Padma Awardee Doctors Warn of Airborne Microplastics Threat to Health
Eighty Padma awardee doctors have raised concerns about the health risks posed by airborne microplastics.
Photo by camera obscura
त्वरित संशोधन
80 Padma awardee doctors raised alarm about airborne microplastics
Microplastics can enter human body via inhalation and ingestion
Potential health impacts include respiratory issues, hormonal imbalances, and cancer
Call for urgent research and policy interventions
महत्वपूर्ण संख्याएं
दृश्य सामग्री
Airborne Microplastics: A Looming Health Crisis
This mind map illustrates the core message from Padma Awardee doctors regarding the airborne microplastics threat, outlining its pathways, health impacts, and the urgent calls for action.
Airborne Microplastics: A Health Threat
- ●The Warning
- ●The Threat: Airborne Microplastics
- ●Call to Action
- ●Global Significance
परीक्षा के दृष्टिकोण
Environmental pollution and degradation (GS-III)
Public health and disease (GS-II, GS-III)
Science and Technology (materials science, toxicology, waste management technologies) (GS-III)
Government policies and interventions (Plastic Waste Management Rules, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan) (GS-II, GS-III)
International conventions and global efforts on pollution control (GS-II, GS-III)
विस्तृत सारांश देखें
सारांश
A group of 80 doctors, all recipients of the prestigious Padma awards, have issued a warning about the serious health threats posed by airborne microplastics. They highlighted that these tiny plastic particles, which are now ubiquitous in our environment, can enter the human body through inhalation and ingestion, potentially causing a range of health issues from respiratory problems to hormonal imbalances and even cancer.
The doctors emphasized the need for urgent research to understand the full extent of the impact and called for policy interventions to reduce plastic pollution. This collective alarm from such a distinguished group underscores the growing global concern over microplastic contamination.
पृष्ठभूमि
Plastic production surged dramatically in the mid-20th century, driven by its versatility and durability. While initially hailed for its benefits, the non-biodegradable nature and improper disposal practices led to widespread environmental accumulation.
Microplastics, defined as plastic particles less than 5mm, emerged as a significant environmental concern in the early 21st century, with research highlighting their presence across all ecosystems. They originate either directly from products (primary microplastics) or from the degradation of larger plastic items (secondary microplastics).
नवीनतम घटनाक्रम
बहुविकल्पीय प्रश्न (MCQ)
1. Consider the following statements regarding microplastics: 1. Microplastics are defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters. 2. The recent warning by Padma Awardee doctors primarily highlighted the threat of microplastics entering the human body through ingestion only. 3. Microplastics are exclusively formed from the breakdown of larger plastic debris in the environment. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 only
- B.1 and 2 only
- C.2 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: A
Statement 1 is correct. The widely accepted definition of microplastics is particles less than 5mm. Statement 2 is incorrect. The news explicitly states that microplastics can enter the human body through 'inhalation and ingestion.' Statement 3 is incorrect. Microplastics can be primary (e.g., microbeads in cosmetics, plastic pellets, synthetic textile fibers) or secondary (formed from the breakdown of larger plastic debris).
2. With reference to plastic waste management in India, consider the following statements: 1. The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, mandate producers, importers, and brand owners to manage plastic waste generated from their products. 2. India has ratified the Basel Convention, which regulates the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal, including certain plastic wastes. 3. The ban on single-use plastics implemented in India covers all types of plastic packaging materials. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 only
- B.1 and 2 only
- C.2 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: B
Statement 1 is correct. The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 (and subsequent amendments) introduced the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), making producers, importers, and brand owners responsible for plastic waste management. Statement 2 is correct. India is a party to the Basel Convention. The convention was amended in 2019 to include plastic waste in its scope, requiring prior informed consent for transboundary movements of most plastic waste. Statement 3 is incorrect. The ban on single-use plastics in India, effective from July 2022, covers specific identified items (e.g., plastic sticks for ear buds, balloons, flags, cutlery, wrapping films, etc.) but does not cover all types of plastic packaging materials. Many essential packaging items are currently exempt or fall under different regulations.
3. In the context of the environmental and health impacts of microplastics, which of the following statements is NOT correct?
- A.Nanoplastics, being even smaller than microplastics, are generally considered less capable of crossing biological barriers in the human body.
- B.Microplastics can act as vectors for harmful chemicals, absorbing pollutants from the environment and releasing them upon ingestion.
- C.Phthalates and Bisphenol A (BPA), commonly associated with plastics, are known endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
- D.The primary source of secondary microplastics in marine environments is the fragmentation of larger plastic debris.
उत्तर देखें
सही उत्तर: A
Statement A is incorrect. Nanoplastics, due to their extremely small size (typically less than 100 nanometers), are *more* capable of crossing biological barriers (e.g., cell membranes, blood-brain barrier, placental barrier) compared to microplastics, potentially posing greater health risks. Their smaller size allows for easier translocation within the body. Statement B is correct. Microplastics have a large surface area and can adsorb persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals from the environment, acting as 'toxic sponges' and potentially releasing these chemicals upon ingestion by organisms. Statement C is correct. Phthalates (used as plasticizers) and Bisphenol A (BPA, used in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins) are well-known endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that can leach from plastic products and interfere with hormonal systems. Statement D is correct. Secondary microplastics are formed from the physical, chemical, and biological breakdown of larger plastic items (e.g., plastic bottles, bags, fishing nets) due to weathering, UV radiation, and mechanical abrasion in the environment.
Source Articles
80 Padma awardee doctors ring alarm over threat from airborne microplastics | Delhi News - The Indian Express
Padma Awards 2023 announced: History of the awards, how the winners are chosen | Explained News - The Indian Express
From centenarian who helped Goa’s liberation to nation’s archery star — the ‘unsung heroes’ among Padma awardees
Knowledge nugget of the day: India’s Civilian Awards
Padma Awards 2025: A complete list of winners with respective disciplines | India News - The Indian Express