India, assessing exposure among consumers, is planning new regulations

The project is called ‘Micro- and nanoplastics as emerging food contaminants: establishing validated methodologies and understanding their occurrence in various food matrices’. It was launched in March 2024 to develop and validate analytical methods for detecting micro and nanoplastics in various food products, as well as assessing their prevalence and exposure levels in India.

The main goals of the project are to develop standard protocols for the analysis of micro- and nanoplastics and to generate data on consumer exposure levels to microplastics.

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

“While global studies have shown the presence of microplastics in various food products, it is necessary to generate reliable data for India. This project will help understand the extent of microplastic contamination in Indian food and help develop effective regulations and safety standards to protect public health.” FSSAI said in a note published on August 18, 2024.

Food consumption is considered one of the most important routes of human exposure to these small plastic particles. Micro- and nanoplastics have been detected in fisheries products and other important foodstuffs, raising concerns about their impact on human health.

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

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

Microplastic pollution in India

Recently, studies have shown the presence of microplastic contamination in food across the country. This includes a study by Indian environmental testing company Toxic Links, which assessed 10 salt samples and five sugar samples. The results showed that all samples were contaminated with microplastics.

The amount of microplastics, measured in pieces/kg dry matter, varied among the different salt samples. The highest concentration was found in the iodized salt sample in the amount of 89.15 pcs/kg DM, and the lowest in the organic rock salt sample in the amount of 6.70 pcs/kg DM

Scientists also found that bottled water samples from central India were contaminated with microplastics.

Of the particles observed, 50% were black, with a range of colors such as red, orange, and green accounting for 3–16%. The dominant types of polymers were polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

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

They estimated that average annual human exposure to microplastics is 5,186 p/kg body weight/year for children and 1,482 p/kg body weight/year for adults, indicating that bottled water is an important route of human exposure to microplastics.

Concerns about microplastic contamination

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

The same properties that make plastics less susceptible to degradation lead to their persistence in the environment, which can have negative consequences not only for the environment but also for food safety and public health.

Plastics can be divided into smaller particles, which are generally divided by size into macro- (> 25 mm), meso- (25 mm–5 mm), micro- (5 mm–0.1 µm) and nanoplastics (< 0. 1 µm).

Microplastics and nanoplastics have received a lot of attention in food safety discussions due to their potential to move through the food chain and their impact on human health due to their chemical components that can interact with the body once consumed.

Additionally, there are currently no regulatory exposure limits for microplastics and nanoplastics. This complicates efforts to address microplastic contamination by causing fear among consumers. Additionally, it may complicate attempts to ensure that microplastic pollution remains within safe limits.

Given the lack of regulatory exposure limits, ongoing research will play a key role in guiding future policies to more effectively manage microplastic pollution.

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