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Microplastics Invade Lungs: Doctors Warn of Health Crisis
5 Dec
Summary
- Microplastics in air are a growing threat, reaching deep into lungs.
- Inhaled microplastics increase heart attack, stroke risk by 4.5 times.
- Doctors urge policy changes and personal protection against air pollution.
A collective of over 80 Indian doctors, including Padma awardees, have declared air pollution a "direct and ongoing threat to human life," urging immediate and systemic interventions. They highlighted the alarming infiltration of microplastics into the human body through inhalation, a factor increasingly linked to non-communicable diseases.
Mounting evidence suggests that these microplastics, particularly those under 10 microns, can reach deep into the lungs and potentially carry pathogens. Research indicates a significant correlation between microplastic presence in arterial plaques and a 4.5-fold increased risk of heart attack, stroke, or death. Traffic and vehicular emissions are identified as major contributors to airborne microplastics in urban environments.
The doctors stressed the urgency of addressing this crisis, advocating for policy changes such as stricter enforcement on construction dust, curbs on diesel vehicles, and a national microplastics monitoring program. They also advised personal precautions, including air purifiers and masks, especially for vulnerable groups, warning of irreversible health damage across generations if action is not taken.
