Plastic pollution has evolved from an environmental concern to a biological invasion, as microplastics and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) infiltrate human bodies, posing serious health risks.

• A 2022 study by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam detected microplastics in the blood of 80% of human participants.
• A 2024 study in Nature Scientific Reports found microplastics in 89% of blood samples in India, averaging 4.2 particles/ml.
• A 2023 study in Food and Chemical Toxicology showed low-dose exposure to polystyrene microplastics:
  • Reduced testosterone.
  • Impaired sperm production.
  • Damaged the blood-testis barrier.

What are Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)?

• These are substances in the environment (air, soil, or water supply), food sources, personal care products, and manufactured products that interfere with the normal function of your body’s endocrine system. 

• Common Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) in Plastics
  • Bisphenol A (BPA) and BPS: Found in bottles, containers, thermal paper.
  • Phthalates (e.g., DEHP, DBP): Present in cosmetics, toys, IV tubing.
  • Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): Found in food packaging and non-stick cookware.
• These chemicals mimic or block hormones (estrogen, testosterone, thyroid hormones, cortisol) and disrupt gene expression, causing oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death.

About Microplastics

• Microplastics are small pieces of plastic, less than 5 mm (0.2 inch) in length.
• Microplastics are no longer considered inert; they are biologically active.
• Microplastics have also been detected in lungs, hearts, placentas, breast milk, ovarian fluid, and semen.

Impact of Microplastics

• Growing Fertility Crisis: 
  • In India, studies have documented a 30% decline in average sperm count over the past two decades.
  • In women, BPA and phthalates are associated with PCOS, endometriosis, and spontaneous abortion, as per Advances in Pharmacology (2021) and Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (2023).
  • BPA and phthalates are tied to lower testosterone and higher LH levels.
• Carcinogenic: Women with high DEHP, or di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate levels had nearly a 3x higher breast cancer risk (OR = 2.97).
  • BPA and phthalates are linked to prostate, uterine, and testicular cancers.
• Other Health Risks:
  • EDCs mimic cortisol and affect insulin, promoting obesity and type 2 diabetes.
  • PFAS exposure is tied to metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and thyroid dysfunction, per a 2024 Frontiers in Public Health study.
• Economic Impact: In India, EDC-related health costs exceed ₹25,000 crore/year, driven by healthcare and productivity losses.

Challenge

• Despite updates to the Plastic Waste Management Rules (2016, 2022, 2024), enforcement remains weak and the rules overlook low-dose endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) effects, especially for children and pregnant women.

Recommendations

• Biomonitoring and surveillance of EDCs in blood, urine, breast milk.
• Fund long-term studies on fertility, chronic disease, and neurodevelopment.
• Promote public awareness: 
  • Avoid microwaving food in plastic.
  • Use glass, stainless steel, EDC-free products.
  • Encourage antioxidant-rich diets to counter oxidative stress.
• Enforce plastic segregation, recycling, safe disposal.
• Invest in microplastic filters for water treatment.
• Incentivise biodegradable, non-toxic materials.

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