Patna: An awareness drive in Patna has drawn attention to what speakers described as one of the least discussed but increasingly alarming public health threats: the annual consumption of tens of thousands of microplastic particles by the average adult.
The programme, titled Invisible Threats at Home: Understanding Indoor Pollution & Micro-plastics, was organised jointly by the EIACP unit of the Centre for Studies on Environment and Climate (CSEC) and Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) of the Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI). It was supported by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) as part of efforts to strengthen the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) movement and advance the Sustainable Development Goal on good health and wellbeing.
Addressing the gathering, Pooja Kumari, programme officer of EIACP, cited data from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), stating that each adult consumes between 39,000 and 52,000 microplastic particles annually on average.
Microplastics, she explained, are tiny, often invisible and insoluble plastic particles ranging from one nanometre to five millimetres in size. They are either present in manufactured products such as cosmetics and beauty-care items or generated when plastic materials are cut, rubbed or degraded over time.
“These particles have permeated everything from our blood and organs to the oceans, soil and atmosphere,” she said, adding that they are non-degradable and associated with respiratory distress, weakened immunity, hormonal imbalance and thyroid disorders.
Speakers also highlighted that indoor exposure may be significantly higher than outdoor exposure. Microplastic pollution inside homes, they noted, has been found to be nearly twice as high as levels recorded outside.
Kumari urged practical steps to reduce exposure, including phasing out single-use plastics, switching to steel, glass or earthenware utensils, ensuring proper ventilation at home and dusting regularly. She recommended using wet cotton cloths for cleaning floors and drying them in sunlight, carrying cloth bags for shopping and opting for cotton fabrics for infants.
Dr Sandeep Kumar, director of JSS, called for a more environmentally conscious lifestyle, encouraging people to reduce dependence on air-conditioned spaces and spend more time outdoors. Dr Sunil Kumar Gupta, EIACP-ADRI coordinator, urged participants to begin with small changes, such as replacing plastic utensils in kitchens with steel alternatives.
About 50 women trainees from JSS attended the programme, which was supported by members of EIACP-ADRI and JSS staff.
Organisers said the initiative aimed to connect environmental awareness with everyday health choices, emphasising that reducing microplastic exposure requires both policy interventions and behavioural change at the household level.
