Educators from the UGM Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences recently spearheaded an awareness campaign illuminating the perils associated with the liquid utilized by “silver people.”
Silver people are familiar in Indonesia. These people paint their bodies silver and perform in public spaces to attract attention and money from passersby.
This proactive initiative stemmed from the escalating presence of “silver people” at intersections in Yogyakarta. Upon closer scrutiny, the silver substance adorning their bodies was found to harbor a cocktail of hazardous chemicals.
“Analysis using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) instrumentation revealed that the primary chemical components of the silver liquid include aluminum (Al), chlorine (Cl), and potassium (K),” disclosed Professor Endang Tri Wahyuni, the coordinator of the faculty’s community service program.
Professor Wahyuni emphasized that in parts per million (ppm), the silver liquid contained dangerous heavy metals like mercury (Hg) and chromium (Cr). Contrarily, the silver content (Ag) was relatively insignificant, hovering around a mere 0.18%.
Dr. Suherman, a key member of the community service program, highlighted that the chemical components responsible for the silver hue posed a threat to the users and carried risks during rinsing. The chemicals could seep into bodies of water and communal water sources.
To address this concern, the community service team, which included students Arif Arkan and Ayuning Dewi, took proactive steps to engage with “silver people” at various intersections in Yogyakarta.
Their mission was to draw attention, raise awareness, and mitigate the risks associated with silver solutions, safeguarding individuals and the surrounding environment.
Author: Ika
Photo: UGM Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences