Microorganisms, the Earth Protector
World Environment Day : Microorganisms, the Earth Protector
By : Dani Permana, M.Si.
Loka Penelitian Teknologi Bersih
June 5th, 2015, is a momentous day for all the earth inhabitants. Yes, it is the world environment day. The theme of the world environment day this year brought by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care”. The theme is unique and straightforwardly pointing out the populous earth which currently reached 7.2 billion people and is predicted to rocket to 9.2 billion in 2050. As for Indonesia, it has been predicted to be the home for about 400 million people in 2050.
In Indonesia, the theme of 2015 world environment day is “Dream and action towards life sustainability on earth” (Mimpi dan Aksi Bersama untu Keberlanjutan Kehidupan di Bumi“). The theme affirms the fact that all of the earth inhabitants must be compassionate in sharing similar spirits for the earth conservation considering that the future generation significantly relies on our current actions.
With more population, the earth carries more burdens while in contrast, it must be the most comfortable place for every creature. However, inevitably, with millions of people activities, the environmental damage leading to global warming is approaching soon.
The impact of Global Warming is not invisible nowadays. The earth temperature is increasingly high with an increasing rate of 0,74 °C within the past century. Based on the information from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the heat increment had been noticed since the mid of the 20th century and was mostly contributed by the glass house gas concentration (carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen oxide) as a result of human activities. IPCC also proposed a climate model which shows the elevation of earth surface temperature at the range of 1,1 - 6,4 °C between 1990 and 2100.
Waste flood on earth.
Industrial activities such as mining, farming, etc, have been producing enormous amount of wastes. The hazardous compounds contained in disposed waste is potentially polluting the ecosystem, poisoning living creatures and deteriorating the quality of the environment. For giant industries, constructing a waste installation center (IPAL) is a piece of cake, thus, the waste effluent can fulfill the government standard and is safe for the environment. On the other hand, small industries face difficulties in building up such a system due to the lack of funding which unfavorably, the waste will just be processed with a simple treatment or even directly disposed to the river.
The awareness and respects for the earth conservation must be triggered to save the world from the waste flood. Human being must be reminded that as industrial players, they are the source of waste and garbage. As an individual, we can proceed our own household waste by the famous concept of 4R, Reuse , Reduce, Recycle and Replace. The concept must be more deployed in the society thus, at least, by doing so, the volume of domestic waste can be reduced. Moreover, organic waste from domestic activity can be collected and utilized as organic liquid fertilizer.
Microorganism Roles in earth conservation
Microorganism plays a substantial role in protecting the earth. Microorganism mainly decomposes garbage and liquid waste both from domestic and industrial activities and hence, is commonly applied in Biological treatment in waste installation. Using microorganism to degrade the waste is quite appealing in terms of efficiency and effectivity regardless its considerably long processing time. One key factor in harnessing microorganism is the safety and cost-effectiveness in comparison with chemical treatment which potentially creates new waste residue for another processing.
Microorganism is naturally abundant. The path of decomposition by microorganism relies on the organism nutrients demands contained in the waste. Some of the microorganisms are able to decompose organic waste from food industry and farming. Organic compounds from the waste are oxidized by the microbes to be much simpler chemical compounds safe to the environment. Additionally, some of the microbes are able to decompose and accumulate heavy metals in inorganic liquid waste typically coming from industrial and mining activities such as lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), dan manganese (Mn).
Taking a closer look on the big role of the microbes, we, human must take more responsibilities in earth conservation for the better living of the future generation.
Published in Tribun Forum Newspaper, Saturday, 23rd of April 2016