Body Representations of Internal Pollution: The Risk Perception of the Circulation of Environmental Contaminants in Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women in Spain

Cristina Larrea-Killinger, Araceli Muñoz, Arantza Begueria and Jaume Mascaró-Pons
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Cristina Larrea-Killinger: Food Observatory, Department of Social Anthropology, University of Barcelona, 08001 Barcelona, Spain
Araceli Muñoz: Food Observatory, Department of Social Anthropology, University of Barcelona, 08001 Barcelona, Spain
Arantza Begueria: Food Observatory, Department of Social Anthropology, University of Barcelona, 08001 Barcelona, Spain
Jaume Mascaró-Pons: Food Observatory, Department of Social Anthropology, University of Barcelona, 08001 Barcelona, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-20

Abstract: In this article, we analyze how pregnant and breastfeeding women perceive the inside of their bodies as well as their thoughts regarding the accumulation and elimination of chemical compounds present in food, and how these are then transmitted to the fetus. We explore different social perceptions of risk regarding the circulation of chemical compounds inside the body using qualitative research based on the technique of body mapping, comprised of women’s figures of their bodies in combination with comments on the figures, food diaries and narratives from in-depth interviews. We examine how these 41 women (21 pregnant and 20 breastfeeding) perceive the body’s internal mechanisms during the stages of pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as the circulation of chemical contaminants within it. The body mapping technique allowed us to analyze participants’ knowledge of internal pollution, a little-understood process in society. Thanks to these pregnant and breastfeeding women, who made an effort to represent and reflect on these new risks, this study shows that scientists and obstetricians need to collaborate with women in order to better understand and publicize the risks of internal pollution.

Keywords: pollution; body; pregnancy; breast milk; risk perception; body mapping (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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