BRIN researcher Muhammad Reza Cordova said microplastics were found in every sample collected from different areas in Jakarta.
"The microplastics come from synthetic fibers in clothes, vehicle and tire dust, residue from burned plastics, and degraded plastics in the open," Cordova said in a written statement on Thursday.
He noted that the samples mainly contained polyester, nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polybutadiene, appearing as synthetic fibers and plastic fragments.
On average, the researchers found 15 microplastic particles per square meter per day in samples collected from Jakarta's coastal areas.
Cordova explained that the microplastics result from atmospheric deposition, in which airborne plastic particles mix with the water cycle and return to Earth with rain.
"The plastic cycle does not stop at the sea; it's carried by the wind into the sky and descends again with the rain," he said, adding that such rainwater can contaminate surface water and enter the food chain.
The finding underscores air pollution concerns, as the particles can enter the human body through air or water.
"The rainwater itself is not harmful; the dangerous part is the microplastics that contain chemical additives or absorb pollutants," Cordova said.
He added that global studies have shown microplastics may cause oxidative stress, hormonal disruption, and tissue damage in humans.
To address the problem, he urged stronger cross-sectoral efforts, including improving plastic waste management and recycling facilities, reducing single-use plastics, and installing filters in washing machines to capture synthetic fibers.
Cordova also called on residents to minimize plastic use, separate household waste, and avoid burning trash, noting that such practices generate microplastics that "return to humans in a more subtle, silent, and dangerous way."
"Jakarta's sky reflects the behavior of humans below it," he added.
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Translator: Sean Filo Muhamad, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Anton Santoso
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