They are, quite simply, everywhere. There are microplastics in our sugar and salt (in every Indian brand tested, a study found in August). They are in the clouds, on standing crops, in the air, water and soil.
The tiny granules have been detected in human blood, lungs, semen, and in the placenta meant to shield an unborn child.
Microplastics are technically any bits of plastic debris less than 5mm in length or diameter (that's about double the size of a grain of sugar).
They were first categorised as a pollutant 20 years ago, by marine biologist Richard Thompson, who noticed such fragments in the debris washing up on the shores of the remote Isle of Man. (See the interview alongside for more on this discovery, and his journey since).
"There were bits that were too small to see, but it was pretty obvious that the big bits were becoming small bits and then smaller bits," says Thompson, who now heads the University of Plymouth's International Marine Litter Research Unit.
He coined the term and began talking about how these pollutants could wreak havoc on marine life, and end up in the food chain.
He was right, of course. The study conducted recently in India, by the environmental research organisation Toxics Link, found between 6 and 89 pieces per kg of salt and sugar, in the form of fibre, pellets, films and fragments. (Other studies in other countries have come away with similar strike rates.)
So how did they get everywhere?
Before Thompson's research, while it was known that plastics do not decompose, no research was focused on how they "shed" as they degrade.
Exposure to friction, ultraviolet light, heat or pressure can cause infinitesimal fragments to break off and drift away.
Esta historia es de la edición December 22, 2024 de Hindustan Times Bengaluru.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición December 22, 2024 de Hindustan Times Bengaluru.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Zahaan shines in this fresh take on cop dramas
BLACK WARRANT
Shankar to perform at Maha Kumbh: It's my sabse badi kamaai
Shankar Mahadevan will perform twice at the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, which begins at Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh) on January 13.
If my body allows it, I will work: Hina on 'normalising' her cancer journey
In June last year, Hina Khan revealed the shocking news of her Stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis.
Problems at home behind India's failure to make final
All teams qualifying for the WTC final maximise the home advantage, something India failed to do in the current cycle
Must put Indian cricket ahead of Indian greats
It's a phenomenon that befalls Indian cricket every 11-12 years — when the Test team's performance takes a nosedive.
Pacer Aaron, Who Last Played for India in 2015, Hangs Up Boots
India pacer Varun Aaron, who was once regarded as the country's fastest bowler before injuries hampered his promising career, announced retirement from \"representative cricket\" on Friday after his home state Jharkhand's campaign ended in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Off-loading stress: Indian players make most of time in longest break
Manpreet Singh looked towards the heavens, reminiscing his break just before the Hockey India League (HIL) began, and said, \"Oh! It was a wonderful time.\"
Rawal, Hasabnis Help India to Six-Wicket Win vs Ireland
Till three months ago, names like Pratika Rawal, Tejal Hasabnis and Priya Mishra were talked about in Indian women's domestic cricket circles only.
Satwik-Chirag Make Semis Cut
Star Indian men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty advanced to the semi-finals of the Malaysia Open with a gritty victory here on Friday.
This Oz Open, watch out for the coaching subplots
As far as coaching changes go, Andy Murray blending into Team Novak takes the cake, and it whipped up lots of chatter heading into the new tennis season.