Paracetamol Contamination in Jakarta Bay; Govt Urged to Take Responsibility

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Kawali Indonesia Lestari Coalition or Kawali urges the Indonesian government to take the responsibility over the paracetamol contamination at the Jakarta Bay. Kawali manager of advocation & campaigne, Fatmata Juliansyah, said the government must monitor and seek the causes and polluters.

“As well as taking firm action against the perpetrators, including in the environmental recovery and compensation to the affected people. Someone must be responsible for this,” Fatmata said in a written statement on Thursday, October 7.

An international study published in August 2021 by Marine Pollution Bulletin recorded that paracetamol content dominates the Jakarta Bay waters. It was detected in Angke and Ancol areas of North Jakarta, with 610 ng/L in Angke and 420 ng/L of the drug content in Ancol.

Fatmata said that high concentration of paracetamol would affect the ecosystem of marine life and the livelihoods of the local fishermen. He was concerned about the quality of the catches from the polluted waters for human consumption as paracetamol is known as a medicine to treat fever, headache, and a pain killer. It has side effects if used excessively.

He viewed that it didn't make sense if the medicine set for human consumption pollute the sea.

"It shows a clear indication of marine pollution," said Fatmata. He regretted that paracetamol was not included in 38 pollution indicator parameters.

He said that the provincial government had failed to protect sea water quality standards, questioning if there is an irresponsible party that intends to throw waste to the sea. "Considering the rising paracetamol consumption following the vaccination that automatically increases the demand," he remarked.

Read: Jakarta Bay Paracetamol Contamination; Researcher Reveals Possible Sources

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA | LANI DIANA