Microplastics entering food chain, warn experts in Bengal
Times of India | 3 December 2024
Kolkata: Senior health and waste management experts on Monday raised alarms about microplastic pollution, which is triggering many health issues. Microplastics are entering our food chain, even appearing in mother's milk and placenta, the experts claimed while highlighting the concern on National Pollution Prevention Day.
"Many scientific journals indicate that micro and nano plastics are significantly reducing human sperm count," said senior pulmonologist Arup Haldar. Emergency medicine expert Sanjukta Dutta emphasized that mismanagement of plastic has led to a crisis of civilisation."We are inhaling nano plastic, we are drinking it. We really don't know how much the toxic plastic has become part of our bodies," she added. Kaustabh Choudhury, consultant paediatrician, said, "Children are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of microplastics. These tiny particles, present in the air they breathe, the water they drink, and even the food they consume, can accumulate in their developing bodies, potentially causing long-term health issues."
" Plastic waste is not supposed to reach landfill sites. It is supposed to be recycled and reused. Neither citizens nor our govts understand the crisis in terms of human health, biodiversity loss, and the toxicity they generate," said Sadhan Ghosh, a waste-management expert.
"Micro and nano plastic are responsible for a number of cancers," said Monidipa Mondal, a consultant radiation oncologist.
Ajay Mittal, of India Clean Air Network (ICAN), said, "In our study, we found that 24% of consumers and 30% of vendors surveyed were unfamiliar with the term single-use plastic, both in English and local languages. This lack of awareness among key stakeholders reflects a significant barrier to implementing policies and practices aimed at reducing plastic waste."