Plastic pollution from microplastics decomposes and degrades into nanoplastics, which are ubiquitous. If we do not prevent it, it will harm us and the planet in unimaginable ways. Several experts, who spoke with me, warned about the damaging effects of plastics on our organs and bodies.
Ram Charitra Sah, an environmental scientist and executive director of the Center for Public Health and Environmental Development (CEPHED), shares that Nepalis are consuming plastics through sugar, salt, and toys. “Several studies in India have found that our trade is directly related to India. So if it’s India, then Nepal cannot go unscathed,” he says. “Furthermore, plastic particles are severely damaging our bodies and endocrine glands.”
A study published in JAMA Network Open cited samples of olfactory bulb tissue from 15 cadavers aged 33 to 100. Microplastics were found in samples from eight cadavers, ranging in size from 5.5 to 26.4 micrometers. The plastics have been found in olfactory bulb tissue—a rounded mass of tissue that contains several types of nerve cells involved in the sense of smell—according to the National Cancer Institute.
One of the studies commissioned by the World Wide Fund for Nature and conducted by the University of Newcastle states that people consume up to 2,000 tiny pieces of plastic weekly, which could accumulate to 250 grams a year. It claims that people could be ingesting 5 grams of plastic weekly, equivalent to the weight of a credit card.
The Bleak Legal Regime Addressing Plastic Pollution
Moreover, nanoplastics are everywhere—inhaled, digested, and ingested—from soil to air. Byproducts of unmanaged waste management have been turning into poison. Microplastics in the air at the population level are one of the most significant sources of nanoplastics. Tires running on the road also contribute, as particles stick to the road when vehicles travel at desired speeds.
More research is needed to address the various other causes of plastic pollution on cellular and molecular levels. Humans have been constantly producing, on average, 430 million tonnes of plastic for very short-term uses and littering the planet. Moreover, microplastics have been discovered in our vital organs, including the liver, lungs, and even the blood.
BBC Nepali recently reported in an article that we are ingesting plastic through salt, citing a Nepali researcher’s paper. According to the article, ordinary people in Nepal may consume hundreds of microplastics each year through salt. Although it is assumed that Nepalis consume more microplastics through bottled and jarred water, no detailed study has been conducted to date.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that more research is needed into the health effects of microplastics entering the human body through ingestion or inhalation. In Nepal, no government-sponsored research has been carried out on the health effects of microplastics. However, officials have acknowledged that "such a need has arisen."
Although there has been little research into the effects of microplastics on Nepalese health, there have been some studies on their environmental impact. The studies concluded that plastic particles are increasing in Nepal's mountains, rivers, and lakes.
According to the article, Kishore Kumar Maharjan, associate professor of the Environmental Science Department at Tri-Chandra Campus, and Ram Prasad Dhungel, an environmentalist, conducted an analysis of microplastics in salt. The researchers discovered high levels of microplastics in packet salt sold in Nepal, reads the article. Furthermore, disadvantaged populations, such as informal waste workers and those living near industries, are more vulnerable to microplastics, plastic pollution, and other forms of pollution.
What is alarming is that preschoolers are more vulnerable to plastic pollution because many of the objects they use are composites of microplastics, which they play with and put in their mouths unknowingly, endangering them severely. "Plastic waste can take over 500 years to break down, turning into deadly problems for our water ecosystems by blocking rivers, reducing oxygen levels, and harming fish and other wildlife," Lila Paudel, Environment Safeguarding Officer at Project CAP, CREASION says.
For this reason, CREASION has been working closely with children, informal waste workers, youth groups throughout Nepal, and local governments to address plastic pollution and its associated problems. For instance, through our recent capacity-building training for vulnerable communities, we made an effort to help informal waste workers (IWWs) gain the recognition they deserve. By offering basic training in waste management, financial literacy, and safety protocols, we hope to support them in improving their skills and creating better opportunities for themselves.
Moreover, at CREASION, we have collected and recycled over 9,340 tonnes of plastic waste and reached and engaged 21,386 youths and 11,234 children through several interventions. Additionally, we have engaged 190+ marginalized communities, including Bote and Majhi members, to expand their role in tackling plastic pollution through Project CAP (Collaborative Approach for Preventing Plastic Leakages in Rivers of Nepal).
However, these efforts are insufficient on their own. We must work together to overcome the threats posed by plastic pollution, which enters our bodies through various means, as reported by numerous reputable institutes. To reduce and eliminate plastic pollution, we must curb the use of plastic, raise public awareness about proper waste management, and recycle plastic waste. This will benefit air and river health, as well as the ecosystem and human health.
