Danton Awan
Zainal Arifin, the Head of the Oceanography Research Center at LIPI, has stated that there are several adverse impacts caused by the contamination of paracetamol in Jakarta Bay.
Zainal explains that the fundamental concept of any medication is that it is a poison that enters the body in a dosage appropriate to cure a specific ailment.
"All drugs are poisons if we use them excessively. (That's why) doctors always prescribe doses (for example) to be taken twice a day, because there is an indication. In essence, all drugs are not much different," said Zainal during a phone interview on Friday (1/10/2021).
However, Zainal is reluctant to label Jakarta Bay, which has paracetamol contamination, as toxic. He mentions that the paracetamol levels found at present are not at a level that can harm others.
"This means it hasn't reached the point of causing poisoning or death because the concentration is in nanograms per liter," he said.
Although it doesn't directly impact humans, Zainal says that the presence of paracetamol in Jakarta Bay could affect the ecosystem of the animals living in the area.
"Even though the concentration is very small, it doesn't just affect humans but also the animals living there. Protecting the rights of animals that are essential for our survival is crucial too," Zainal explained.
Research on paracetamol contamination in Jakarta Bay is also expected to raise the awareness of the Jakarta Provincial Government regarding wastewater management systems, both in industries and densely populated residential areas.
"If wastewater treatment is poor, the first to be affected will be the river's biota," he stated.
Previously, paracetamol contamination was found in some parts of the seawater in Jakarta Bay. This finding was published in a marine pollution bulletin by sciencedirect.com titled "High Concentrations of Paracetamol in Wastewater Dominating Jakarta Bay, Indonesia."
The bulletin mentions that high concentrations of paracetamol were detected in Angke with levels of 610 ng/L and Ancol with levels of 420 ng/L. The discovery of paracetamol in the sea is the first of its kind in Indonesia and resulted from the study published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin.
Support Healindonesia's Efforts to Combat Pharmaceutical Pollution in Our Waters!
The dangers of pharmaceutical contamination, such as paracetamol in Jakarta Bay, are real and pose threats to our ecosystem. While the current levels may not directly harm humans, they have a significant impact on the environment and the animals that inhabit it.
Healindonesia is committed to addressing this issue through education on natural remedies and proper medical waste management. You can make a difference by supporting our campaign to raise awareness and promote responsible practices in healthcare and waste disposal.
Let's protect our environment, safeguard our water bodies, and ensure a healthier future for all. Join us in advocating for change. >> SUPPORT NOW <<
Source: Kompas.com
