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Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous pollutants in various environmental matrices. In this study, 82 road dust samples collected from Myanmar and Taiwan between 2014 and 2018 were analyzed to investigate the status of MPs pollution and distribution. In Myanmar, the mean abundances of MPs in road dust were high in cities, such as Nay Pyi Taw (285 pieces /kg dry weight), Mandalay (79 pieces/ kg), and Yangon (63 pieces / kg). Alternatively, no MPs were found in samples from the rural areas, Wundwin and Bagan. The mean MP abundance was 555 pieces/ kg in road dust from Taiwan, which was two to nine times that of road dust from Myanmar. Polyethylene and polypropylene were the dominant polymers detected in road dust from Myanmar, whereas polyvinyl chloride was a major component in road dust from Taiwan. These results suggest that differences in economic and industrial activities and population densities are related to MP profiles in road dust. The plastic additives butylated hydroxytoluene, diethyl phthalate, and di-n-octyl phthalate were identified in a polyvinyl chloride MP in the road dust. These MPs originate from plastic products in the environment and lead to extensive pollution with hazardous chemicals. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report the occurrence of MPs in road dust from Myanmar.

Microplastics (MPs) distributions have been increasingly reported in the terrestrial areas worldwide but a little information is available for ASEAN regions. In this study, 68 sediment samples of drainage channels, lakes, rivers and beach from Myanmar were collected between 2014 and 2018, and analyzed to investigate the status of MPs concentration and prevalence. The high concentrations of MPs in sediments were found in urban cities called Yangon (13,855 pieces/kg dry weight), Mandalay (11,946 pieces/kg), and Pathein (12,583 pieces/kg), which were two orders of magnitude greater than the MPs concentrations in sediments collected in rural towns called Wundwin. These results suggested that difference in high population densities and high municipal solid waste generation rate are related to the MPs contamination in sediments. Polyethylene, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate with fragments, lines/fibers and films/sheets were major polymers and shape in the sediment samples analyzed from Myanmar. To our knowledges, this is the first study to report the distribution of MPs in sediments from Myanmar.

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Background. Unplanned readmission to hospital is common among older adults and contributes to considerable healthcare costs and hospital-associated complications. We aimed to identify predictors of 30-day post-discharge unplanned readmission among older adults in our subacute geriatric ward, and to determine the prevalence of geriatric syndromes and develop a new predictive model for readmission of subacute geriatric patients.Methods: Consecutive patients admitted to our subacute geriatric ward between June 2018 and June 2019 were invited to participate. Data collected included patient age, sex, weight, height, race, type of housing, destination upon discharge, functional and frailty status, presence of conduits (urinary catheters and nasogastric tubes), polypharmacy, high-risk medications, healthcare utilisation 6 months prior, laboratory test results, length of hospital stay, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and LACE index. Patients were assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment -Short Form, Geriatric Depression Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination, Clinical Frailty Scale, FRAIL scale, modified Barthel Index, hand grip strength, and gait speed. Patients with or without 30-day post-discharge unplanned readmission were compared. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors. Results: Of 284 patients followed up at 30 days post-discharge, 63 (22.2%) had unplanned hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge, with associated factors being history of myocardial infarction, moderate or severe liver or renal disease, low albumin level, history of emergency department visits, hospitalisation in the preceding 6 months, and discharge to a destination other than home. The prevalence of geriatric syndromes of falls, frailty, and immobility was 62.3%, 64.7%, and 86.6%, respectively. Independent predictors of 30-day post-discharge unplanned readmission were history of hospitalisation in the preceding 6 months (odds ratio=2.62, p=0.045) and discharge destination other than home (odds ratio=3.10, p=0.006). The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve for the predictive models was between 0.6 and 0.7, and Brier score was around 0.16. The discrimination ability of the models was weak. Conclusion:History of hospitalisation in the preceding 6 months and not being discharged to home were independent predictors for 30-day post-discharge unplanned readmission.