More the innovation. Higher the ignorance.

Breast milk, often referred to as "liquid gold," has long been celebrated for its essential nutrients and protective properties for infants. However, recent research has uncovered a concerning issue: the presence of microplastics in breast milk. The tiny, nearly invisible particles originating from plastic pollution have raised alarm among scientists and mothers alike.?

It has been in the news for a few months now. Many would have already read the story and are concerned. Many variants of plastics contain potentially harmful chemicals, such as phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), which can have severe adverse health effects when subjected to prolonged exposure. Ingestion of micro-plastics might have long-term health impacts which are not yet fully understood. And these are going directly into the digestive system of the babies through their best source of nutrition!

Some of us blame the plastic waste that gets dumped in the oceans and rivers and eventually breaks down into microplastics, entering the food chain through aquatic organisms. As humans consume these organisms, microplastics can find their way into human tissues, including the mammary glands.

But is that all of it? My na?ve mind asks...

Before we progress further, let me put in a disclaimer that I am not qualified enough to challenge renowned scientists, environmental activists, and sustainability experts. Being tagged as ignorant will also be an understatement when it comes to innovative sustainability solutions.?

Let me refer to the works of Dr Rajagopalan Vasudevan, famously known as the Plastic Man of India, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2018. Dr. Vasudevan’s area of research includes garbage management in which he created a method for recycling plastic waste to build more robust, resilient, and affordable streets. His novel approach is now frequently employed in rural India. And he is not alone in this. Roads, walls, pavements - many startups have won awards for providing similar solutions with recycled plastics.?

What I ask below are just a few logical queries that my curious mind is seeking answers to.

1)?Is there a potential for plastic roads to contribute to micro-plastic pollution??As plastic roads age, they can degrade due to exposure to sunlight and environmental factors. Will this degradation result in the release of microplastics, which can contaminate soil and water sources? Can they flow back to the rivers and oceans to return in breast milk?

2)?What happens with the additives and chemicals that are also added to plastic waste when we use them in road construction??Can’t these chemicals leach into the surrounding environment when exposed to weathering? How did we rule out the possibility of contamination of groundwater?

3)?Do we have a plan for end-of-life treatment??If the disposal of old plastic roads at the end of their service life goes through the same process as normal plastic waste, aren’t the solutions just deferring the issue of disposal of these materials? We are taking such great risks just to buy time?

There are a few more questions to ask, but let me stop here. Will ask them as a follow-up once and if my friends dealing with environmental issues respond to my queries.

Till then, the pessimist in me cries out loud that we are behaving like ostriches, who bury their heads in the sand to avert danger (even that is a myth). Using plastic waste in road construction just diverts it from landfills. It doesn't address the core problem of plastic's non-biodegradable nature. Finding sustainable ways to manage this waste remains a challenge.

From an overall perspective of sustainability, we need to acknowledge that it is essential to assess the long-term impact of the innovative solutions employed to ‘save’ the environment.?

Let us not jump from the frying pan directly into the fire!!!

#sustainability #innovation #plasticpollution

?