Never too late for Hasjrul to get doctorate degree

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor, West Java

A former forestry minister in the Soeharto regime, Hasjrul Harahap, was declared on Monday the oldest doctor of science at the age of 73 after he managed to defend his dissertation, The Influence of Lead Pollution from Vehicles and Land on Tea Plants and Quality at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture.

Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI) manager Paulus Pangka said that the museum had monitored all doctors and acknowledged that Hasjrul was the oldest candidate.

"We have included this record to encourage the young that studying is not limited by age," he said.

Hasjrul said in his dissertation that the management of tea plantations located close to roads that carried heavy pollution from vehicles should pay attention to the plants, products and workers. The management, he said, must pay attention to the lead that might be absorbed by the tea leaves, roots or branches because it could influence tea quality.

"To avoid a cumulative intake of lead, I suggest tea-lovers shouldn't consume too much tea, particularly those who love teh poci (tea suffused in boiling water in a teapot). Consumers should remove the leaves soon after brewing the tea. It's better to wash the teapot after suffusing the tea," he said.

His research at three tea plantations -- Gunung Mas, Sidamanik and Malabar, all in the Puncak mountain resort area -- indicated that the highest lead concentrations were found in tea roots at Sidamanik, located around 160 meters from the emission source. The highest lead concentrations in soil and branches of tea plants was at Gunung Mas, located 10 meters from the emission source.

Hasjrul also said that tea plantation workers at Gunung Mas and those working frequently and close to the pollution source were liable to suffer the effects of lead pollution.