Microplastics are found in river water and fish stomachs in the Barito River basin. River pollution must be controlled because microplastics can interfere with the function of the human body's hormones.
“Microplastics are hormone-disrupting compounds, so if they enter the human body, they will affect the reproductive hormone system and metabolism. As a result, people can suffer from diabetes mellitus, decreased sperm quality and quantity, and early menopause,"
Prigi Arisandi as a researcher for the Nusantara River Expedition said that the expedition in Banjarmasin was carried out by crossing the Kuin River, Martapura River and Barito River. The Kuin River and Martapura River are tributaries of the Barito River. The three rivers are the Barito watershed which is included in the national river because its upstream is in Central Kalimantan. The expedition team used a motorized boat or kelotok to go down the river in Banjarmasin. During the expedition, the team conducted water quality tests, tested microplastics, and mapped waste generation in rivers. The expedition team took samples of river water in several locations and took 10 species of fish that are widely consumed by the public to then test for microplastic levels. "From the test results it is known that all river water in the Barito watershed has been polluted with microplastics with an average of 56 microplastic particles (PM) in 100 liters of water," said Prigi, who is also Executive Director of the Ecological Observation and Wetland Research Institute. Conservation/Ecoton).
The Barito River basin in Banjarmasin City, South Kalimantan, has been contaminated with microplastics. Microplastic content is not only found in river water, but also in the stomachs of fish obtained from the river. River pollution must be controlled because microplastics are compounds that disrupt the human body's hormones. Findings of microplastics in river water and fish in the Barito River Basin (DAS) were conveyed by the Nusantara River Expedition team in Banjarmasin, Friday (2/9/2022). The microplastic content was found after the expedition team collaborated with the Telapak Association of the South Kalimantan Territory Agency to carry out a river expedition in Banjarmasin from 26 August to 1 September 2022. The highest microplastic content was found in the Martapura River around the Proboscis Monkey Park area, Banjarmasin, namely 125 PM/100 liters. The types of microplastics found in the water of the Martapura River at that location are fibers (270), filaments (80), and fragments (25). At that location the oxygen content in the water is also very low, which is only 1.4 milligrams per liter.
Furthermore, from the results of tests on 10 types of river fish, it was found that the average microplastic content in fish stomachs in the Barito watershed was 53 PM in one fish. The most abundant microplastic content was found in the stomach of lais fish (135 PM per fish) and the least found in seluang fish (18 PM per fish).
Prigi explained, microplastics are plastic flakes measuring less than 5 millimeters that come from breaking down plastic waste, such as plastic bags, Styrofoam, plastic bottles, straws, fishing gear, diapers, and other plastic waste that is thrown into rivers. Due to exposure to sunlight and the influence of tides, plastic waste is fragile and breaks into crumbs.
“Microplastics are hormone-disrupting compounds, so if they enter the human body, they will affect the reproductive hormone system and metabolism. As a result, people can suffer from diabetes mellitus, decreased sperm quality and quantity, and early menopause," said Prigi.
Microplastics in river water will also bind pollutants in the water, such as heavy metals, pesticides and detergents. "Finding microplastics in fish bodies will become a new threat because microplastic toxins will move from the fish's bodies to the bodies of humans who eat fish," said Prigi.
From the results of tests on 10 types of river fish, it was found that the average microplastic content in fish stomachs in the Barito watershed was 53 PM in one fish.
Community Participation
According to Prigi, the existence of microplastics must be controlled by controlling and stopping the use of single-use plastics and controlling plastic waste so it does not enter the river.
"Regent/city governments, provincial governments, and the central government must be present to control sources of pollution in the Barito watershed, especially those originating from domestic waste," he said. Based on the monitoring results of the South Kalimantan Provincial Environmental Service on the water quality of the Martapura River in Banjar Regency and Banjarmasin City in 2020, the status of river water quality in the Martapura sub-DAS is in the moderately polluted category. Then, the results of the latest monitoring in May-June 2022 found 81.58 percent in light polluted status; 15.79 percent in moderately polluted status, and only 2.63 percent in fulfilling quality status. Head of the South Kalimantan Environment Agency Hanifah Dwi Nirwana said the provincial government has the Martapura Asri River program in an effort to improve the water quality of the Martapura River. The program is run together with the Banjarmasin City Government and the Banjar Regency Government. "We are trying to reduce the use of floating latrines on the Martapura River," he said some time ago.
According to the Chairperson of the Telapak Association of the Kalimantan Territory Agency, Juliade, the river for the people of Banjarmasin and South Kalimantan in general is a source of livelihood. The river is a transportation route and supports most of the residents' activities, from bathing, washing, fishing, to trading. “There must be community involvement in an effort to reduce waste disposal into rivers. Moreover, the river is also a tourist spot. It's really not beautiful if there's still a lot of trash scattered in the river," said Juliade.
Translated from : https://www.kompas.id/baca/
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