KUCHING: Whether it is teh tarik, kopi panas or any refreshing iced beverage, many Malaysians are no strangers to ordering their favourite drinks ‘bungkus-style’ in a familiar plastic sac.
However, questions are now being raised over the hidden health risks behind this everyday practice.
According to Prof. Mohammad Tariqur Rahman from the International Institute of Public Policy and Management (INPUMA) at Universiti Malaya, pouring boiling-hot drinks directly into plastic bags could expose consumers to hazardous chemicals such as polystyrene and polypropylene, potentially leading to the leaching of microplastics into their beverages.
“The use of plastic containers is not confined to drinks alone,” he said.
“Food packaging – from the plastic containers for meals to the plastic-lined paper wrapping nasi lemak – also poses a similar risk.”
While Malaysian authorities do monitor the quality and safety standards of plastic food containers and drink sacs, Mohammad emphasised that the effectiveness of such monitoring depends heavily on the diligence of enforcement and the regularity of nationwide checks.
Recent studies, he noted, have indicated that individuals who frequently use plastic food containers have significantly higher levels of microplastics detected in their bloodstreams.
Beyond ingestion, microplastics also enter the body through inhalation and skin exposure.
Emerging research suggests worrying links between microplastics and health issues such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, blood coagulation problems, and possibly even chronic kidney disease (CKD).
“Malaysia already faces a high burden of CKD, with prevalence rising from 9.1 per cent in 2011 to 15.5 per cent in 2018.
“Projections estimate over 106,000 Malaysians could suffer from end-stage kidney disease by 2040, costing the country an estimated RM3.2 billion annually,” Mohammad said.
He raised an important hypothesis that long-term exposure to microplastics filtered through the kidneys could contribute to the nation’s rising cases of CKD.
Microplastics, once in the bloodstream, travel to various organs including the kidneys where they may accumulate over time and impair the kidneys’ filtering functions, eventually leading to kidney failure.
Mohammad urged policymakers to act prudently if future studies establish a firm link between plastic-packaged foods and CKD, as proactive measures could safeguard public health and help alleviate Malaysia’s growing healthcare costs.
