InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA -There are potatoes in Malang that contain microplastics. This finding was revealed in research by UMM Postgraduate students that was published in UMM Newspapers Online in December 2023, and then re-reported by several national media. But this is just the surface. In 2024, the UMM research team dug deeper. The results were astonishing, palm oil seeds, cooking oil from 30 brands, to fried snacks on the corners of Malang city—all were contaminated with microplastics.
The question is, are these microplastics really everywhere? The answer is yes. Microplastics are "ubiquitous" pollutants — invisible, but present in every aspect of our lives. Even on farms: from cows' milk, goats' milk, to chicken eggs, everyone is exposed. And then to the human body — researchers have found them in human feces, semen, breast milk, and even the human brain.
Indonesia, according to Reza Cordova from BRIN, is the second largest contributor of plastic waste in the world. Recent research by Zhao & You (2024) from Cornell University shows that the average Indonesian consumes 15 grams of microplastics per month. This is much higher than Americans who consume "only" 2.4 grams per month.
UNEP, the UN environment agency, ranks microplastics as the second largest threat to humans, after the greenhouse effect. Why? Because of its slow and long-term destructive nature. Microplastics hinder efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially those related to health, clean water, sustainable production, and ecosystems.
However, good news comes from translational research conducted by the UMM team. They tested microplastic exposure on 15 white mice and gave them red palm oil (VPO) supplements from three Indonesian commercial brands. The results were extraordinary, mice given VPO were healthier histopathologically and biochemically than control mice. Even the microplastic content in the blood and vital organs such as the liver, kidneys, and pancreas was lower. A surprising finding emerged, in 1 mL of mouse blood, 161 types of microplastic resin were found.
According to Dr. Darmono Taniwiryono, Chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Society (MAKSI), this research is the first in the world to show the protective effect of VPO on microplastics. A huge potential, considering that Indonesia is the largest palm oil producer in the world.
Then, the closing question that we should ponder, where are the red cooking oil factories (M3) that were once so proud, even inaugurated directly by President Jokowi and the laying of the first stone by Minister Teten Masduki? Have they started producing massively to support the Prabowo-Gibran Free Nutritious Meal program?
When the world is being choked by plastic pollution, Indonesia has a natural weapon, red cooking oil. It's up to us to decide—whether to stay silent, or act quickly. Before it's too late. (*)
By: Roy Hendroko Setyobudi, Lecturer at the University of Muhammadiyah Malang
Disclaimer: This article is a personal opinion, and is entirely the responsibility of the author and has nothing to do with InfoSAWIT.
