Microplastics tiny plastic particles measuring less than 5 millimetres are rapidly emerging as a major environmental and public health threat, with studies showing their presence across India’s rivers, coastlines, soils, food and even within the human body. Scientists warn that these particles are not confined to one region but travel across ecosystems, making them a transboundary challenge that is difficult to contain once released.
Plastic, widely used for its affordability, durability and accessibility, gradually breaks down into smaller fragments over time. These microplastics have now been detected in nearly every environmental medium, including air, water and soil. Their widespread presence has raised alarm among researchers, particularly due to their ability to move across long distances and enter human systems through multiple pathways.
India’s eastern coastline has emerged as one of the most affected regions. Studies reveal significant contamination in seawater, beach sand and marine life. Researchers recorded average microplastic concentrations of around 80 particles per cubic metre in seawater and 4 particles per kilogram in beach sand, with pollution levels in several areas classified as highly hazardous.
Around 30 per cent of commercially important fish species sampled from these waters were found to contain microplastics, primarily polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene.
Rivers And Waste Systems Accelerate Microplastic Spread
Rivers play a crucial role in transporting plastic waste from urban areas to marine ecosystems. Poor waste management, untreated sewage and plastic litter contribute to the flow of microplastics into river systems, which eventually carry them into oceans. Studies in South Indian rivers indicate that urban waterways contain significantly higher concentrations of microplastics compared to rural rivers, highlighting the impact of human activity.
Wastewater treatment plants, often seen as a solution, present another layer of complexity. While they can remove a large portion of microplastics, these particles accumulate in sewage sludge. This sludge is frequently used in agriculture as fertiliser, unintentionally transferring microplastics from water to soil. As a result, soils treated with such biosolids have shown significantly higher microplastic concentrations than untreated soils.
Some advanced treatment techniques, such as electrocoagulation, can remove over 90 per cent of microplastics. However, scientists caution that these methods may break larger particles into even smaller nanoplastics, which are more easily absorbed by living organisms and potentially more harmful.
Food Chain Contamination Raises Health Risks
Microplastics are now entering the human body primarily through food consumption, followed by air inhalation and drinking water. They have been detected in seafood, sea salt, drinking water and even cooked meals. Studies show that commercial sea salt in India can contain hundreds of microplastic particles per kilogram.
On average, individuals in urban India are estimated to ingest or inhale more than 2,000 microplastic particles daily through combined exposure from food, water and air. Once inside the body, these particles can release harmful chemicals, including plasticisers and other toxic substances.
Laboratory studies suggest that exposure to microplastics may lead to cellular stress, inflammation, endocrine disruption and even cell death. While long-term human health impacts are still being studied, the findings have raised serious concerns among scientists and policymakers.
Experts emphasise that microplastic pollution is not limited to environmental damage but represents a growing public health crisis. Addressing this issue requires stronger policies, improved waste management systems and global cooperation to reduce plastic use and prevent further contamination.
As microplastics continue to move from coasts to food plates, researchers stress that urgent, collective action is needed to safeguard ecosystems and human health from this invisible yet pervasive threat.