ONLINE NEWS: REELING IN THE RISKS OF POLLUTION

The Star
Reeling in the risks of pollution
By Allison Lai | 14 July 2024

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian waters are polluted with large amounts of plastic debris and other pollutants, and this should pose a “red flag” to those who consume lots of seafood, say experts.

Universiti Sains Malaysia School of Biological Sciences Professor of Applied Microbiology, Dr K. Sudesh Kumar, said there was a high possibility of marine organisms ingesting microplastics, which are then consumed by humans.

“All living organisms have evolved over billions of years to use natural materials. But plastics are not, so the additives in microplastics can accumulate in organisms and disrupt their intricate hormonal balance.

“A good example of these problematic plastic additives is Bisphenol A (BPA), a known hormone disruptor. Even tyres dumped into the oceans to create an artificial breeding ecosystem for fish can erode and generate microplastics over time, be ingested by marine organisms and then be transported to us.

“So we should be concerned about everything that we eat, not only seafood,” he said in an interview.

A recent study published by the Environmental Science and Technology journal revealed that Malaysia topped the list as the country with the highest oral consumption of microplastics. It was reported that Malaysians consume about 15g of microplastics each month, with most coming from seafood and other aquatic sources.Microplastics, defined as plastic debris smaller than 5mm, originate from various sources such as microbeads in cosmetics, synthetic clothing microfibres and degraded fragments of larger plastic items.

Prof Sudesh said despite concerns raised in the study, the actual amount retained in the human body was, however, unknown.

“It must be kept in mind that most things that get into our bodies also get out without causing harm. It is not known how much of this 15g remains in our body,” he added.

Prof Sudesh questioned the study data, stating that it was model-based rather than direct quantification of microplastics in seafood consumed locally.

“There is a need for further verification through direct testing to confirm the extent of microplastic exposure from the Malaysian diet,” he added.

While the goal of eliminating single-use plastics may be unrealistic, Prof Sudesh said the focus should be on education to increase awareness rather than simply pointing the finger at plastics.

“We should be careful about blaming plastics for all our problems. We can’t have a comfortable modern lifestyle without plastic. The priority should be finding an alternative material to replace synthetic plastics.

“To improve, we also need to declare war on plastic littering, not criminalise plastics,” he added.

Prof Sudesh said scientists around the world have been developing eco-friendly plastics produced naturally by microorganisms, known as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), which are 100% biodegradable.

“These natural plastics offer a more sustainable solution compared to conventional synthetic plastics,” he pointed out.

Environment and waste management expert Dr Theng Lee Chong said he was sceptical about Malaysia being ranked as the top microplastics consumer, noting that methodologies and data coverage of such studies were often unclear.

He said he felt disappointed when such reports were published “and when no one from the relevant authorities in Malaysia is able to stand up as a spokesperson to explain, challenge or defend our country’s good name”.

“I found other research done even by the United Nations that there are some Asian countries that are definitely generating higher plastics than Malaysia, as plastic generation is strongly correlated with a country’s development level and spending power. So, simplistic comparisons between nations may be misleading,” he added.

Theng said Malaysian officials should have the confidence to scrutinise and respond to such claims, rather than keep mum on all that the reports claimed.

While microplastics in seafood were well documented, Theng said the public received little information beyond academic studies and media reports.

He said there were numerous potential sources of ocean plastics beyond just bags and bottles, including cigarette butts and microfibres.

“Plastics can also travel globally through ocean currents,” he said.

“The government should conduct its own analysis and provide more information to the public, as it is impossible for us to avoid the intake of microplastics in our daily routines.

“Without clear guidance, people may continue consuming seafood without being aware of the potential dangers,” he said.

He proposed the enactment of a “packaging law” to regulate product packaging, particularly those related to plastic.

“We need to phase out single-use plastics, but is there any research done on what the alternatives are? Are the alternatives more friendly in the long run and what’s the impact?” he asked.

Theng called for all decisions to be “rational, science-based and proven, with sufficient research support, rather than be business-oriented, not scientifically proven, misleading and rushed.”

Without such rigorous, evidence-based policymaking, Theng said the government might continue making decisions that fail to meaningfully reduce the impact of microplastics.