Tiny Troubles: Microplastics Crisis!

Isu mikroplastik mula menjadi topik hangat belakangan ini terutamanya di Malaysia. MHI dan Buletin Utama TV3 baru je cover isu mikroplastik ni beberapa bulan lepas. Walhal, negara Asia yang lain seperti China, India, dan Jepun dah lama fokus akan krisis mikroplastik ni di saat rakyat Malaysia masih alpa akan kehadiran racun ini dalam organ mereka. Tapi, kenapa negara-negara Asia ni take serious on microplastics issue ni? Here's why: 

• Asian countries are listed as the top countries with mismanaged plastic waste, especially China.
• Malaysia pun listed antara top countries with mismanaged plastic wastes. Tapi tak sedar lagi. 
• Studies found the presence of microplastics in humans' organs and the health risks they imposed. (microplastics also increase the risk of stroke)
• However, authorities of Asian countries masih belum propose any law or regulation to restrict the use of microplastics. 
• Microplastics, in the form of microbeads especially are still being widely used in our cosmetics and detergents. 
• Unlike US, Canada, and EU yang dah restrict the use of microbeads in personal care products. A great move indeed! Tapi, Asian countries bila? 
• Asian countries like Japan and South Korea are now at the early stages of developing policies to address on microplastics. (Enforcement of law kat Malaysia bila pula?)👀

So here comes a Youtube clip of Buletin Utama TV3. Bila isu mikroplastik dah masuk berita, diulas untuk tatapan umum rakyat Malaysia, maksudnya isu mikroplastik ni serius. Tapi, how serious?

Youtube Clip of Buletin Utama TV3

                                                              

 And here's another bomb: 

A 2024 study by Zhao & You (2024) reported a concerning topic stating Malaysians eat microplastics the most, through the consumption of seafood. Ikan siakap tiga rasa, kerang rebus, oyster, lala dan semua yang sedap-sedap je. Kita rakyat Malaysia ni ingest an average of 15 g microplastics setiap bulan, takkan tak sedar lagi betapa seriusnya mikroplastik ni? 

Jadi apa usaha kita as negara yang paling banyak consume microplastics? Boikot makan seafood? Haha. Look back to the root cause of all this mess: Reduce single-use plastic, be responsible for your own plastic wastes, and do support studies on microplastics for the purpose of conservation strategies and effective management in Malaysia yipss! Okay tu je, Sayonara and till then. 

Last but not least, nak letak juga a few pics of us conducting microplastics sampling at Bagan Lalang, Sepang, dan few pantai di Penang, taking both surface sediment and sediment core samples. 

    

Genuinely prepared by, 

Cipaa.