Microplastic in West Bengal's Digha and Odisha's Puri seawater at alarming levels

KOLKATA: The single-use plastic bag that you left on the Digha beach last summer might still be there but in a very different - and much more harmful - form.

A recent study - funded by the Centre's Science & Engineering Research Board - has found alarming levels of microplastics in the coastal waters and sediments of Digha and Puri, two of eastern India's most popular beach destinations. It highlights serious concerns about the impact of microplastics on marine life and the health of millions of visitors.

Researchers found an average of 5.3 microplastic items per litre of water on the Digha beach and 6.4 microplastic items per litre on the Puri beach. The sediments revealed even more troubling data, with Digha recording 173.4 items per kg and Puri reaching 190.4 items per kg. These numbers suggest that plastic pollution is a growing crisis in these coastal regions, potentially affecting the future of these tourist spots.

"The discovery of such alarmingly high microplastic levels in the waters and sediments of Digha and Puri is a wake-up call," writer Amitav Ghosh, a prominent voice in the discourse on ecology and climate change, said. "This poses a grave threat to the delicate marine ecosystem, with potential consequences for the countless creatures that call these waters home. It also compromises tourists' safety and health as microplastics can enter the food chain. We need urgent action," he added.

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than 5mm in size, originating from stuff like polythene bags, bottles, microbeads in personal care products, cigarette filter tips, synthetic fabrics, vehicle tyres, industrial waste, fishing gear and paints. The study identified polyethylene, a common plastic used in bags and packaging, as the most prevalent type of microplastic. It poses significant risk to marine life because of its abundance and persistence in the environment, say scientists involved with the study.

'Microplastic threat to fish, seabirds, turtles'
Marine creatures often mistake microplastics for food, which can cause physical harm, blockages and exposure to toxic chemicals; fish, sea turtles and seabirds are particularly vulnerable. Microplastics can also carry harmful chemicals absorbed from surrounding water. Tourists and locals in Digha and Puri may also ingest microplastics while having their favourite seafood dish, leading to potential health issues.

"Fisherfolk often catch more plastic than fish in their nets and find plastic inside the fish or dead fish trapped in polythene packets. Microplastics affect fish reproduction, reducing fish populations and impacting consumers and fishermen. Additionally, uncontrolled tourism development from Haldia to Puri and direct release of industrial effluents into rivers contribute to this problem," Dakshinbanga Matsyajibi Forum president Debashis Shyamal said.

"The staggering levels of microplastic pollution in coastal waters and sediments of Digha and Puri are stark reminders of the urgency to reduce our plastic usage," Balram Ambade of NIT Jamshedpur, co-author of the paper, said.


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