Microplastic contamination: India assessing exposure among consumers, plans new regulations

The project is called “Micro-and Nano-Plastics as Emerging Food Contaminants: Establishing Validated Methodologies and Understanding the Prevalence in Different Food Matrices”. It was started in March 2024 to develop and validate analytical methods for detecting micro and nanoplastics in various food products, as well as assess their prevalence and exposure levels in India.

The primary objectives of the project include developing standard protocols for micro- and nanoplastic analysis and generating data on microplastic exposure levels among consumers.

This study is being implemented in collaboration with leading research institutions across the country, including the CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research in Lucknow), ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology in Kochi, and the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in Pilani.

“While global studies have highlighted the presence of microplastics in various foods, it is imperative to generate reliable data specific to India. This project will help understand the extent of microplastic contamination in Indian food and guide the formulation of effective regulations and safety standards to protect public health,”​ FSSAI wrote in a memo published on 18 August 2024.

Food consumption is considered one of most significant routes of human exposure to these small plastic particles. Micro- and nanoplastics have been detected in fishery products and other important food commodities, with concerns over their impact on human health.

A report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlighted the presence of microplastics in common food items such as sugar and salt. It has been suggested that some plasticisers may disrupt endocrine activity and induce adverse effects on fertility and reproduction.

While the report underscores the global prevalence of microplastics, it also emphasises the need for more robust data to fully understand the implications for human health and safety, particularly in the Indian context.

Microplastic contamination in India​

There are recent studies that show the presence of microplastic contamination in food within the country. This includes one conducted by Indian environmental research firm Toxic Links, which evaluated 10 salt samples and five sugar samples. The results showed that all samples were contaminated with microplastics.

Microplastic abundance, measured in pieces/kg of dry weight, varied in different salt samples. The highest concentration was in an iodised salt sample with 89.15 pieces/kg of dry weight, and the lowest was in an organic rock salt sample at 6.70 pieces/kg of dry weight.

Researchers also found that samples from Central India’s bottled water​ were contaminated with microplastics.

Among the observed particles, 50% of particles were black, with a range of colours like red, orange and green constituting 3–16%. The predominant polymer types were polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Based on their findings, the researchers calculated human exposure to microplastics in per kg-body weight per year (p/kg-bw/year) – a measurement based on the number of particles or microplastics per kilogram of body weight over the span of a year.

They estimated the average annual human exposure to microplastics to be 5,186 p/kg-bw/year for children and 1,482 p/kg-bw/year for adults, indicating that bottled water was a significant route of human exposure to microplastics.

Concerns over microplastic contamination​

While there is no conclusive evidence that micro- or nanoplastics cause serious health conditions in humans, the potential harm remains a major cause for concern.

The same properties that make plastics less prone to degradation leads to their persistence in the environment, with potential negative consequences not only for the environment, but also for food safety and public health.

Plastics may be broken down into smaller particles that are generally categorised by size as macro- (> 25 mm), meso- (25 mm–5 mm), micro- (5 mm–0.1 μm) and nanoplastics (< 0.1 μm).

Microplastics and nanoplastics have received considerable attention in food safety discussions because of their potential transfer along the food chain and their impact on human health due to their chemical constituents, which may interact with the body upon ingestion.

Moreover, there are currently no regulatory exposure limits for microplastics or nanoplastics. This complicates efforts to address microplastic contamination, as it creates fear among consumers. Additionally, it could hinder attempts to ensure that microplastic contamination remains within safe limits.

Given the absence of regulatory exposure limits, ongoing research will play a crucial role in guiding future policies to manage microplastic contamination more effectively.

“The findings from this project will not only inform regulatory actions but also contribute to the global understanding of microplastic contamination, making Indian research an integral part of the global effort to combat this environmental challenge,”​ said FSSAI.