Serious Research Needed on Impact of Microplastics

Amid reports of microplastics contaminating the environment and a number of animal species, the scientific data pointing to the impact of microplastics on food safety and wellbeing remain limited. More research is needed on the impacts of microplastic contamination.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Scavengers collect plastic waste from the piles of garbage at the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Processing Site in Bekasi, West Java, on Thursday. More than 7,000 tons of trash are transported by thousands of trucks every day.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Amid reports of microplastics contaminating the environment and a number of animal species, the scientific data pointing to the impact of microplastics on food safety and wellbeing remain limited. More research is needed to obtain a clearer and more comprehensive picture on the impacts of microplastic contamination.

University of Indonesia professor of internal medicine Ari Fahrial Syam said on Friday (26/10/2018) that microplastics were basically foreign objects. If they get into the human digestive system, they may damage the stomach or intestines. “If they get stuck in the gastrointestinal wall, they can cause inflammation,” said Ari, who is also the dean of the university’s school of medicine.