Microplastic Rain: ITS Research Insights
Researchers fromInstitutTeknologiSepuluhNopember(ITS) have raised serious concerns after microplastics were detected in rainfall in Surabaya, Indonesia,signallinga growing level of atmospheric pollution. Environmental expert Prof.ArsetoYektiBagastyoexplained that this phenomenon occurs through atmospheric deposition, in which tiny plastic particles suspended in the air eventually fall to the earth’s surface through rain.
These microplastics originate from the degradation of larger plastic waste, broken down by heat, ultraviolet radiation, wind, and human activity into fragments smaller than five millimeters. Once carried by rain, the particles flow into rivers and seas, settle in the soil, and are absorbed by microorganisms and aquatic life. A process that over time can lead to accumulation in the human body and pose serious health risks.
According toProf. Arseto, this is not merely an environmentalissue,but a reflection of unsustainable consumption patterns combined with ineffective waste management systems. Many landfill sites in Indonesia still rely on open dumping practices, while fewer than halfoperateunder controlled sanitary landfill systems. This reality, he stressed,representsa critical warning for local governments and communities alike.
Prof.Arsetoemphasized that solving the problem requires collective action. Waste must be managed in an integrated way, from the source to its final disposal, involving authorities, institutions, and the public. He concluded that the emergence of microplastics in Surabaya’s rain is nature’s alarm demanding an immediate and coordinated response, in line with global efforts to achieve responsible consumption and climate action.