Plasticizing Pregnancy: Microplastics Identified in Expectant Mothers' Feces

Introduction

Microplastics may be present in food and drinks from various sources, exposing pregnant women to these particles. Consumption of contaminated food can lead to the ingestion of microplastics by pregnant women, potentially causing adverse health effects on the fetus. This study aims to investigate the presence of microplastics in the stools of pregnant women.

Methods

The research was conducted in the Makassar City region of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Thirty healthy pregnant women from 2 community health centers, Pattingalloang and Jumpandang Baru, participated in the study. Their stools were analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy to detect the presence of microplastics.

Result

The analysis revealed the presence of a total of 359 microplastics in the participants' stools, with particle counts ranging from 4 to 21 and sizes ranging from 0.2 to 4.9 mm per 25 g of stool. The polymers identified included Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polyamide/Nylon, Polyethylene Chlorinated, HDPE, and Ethylene Propylene. The amount of microplastics varied significantly among groups with different levels of seafood consumption.

Conclusion

Indonesian pregnant women have been exposed to some microplastic polymers.

Serum Lead Level and Academic Performance of Elementary School Children in Makassar City

Lead exposure to children results in a negative effect on behaviour and cognitive performance. Air lead concentration might be influenced by traffic density on the road. Schools are the locations affected by traffic-related pollution. This study aims to explore the correlation between Serum Lead Levels (SLL) and academic achievement of elementary school students, comparing the distance of the school from the road. This cross-sectional study included 54 5th and 6th-grade students from two schools that differed in the distance from the main road. We observed the students' SLL with laboratory analysis and academic performance from the final score of five subjects. The mean difference of SLL and academic achievement between the two schools were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test, and the correlation between lead concentration and academic performance using the Spearman-Rho test. This study observed that all students were exposed to lead with the SLL range of 0.39-5.97 µg/dL in the school which is located road side, and 0.42-6.44 µg/dL in the school far from main road. The insignificant difference in the students' SLL (p=0.43) between the two schools but significant in students-level of academic performance (p=0.03) were discovered. Serum lead level correlated negatively with academic performance. (r=-0.234, p=0.044). It is suggested to give more attention to preventing lead exposure in children through the implementation of some prevention programmes and policies.

The effect of balanced counseling strategy family planning against attitude, subjective norm, and intentions on the use of modern contraception behavior in the Singgani Public Health Center work area of Palu city

OBJECTIVE

There is a declining trend in the use of modern contraception in the community. The stagnation of family planning services is due to the lack of optimal family planning counseling. Family Planning Balanced Counseling Strategy (FP-BCS) is a family planning counseling that is practical, interactive, and encourages client participation. This study aimed to analyze the influence of the FP-BCS on attitudes, subjective norms, and intentions on modern contraception in the working area of Singgani Health Center, Palu, Indonesia.

METHOD

This research was a quasi-experimental with non-randomized pretest-posttest along to control group design. The sample of the study was third-trimester pregnant women who did antenatal care in the working area of the Singgani Community Health Center. The total sample was 17 respondents for each group; intervention group (treated by Maternal and Child Health (MCH) book and FP-BCS) and control group (treated by MCH Book without FP-BCS). The influence of FP-BCS toward attitudes, subjective norms, and intentions on modern contraception was statistically analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, McNemar, Mann-Whitney, and Chi-Square.

RESULT

The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test and McNemar analysis on the intervention group showed an increase in attitude (p=0.000), subjective norms (p=0.000), and intention (p=0.000). The control group showed an increase in intention (0.031), subjective norms (p=0.005), but there was no increase in attitude (p=0.081). The Mann-Whitney and Chi-Square analysis showed differences in attitudes (p=0.000), subjective norms (p=0.021), and intentions (p=0.010) between groups, which were given an FP-BSC and those not given an FP-BCS.

CONCLUSION

All in all, it is expected that Family Planning-Balanced Counseling Strategy will be an option in providing family planning counseling.

Personal hygiene and bowls sanitation of meatball cart traders

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to describe the personal hygiene and sanitation of food cutlery (bowl) on meatball cart traders at Makassar City.

METHODS

This research using descriptive observational with non-probability sampling techniques and accidental sampling method.

RESULTS

80% respondents had good personal hygiene. Almost all respondents qualify the requirement of hand and finger hygiene, as well as hair hygiene. For clothes hygiene indicators, most qualify the requirements. As for the indicators of handwashing practices and the use of gloves, all respondents did not qualify the requirements. While the results of research related to food cutlery sanitation showed that knowledge that 86.7% were high, but many still did not know washing water requirements and bowl conditions when in storage.

CONCLUSION

Most handlers attitude was categorized as adequate. It is suggested that the meatball cart traders always pay attention to hand hygiene and sanitation of cutlery to avoid bacterial contamination.

Identification of Leptospira Serovar in Leptospirosis Suspect Serum in Manggala Subdistrict, Makassar City

BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis or also commonly called Weil disease is an acute infectious disease that can attack humans and animals and is classified as a zoonotic disease. Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira found in rodents. The difficulty of the diagnosis process causes the case of leptospirosis less reported and is one of the neglected infectious diseases. Patient findings are often not optimal because of underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis. AIM: This study aims to determine the presence of Leptospira serovar bacteria in blood serum of leptospirosis suspect using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) method. METHODS: This study is a descriptive observational using accidental sampling technique. Sample collection was performed in the Antang Community Health Center, Batua Health Center, and Bangkala Health Center in Manggala District. RESULTS: This study found that there were 31 serum samples. Results of MAT examination on blood serum yielded 11 positive samples of Leptospira (37%) with serovar Hebdomadis, Djasiman, Mini, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Bangkingan, and Bataviae. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of Leptospira bacteria in blood serum of suspected individuals using the MAT method obtained 11 samples of positive blood serum. Special counseling activities are required about leptospirosis and diagnosis enforcement in the community or workers who experience symptoms or leptospirosis suspect.

Types of Acid and Drying Method Differently Affect the Chemical Profile of Sodium Caseinate

Background: Sodium caseinate is a rich source of protein and minerals originating from animals. Numerous food and non-food products are made from sodium caseinate. The present study investigated the chemical components (moisture, crude protein, ash, and soluble crude protein) of sodium caseinate prepared by different acids and drying techniques. Methods: A completely randomized factorial design was used by different acids including hydrochloric acid (HCl) and acetic acid, and also drying methods including oven (50 °C for 48 h) and freeze drying (-40 °C for 48 h). In each experimental group, sodium caseinate was obtained for determination of moisture, crude protein, ash, and soluble crude protein. Data were statistically evaluated using an ANOVA in SPSS 18.0. Results: The interaction of both acids and drying methods significantly (p<0.01) affected moisture, crud protein, and ash content. HCl treatment coupled with freeze drying was the best combination, resulting in an appreciably higher content of crude protein (52.90%), moisture (5.38%), and soluble protein (0.85%). Conclusion: The kinds of acid and drying method altered the chemically profile of sodium caseinate. The combination of HCl and freeze drying could be the considered as the best approach, resulting in good chemical characteristics of sodium caseinate.

Bacteria contamination analysis on the hands and bowls of meatball cart vendors: an observational descriptive study

OBJECTIVE

To describe the presence of bacteria at the seller's hand of meatball vendors and cart meatball bowls.

METHOD

This is a descriptive study with an observational approach. Thirty mobile meatball vendors were recruited as participants. Therefore, the bacterias from bowls and hands were taken by swab sampling. The number of bacterias were obtained using total plate count method by means of nutrient agar. Bacteria types were identified using Gram staining method and bacteria assay.

RESULTS

The hands and bowls swab samples were positive for Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in all cases. These microorganisms include Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Klebsiella sp., Alcaligenes faecalis, Enterobacter aglomereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter cloacae, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Serratia rubidaea, Yersinia enterocolitica, E. aerogenes, and Staphylococcus epidermidis.

CONCLUSIONS

Some types of bacterias were present in cart meatball bowls and the sellers' hands. This phenomenon is affiliated with the emergence of food-borne diseases for the consumers.

Human health risk assessment of heavy metals via consumption of fish from Kao Bay

Water pollution by heavy metals due to discharge from gold mining activity has threatened the aquatic environment and human health of the community around Kao Bay. This report review explores the level of mercury and arsenic in the fish and the health risk of fish consumption within the community around Kao Bay. Fish from 10 spots in the bay were analyzed for mercury and arsenic using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Community members around Kao Bay were interviewed for details of their fish consumption. Daily intake of metals and health risk level were also calculated. All of the fish caught contained mercury (mean of 0.2110 ug/g) and arsenic (mean of 0.422 ug/g). This heavy metal concentration exceeds the allowable level for food standard. The human health risk assessment showed that the fish caught from Kao Bay were not safe for human consumption (RQ>1). The hazard risk quotient based on cancer and non-cancer was more than one. As many as 49 of 52 people living around Kao Bay have a risk from mercury and arsenic exposure via fish consumption. The magnitude of HQ and ECR values for most fish indicates that it is not safe for consumption.

The relationship of mercury exposure with neurological problems in artisanal gold in Makassar city

Objectives This research aims to analyse the relationship between urine mercury levels and neurological problems. Methods This research is an observational study with a cross-sectional approach. There are 44 goldsmiths in the gold jewellery small scale industry involved in this study. Urine mercury levels were measured using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Neurological problems were assessed by a medician. Data collected includes age, time of exposure, work duration, smoking behaviour and nutrition status of the goldsmiths which were obtained by interview. Results The results showed that the concentration of mercury in the goldsmith's urine was around 0.93-64.59 μg/L. The analysis showed that there were 63% of goldsmiths experiencing neurological problems, such as tremors (9.1%) and knee pass reflex (6.8%). The bivariate analysis showed that there is no significant relationship between the concentration of mercury (p=0.133), age (p=0.155), time of exposure (p=0.702), time of working (p=0.354), smoking behaviour (p=0.169) and nutrition status (p=0.541) with neurological problems. Conclusions The goldsmiths who had high levels of mercury in urine samples were diagnosed with at least one of the neurological symptoms. It is recommended that the goldsmith use personal protective equipment during work such as mask, glasses and gloves.

Risk Factors Analysis and Mapping of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Community Health Centre Tamalatea of Jeneponto District

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health problem, and in Indonesia, although TB control efforts have been carried out since 1995. TB is ranked 9th as the leading cause of death worldwide. The increase in the number of TB cases caused by risk factors triggering include a decrease in the immune system caused by HIV infection, nutritional status, education, sex, occupation, air humidity, house ventilation, temperature, occupancy density lighting, and contact history. AIM: This study aimed to analyze the relationship of nutritional status, contact history, and smoking to the incidence of pulmonary TB in Community Health Centre Tamalatea of Jeneponto District. METOHDS: This type of research is analytic observational with a case–control design with a total sample of 147 samples consisting of 49 cases and 98 controls. Data collection was conducted from August to October 2019. Data analysis used in the study was univariate and bivariate analysis with Chi-square test. RESULTS: The results showed that nutritional status (OR=5.403 95% CI: 2.547–11.461), contact history (OR=13.971 95% CI: 3.807–51.262), and smoking (OR=2.782 95% CI: 1.370–5.648) are related to the incidence of pulmonary in Community Health Centre Tamalatea of Jeneponto District. TB officers are expected to intensify the home visit program, especially for pulmonary TB sufferers with a considerable distance from the community health center, with transportation constraints and relatively poor economic conditions so that the health status of pulmonary TB sufferers can be monitored properly. CONCLUSION: TB officers are expected to intensify the home visit program, especially for pulmonary TB sufferers with a considerable distance from the Puskesmas, with transportation constraints and relatively poor economic conditions so that the health status of pulmonary TB sufferers can be monitored properly.