A recent study from the Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine, Austria, revealed that contamination by plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters can alter the human gut microbiome, with some changes resembling patterns associated with depression and colorectal cancer.
Microplastics have now become an unavoidable part of everyday life. These tiny particles are found in the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink.
This condition has raised serious concerns among researchers, including Dr. Annisa Utami Rauf, a lecturer and environmental health researcher at the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FK-KMK UGM), who has highlighted the urgency of controlling microplastic exposure at both the individual and policy levels.
According to Dr. Rauf, the biggest challenge in monitoring and controlling microplastic exposure lies in reducing plastic use itself.
“Microplastics have now spread across nearly every aspect of life, from the air to food and water,” she said on Tuesday (Oct. 14).
Although the Indonesian government has set an ambitious target through the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) to reduce marine plastic waste by 70 percent by 2025, achieving this goal will be challenging if public behavior toward single-use plastics does not change significantly.
She also pointed out that the continued use of plastic shopping bags, food packaging, and wrapping in online transactions remains a major source of microplastic pollution.
“Lifestyle changes are the most realistic first step to reducing its long-term health impacts,” she explained.
Dr. Rauf cited recent research indicating that Indonesians consume an average of 15 grams of microplastics per month, making Indonesia one of the countries with the highest exposure levels worldwide. She emphasized the need to strengthen restrictions on plastic use, particularly in food packaging.
“The food industry and producers play a crucial role in designing safer and more environmentally friendly packaging. Consumers, meanwhile, must be more selective in choosing products with minimal plastic packaging,” she said.
Small daily actions, she noted, can have a major impact. People can start by carrying their own tumblers, avoiding single-use bottled water, and using reusable containers.
“In educational environments such as campuses, these habits can be applied collectively. UGM itself has introduced Toyagama, which provides access to clean drinking water at various points around the campus,” Dr. Rauf said.
However, she also cautioned that single-use gallon water and refillable water from depots (DAMIU) are not entirely risk-free. Several studies have detected the presence of microplastic particles, particularly high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), in these containers.
Therefore, stricter regulations are needed to ensure drinking water safety standards and monitor packaging materials widely used by the public.
Beyond behavioral changes, Dr. Rauf emphasized the importance of strengthening research and public policy to better understand and mitigate the health impacts of microplastics. She noted that many regions in Indonesia still face limited laboratory facilities for microplastic testing and analysis.
“These limitations mean that scientific data on microplastic impacts within the human body remain incomplete,” she explained.
Despite these challenges, she remains optimistic about ongoing research in this field. Some recent studies have identified microbes capable of degrading microplastic molecules. Nonetheless, Dr. Rauf stressed that the most effective step is to eliminate microplastics at their source.
“If left uncontrolled, microplastic accumulation will continue and enter the food chain we depend on, from fish and poultry to agricultural products,” she concluded.
Author: Kezia Dwina Nathania
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Illustration: Freepik