Miri – We are exposed to news and reports on the deaths of marine life from plastic related incidence. Even though they get immediate action from people who concern, still human keep on discarding their rubbish irresponsibly, and somehow, they end up in the water that we consume.
Microplastics are small pieces of plastics, usually smaller than 5 mm. A growing number of microplastics is found in the environment, including the sea, and in food and drinking water. Once in the environment, microplastics do not biodegrade and tend to accumulate. Unless they are specifically designed to biodegrade in the open environment, most of the plastic found are of non biodegradable material. Biodegradability is a complex process, especially in the marine environment. There are increasing concerns about the presence of microplastics in different environment compartments (such as water), their impact on the environment and potentially human health.
A study conducted by Rachael Mei Yen Liong of Curtin University Malaysia and her team, on the microplastic occurrence in the water and sediments of Miri River Estuary, Sarawak discover the abundance of microplastics in water samples was within the range of 0.8 to 2.1 mg/L or 10.7 to 14.3 particle/L. In sediment samples, the abundance of microplastics was within the range of 26.2 to 62.5 mg/kg or 283.7 to 456.2 particle/kg.
What does the number indicate? From the five study sites (Figure 1), it was concluded that high abundance of microplastics was found in commercial areas and residential areas. The main type of microplastics detected in both water and sediment samples was fragment type with proportions of 57.3% and 57.9%, respectively. The most abundance particle size of microplastics was size of less than 1 mm. Colored microplastics such as black and blue were mainly found in both water samples and sediment samples (Figure 2).
What is the issue? Why should we care? Scientists are still unsure of the specific dangers they may pose whether consumed microplastics are harmful to human or animal health. Even so, many countries are taking action to reduce microplastics in the environment. There was a study all over the world on microplastics and drinking water. Surprisingly, even bottled water contain microplastics (such as Aqua, Aquafina, Bisleri, Dasani, Epura, Evian, Gerolsteiner, Minalba, Nestle (Pure life), San pellegrino, Wahaha). The study finds that 93% of the bottled water have microplastics residue in them.
Apart from drinking water, uptake of microplastics particles in human also occur through the consumption of terrestrial and aquatic food products. Effects of ingestion in human include, oxidative stress, cell damage, inflammation and impairment of energy allocation similar to that reported for marine organisms. More research was urged on the effects of microplastics to human health, but what the public can do is to practice responsible consumption and avoid littering.
