Jakarta, July 6 -- The Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) said global interconnectivity among laboratories and continuous innovation are essential to addressing emerging public health challenges, including the potential impact of microplastics.

BPOM Chairman Taruna Ikrar said on Monday that microplastics and nanoplastics are increasingly affecting both the environment and human health, noting that widespread plastic use and inadequate waste management have raised growing health concerns.

Citing a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, Ikrar said researchers found a possible link between microplastics and atherosclerosis, a condition caused by plaque buildup in the arteries.

"The problem is how microplastics can ...