Since the 2000s, the world's plastic production rate has continued to increase. This is often the case in developing countries or outside Europe. In Europe itself, plastic production rates tend to be stable. On the other hand, around 8 million tons of plastic waste are dumped into the marine environment. 80% of the plastic waste dumped into the sea comes from the use of plastic on land, for example from industry, drainage, household waste, unprocessed polluted water, and tourism activities. While the remaining 20% \u200b\u200bcomes from marine activities such as fisheries, container transportation, ferries and shipping vessels, and offshore industrial activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was stated by a marine expert from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia (FMIPA UI) Dr.rer.nat. Mufti Petala Patria, M.Sc. at the Online General Lecture event organized by the Marine Science Study Program, Department of Biology, FMIPA UI, Saturday (4\/06\/2022).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through a presentation entitled Microplastic in the Ocean: A Serious Problem. Dr. Mufti broadly focused on the discussion of the material plastic overview, plastic in the ocean, microplastic in the ocean, effects of microplastic in organisms, what we can do, and summarize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Plastic as we know is an organic polymer, its forms are various, common examples are polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyactide (PLA). Plastic is very useful for humans. Why? Because this plastic is strong, light, durable, cheap, and can be shaped in such a way with various methods so that many products use plastic,\" said Dr. Mufti starting his material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Examples of polyethylene plastic include plastic bags and bottles, with a lifespan of 2-20 years depending on the thickness. Other examples include fibers and textiles with a lifespan of 5-10 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, those included in the type of polyvinyl chloride plastic include pipes and floors with a lifespan of more than 50 years. While those included in polypropylene plastic materials are bottle caps and straws with a lifespan of 15 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, examples of polystyrene plastic include plastic cutlery, disposable cups and food containers which can materially last more than 10 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Geographically, there are five major ocean gyres in the world. The five ocean gyres are the Indian Ocean, North Pacific, South Pacific, North Atlantic, and South Atlantic gyres. These five gyres have rotating ocean currents that then cause macro and micro waste around the land to gather in the center of the gyre and threaten the sustainability of the ecosystem and the life of marine biota, especially fauna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, microplastic or micro plastic is defined as plastic material that is smaller than 5 millimeters to 1 micron. The types are divided into four, the first type is a smooth round grain, the second type is a fragment that is a fragment of macro plastic, the next type is a very thin film type that is almost transparent usually comes from plastic wrapping, and the last type is in the form of fibers that usually come from fishing lines and clothing fibers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMicroplastics are classified into two, namely primary microplastics and secondary microplastics. Primary microplastics are plastics that have been made in the form of microplastics from the factory, for example beauty products, detergents, pellets, and clothing nanofibers. While secondary microplastics are crushed or melted from large plastics. Because they are very small, microplastics will continue to float in seawater and be stored in sediments,\u201d said Dr. Mufti explaining the classification of microplastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both primary and secondary are very dangerous for living things in the sea. As is known, the presence of micro plastics in the ocean can threaten the safety of the ecosystem in it. For example, fauna that considers micro plastics as food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The effects of microplastics on fauna include physical injury to the intestinal tract, translocation to other tissues or organs, significant weight loss, significant reduction in feeding activity, depletion of up to 50% of energy reserves, developmental defects, and even death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The condition becomes more dangerous if the fauna is a marine product consumed by humans. This causes the human body to be more susceptible to the adverse effects of additives that enter when consuming marine products. Health disorders that arise can vary, including chromosome changes that cause infertility, inhibition of the immune system, and even cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the end of the session, Dr. Mufti reminded everyone to take an important role in protecting the sea from microplastic pollution through simple but significant impact actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Everyone can do something to reduce the amount of plastic entering the ocean. This can be done by reducing the use of single-use plastic, recycling plastic waste, participating in river or beach cleanups, avoiding microbeads, spreading the word, and supporting organizations that deal with plastic pollution,\" said the FMIPA UI biology lecturer with expertise in Oceanology and Marine Ecology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"On the other hand, we can also conduct research as an indirect effort. Research that can be done, for example, is the abundance of microplastics in biota, microplastics as a habitat for microorganisms, or the concentration of microplastics in water and sediment,\" he added in closing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n