Foam Bubbles Cause a Stir on Social Media, IPB Professor: Indication of Hazardous and Toxic Waste Pollution
Some time ago, the public was shocked by the appearance of foul-smelling foam bubbles floating in the air, which went viral on social media. Responding to this, IPB University Professor Etty Riani explained that this phenomenon could occur due to high levels of waste pollution in the water.
According to Prof Etty, foam can form due to the presence of surfactants (surface-active substances), but it can also be caused by chemical reactions and the decomposition of large amounts of organic matter.
“If there is a lot of surfactant waste, it will form large foam clumps that can float in the air because they are very light,” said the lecturer from the Department of Water Resources Management, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPIK).
She added that several types of waste that can cause foam formation include household and industrial waste containing surfactants such as detergents and soaps; liquid organic waste from the food industry; and reactive chemical waste from the textile, pulp and paper industries, as well as other chemicals. A mixture of these various types of waste can produce large amounts of foam that is easily carried by the wind.
“Foam is formed because of surfactants. In this case, surfactants work to reduce the surface tension of water. When surfactants work and air enters, for example when we shake or rub, stir or move the water, the air can be trapped in a thin layer of water,” explained Prof Etty.
“The surfactant then forms a stable film layer around the air bubble, making the foam relatively stable or slow to break,” she added.
Prof Etty explained that the substance content in foam is highly dependent on the source of the waste. “In general, foam consists of water, air, and surfactants. However, if the foam is dark in color or has a pungent odor, it is likely that it has been mixed with hazardous and toxic substances (B3) such as heavy metals, benzene, or toluene, or various other types of B3 waste,” she said.
She reminded the public not to touch or play with suspicious foam because it could potentially cause skin and eye irritation, and if ingested and/or absorbed through the skin, it could potentially cause serious illnesses such as cancer if exposed to large amounts frequently.
To prevent similar incidents, Prof Etty emphasized the importance of technical, social, environmental, and policy approaches. She advised the government to conduct regular monitoring of household and industrial waste, provide communal wastewater treatment plants (IPAL), and encourage the community to use environmentally friendly cleaning products.
“In addition to public education, there also needs to be a revision of the standard quality of surfactants and strict regulations on the disposal of liquid waste into aquatic ecosystems,” she concluded. (dh) (IAAS/NRA)
