Depok, March 8, 2023. Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Budiawan was inaugurated as a professor at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI) on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at the Assembly Hall, UI Campus Depok. On this occasion, he presented his research on the precise assessment of the risks and benefits of chemicals for the protection of health and the environment.
In his inaugural speech, Prof. Budiawan, who is also the Vice Dean for Education, Research, and Student Affairs at FMIPA UI, stated that Indonesia is a country rich in chemicals derived from nature. These include sectors such as mining, petroleum, coal, and other natural resource-based chemicals. However, it is regrettable that the mastery of science and technology (IPTEK) as well as the quality of human resources (SDM) in precisely, intelligently, accurately, measurably, and correctly assessing and managing the risks of chemical use remain very weak.
“Chemicals naturally possess inherent hazardous properties and pose risks to health and the environment if their use is not precise—that is, intelligent, careful, measurable, correct, and safe.” Incedent misuse and abuse or misuse and incorrect use of chemicals so far, such as the use of explosives by terrorists, cases of cyanide in coffee, formalin or borax in food, as well as cases of ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol in children’s cough syrup that have caused fatalities, have become lesson learn or a lesson for us,” said Prof. Budiawan. Therefore, he added, the management of chemical risks in regulations or policies must be integrated (not sectoral) and harmonized in line with international policies, while still prioritizing national interests.
The assessment of chemical risks is a research- and science-based concept that produces data through a process of evaluating the risks and benefits of chemicals. Its goal is to protect the community and the environment from potential harmful effects of any activity or use of chemicals throughout their life cycle (chemical life cycle).
In the research conducted by Prof. Budiawan and his team, the focus is specifically on the research and study of the bioaccumulation of chemical compounds in a… in situ and in vivoBesides protecting the community and the environment, this risk assessment aims to maximize the utilization of chemicals to improve public welfare and protection, in line with the goals of sustainable development or the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Increasing the added value of chemical benefits through the downstream processing of our natural resources should enhance the welfare and prosperity of the nation, as mandated by the 1945 Constitution,” said Prof. Budiawan.
The inauguration ceremony of the professor was led directly by the Rector of UI, Prof. Ari Kuncoro, SE, MA, Ph.D., and was broadcast virtually through the Universitas Indonesia YouTube channel and UI Teve. “The results of this toxicology study are highly necessary and helpful in making wise decisions by precisely weighing the risks and benefits of chemicals, alongside other important toxicological parameters to be studied, so that chemical risk management is safe for public health and the environment,” said Prof. Ari. Also present at the ceremony were the Cabinet Secretary of Indonesia from 2010-2014, Dr. Dipo Alam, and the Director General of Environmental and Forestry Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia, Rasio Rido Sani.
Prof. Budiawan completed his undergraduate education in the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Padjajaran, graduating in 1987. He then pursued a master’s degree, Dipl. Chem, at the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Würzburg, Germany (1994). At the same university, he earned his Doctorate of Natural Sciences (Dr. rer. nat.) from the Institute for Toxicology in 1998.
Some of his scientific works in recent years include The Effect of Zinc Speciation and Its Concentration on Bioaccumulation in Pomfret (Colossoma macropomum) and Sepat Fish (Trichogaster Trichopterus) yang terbit pada 2023, In-Vitro Study of Acrylamide and TBHQ Compounds on The Generation of DNA Adduct 8-Hydroxy-2’-Deoxyguanosine as Biomarker of Oxidative DNA Damage (2022), Bioaccumulation and retention kinetics of trace elements in the horse mussels Modiolus micropterus exposed to different environmental conditions (2021), dan Detection of DNA adduct 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) as a toxicity bioindicator to the effects of nickel on Ni-Cr alloy prosthesis users (2020).
