Never too late for Hasjrul to get doctorate degree

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.