Microplastics found in Indian salt & sugar brands. But they’re everywhere, even in the air we breathe

Sub: Sci

Sec: Health

Context:

Toxics Link, an environmental NGO, conducted a study on microplastics (MPs) in several sugar and salt brands in India.
The study detailed the types, shapes, sizes, and colours of MPs in samples and recommended improving manufacturing processes, enhancing regulations, promoting R&D, and raising public awareness.
Findings revealed microplastics are ubiquitous and affect every living being, air, and water, highlighting the pervasive nature of MPs due to lack of comprehensive data.

What Are Microplastics?

Microplastics range in size from 5 mm to 1 µm, generated by the breakdown of larger plastic pieces or manufactured at that scale.
Primary microplastics are released in the form they are produced, while secondary ones result from the degradation of larger plastics.
Nanoplastics, even smaller (1,000 nm to 1 nm), pose greater risks due to their size and lack of understanding.
Together, micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are by-products of fossil fuels, prevalent since the late 1800s.

Where Are MNPs Found?

MNPs are found globally—in oceans, mountains, polar ice, soil, plants, animals, and the human body.
Nanoplastics can breach the blood-brain barrier and have been detected in the brain, placenta, blood, and other human tissues.
The largest sources of MNPs include synthetic clothing, vehicle tires, packaging, cosmetics, and industrial processes.
They exist in various forms like fibers, glitter, pellets, beads, films, and random fragments, with 35% of oceanic MNPs originating from clothing.

MNPs Harmful to Humans?

Risk assessment of microplastics is challenging due to the lack of controls, making it hard to compare and evaluate health risks.
MNPs smaller than 20 µm can penetrate organs, and those smaller than 10 µm can enter the brain and placenta.
Studies associate MNPs with cardiovascular issues, heart attacks, strokes, and potentially carcinogenic effects, though their full impact on health remains largely unknown.

Microplastics in Salt and Sugar:

The study examined 10 salt brands and 5 sugar brands in India, finding MPs in all samples, with concentrations ranging from 6.71 to 89.15 pieces per kilogram.
MPs ranged in size from 0.1 to 5 mm and were primarily white, transparent, blue, red, black, and violet.
Nanoplastic particles were not analyzed, though they are suspected to cause long-term health issues and possibly affect future generations.

Purpose of MNP Studies:

MNPs are nearly impossible to remove from daily life due to their ubiquitous presence, even in filtered water and food.
Recycled plastics continue to release smaller plastic particles, and all plastic produced will persist for millions of years unless actively contained.
Current studies are essential for understanding, quantifying, and developing methods to filter MNPs, highlighting the urgency of addressing plastic pollution.

Filtering Microplastics from Food or Water:

Microplastics can only be filtered by membrane filters at a molecular level, but complete elimination requires an entirely plastic-free supply chain.
True cessation of new plastic contamination depends on ending fossil fuel use and discontinuing recycled plastic usage.

Source: TP