This article first appeared in Capital, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on June 24, 2024 - June 30, 2024

So, apparently, Malaysia is the reigning champion of microplastics consumption among 109 countries, followed by Indonesia and Egypt in second and third places, according to the Environmental Science and Technology journal, quoting a study by the National University of Defence Technology in China and Cornell University in the US.

Now, for those who haven’t got the memo — like myself until recently — microplastics are basically tiny plastic bits, measuring less than 5mm — smaller than a grain of rice — and lurking everywhere, from the air we breathe to the deepest trenches of the ocean, and somehow ending up in our food chain.

The study found that Malaysians consume a whopping 502.3mm of microplastics per person. That’s like eating a plastic straw chopped into confetti every single day.

Also, over half of Malaysian microplastics intake came from fish.

I was completely overwhelmed by this news — and also why I was eager to write my first piece for this column — as a seafood lover who enjoys ikan bakar and ikan bilis, which always complement our nasi lemak. For nearly three decades, I’ve been blissfully tucking into my seafood, completely unaware that I might be ingesting a side of plastic with every bite.

Our booming industrial development comes at a cost; in this case, plastic pollution overflowing from landfills ends up in our oceans. Let’s be honest, Malaysians aren’t exactly known for being meticulous with waste disposal, and microplastics are just the tip of the iceberg.

This reminds me of a song popular in the late 1990s by Aqua titled Barbie Girl with the famous catchy line “life in plastic, it’s fantastic” which takes on a whole new meaning now as this is “fantastically” concerning to me. The thought of having an internal collection of miniature plastic in my body is more than a tad unsettling.

The only good news is that research on the long-term health effects of microplastics is still ongoing, but it’s certainly not ideal to be chowing down on plastic bites. The potential for these particles to act as carriers for harmful chemicals in our bodies is a cause for concern. It’s like having an uninvited guest for lunch.

Here’s where we come in, folks. The solution lies in a multi-pronged approach, but we can all be part of it. The study suggests that by cleaning up our act — proper waste management and fancy water treatment — we can slash our microplastics intake by almost half in Southeast Asia.

While we can’t cut out seafood entirely — at least, not for me — we should be mindful of where we source it. Individually, we can make a difference. Look for vendors who support sustainable fishing practices. This also helps ensure healthier oceans, which translates into healthier seafood — or maybe less plastic for us to ingest.

Let’s embrace the reusables and ditch those single-use plastic bags and water bottles. Opting for reusable bags, water bottles and food containers can significantly reduce the amount of plastics ending up in our landfills and eventually, our oceans. Love the beach? Consider a beach clean-up. You could help our oceans by removing tiny plastic bits that harm marine life.

Remember, we can’t control what’s already out there, but we can definitely control what we do going forward. By making small changes, we can turn the tide on plastic pollution and ensure a healthier future for ourselves, our oceans and the seafood we love.

Contrary to Barbie’s life motto, a life free of microplastics would truly be fantastic.

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