Melamine

In many stores that sell furniture, cutlery and drink called melamine is relatively easy to find. If the 1970-1980s melamine is still limited and shape color, the design of melamine can now compete with other glassware. Melamine tableware product so much so that this item not only may be purchased at the store specific, but also in the traditional market traders in the pavement.

Embryo of melamine began in 1907 when Belgian scientist chemical origin, Leo Hendrik Baekeland, to find the first synthetic plastic called bakelite. Discovery is one of the historic success of chemical technology, early 20th century. Bakelite was originally used as the basis of making the first generation phone. However, in later development, the discovery of Baekeland developed and used also in the household industry. One of them is as basic cutlery, such as spoons, forks, plates, glasses, cups, bowls, soup spoon, and crock, as generated from melamine.

Cutlery made of melamine in one hand, offers many advantages. In addition to design a variety of colors and interesting, its also more superior than other cutlery made of ceramic, metal, or glass. Melamine is lighter, stronger, and not easily broken. Melamine prices of equipment is relatively cheaper than that made of ceramic for example.

Potential Formalin

With all the excess melamine, no wonder if some people do not realize that melamine has the potential to harm human health. According to the instructor at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bambang Ariwahioedi PhD, MSc, melamine can potentially produce toxic monomer called formaldehid (formalin). In addition to functioning as a preservative, formaldehid also the raw material used for melamine. According Ariwahioedi, melamine is a polymer, namely the chemical compound (polimerisasi) between monomer formaldehid and fenol. When the second monomer is joined, the toxic nature of formaldehid will be lost because terlebur into one compound, namely melamine.

Based on research cooperation between the University of Indonesia and Indonesian Consumers Foundation Institute (YLKI), known in the womb formaldehid melamine utensil reach 4,76-9,22 milligram per liter. "Problem, in a less perfect polimerisasi can occur residues, the remaining monomer formaldehid or fenol not bersenyawa so stuck in the material melamine. The remaining monomer formaldehid this is dangerous for health when included in the human body, "said Ariwahjoedi.

Melamine in the production system that is not controlled, the materials used formaldehid likely not comparable to the number of fenol. Thus, residues frequently occur. This does not mean that the production process is to apply well controlled and not result in residues from the potential toxicity issue. According Ariwahjoedi, formaldehid melamine in the compound can be shown again because of events that called depolimerisasi (degradation). In that event, particles formaldehid re-emerged as monomer, and automatically generate toxic.

Ariwahjoedi explains, melamine compound is very susceptible to heat and ultraviolet rays. Both are potentially trigger the occurrence of depolimerisasi. In addition, friction-friction and abrasion against the surface of the melamine is also a potential cause lepasnya particles formaldehid. Ariwahjoedi add, formaldehid very easy to enter the human body, especially the oral (mouth). Formaldehid can also enter through the respiratory channel and body fluids.

Monomer formaldehid into potentially dangerous to human body health. "Formalin is working to kill the bacteria. If bacteria can not live alone, the drug lived longer step being the other, "he said berilustrasi. Formaldehid into the body can disrupt the function of cells, and can also lead to cell death. In the short term, this can lead to symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and urine mixed with blood. While for the long term, the accumulation of excess formaldehid can cause stomach irritation, brain disfunction and spinal marrow. In fact, fatalnya can cause cancer (karsinogenik).