Endocrine disruptors in plastic waste: a new public health threat

The article highlights a critical health hazard emerging from plastic waste and microplastic pollution—specifically focusing on endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and their long-term impact on reproductive health, fertility, chronic diseases, and generational wellbeing in India and beyond.

Key Concerns Raised:

Microplastics as Biologically Active Pollutants:

• Microplastics (<5mm) have been found in:

• Blood (89% of Indian samples)

• Lungs, placentas, breast milk, ovarian fluid, and semen

• No longer inert: They interact biologically, triggering oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation.

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) in Plastics:

• Examples:

• BPA/BPS – food containers, bottles

• Phthalates – toys, cosmetics, IV tubes

• PFAS – non-stick cookware, food packaging

• These mimic/block hormones like estrogen, testosterone, cortisol, leading to:

• Infertility, PCOS, early puberty

• Sperm damage, menstrual irregularities

• Cancers, diabetes, thyroid disorders

Emerging Health Impacts:

• Reproductive dysfunction (reduced sperm count, poor egg quality)

• Hormonal imbalances (estrogen/testosterone disruption)

• Rise in cancers (breast, prostate, uterine)

• Neurodevelopmental and metabolic disorders in children

• 30% drop in sperm count in Indian men in last two decades

India-specific Challenges:

Largest Generator of Plastic Waste:

• 9.3 million tonnes/year; only partial recycling or incineration.

• Toxic gases from burning, unregulated exposure for urban poor, waste pickers.

EDCs in Environment:

• Detected in air, food, water in Indian cities (Delhi, Jabalpur, Chennai).

• Found in drinking water, exceeding EU safety limits.

Policy Gaps:

• Plastic Waste Management Rules (2016, updated 2022, 2024) exist but:

• Lack of enforcement

• No focus on low-dose or cumulative EDC effects

• Do not account for vulnerable populations (pregnant women, children)

Economic & Social Costs:

• India’s annual health burden due to EDCs: ₹25,000 crore+

• Global estimate (U.S.): $250 billion/year

• Disproportionate impact on the marginalised, working near waste sites

Way Forward & Recommendations:

Scientific Measures:

• Biomonitoring programmes for blood, urine, breast milk

• Longitudinal studies to assess generational health impacts

Public Awareness & Behavioural Change:

• Avoid heating food in plastic containers

• Promote use of glass, steel, EDC-free alternatives

• Encourage antioxidant-rich diets to mitigate oxidative stress

Waste Management Solutions:

• Invest in microplastic filtration at water treatment plants

• Enforce plastic segregation, safe recycling and disposal

• Incentivise biodegradable, non-toxic material innovation

Policy Imperatives:

• Update existing rules to include:

• EDC-specific regulation

• Cumulative exposure assessment

• Child and maternal vulnerability provisions

• Integrate health and environment governance

Conclusion:

Plastic waste is not just polluting our environment—it is infiltrating our biology, distorting our hormones, and undermining human fertility and longevity. For India, which stands at the epicentre of this crisis, the need of the hour is a science-based, multi-sectoral response that prioritises health, sustainability, and intergenerational equity.

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Ques: What are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)? Explain their sources, impact on reproductive health, and strategies needed to regulate their presence in consumer products. (250 Words)