Dr Md Meftaul Islam
Research Associate
Global Centre for Environmental Remediation
Career Summary
Biography
Dr Md Meftaul Islam is an agricultural scientist with significant experience in agrochemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) and trace elements contamination, remediation, contaminant-microbe interactions, bioavailability and bioaccessibility, and food safety. He also engages in research on packaging, shelf life, and postharvest management of horticultural crops. His current research focuses on fate and behavior, particularly sorption-desorption, degradation, food safety, and human and environmental health risk assessment of pesticides in a wide ranges of urban soils.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Remedication, University of Newcastle
- Master of Science in Horticulture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University
Keywords
- Agrochemicals
- Contaminant Bioavailability/Bioaccessibility
- Environmental Health Risk Assessment
- Food safety
- Human Health Risk Assessment
- Packaging and shelf life of agricultural products
- Postharvest management
- Urban pesticides
Languages
- Bengali (Mother)
- English (Fluent)
Fields of Research
Code | Description | Percentage |
---|---|---|
300401 | Agrochemicals and biocides (incl. application) | 50 |
410402 | Environmental assessment and monitoring | 30 |
401411 | Packaging, storage and transportation (excl. food and agricultural products) | 20 |
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
Title | Organisation / Department |
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Research Associate | University of Newcastle Global Centre for Environmental Remediation Australia |
Academic appointment
Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
---|---|---|
2/2/2023 - | Guest Associate Editor | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems Switzerland |
26/5/2022 - | Associate Professor | Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka Agricultural Chemistry Bangladesh |
26/5/2015 - 25/5/2022 | Assistant Professor | Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka Agricultural Chemistry Bangladesh |
26/5/2013 - 25/5/2015 | Lecturer | Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka Agricultural Chemistry Bangladesh |
Awards
Award
Year | Award |
---|---|
2019 |
Academic Deans' Award Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University |
Scholarship
Year | Award |
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2022 |
CleanUp 2022 Conference Scholarship CRC CARE Pty Ltd |
2022 |
HDR COVID-19 Support scholarship The University of Newcastle |
2021 |
HDR COVID-19 Support scholarship The University of Newcastle |
2019 |
CleanUp 2019 Conference Scholarship CRC CARE Pty Ltd |
2017 |
University of Newcastle International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (UNIPRS) & UNRS Central Scholarship The University of Newcastle |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Journal article (21 outputs)
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2024 |
Jubayer F, Kayshar S, Arifin S, Parven A, Khan SI, Meftaul IM, 'Nutritional health of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh: Conceptualizing a multilevel action framework focusing the COVID-19', Nutrition and Health, 30 21-25 (2024) [C1]
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2024 |
Parven A, Md Meftaul I, Venkateswarlu K, Gopalan S, Megharaj M, 'Pre-emergence herbicides widely used in urban and farmland soils: fate, and potential human and environmental health risks', Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 46 (2024) [C1] We determined the distribution, fate, and health hazards of dimethenamid-P, metazachlor, and pyroxasulfone, the effective pre-emergence herbicides widely used both in urban and ag... [more] We determined the distribution, fate, and health hazards of dimethenamid-P, metazachlor, and pyroxasulfone, the effective pre-emergence herbicides widely used both in urban and agricultural settings globally. The rate-determining phase of sorption kinetics of these herbicides in five soils followed a pseudo-second-order model. Freundlich isotherm model indicated that the herbicides primarily partition into heterogeneous surface sites on clay minerals and organic matter (OM) and diffuse into soil micropores. Principal component analysis revealed that soil OM (R2, 0.47), sand (R2, 0.56), and Al oxides (R2, 0.33) positively correlated with the herbicide distribution coefficient (Kd), whereas clay (R2, ¿ 0.43), silt (R2, ¿ 0.51), Fe oxides (R2, ¿ 0.02), alkaline pH (R2, ¿ 0.57), and EC (R2, ¿ 0.03) showed a negative correlation with the Kd values. Decomposed OM rich in C=O and C¿H functional groups enhanced herbicide sorption, while undecomposed/partially-decomposed OM facilitated desorption process. Also, the absence of hysteresis (H, 0.27¿0.88) indicated the enhanced propensity of herbicide desorption in soils. Leachability index (LIX, < 0.02¿0.64) and groundwater ubiquity score (GUS, 0.02¿3.59) for the soils suggested low to moderate leaching potential of the herbicides to waterbodies, indicating their impact on water quality, nontarget organisms, and food safety. Hazard quotient and hazard index data for human adults and adolescents suggested that exposure to soils contaminated with herbicides via dermal contact, ingestion, and inhalation poses minimal to no non-carcinogenic risks. These insights can assist farmers in judicious use of herbicides and help the concerned regulatory authorities in monitoring the safety of human and environmental health. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.)
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2024 |
Wang L, Cheng Y, Meftaul IM, Luo F, Kabir MA, Doyle R, et al., 'Advancing Soil Health: Challenges and Opportunities in Integrating Digital Imaging, Spectroscopy, and Machine Learning for Bioindicator Analysis', Analytical Chemistry, [C1]
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2023 |
Meftaul IM, Venkateswarlu K, Annamalai P, Parven A, Megharaj M, 'Degradation of four pesticides in five urban landscape soils: human and environmental health risk assessment', Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 45 1599-1614 (2023) [C1] Pesticides are the most cost-effective means of pest control; however, the serious concern is about the non-target effects due to their extensive and intensive use in both agricul... [more] Pesticides are the most cost-effective means of pest control; however, the serious concern is about the non-target effects due to their extensive and intensive use in both agricultural and non-agricultural settings. The degradation rate constant (k) and half-life (DT50) of four commonly used pesticides, glyphosate, 2,4-D, chlorothalonil and dimethoate were determined in five Australian urban landscape soils, with varying physicochemical characteristics, to assess their environmental and human health risks. The k values (day-1) for the selected pesticides were inversely proportional to those of organic carbon (OC), silt, clay and Fe and Al oxides, and directly proportional to pH and sand content in soils. In contrast, the calculated values of DT50 (days) of all the four pesticides in five soils positively correlated with OC, clay, silt and oxides of Fe and Al, whereas soil pH and sand content exhibited a negative correlation. The calculated values of environmental indices, GUS and LIX, for the selected pesticides indicate their potential portability into water bodies, affecting non-target organisms as well as food safety. The evaluation for human non-cancer risk of these pesticides, based on the calculated values of hazard quotient¿(HQ) and hazard index¿(HI), suggested that exposure of adults and children to soils, contaminated with 50% of initially applied concentrations, through ingestion, dermal and inhalation pathways might cause negligible to zero non-carcinogenic risks. The present data might help the stakeholders in applying recommended doses of pesticides in urban landscapes and regulatory bodies concerned in monitoring the overall environmental quality and implementing safeguard policies. Our study also clearly demonstrates the need for developing improved formulations and spraying technologies for pesticides to minimize human and environmental health risks. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]
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2023 |
Soeb MJA, Jubayer MF, Tarin TA, Al Mamun MR, Ruhad FM, Parven A, et al., 'Tea leaf disease detection and identification based on YOLOv7 (YOLO-T)', Scientific Reports, 13 [C1]
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2023 |
Laboni FA, Ahmed MW, Kaium A, Alam MK, Parven A, Jubayer MF, et al., 'Heavy Metals in Widely Consumed Vegetables Grown in Industrial Areas of Bangladesh: a Potential Human Health Hazard', BIOLOGICAL TRACE ELEMENT RESEARCH, 201 995-1005 (2023) [C1]
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2023 |
Ahmed MW, Khan MSI, Parven A, Rashid MH, Md Meftaul I, 'Vitamin-A enriched yogurt through fortification of pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima): A potential alternative for preventing blindness in children', Heliyon, 9 e15039-e15039 (2023) [C1]
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2023 |
Afrin S, Alam MK, Ahmed MW, Parven A, Jubayer MF, Megharaj M, et al., 'Determination and probabilistic health risk assessment of heavy metals in widely consumed market basket fruits from Dhaka city Bangladesh', INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, [C1]
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2023 |
Mohana AA, Rahman MA, Rahaman MH, Maniruzzaman M, Farhad SM, Islam MM, et al., 'Okra Micro-Cellulose Crystal (MCC) and Micro-Clay Composites for the Remediation of Copper, Nickel, and Dye (Basic Yellow II) from Wastewater', Reactions, 4 342-358 [C1]
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2023 |
Jubayer MF, Kayshar MS, Kabir MF, Arifin MS, Islam MA, Rahman MM, et al., 'COVID-19 knowledge, attitude, practices, and associated factors among Bangladeshi food handlers from various food industries', Public Health in Practice, 5 100375-100375 (2023) [C1]
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2023 |
Meftaul IM, Venkateswarlu K, Parven A, Annamalai P, Megharaj M, 'Human health risk assessment of pesticides in lettuce and spinach grown in urban backyard garden soils', Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 115 104977-104977 (2023) [C1]
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2022 |
Surja AS, Limon MTI, Soeb MJA, Arifin MS, Islam MM, Kayshar MS, et al., 'Artificial intelligence-enabled rapid and symptom-based medication recommendation system (COV-MED) for the COVID-19 patients', Journal of Ideas in Health, 5 (2022) [C1]
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2021 |
Parven A, Khan MSI, Prodhan MDH, Venkateswarlu K, Megharaj M, Meftaul IM, 'Human health risk assessment through quantitative screening of insecticide residues in two green beans to ensure food safety', Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 103 (2021) [C1] Food contamination with pesticide residues is a serious concern, particularly in developing countries. The study analyzed samples of country bean (Lablab purpureus L.) and yard lo... [more] Food contamination with pesticide residues is a serious concern, particularly in developing countries. The study analyzed samples of country bean (Lablab purpureus L.) and yard long bean (Vigna unguiculata L.) for residues of widely used insecticides to ensure food safety. We used a modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) extraction method followed by gas chromatography (GC)-flame thermionic detector (FTD) for quantitative estimation of pesticide residues. Mostly, the residues of chlorpyrifos, dimethoate and quinalphos were found in 11 and 14 % of country bean and yard long bean samples, respectively. About 50 % of the insecticide-contaminated bean samples contained residues above the maximum residue limit (MRL), which warrants a caution about the extensive and intensive use of pesticides in modern agriculture. The general claim of pesticide adulteration could contribute to the widespread occurrence of several insecticides in beans that threatens food safety. The assessment for chronic non-cancer health risk, based on estimated daily intake (EDI) and hazard quotient (HQ), suggests that the consumption of insecticide-contaminated beans poses potential threat to the health of adults (EDI: 2.79 × 10-4¿2.96 × 10-4 and HQ: 0.56¿0.59) as well as children (EDI: 9.79 × 10-4¿1.77 × 10¿3 and HQ: 1.96¿3.55). Overall, our results clearly indicate that around 50 % of insecticide-contaminated bean samples, available at various local markets in Bogura district of Bangladesh, may cause health risks in humans. The present observations might help the regulatory authorities concerned in setting new guidelines for the limits of pesticide residues in commonly used bean vegetables, and in monitoring the quality of commercial formulations.
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2021 |
Nisha US, Khan MSI, Prodhan MDH, Meftaul IM, Begum N, Parven A, et al., 'Quantification of Pesticide Residues in Fresh Vegetables Available in Local Markets for Human Consumption and the Associated Health Risks', AGRONOMY-BASEL, 11 (2021) [C1]
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2021 |
Meftaul IM, Venkateswarlu K, Annamalai P, Parven A, Sobhani Z, Megharaj M, 'Behavior and fate of fungicide chlorothalonil in urban landscape soils and associated environmental concern', Journal of Environmental Science and Health - Part B Pesticides, Food Contaminants, and Agricultural Wastes, 56 1066-1077 (2021) [C1] This novel study investigated the behavior and fate of chlorothalonil in terms of kinetics, sorption¿desorption and leaching potential in urban landscape soils using batch experim... [more] This novel study investigated the behavior and fate of chlorothalonil in terms of kinetics, sorption¿desorption and leaching potential in urban landscape soils using batch experiments. The pseudo-second-order model well described the sorption kinetics of chlorothalonil in urban soils. Consequently, chlorothalonil was partitioned into heterogeneous surfaces of soil following the Freundlich isotherm model. According to PCA, soil organic matter (OM), silt, clay, and oxides of Al and Fe exhibited a significant positive correlation (P < 0.05) with chlorothalonil K d (P < 0.05), while sand content and soil pH showed a negative correlation at P < 0.05. In soils, decreased sorption of chlorothalonil was also due to the presence of undecomposed or partly decomposed OM, whereas increased sorption could be attributed to the combined effect of OM with C = O and C¿H groups, silt, clay, Al and Fe oxides and hydrophobicity of the fungicide. Also, HI, GUS, LIX and K d of four among nine urban soils indicated that chlorothalonil has a great potential for leaching into the groundwater from the soil surface, posing an unintended threat to non-target biota and food safety. Therefore, utmost care must be taken while applying chlorothalonil in urban landscapes, particularly on impervious surfaces, to minimize the impact on the ecosystem.
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2021 |
Meftaul IM, Venkateswarlu K, Annamalai P, Parven A, Megharaj M, 'Glyphosate use in urban landscape soils: Fate, distribution, and potential human and environmental health risks.', Journal of environmental management, 292 112786 (2021) [C1]
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2020 |
Meftaul IM, Venkateswarlu K, Dharmarajan R, Annamalai P, Asaduzzaman M, Parven A, Megharaj M, 'Controversies over human health and ecological impacts of glyphosate: Is it to be banned in modern agriculture?', Environmental Pollution, 263 (2020) [C1]
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2020 |
Meftaul IM, Venkateswarlu K, Dharmarajan R, Annamalai P, Megharaj M, 'Sorption-desorption of dimethoate in urban soils and potential environmental impacts', Environmental Science: Processes and Impacts, 22 2256-2265 (2020) [C1] The environmental fate and impact of dimethoate application in the urban environment were assessed in nine selected soils. The pseudo-second-order kinetics model described the kin... [more] The environmental fate and impact of dimethoate application in the urban environment were assessed in nine selected soils. The pseudo-second-order kinetics model described the kinetics of dimethoate sorption very well in the urban soils exhibiting two distinct phases, an initial partitioning into clay surfaces and soil organic matter, and eventual diffusion into soil micropores. Dimethoate sorption in the urban soils followed the Freundlich model with an R2 value of 0.94-0.99, suggesting a multi-layered sorption on the heterogeneous surfaces. Sorption of dimethoate in the soils was influenced by clay, silt, organic matter, carboxyl and alkyl groups, and Al and Fe oxides. The undecomposed or incompletely decomposed organic matter present in the soils greatly reduced the sorption and enhanced desorption. The calculated lower values for Freundlich constant (KF) indicate the high mobility of dimethoate in the selected soils. Also, the values of groundwater ubiquity score (GUS), leachability index (LIX), hysteresis index (HI), and coefficient of distribution (Kd) for dimethoate in the soils clearly suggest that the insecticide is prone to leaching out significantly from the soil surface to groundwater. Moreover, the surface runoff from impervious places in the urban environment can be considered as a direct source of groundwater contamination, thereby affecting the quality of potable water besides posing a threat to non-target organisms of ecological importance and food safety. Thus, the present novel study suggests that the application of dimethoate in the urban environment having impervious surfaces must be judicious in order to minimize the potential human and ecological health risks.
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2020 |
Md Meftaul I, Venkateswarlu K, Dharmarajan R, Annamalai P, Megharaj M, 'Pesticides in the urban environment: A potential threat that knocks at the door', Science of the Total Environment, 711 (2020) [C1]
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2020 |
Parven A, Sarker MR, Megharaj M, Md Meftaul I, 'Prolonging the shelf life of Papaya (Carica papaya L.) using Aloe vera gel at ambient temperature', Scientia Horticulturae, 265 (2020) [C1]
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2020 |
Meftaul IM, Venkateswarlu K, Dharmarajan R, Annamalai P, Megharaj M, 'Movement and Fate of 2,4-D in Urban Soils: A Potential Environmental Health Concern', ACS Omega, 5 13287-13295 (2020) [C1]
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Show 18 more journal articles |
Conference (2 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link |
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2022 | Md Meftaul I, Islam MM, 'Degradation of pesticides in urban landscape soils: Potential human and environmental health risks', https://www.dropbox.com/s/t5jlk9abpoixw19/CleanUp_2022_proceedings_Rev_A_2UP_SEC_FINAL_10.09.22.pdf?dl=0, Adelaide (2022) | ||
2019 | Islam MM, Dharmarajan R, Mallavarapu M, 'SORPTION AND DESORPTION BEHAVIOUR OF 2,4-D IN NINE SELECTED URBAN SOILS OF AUSTRALIA', https://www.crccare.com/files/dmfile/CleanUp2019Proceedings_FINAL.pdf, Adelaide (2019) |
Grants and Funding
Summary
Number of grants | 1 |
---|---|
Total funding | $49,714 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20211 grants / $49,714
To determine the yield increase of commercial agricultural crops by using Pyroligneous Acid (PA)$49,714
Funding body: Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
Funding body | Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources |
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Scheme | Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2021 |
Funding Finish | 2023 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | External |
Category | EXTE |
UON | N |
Dr Md Meftaul Islam
Positions
Research Associate
Global Centre for Environmental Remediation
College of Engineering, Science and Environment
Research Associate
Global Centre for Environmental Remediation
College of Engineering, Science and Environment
Contact Details
mdmeftaul.islam@newcastle.edu.au |
Office
Room | Level 1 |
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Building | Advanced Technology Centre (ATC) Building |
Location | Callaghan Campus University Drive Callaghan, NSW 2308 Australia |