Microplastics are synthetic polymers that are unable to be completely degraded and will stay as an environmental contaminant for a long period of time. Due to their microscopic size, microplastics are able to enter the human body, either directly or indirectly via the food chain, where both processes will induce pathological changes in-vivo. So far, clinically, there has been no direct evidence yet about any microplastic-related disease in humans. However, since Indonesia is a maritime country and has been producing microplastics on a large scale, it is critical for our healthcare personnel to have the knowledge about microplastic toxicokinetics and the possible pathological responses elicited by humans when exposed to microplastics. This review article aims to discuss the definition, genesis, accumulation process, toxicokinetics, and pathological responses due to microplastic exposure, emphasizing the biomolecular aspects and implying the possible effects on public health. An internet search in Google Scholar and Pubmed was performed using keywords "microplastics" and "health", as well as their Indonesian language counterparts. Full-text English or Indonesian text from the year 2018 to 2020 were gathered and used as the primary references for this literature review. Microplastics are a novel emerging contaminant that is currently accumulating in the earth's biomass with the potency to induce pathological changes in the human body. Health practitioners are expected to have knowledge about the harm of microplastic to humans. Eventually, follow-up acts should be taken to prevent and manage the microplastic-related pathologies as discussed further in this review.
Background and Objective The correlation between late chronotype and depression has been well documented, but reports from the equatorial area, where the sun shines throughout the year with less seasonal variation, are limited. In the present research study, we sought to 1) examine the relationship between the chronotype and mental health symptoms in an Indonesian student population and 2) explore the characteristics of those who lie at the extreme chronotype and psychometry.Methods This is a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study including undergraduate students in an Indonesian university (n = 493). We used the Munich Chronotype Questionnaires and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale to assess the chronotype and mental symptoms, respectively. Following this, a follow-up with an in-depth interview on the selected population at the extreme end of the chronotype was performed as an exploratory approach to identify their common characteristics.Results Among the tested parameters, the depression score was significantly associated with chronotype (p = 0.003), replicating previous findings from other areas with higher latitudes. The correlation persisted when males and females were analyzed separately (p = 0.008 and 0.037, respectively). A follow-up qualitative analysis revealed a potential subclinical, unrealized depression among the subjects; our findings revealed the use of smartphones during or before bedtime as a common factor among those with later chronotypes.Conclusions There is a correlation between depression score and chronotype among Indonesian college students, where subjects with later chronotype are more likely to have a higher depression score.
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