Source: TH
Subject: Environment
Context: A new study by has revealed that while microplastic abundance on Chennai’s beaches is lower than global averages, the high concentration of nylon fibers poses a severe ecological risk.
About The Microplastic Problem:
What it is?
- Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 mm in diameter. They are categorized into primary microplastics (purposely manufactured small, like microbeads in scrubs) and secondary microplastics (resulting from the breakdown of larger plastic items like bottles, nets, and synthetic clothes).
Microplastics in India – Key Facts:
- Airborne Exposure in Cities: Microplastics form ~5% of PM2.5/PM10 in cities like Delhi & Kolkata (~14.2 µg/m³), with lifetime inhalation ~3 grams per person.
- High Aquatic Pollution Load: India releases ~3.9 lakh tonnes of microplastics annually into waterbodies, ranking among top global contributors.
- Food Chain Contamination: 100% of sampled sea salt and most seafood contain microplastics (13–27 particles per 100g), indicating widespread ingestion risk.
- Human Ingestion Levels: Urban Indians may ingest ~5–7 grams annually—equivalent to consuming a credit card worth of plastic regularly.
Sources of Microplastics in India:
- Fishing Industry: Abandoned or damaged nylon nets and ropes shed fragments directly into the sea.
Example: In Chennai, nylon fibers from fishing gear were identified as the most harmful persistent pollutant.
- Synthetic Textiles: Washing clothes like polyester and nylon releases thousands of microfibers per wash into the drainage system.
Example: Urban sewage in cities like Mumbai and Chennai serves as a direct conveyor belt for these fibers to reach the ocean.
- Mismanaged Plastic Waste: Improper disposal of single-use plastics leads to their fragmentation under UV radiation and wave action.
Example: Discarded PET bottles and HDPE bags on Mamallapuram beach break down into secondary microplastics over time.
- Personal Care Products: Microbeads in exfoliating soaps and toothpaste bypass traditional filtration systems.
Example: These primary microplastics are frequently detected in the riverine systems of the Ganges and Yamuna before they reach the coast.
Initiatives Taken So Far:
- Single-Use Plastic Ban (2022): India banned 19 items of high-littering potential to reduce the source of secondary microplastics.
- Plastic Waste Management Rules (Amended 2021/2024): Mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging to ensure recycling.
- Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar: A massive coastal cleanup campaign covering 75 beaches to remove plastic litter before it fragments.
- National Marine Litter Policy: A draft framework aimed at coordinating between states to monitor and reduce land-based sources of marine pollution.
Challenges Associated with Microplastics
- Detection Difficulty: Traditional monitoring focuses on counts, which ignores the chemical toxicity of specific shapes like fibers.
Example: Chennai’s low count masked the high danger of nylon fibers which are more toxic than standard beads.
- Bioaccumulation: Microplastics move up the food chain, concentrating toxins in top predators, including humans.
Example: Consumption of contaminated shellfish in Kerala has been linked to potential hormonal and immune system disruptions.
- Transboundary Nature: Ocean currents carry microplastics far from their original source, making local regulation difficult.
Example: Plastic waste from neighboring maritime nations often washes up on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- Lack of Alternatives: Many industries, like fishing, lack affordable, biodegradable alternatives to high-strength nylon.
Example: Fishermen continue using plastic nets because biodegradable hemp or cotton is more expensive and less durable.
Way Ahead for India:
- Mandatory Washing Machine Filters: Legislate the inclusion of microfiber filters in all new washing machines to trap synthetic lint.
- Biodegradable Fishing Gear: Provide subsidies for the development and adoption of compostable fishing nets and ropes.
- Shift to Risk-Based Monitoring: Update FSSAI and environmental standards to evaluate polymer type and shape rather than just particle count.
- Enhanced STP Infrastructure: Upgrade urban sewage plants with tertiary filtration (sand filters or membranes) specifically to catch microplastics.
- Public Awareness & Labeling: Introduce Plastic Footprint labeling on clothing to inform consumers about synthetic fiber shedding.
Conclusion:
Microplastics represent an invisible but existential threat to India’s blue economy and public health. While abundance levels in cities like Chennai may seem manageable today, the persistence and toxicity of fibers like nylon demand immediate policy intervention. Only a combination of technological upgrades and circular economy practices can prevent these microscopic toxins from permanently altering our coastal ecosystems.
