The University of Manchester Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

In Indonesia, mountains of imported plastic waste, often mixed in with paper recycling, arrive daily in small villages like Sumberejo. For many families, sorting this waste has become their main way to make a living.

Each village receives around 50 tonnes of low-quality plastic every day. The plastic piles up in front of people’s homes, where women, many over 40, work as informal ‘plastic farmers’.

They separate the paper, which can be resold to factories, but large amounts of plastic can’t be recycled. With nowhere to send it, the community burns it as fuel.

Homes and small industries use this plastic waste to power limestone kilns and tofu factories. These fires often burn for days at a time, releasing thick, toxic smoke into the air.

Air pollution caused by burning plastic waste is a growing public health concern, particularly in rural parts of Indonesia where waste management is limited.

A new study led by Dr Asri Maharani at The University of Manchester and funded by the British Heart Foundation is investigating how this pollution contributes to the risk of heart and circulatory disease among affected populations.

One of the study’s key goals is to feed its findings into health and environmental policy.

The team is working closely with Indonesian health authorities, and all data collected will support the country’s new national screening programme, which provides health checks on citizens’ birthdays.

Professor Delvac Oceandy is working at a molecular level to explore the changes that take place within heart cells following a heart attack.

Survival rates after heart attack have improved in recent years, however this progress has revealed a new and pressing challenge. For many survivors, the heart often does not fully recover. 

Instead, it undergoes structural and functional changes that impair its ability to pump effectively. Over time, this can lead to heart failure, reducing physical capacity and quality of life.

By building a clearer picture, it becomes possible to identify opportunities where intervention could make a difference.

a day in the life: dental hygiene and therapy edition 🦷

Exams season is busy!!!
A day in the life, second year dentistry edition 🦷

What started as a spontaneous decision at university has become a life-saving habit for Matt Crofts, our Faculty Head of Planning, Compliance, and Governance.
 
Matt has now given over 100 blood donations - helping patients locally and beyond. Some of his most recent donations have gone to Manchester Royal Infirmary, the Christie and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital too.

Earlier this month, we spoke to Matt about why he first gave blood and why he continues. He hopes his story will inspire others to do the same.

“If you can donate, I would encourage anyone to do it. All it takes is a bit of time. It’s no hassle, you walk out knowing you’ve done something good, and you can make a real difference to someone’s life.”