic disaster-resilient tourism industry in Indonesia, with Pangandaran as the study location. As a newly formed regency, Pangadaran is an emerging super-destination tourism area designated by national and provincial governments. This region experienced a devastating tsunami in 2006, and even today, its coastal communities live under the threat of tsunamis that South Java Megathrust can generate. Based on an in-depth and holistic study, this study finds the Pangandaran coastal tourism resilience level, recognizing critical stakeholders and identifying the collaborative BCP strategies in Pangandaran.

Adequate iodine nutrition and higher salt intake in Chinese adults aged 18–59 years recommended by international organizations

Iodine deficiency and excessive salt intake have adverse health effects. This study evaluated the iodine level and salt intake in Chinese adults aged 18–59 years after implementing the salt reduction program and compared with both the World Health Organization (WHO) and Chinese recommendations. Adults aged 18–59 years were randomly selected using multi-stage stratified random sampling in coastal urban area (CUA), non-coastal urban area (Non-CUA), coastal rural area (CRA), and non-coastal rural area (Non-CRA) of Fujian Province, China. Iodine, sodium, and creatinine concentrations in spot urine samples were measured. Knudsen equation was used to determine 24-h urinary iodine and sodium excretion. The median urinary iodine concentration (mUIC) and urinary sodium concentration (mUNaC) among adults (n = 3513) were 132.0 μg/L and 4.0 g/d, respectively. The mUIC and median daily iodine intake in CUA, Non-CUA, CRA and Non-CRA were 112.1, 127.5, 128.5, 167.5 μg/L and 189.6, 182.5, 199.4, 236.0 μg/d, respectively. The mUNaC and median daily salt intake (mDSI) in these four areas were 2.4, 2.8, 2.9, 2.9 g/L and 9.8, 10.4, 10.4, 10.6 g/d, respectively. The mUIC and DII of residents were higher in the Non-CRA than in the other three areas (P < 0.05). The UNaC and DSI of residents were lower in the CUA than in the other three areas (P < 0.05). The logistic regression demonstrated that the people living in CUA and Non-CUA consumed less salt compared with those in Non-CRA. Except for Non-CUA, the DII was lower (< 150 μg/d) among women of childbearing age in the low–salt intake group (< 5 g/d) compared with the high–salt intake group (≥ 5 g/d) (P < 0.05). Iodine nutrition in Chinese adults aged 18–59 years was sufficient, but the salt intake was substantially higher than the WHO and Chinese recommendations. Further policy implementation is needed to reduce salt intake and improve the monitoring of iodine levels in Chinese adults, especially in women of childbearing age.

Promoting the itemized educational spending of rural coastal households in Bangladesh through unconditional cash and food assistance

AbstractThe vulnerable households in the rural coastal regions of Bangladesh have been suffering from chronic poverty because of a lack of resources to invest in the human capital development, such as education and training. The unconditional cash and food (UCF) assistance programs in Bangladesh have been designed to combat chronic poverty. This study examines the impact of the UCF assistance receipt on the itemized educational spending: the total spending on education, school tiffin, educational stationery, uniforms, admission fees, examinations, textbooks, education-related Internet, and education-related transportation by the households. A Fuzzy regression discontinuity design (RDD) is used as an identification strategy, in which the assignment variable is the land ownership by the households. The RDD method is based on the idea that the households just below and above the cutoff of the assignment variable are locally randomized, therefore free from any selection bias. The results consistently show that the UCF assistance increases the spending on all educational items, except for textbooks and education-related transportation. This study suggests that the UCF assistance can be used as a policy tool to accelerate the sustainable development goal of inclusive quality education for rural coastal areas by increasing the itemized spending on education.

Advancing Development: The Impact of Geoscience Education in Nigeria’s Rural Coastal Areas of the Niger Delta Region

The Niger Delta region of Nigeria is a significant ecological and environmental zone that is classified as a rural coastal area. The development of this region is critical to Nigeria’s socio-economic growth. One of the key factors that have been identified to have a significant impact on the development of this region is geosciences education. Geoscience education helps to develop a better understanding of the natural environment, including the processes that have shaped it and the various resources available to it. This abstract presents an analysis of the impact of geoscience education in the rural coastal areas of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. A review of existing literature on geosciences education and its impact on the development of rural coastal areas was conducted. The results show that geoscience education has significant potential in the development of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The research also indicates that geoscience education enhances awareness of the environmental challenges facing the region, engenders better adaptation to climate change, and underscores the importance of natural resources. Furthermore, geoscience education improves the competitiveness of the rural coastal area residents in the area of agriculture, fisheries, mining, and tourism. Therefore, it is recommended that geoscience education should be included in the curriculum of primary and secondary schools in the rural coastal areas of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. As well as providing more opportunities for tertiary education and training in relevant geoscience subjects. Furthermore, the importance of these subjects should be widely publicized among community leaders, stakeholders, and residents to ensure they understand the positive impact on education and their development.

Sustainable FLM transport based on IPF transport by ferry in coastal rural areas: A case from Sweden

With the increased emission requirements in Europe over the past century the role of Integrated Passenger and Freight (IPF) transport for sustainable first- and last mile (FLM) transport have increased. IPF transport by ferry has the potential to increase sustainability in FLM transport in coastal rural areas. A literature review followed by a single case study was conducted to examine six core elements of IPF transport by ferry for improvement of environmental, economic, and social- sustainable FLM transport in a Swedish coastal rural areas. In addition to the literature review, empirical data was collected from a total of 346 semi-structured interviews with passengers (i.e., visitors, tourists, residents), goods owners and policymakers, observations (at ferries, piers) and a hackathon. The study show that environmental sustainable FLM transport could be improved by increasing usage of free capacity in ferries, and improved planning of the IPF transport by ferry. The study indicate improved environmental sustainable FLM transport linked to introduction of electrical ferries for IPF transport. Economic sustainable FLM transport related to the long-term viability of IPF transport by ferry could be improved by enhanced compliance between traffic planning programs and the execution of FLM transport in coastal rural areas, and adjustment of passengers' one-way ticket fare of IPF transport. The study suggest introduction of modul-based ferries to improve economic sustainability of FLM transport based on IPF transport by ferry. To improve social sustainability of FLM transport, safety risks in IPF transport of bicycles, management of freight and passengers at piers, accessibility of passengers and goods owners at piers should be considered. The study indicate improvement of social sustainabiltility related to accessibility of passengers and goods owners at piers.

Traditional Fish Farming Based on Indigenous Knowledge in Homestead Pond Can Uplift Socioeconomic Status of Coastal Rural People and Sustainability

In a time of environmental degradation and increasing demand for safe food production, traditional fish farming is gaining global attention. Utilizing indigenous agricultural methods founded on traditional knowledge contributes to sustainability by safeguarding the ecosystem and preserving biodiversity. However, it is still less studied whether traditional farming systems based on indigenous knowledge currently in place are improving the socioeconomic conditions of farmers. Hence, this study was conducted with the following objectives: (i) to reveal the present status of traditional fish farming systems, (ii) to define the socioeconomic profile of the farmers, (iii) to identify the problems associated with traditional fish farming, and (iv) to show the inter-relationship between fish farming and socioeconomic development. For achieving these objectives, data were collected from 100 small-scale fish farmers from a rural coastal area of Bangladesh through a well-structured questionnaire, focus group discussion, and cross-check interviews. Our findings showed that most of the homestead ponds were small-sized (44%) and shallow (61%) where a polyculture system was prevalent (91%). The majority of the ponds (77%) were found to be perennial, 60% of which had single ownership. Socioeconomic data revealed that the highest number of farmers (42%) earned 1000.00 to 1500.00 USD annually, and 62% of the respondents took fish farming as their secondary occupation. Among the farmers, 62% had primary education, whereas 7% had no education, and only 26% of the farmers had official training in fish farming, indicating that culture management was mainly based on indigenous knowledge. A total of 55% of the farmers had 5 to 10 family members, and 80% of them lived in joint families. Furthermore, 40% of the farmers owned tin shed houses, whereas the maximum (60%) utilized katcha toilets. However, almost half of the farmers (57%) utilized their own funds for fish farming, and the majority (90%) had access to their own tube well. The study found that the biggest obstacles to fish farming were pressure from large families, a lack of education and training, a lack of quality seed and feed, outbreaks of fish diseases, an inadequate supply of water during the dry season, and a lack of adequate funding. However, Pearson correlation showed that there was a significant positive association between age and experience (r = 0.908, p &lt; 0.01) and age and income (r = 0.326, p &lt; 0.01). Multiple regression analyses also demonstrated that age and experience in fish farming played a significant role in increased annual income. In conclusion, 94% of the respondents claimed that fish farming had improved their socioeconomic situation. Homestead pond fish farming through indigenous knowledge increased household fish consumption with a source of protein and micronutrients, improved dietary diversity, and generated extra household income, which inferred their better sustenance.

Building resilience to extreme weather and climate events in the rural water and wastewater sectors

AbstractExtreme weather and climate events pose significant risks to rural water and wastewater systems. We examine the vulnerability of the water sector to weather and climate extremes in rural, predominantly Indigenous and underserved coastal areas and analyze how networks support resilience. Drawing on the analysis of 39 web‐based questionnaire responses and 19 interviews with rural water and wastewater managers and service providers in southern Louisiana and western Alaska, this article reports a range of interrelated historical, environmental, and social factors that influence vulnerability to extreme weather events. Formal and informal social networks serve multiple roles in building resilience. These roles include building technical and financial capacities, supporting emergency response and operational‐ to long‐term planning, fostering data collection and monitoring, supporting information sharing and innovative research, and providing institutional support. Results from this research enrich our understanding of the social, relational, and networking processes that condition community resilience to extreme weather events.

PPCPs in coastal wastewater treatment plant effluent and uptake by Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas): Findings from a laboratory experiment

Municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent is a primary source of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) to the marine environment, as most of these compounds are not fully removed during the treatment process. Continual discharge from WWTPs into coastal areas may act as a stressor by continually exposing organisms to a suite of PPCPs. To quantify organismal exposure to PPCP mixtures, we conducted a 12-week lab experiment that exposed Pacific oysters to effluent from two Oregon coastal WWTPs of different discharge capacities (permitted as <1 million gallons/day and >1 million gallons/day; or < or >3.785 million liters/day) at a dilution of 25 %. Composite samples of weekly collected effluent and a subset of freeze-dried oysters from experiment week 12 were analyzed for PPCPs. Though challenges with food availability inhibited our ability to confidently identify effects of the contaminants on growth and fitness, the experiment allowed us to examine uptake of contaminants from effluent into an estuarine bivalve of commercial importance. We detected 30 PPCPs and three alkylphenols in effluent and 13 PPCPs and four alkylphenols in oyster tissue, indicating high rates of release from secondary treatment and significant potential for marine organism exposure to and uptake of PPCPs in rural coastal areas.

Child feeding practices of mothers of rural coastal area of Navsari district

Poor feeding habits are one of the most serious barriers to achieving and preserving health of children under the age of five, as they pose a significant challenge to social and economic growth. To know the socio-demographic profile and to study the prevalence of Infant and young child feeding practices of mothers A cross-sectional study in rural areas of Navsari district, Gujarat, included 243 women, who had one child aged 12 to 23 months preceding data collection. Data were analyzed using statistical software Epi Info 6. About 32% of the infants had received pre-lacteals feeds, most common feed was Gripe water (44.9%). The colostrum was fed by 90 % mothers. Half of mothers had initiated breast-feeding within 1 hour after delivery. Only 88 mothers (36.2%) had given exclusive breast-feeding for 6 months. About half of children had received complementary feeding during 6–9 months of age. Most of the mothers (96.7%) were washing their hands before each feeding of the child whereas 61.7 % were cooking special meal for the child. Majority of mothers (93.8%) think that breast-feeding should be continued for 1 to 2 years. Continuing to emphasise nutrition education could go a long way toward empowering mothers to avoid using pre-lacteal feeds, to sustain exclusive breastfeeding for a prescribed period, to incorporate complementary foods at the appropriate time, and to enhance overall child-care through optimum use of community health workers.

Perceptions of Community-Based Waste Bank Operators and Customers on Its Establishment and Operationalization: Cases in Pangandaran, Indonesia

There is a lack of awareness and understanding of how to manage waste effectively in Indonesia, especially in coastal rural areas. This paper discusses the important issues in waste management and proposes effective waste management practices in Indonesia. This paper also provides a case study involving the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the waste bank project in Pangandaran, Indonesia, and its impact on the community, reflected by the perceptions of its operators and customers, which was achieved through several questionnaires. The results showed that waste banks are a viable option to manage waste in Pangandaran. This is based on the finding that waste banks have created employment opportunities and raised awareness among the community about how to manage waste effectively. The waste bank also enables its members to earn income from recycling, which provides benefits to the community and encourages further participation in the waste bank program. The most important finding is that community-based projects can provide engagement-generating value to communities and can be sustainably run by the community independently and in the long term. Nevertheless, the success and operational sustainability of waste banks are affected by many factors, hence endorsement from municipal authorities, non-profit entities, corporations, and additional interested parties is needed.

Knowledge about Pregnancy and Reproductive Health among Pregnant Women in Rural Coastal Areas of East Java, Indonesia

Knowledge about Pregnancy and Reproductive Health among Pregnant Women in Rural Coastal Areas of East Java, Indonesia

Morphology and phase state of PM2.5 in urban and coastal-rural areas during summer

The morphology and phase state are critical physical properties of aerosol particles. However, studies related to the analysis of these properties primarily focus on laboratory experiments, and studies on real aerosol particles are limited. Herein, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) filter samples were obtained to investigate and compare the morphology and phase state of ambient aerosol particles in South Korea. The PM2.5 samples were collected in the summer of June 2021 from two different environments: Seoul (urban) and Seosan (coastal-rural). Optical microscopy was combined with the poke-and-flow technique to determine the morphology and phase state of the PM2.5 as a function of relative humidity (RH) at 293 ± 1 K. At both sites, the PM2.5 droplets, which were extracted in purified water, showed a multiphase nature that was dependent on the RH and chemical composition. Based on the results and ambient average RH in Seoul, most of the PM2.5 was observed in a liquid state on polluted days under an inorganic-dominant condition, but in a semisolid state on clean days under an organic carbon-rich condition. In Seosan, the PM2.5 predominantly existed in a liquid state, due to the high RH caused by proximity to the Yellow Sea. Our study provides fundamental physical properties of PM2.5 for both urban and coastal-rural environments. The results have strong applications for atmospheric chemistry and predicting particle size distributions.

Prevalence of elevated blood pressure and hypertension and its associated factors among children attending high schools in a rural panchayath of Kerala

Abstract CONTEXT: Hypertension (HTN) in childhood and adolescence causes premature atherosclerosis and early cardiovascular disease. Although asymptomatic, they may have target organ damage. In 2017, the American Academy of Pediatrics updated the Clinical Practice Guideline for screening and managing high blood pressure (BP) in children and adolescents. However, no published studies from India have utilized this updated criterion for pediatric HTN. The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic forced many children to spend long hours indoors, with increased exposure to digital devices and decreased physical activity. Hence, this study was done to assess the prevalence of HTN among children and to find associated risk factors. AIMS: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of elevated BP and HTN among children attending high schools of a rural panchayath in Kerala, to evaluate the anthropometric and epidemiological factors associated with elevated BP among them, and to find the prevalence of obesity among these children. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This is a school-based cross-sectional study conducted among students attending high schools in Ambalappuzha North panchayat of Alappuzha, Kerala. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted over 9 months from November 2022 to July 2023. Consent was requested from parents of all children (N = 847) studying in high schools. Children who provided assent and met the inclusion–exclusion criteria were enrolled (N = 576). Data were collected using a pre-validated semi-structured questionnaire. Children were interviewed about their lifestyle, including physical activity, sleep, diet, and exposure to smoking. Height and weight were recorded, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. BP was measured using a digital oscillometric apparatus (OMRON HEM 7143T1A). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 16 software. RESULTS: The study population comprised 345 boys and 231 girls. Elevated BP affected 12.3%, while stage I HTN affected 0.7% of the screened children. Additionally, 16% of the screened children were overweight, 8% were obese, and 7.5% were undernourished. The prevalence of abnormal BP (elevated BP + HTN) was 10.3% among children with normal BMI, 18.47% among overweight. and 26.08% among obese children. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated BP, HTN, obesity, and overweight are prevalent among adolescent children in Ambalappuzha North Panchayath, a rural coastal area. High BMI correlates with elevated BP and HTN and should be the focus of interventions.

Dynamics of microplastic transport and accumulation in a rural coastal area: Insights from the Otsuchi Bay, a small ria in Sanriku, Japan

Microplastic (MP) pollution in coastal areas has received increasing attention recently. However, studies focused on MP pollution in rural coastal areas remain limited compared to those in metropolitan coastal areas. This study observed MP particles accumulated on the seafloor of the Otsuchi Bay, a small ria bay located on the Pacific coast, Sanriku, Japan. The MP concentrations in the sediment ranged from 2.6 ± 0.3 to 13.6 ± 9.8 pcs g−1 dry weight (DW) and 2.6 ± 1.4 to 5.1 ± 1.2 pcs g−1 DW in March and September 2021, respectively. No significant difference in MP concentrations was detected between March and September. The MP concentration in the Otsuchi Bay was lower than that observed in other highly populated coastal areas but was relatively high considering the population size of the catchment area. MP particles smaller than 1000μm were the most prevalent, accounting for 96.3% of all MP samples. MP size at the bay head was smaller than that at the central bay for high-density MPs; however, the relationship was reversed for low-density MPs. Analysis of the MP distribution pattern using a two-dimensional numerical model suggests that the horizontal distribution of MPs in the Otsuchi Bay depends on the size and density of MP particles. It is also strongly influenced by both the tidal oscillating currents characteristic to the bay and vertical terminal velocity of MP particles. Sedimented MP distributions in a bay with a small catchment population with limited MP sources shed light on our understanding of MP transport dynamics.

Continuous electrocoagulation treatment system for partial desalination of tropical brackish peat water in Sarawak coastal peatlands

Sarawak coastal peatlands located on Borneo Island have vast availability of brackish peat water sources especially in some coastal rural areas. However, brackish peat water is currently underutilized as the source for water treatment plants due to excessive salinity levels. As such, this study aims to investigate the salinity reduction in brackish peat water sources for domestic consumption in Sarawak coastal peatlands by utilizing continuous electrocoagulation treatment with aluminium electrodes. Correspondingly, this study analyzes the effects of salinity percentage, electric current, and flow rate on salinity reduction with electrocoagulation treatment. This study has found that the treated salinity levels in brackish peat water with 30 % of salinity percentage meet the Malaysia Class I in National Water Quality Standard. The study has also identified both monolayer and multilayer adsorption that occurs in electrocoagulation treatment as the precursor to salinity reduction. In addition, the presence of in-situ aluminium hydroxide coagulants could adsorb some sodium chloride from brackish peat water with 70 % of salinity percentage at 2503 mg/g of maximum adsorption capacity and 2.65 min−1 of adsorption rate. This study has also found that electrocoagulation treatment could achieve 91.78 % of maximum salinity reduction efficiency at an optimum electric current of 5 A and flow rate of 1.2 L/min in brackish peat water with 30 % of salinity percentage. This treatment system costs only Ringgit Malaysia (RM) 0.29 or United States Dollars (USD) 0.06 per meter cubic of treated brackish peat water. Overall, this study demonstrates that continuous electrocoagulation treatment could partially desalinate brackish peat water with 30 % of salinity percentage in which the treated salinity levels could be utilized for domestic consumption in Sarawak coastal peatlands at reasonable cost.

PS-P03-6: SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC AS ATTRIBUTABLE RISK FACTORS OF PREHYPERTENSION: A POPULATION STUDY FROM URBAN AND RURAL

Background: Prehypertension is undetected and considered a precursor of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Prehypertension can be attributed not only to diet patterns and lifestyle but also to the basic cause such as sociodemographic factors. Understanding the sociodemographic factor and its relationship with prehypertension can adjust the best prevention action to control the rise of prehypertension. We aim to investigate the association between sociodemographic factors with prehypertension among healthy adults. Method: Cross-sectional study was conducted from 2016 to 2018 and involved 653 healthy adults 19 to 64 years of age in urban and rural areas in a province in Indonesia. The urban represented the most populated urban area and the rural represented lowland, mountainous, and coastal areas. The pregnant or breastfed woman was excluded. Data collection included sociodemographic, namely gender, age, educational degree, occupation, family history of diseases, smoking history, and dwelling area. A blood pressure of 120 to 139 mmHg (systolic) or 80 to 89 mmHg (diastolic) was classified as prehypertension. Logistic regression was run to determine the factors that influenced prehypertension. Result: Subjects were dominated by females (62.2%) and the prevalence of prehypertension was 66.5%. Gender, age, occupation, smoking history, and dwelling area were associated with prehypertension. Being female increased the risk 3.1 times higher of prehypertension than male (p &lt; 0.001, 95% CI 2.1–4.5). The middle adult had a 2.9 times higher risk of prehypertension than early adults (p &lt; 0.001, 95% CI 1.8–4.7), while no significant risk for the elderly compared to early adults. Civil servants or private officers had a 1.9 times higher risk of prehypertension than unemployed/housewives/students (p &lt; 0.001, 95% CI 1.3–2.7). Smokers increased a 1.6 times higher risk of prehypertension than non-smokers (p = 0.018, 95% CI 1.1–2.3). Adults who were living in urban had a 1.5 times higher risk of prehypertension than adults in rural (p = 0.026, 95% CI 1.1–2.0). Conclusion: Being female, middle adult, working as civil servants or private officers, being active smokers, and living in urban were significant risk factors for prehypertension. The importance of designing different interventions which were suitable for the different sociodemographic backgrounds is important to control blood pressure. Keywords: sociodemographic, prehypertension, adults, urban, rural