In a compelling and insightful second lecture on environmental forensics held on November 14th, 2023, Professor Dr. Ahmad Zaharin Aris, CEnv, MRSC, FAP M, FASc. , a distinguished figure with multiple accolades, shed light on the concerning presence of "Invisible Water Threats: Profiling Environmental Pollutants." The lecture, hosted in a hybrid format, combined an offline gathering at Meeting Room No.1 in the Postgraduate School USU, Medan, with an online audience joining via Zoom Meeting.
.png)
The focal point of the lecture was Prof. Aris's comprehensive discussion of his seminal journal article, "Occurrence and risk assessment of multiclass endocrine disrupting compounds in an urban tropical river." This influential piece, available for further exploration through its DOI link, uncovers a mixture of 14 EDCs within an urban tropical river. Substances like caffeine, bisphenol A, diclofenac, and ciprofloxacin were detected in higher concentrations, raising concerns about their environmental impact.
The discourse expanded to cover the relationship between the physicochemical properties of water bodies and the distribution of EDCs within river water, underscoring the need for a structured risk management and monitoring framework to safeguard water resources. Furthermore, Prof. Aris highlighted the contamination of these pollutants in fish and seafood, emphasizing the implications for human health.
The lecture also delved into the alarming presence of "forever chemicals" like PFOA and PFOS in drinking water, prompting a contemplation on their potential health effects.
Moreover, Prof. Aris passionately addressed the pervasive issue of microplastic contamination in the food chain, underscoring its detrimental effects on ecosystems and human health. He advocated for reducing plastic use, pointing out that individual actions to diminish plastic consumption can significantly impact the overall demand for plastic production. By urging the audience to minimize their use of plastic, he emphasized the potential collective impact such measures could have on reducing environmental contamination. His plea resonated with the audience, highlighting the power of individual choices in addressing more significant environmental issues.
Prof. Ir. T. Sabrina, M.Agr.Sc., Ph.D, the director of the Postgraduate School USU, echoed the gravity of the lecture, describing it as reminiscent of a nightmare. She emphasized the alarming nature of pollutants and their potential consequences on the human body, underscoring the urgency of proactive measures to address these environmental challenges.
The lecture’s powerful insights and urgent call to action left an indelible impression on the attendees, further emphasizing the critical need for sustainable practices to preserve our environment and protect human health. The upcoming and final lecture in this series on environmental forensics is scheduled to take place on November 21st, 2023, with Professor Dr. Ahmad Zaharin Aris again leading the session. Visit this link to join the final lecture!