A number of Microplastics were Detected in Pregnant Women’s Stools

Introduction. Microplastic might be present in food and drink through various sources. Pregnant women will expose to microplastic through the consumption of contaminated food. Microplastic contamination in pregnant women might bring adverse health effects to the fetus. This study aims to observe the existence of microplastics in pregnant women’s stools. Methods. The research was conducted in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Thirty health pregnant women in two community health centres named Pattingalloang dan Jumpandang Baru, Makassar City, participated in this study. Their stools were analyzed to explore the microplastic using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy. Result. All stools contained a total of 359 microplastics in the range of 4-21 particles with 0,2-4,9 mm per 25 gr stool. The polymers included Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polyamide/Nylon, Polyethylene Chlorinated, HDPE dan Ethylene propylene. Conclusion. A number of MPs detected in pregnant women’s stool Keywords : microparticles; plastics; faeces; pregnancy