UB Research reminds the Government to increase mitigation of microplastics

Setting a standard for the quality of microplastic pollution to protect water quality because it is feared to have an impact on public health. ANTARA

MALANG - The Coastal and Marine Research and Study Research Team of Brawijaya University (UB) reminded the government to increase mitigation patterns to minimize the presence of microplastics.

The Head of Research Studies for Coastal and Marine Research at UB, Prof. Andi Kurniawan in Malang, East Java, Saturday, said the first effort that needed to be done was to strengthen the protection measures for consumers.

"What is certain is to protect consumers, for example by checking the standards of bottled water or water consumed by the community. It needs to be rechecked, so as to minimize the presence of microplastics," said Prof. Andi.

Then, another effort is to oversee and ensure the ongoing supervision of environmental sustainability from the potential entry of polluted materials, such as in river flows.

The government, including the Ministry of Health, is asked to stimulate research approaches that are more directed towards microplastics and health, even though the World Health Organization (WHO) has not decided on a quality standard.

This step is called an early warning, because the UB research team has found that from the spring source to the beach, microplastics are found.

The research conducted by Andi and his team focuses on Malang Raya to the estuary area of the Brantas River in Sidoarjo Regency, East Java.

The results of the research for particle content in the Malang Raya area are still relatively small, ranging from 4-8 particles per liter.

The number of microplastic particles found was getting bigger in the coastal area with an average of 40-45 particles per liter.

Andi explained that microplastics in the source of the spring were possible because similar compounds were also found in rainwater.

The existence of microplastics is due to many factors, such as the results of human and industrial activities.

Nano-sized particles of compounds are also trapped in the atmosphere and fall down with rain or enter the rain cycle.

"Ground water recharging on the mountain peak is from rain. If there are particles, then it is very rational if there are microplastic contents," he said.

Andi explained that there were three underlying reasons why microplastics should be a concentration of government mitigation. First, the nature of pollution is slow and can be known if there has been a significant impact.

Second, microplastics have the property of accumulating throughout the year and third is the impact of its distribution not only as pollution, but on public health.

"Microplastics can enter the hormonal system, the vascular system, so that it becomes a plaque with cholesterol, enters the respiratory system to the lungs," he said.