Facts Of Finding Paracetamol Content In Jakarta Bay

Photo archive - Jakarta Bay area on the Ancol coast in North Jakarta, Tuesday, October 28 (Photo: Dewa Ketut Sudiarta Wiguna/Antara)

JAKARTA - Residents of the capital city were shocked by the finding that seawater in Jakarta Bay contains paracetamol. This finding is the result of research from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the University of Brighton UK that released the quality of sea water in several sites dominated by waste disposal.

The results of the study were published in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin entitled High concentrations of paracetamol in effluent dominated waters of Jakarta Bay, Indonesia in August 2021.

The results showed that some paracetamol was detected at two sites, namely the Angke river estuary (610 ng/L) and the Ciliwung Ancol river estuary (420 ng/L), both in Jakarta Bay.

Reasons for careful paracetamol

Oceanographic researcher from the National Research and Technology Agency (BRIN) Wulan Koagouw explained the reason his party chose to examine the content of paracetamol.

Departing from the fact, paracetamol is one of the drugs that are sold freely in Indonesia without the need for a doctor's prescription. Wulan said, in 2017, Jakarta was one of the cities in the world with a high level of paracetamol consumption.

"Actually, the reason is simple. So, I want to know in Indonesia, whether it was detected. I was just curious, I wanted to know whether paracetamol was detected or not, it was detected," Wulan said on Monday, October 4.

BRIN oceanographic researcher, Zainal Arifin added, theoretically, the source of the remaining paracetamol in the waters of Jakarta Bay could come from three sources. These sources are excretions due to excessive public consumption, hospitals, and the pharmaceutical industry.

"With the high population in the Jabodetabek area and the types of drugs that are sold over-the-counter without a doctor's prescription, they have potential as a source of contaminants in the waters," said Zainal.

"Meanwhile, potential sources from hospitals and the pharmaceutical industry can be caused by a wastewater management system that does not function optimally, so that residual drug use or drug manufacturing waste enters rivers and eventually into coastal waters," he added.

Don't know the impact on humans

Oceanographic researcher from the National Research and Technology Agency (BRIN) Wulan Koagouw said that his party had not been able to determine what effect it would have on humans for the findings of paracetamol content in seawater in Jakarta Bay.

"If it affects humans, I can't say if I don't have data. Regarding the level of concern for humans, I don't know," said Wulan.

Wulan said that BRIN researchers still had to do further research on the dangers of Paracetamol to the environment.

What is clear is that if this condition is left for a long time, it will have a bad impact on the marine biota ecosystem around Jakarta.

"If the concentration is always high in the long term, this is a concern for us because it has bad potential for marine animals," said Wulan.

So far, the results of research in the laboratory have found that exposure to paracetamol at a concentration of 40 ng/L has caused atresia in female mussels, and a swelling reaction.

"Further research still needs to be done regarding the potential dangers of paracetamol or other pharmaceutical products on marine biota," said Wulan.

Followed up by the DKI Provincial Government

After the results of the research on the paracetamol content circulated, the DKI Provincial Government immediately responded. The DKI Jakarta Environmental Agency (LH) took samples of seawater from Jakarta Bay at four points on Saturday, October 2.

The Department of Environment wants to make sure the sea water is still polluted. Considering that the research sample on the content of paracetamol was carried out in 2017.

"We have taken samples. The results have not been released because we have just sent the samples to the DKI Labkesda for analysis," said Public Relations of the LH Department, Yogi Ikhwan.

Yogi said that the LH Department did not take water samples in one location only. There are four points of water sampled. "Sampling locations are at Marina Pier, Muara Ancol, Angke Pier and Muara Angke," he said.

After getting the data related to the paracetamol content, Yogi said that his party would make a policy to control the sea water pollution.

"That's pollution because it's not in the right place. Why is Paracetamol in the sea, anything that is not in its place, anything that exceeds its level in a place is classified as pollution," he concluded.