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Environmental Determinants of Fecal Microplastic Abundance: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Musi River Basin, Indonesia
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Researchers studying an Indonesian river community found that people who drank refilled water (bottled water from refill stations) or used teabags had more microplastic particles in their stool — tiny plastic bits that can enter your body through everyday food and drinks. This suggests some common daily habits, like brewing tea or using refill water services, may quietly add to your plastic exposure, making water quality and packaging choices worth paying attention to.
Background: Microplastics have been detected across multiple environmental compartments and can enter the human body through food and drinking water, representing an emerging concern in environmental toxicology related to chronic human exposure. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among residents of the Musi River watershed, Indonesia, involving samples of refilled drinking water, tea products, and human feces. Microplastics were identified using digital microscopy and classified according to GESAMP guidelines. Associations between environmental exposure factors and fecal microplastic abundance were analyzed using correlation analysis and multiple linear regression. Results: Microplastics were detected in all analyzed matrices. Fecal microplastic abundance was significantly associated with duration of residence (r = 0.241, p = 0.041), consumption of refilled drinking water (r = 0.284, p = 0.037), and teabag consumption (r = 0.312, p = 0.021). Teabag consumption showed the strongest association; however, documented consumption patterns indicated that teabags were routinely prepared using refilled drinking water. In multivariate analysis, all three factors were independent predictors, explaining 31.2% of the variance (R² = 0.312; p < 0.05). Conclusion: Microplastics present in refilled drinking water and teabags represent an additional route of human exposure that should be considered in strategies to improve drinking water quality and reduce environmental health risks.
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Characteristics and Abundance of Microplastics in the Feces of Communities on the Banks of the Musi River, Palembang
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Researchers collected fecal samples from 50 residents living along the Musi River in Palembang, Indonesia, and analyzed them for microplastic characteristics and abundance. Microplastics were detected in human feces, with patterns linked to fish consumption and use of river water, providing direct evidence of human exposure via diet and water.
Microplastic Abundance in Refilled Drinking Water: The Role of Depot Sanitation and Maintenance Practices
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A study of 36 water refill stations in Indonesia found that every single sample of refilled drinking water contained microplastics — tiny plastic particles that can end up in our bodies. The good news: stations with regular cleaning schedules and better hygiene practices had significantly less contamination, meaning simple maintenance habits could help reduce how many plastic particles end up in your drinking water.
Source of Microplastic Pollution Within Human Stool in the Surabaya River Basin Area
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Researchers examined microplastic content in human stool samples from ten individuals living in the Surabaya River basin area of East Java, Indonesia, to identify pollution sources from daily activities. The study found microplastics present in human fecal samples and traced probable contamination pathways linked to the heavily polluted Surabaya River, a tributary of the Brantas River serving as Surabaya city's raw water source.
Microplastic occurrence and removal in unbranded refilled drinking water treatment systems: Implications for human exposure in Karawang, Indonesia
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Researchers tested refillable drinking water sold at local shops in Indonesia and found that even after treatment, the water still contained tiny plastic particles—mostly tiny fibers and fragments, likely from common plastics like polyethylene or polypropylene. While treatment cut microplastic levels roughly in half, it didn't remove them completely, meaning people who rely on this common, affordable water source may be regularly swallowing plastic particles without realizing it. The study is a first step in flagging this exposure risk, but more research is needed to understand the actual health effects and improve filtration methods.
Microplastic Contamination in Human Stools, Foods, and Drinking Water Associated with Indonesian Coastal Population
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Researchers detected microplastics in the stool samples of more than half of the fishing community members tested in coastal Indonesia, with high-density polyethylene being the most common type found. Microplastics were also found in the seafood, staple foods, drinking water, table salt, and toothpaste regularly consumed by these participants. The study provides direct evidence that microplastics are entering the human body through multiple everyday sources in coastal populations.
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