Microplastics found in Indian salt & sugar brands. But they’re everywhere, even in the air we breathe
- August 18, 2024
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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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