Microplastic Pollution in Indian Personal Care Products: An Emerging Concern

August 29, 2024
Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
Category: DPN Topics

Microplastic Pollution in Indian Personal Care Products: An Emerging Concern

Sub: Env

Sec: Pollution

Why in News:

A recent study revealed significant microplastic contamination in personal care products (PCPs) in India, raising concerns about environmental and health impacts.
A study published in the Emerging Contaminants journal, led by Riya K. Alex from the Cochin University of Science and Technology, found harmful microplastics in Indian PCPs.

Key Points:

Microplastics: Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, including microbeads used in PCPs as exfoliants and delivery agents for active ingredients.

Microplastic Composition: The dominant polymer identified was polyethylene (PE), commonly used in face washes, scrubs, shower gels, and body scrubs.

Researchers examined 45 samples of PCPs marketed as “eco-friendly,” “natural,” or “organic” and found that 23.33% contained cellulose microbeads, with unclear biodegradability.

Sources: Commonly found in personal care products, synthetic textiles, and degraded larger plastic items.

Environmental Impact: Persist in ecosystems, causing pollution and harm to marine and terrestrial life.

Health Concerns: Detected in human organs such as the lungs, blood, and placenta, potentially leading to health risks.

Global Regulation: Several countries, including the U.S. and U.K., have banned microbeads in consumer products, though regulations vary worldwide.

Microbead: Microbeads in these products varied in color and composition, with white microbeads being the most common and typically made of PE, polypropylene, or polyester.

Concentration Levels: The concentration of microbeads varied across different products, with shower gels containing the highest amount at 1.74 g per 30 g of product.

Material: Commonly made from polyethylene (PE) and other plastics.

Usage: Found in personal care products like exfoliating scrubs, toothpaste, and shower gels.

Environmental Impact: Due to their small size, they often pass through water filtration systems, leading to pollution in oceans and rivers.

Regulation: Many countries have banned or restricted the use of microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products due to environmental concerns.

Environmental and Health Concerns

Bioplastic Findings: The study also detected polycaprolactone, a bioplastic used in pharmaceuticals, which, despite its applications, can harm aquatic life.
Global Actions: Countries like the U.S., U.K., Canada, France, and New Zealand have banned microbeads, but India lacks clear regulations on the issue.

Greenwashing Concerns

Greenwashing is the practice of misleading consumers by falsely portraying products or practices as environmentally friendly.

Tactics: Companies may use vague labels like “natural,” “organic,” or “eco-friendly” without substantial evidence or certifications.

Purpose: It aims to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers and boost sales without making meaningful environmental contributions.

Impact: Greenwashing undermines genuine sustainability efforts and misleads consumers into supporting products that may still harm the environment.

Alternatives to Microbeads

The study recommends using natural exfoliants like coffee, apricots, walnut, kiwi seeds, and soluble cellulose beads as alternatives to plastic microbeads.

WHAT IS A POLYMER?

A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units called monomers, which are chemically bonded together. Polymers can be natural, like DNA and proteins, or synthetic, like plastics (e.g., polyethylene, nylon). They have diverse applications in materials science, medicine, and everyday products due to their flexibility, strength, and versatility.

Polyethylene (PE): A lightweight, durable polymer used widely in packaging, containers, and personal care products.

Microplastic Source: PE is commonly used in microbeads for exfoliation in personal care products.

Environmental Impact: Due to its non-biodegradable nature, PE contributes significantly to microplastic pollution.

Prevalence: PE’s widespread use and low cost make it the dominant microplastic found in many consumer products.

About Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET): It is one of the most widely utilized thermoplastic polymers globally, known for its versatility and numerous applications.

Production Process:

PET is synthesized through the polymerization of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid.

When these chemicals are heated together with catalysts, they react to form PET, initially as a molten, viscous substance.

This material can either be spun into fibers or cooled and solidified for further processing into plastic forms.

Key Properties:

PET is a semi-crystalline resin that is naturally colorless and highly flexible.
It offers excellent resistance to impact, moisture, alcohols, and solvents, ensuring long-lasting performance.
PET is an excellent electrical insulator, making it suitable for various electronic applications.
Its low weight helps reduce transportation costs.
PET provides effective barriers against gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide, as well as moisture.
PET is recyclable either by washing and re-melting or by chemical processes that break it down into its original components for reuse.

Applications:

Packaging: PET is predominantly used for packaging food and beverages, such as bottled water, soft drinks, and juices.
Textiles: The polymer is also extensively used in the production of fabrics within the textile industry.
Automotive and Electronics: PET’s durable and insulating properties make it ideal for molding parts in automotive and electronic applications, as well as for producing films.
Electrical Components: Due to its insulating properties and resistance to moisture, PET is used in various electrical and electronic components, including insulation for wires and connectors.