In a recent study published by the National Institutes of Health, researchers found that brain samples taken in early 2024 contained an alarming average of 0.5% plastic by weight.

About Microplastics

• Definition: Microplastics are defined as synthetic solid particles sized ranging from 1 micrometer to 5 millimeters (mm), which are insoluble in water.
• They are a result of the fragmentation and degradation of larger plastic items, as well as the direct release of tiny plastic particles, often intentionally added to consumer products like cosmetics and cleaning agents.

Types of Microplastics: There are two categories of microplastics: primary and secondary.

• Primary microplastics:
  • These minuscule particles are intended for commercial applications, like in cosmetics, and also encompass microfibers that come off from garments and other textiles, including fishing nets.
  • They enter the environment through various means, such as during product use, accidental spills in manufacturing or transportation, or from abrasion during laundry.
  • E.g., microbeads found in personal care products, plastic pellets, and plastic fibers.
• Secondary microplastics:
  • These particles originate from the fragmentation of larger plastic objects, like water bottles.
  • This usually occurs when sizable plastics degrade due to environmental factors such as wave action, wind erosion, and UV radiation from the sun.
  • Exposure to environmental factors, primarily solar radiation and ocean waves, is the cause of this breakdown.

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Applications of Microplastics

• Cosmetics: Used in exfoliating scrubs, shampoos, and toothpaste (e.g., polyethylene beads).
• Cleaning Products: Found in abrasive cleaners and detergents (e.g., microbeads in cleaning powders).
• Industrial Processes: Employed as abrasives in sandblasting and polishing (e.g., glass beads).
• Agriculture: Used in soil conditioning and controlled release fertilizers (e.g., microplastics in some fertilizers).
• Medical and Pharmaceutical Uses: Used in targeted drug delivery due to the capacity to absorb and release chemicals effectively.

Risks Posed by Usage of Microplastics

• Environmental Impact:
  • Ecosystem Disruption: Ingestion by marine and terrestrial organisms can lead to physical harm and disruption of food chains.
  • Pollution: Accumulation in water bodies, soil, and sediments leads to long-term environmental contamination.
  • Bioaccumulation risks: Microplastics have now been found in lungs, placentas, and other critical organs through gradual accumulation of microplastics.
• Health Risks:
  • Human Exposure: Inhalation and ingestion of microplastics can pose potential health risks, including respiratory issues and gastrointestinal problems.
  • Toxicity: Microplastics may carry harmful chemicals and pollutants, which can be transferred into the food chain.
  • Non-Biodegradable: Microplastics are particularly harmful to the oceans as they don’t break down into harmless molecules and adversely affect the health of marine organisms, which mistake plastic for food.
• Economic Costs:
  • Damage to Marine Life: Affects fishing industries due to impact on fish stocks and marine biodiversity.
  • Cleaning and Management: Increased costs for environmental cleanup and waste management efforts.
• Aesthetic and Recreational Impact: Polluted Beaches and Waterways affects tourism and recreational activities due to unsightly pollution and contaminated water.
• Degradation of Materials: Microplastics in soil can affect the quality of construction materials and agricultural productivity.

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Initiatives Taken to tackle microplastics

• Global Initiatives:
  • Global Partnership on Marine Litter (GPML): A global initiative aimed at reducing marine litter and microplastics through international cooperation and partnerships.
  • GloLitter Partnerships Project: Project focused on reducing marine litter and microplastics by improving knowledge and promoting best practices globally.
  • London Convention, 1972: An international agreement that regulates the disposal of wastes, including plastics, into the marine environment to prevent pollution.
• India-Specific Initiatives:
• • Elimination of Single Use Plastic: A national effort to ban and reduce single-use plastics to minimize plastic waste and microplastic pollution
  • Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016: Regulations aimed at managing plastic waste through extended producer responsibility and promoting recycling.
  • Un-Plastic Collective: A collaborative initiative to tackle plastic pollution through community engagement, education, and policy advocacy.

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