Glass bottles for beer, soda, and even water found to contain ‘toxic’ levels of cancer-linked microplastics than plastic bottles, study says

A new study from France’s food safety agency, ANSES, has found that drinks sold in glass bottles contain more microplastics than those sold in plastic bottles or metal cans. This unexpected result was shared on Friday and has raised new questions about how packaging affects what we drink.

What the Study Found
The research team looked at drinks like soda, beer, lemonade, iced tea, water, and wine sold in different types of bottles across France. They found that glass bottles had an average of 100 microplastic particles per litre, while plastic bottles had much lower levels, between five and 50 times less.

“We were expecting the opposite,” said Iseline Chaib, a PhD student who worked on the study.

Where Are the Microplastics Coming From?
The team discovered that most of the microplastic particles found in glass bottles came from the paint on the caps that seal them. These caps often rub against each other during storage, creating tiny scratches that release plastic particles.

The shape, colour, and type of plastic found in the drinks matched the plastic used in the cap paint. These particles are too small to see with the naked eye but end up in the drink during the bottling and storage process.

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/glass-bottles-for-beer-soda-and-even-water-found-to-contain-toxic-levels-of-cancer-linked-microplastics-than-plastic-bottles-study-says/printarticle/121976523.cms

Kerala: Get Ready to Say No to Plastic From October 2

From October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, you’ll have to sacrifice the luxury of using small plastic water bottles and food containers during gatherings for the sake of environment.

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday banned the use of water bottles of capacity below five litres, soft drink bottles of capacity lower than 2 litres, straws, plates, cups, and cutlery (all made of single-use plastic) at all government functions and private gatherings. These plastic materials are also banned at all wedding auditoriums, hotels and restaurants. Prohibition of these items at functions in hotels and auditoriums shall be made a part of the licence conditions issued to such establishments, the court ordered.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas and Justice Gopinath P also banned the use and sale of single-use plastics in hilly tourist areas with high footfall. The areas are Munnar, Thekkady, Vagamon, Athirappilly, Chalakudy- Athirappilly sector, Nelliyampathy, Pookode Lake-Vythiri, Sultan Bathery, Karlad Lake, Ambalavayal, and Wayanad Heritage Museum. The court made it clear that the plastic ban shall not apply to 5-litre water bottles and 2-litre soft drinks bottles.

Instructing the state to take adequate steps to implement the order by October 2, the court directed it to set up sufficient water kiosks at different locations in hilly tourist areas to provide clean and safe drinking water. Alternative measures should be taken for the supply or purchase of water, through glass bottles or kiosks or such other modes.

Set up water dispensing machines, kiosks for sale of water: High Court

Arrangements should be made by the district administration and the local self-government institutions to provide drinking water to tourists in hilly destinations with high footfall at reasonable distances. Facilities like water dispensing machines, kiosks for sale of water in steel, copper, or glass bottles can be resorted to for the purpose.

The court held that tourists shall be prevented from carrying single-use plastics to hilly destinations. Tourists should be prompted to carry their own water bottles, which are not made of single-use plastics.

State and local self-government authorities shall initiate appropriate steps to prevent dumping of plastic waste into the rivers, canals, backwaters, etc, and initiate steps to regularly collect plastic waste that flows through such water bodies within their jurisdiction. Voluntary organisations can also be requested to provide support in this endeavour, the court stated.

Single-use plastic banned

• Use of water bottles of capacity below five litres, soft drink bottles of capacity lower than 2 litres, straws, plates, cups, and cutlery (all made of single-use plastic) banned at govt functions and private gatherings
• HC also banned the use and sale of single-use plastics in hilly tourist areas with high footfall

Source: https://www.newindianexpress.com/amp/story/states/kerala/2025/Jun/18/kerala-get-ready-to-say-no-to-plastic-from-october-2

Single use plastic water bottles will not be available in Himachal from June 1, use glass bottles and dispensers instead

Is bottled water a healthy choice?

FSSAI DECLARES PACKAGED WATER AS ‘HIGH-RISK FOOD’

● In December 2024, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) categorised packaged drinking water and mineral water as a ‘High-Risk Food Category’ for stricter quality control. ‘High-Risk Food Category’ includes foods prone to contamination and health risks, requiring strict regulations and frequent inspections for consumer safety. Examples include dairy, meat, seafood, infant foods, ready-to-eat foods, and now, packaged water.

● Now, manufacturers must undergo annual facility inspections and third party food safety audits approved by FSSAI. This move aims to enhance quality standards and reduce health risks associated with packaged water production.

‘DRINK WATER FROM GLASS OR STAINLESS STEEL CONTAINERS’

● In a study published in 2024 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers found 10 to 100 times more bits of plastic than previously estimated – majorly nanoplastic (Plastic bits so tiny, they’re invisible even under a microscope), in bottled water.

● 1 litre of bottled water contained an average of 240,000 plastic particles from seven types of plastics, 90% of which were identified as nanoplastics and the rest, microplastics.

● The study states that nanoplastic can travel through the tissues of the digestive tract or lungs and enter the bloodstream, distributing harmful chemicals in the body.

● Commenting on the study, Dr Sherri Mason, director of sustainability at Penn State Behrend, Pennsylvania, told CNN, “The findings (of the study) reinforce long-held expert advice to drink tap water from glass or stainless steel containers to reduce exposure. This advice extends to other foods and drinks packaged in plastic as well.”

ARE THERE HEALTH BENEFITS OF BOTTLED WATER?

Today, packaged water comes in various forms – mineral water, alkaline and black alkaline water, flavoured water, etc., each marketed with distinct health benefits. However, experts caution that scientific evidence supporting their benefits is limited.

Tanya Sahni, a nutritionist and an entrepreneur, warns, “Most of it is a marketing tactic. While some brands do contain minerals or come from natural sources, their benefits rarely surpass those of clean, regular water.”

Similarly, Shalu Nijhawan, a holistic nutritionist, highlights how premium branding often misleads consumers, stating, “Labels like ‘Himalayan water’ or ‘pure mineral water’ are often just marketing gimmicks. Most of this water is processed and repackaged. Always check for FSSAI certification and credible labelling.”

MITIGATE THE RISK

● Carry your own water bottle/ metal or paper glasses that can be refille
● If you buy bottled water, opt for glass bottles
● If you can’t avoid buying plastic-bottled water, at least ensure it is BPA-free
● Plastic bottled water should be kept away from high temperatures, as BPA, a chemical commonly found in these bottles, enters the water, especially in heated temperatures. BPA is linked to health risks like cancer, diabetes, and heart problems.
(Suggested by Anushree Sharma, a dietician)

ALTERNATIVES TO PLASTIC BOTTLES

To reduce the health and environmental risks plastic bottled water pose, brands must look for packaging alternatives like:
● Glass
● Aluminum cans
● Tetra packs
● Stainless steel
● Biodegradable bottles
● Bamboo bottles

Source: Timesofindia

India leads in generating plastic waste with 10.2 mn tonnes a year: Study

India leads the world in generating plastic waste, producing 10.2 million tonnes a year, far more than double the next big-polluting nations, according to a new study.

According to researchers at the University of Leeds in the UK, the world creates 57 million tonnes of plastic pollution every year and spreads it from the deepest oceans to the highest mountaintop to the inside of people’s bodies. The study also said more than two-thirds of it comes from the Global South.

It’s enough pollution each year to fill New York City’s Central Park with plastic waste as high as the Empire State Building, according to researchers.

They examined waste produced on the local level at more than 50,000 cities and towns across the world for a study in Wednesday’s journal Nature.

The study examined plastic that goes into the open environment, not plastic that goes into landfills or is properly burned. For 15 per cent of the world’s population, government fails to collect and dispose of waste, the study’s authors said a big reason Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa produce the most plastic waste. That includes 255 million people in India, the study said.

Lagos, Nigeria, emitted the most plastic pollution of any city, according to study author Costas Velis, a Leeds environmental engineering professor. The other biggest plastic polluting cities are New Delhi; Luanda, Angola; Karachi, Pakistan and Al Qahirah, Egypt.

India leads the world in generating plastic waste, producing 10.2 million tons a year, far more than double the next big-polluting nations, Nigeria and Indonesia. China, often villainised for pollution, ranks fourth but is making tremendous strides in reducing waste, Velis said. Other top plastic polluters are Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and Brazil. Those eight nations are responsible for more than half of the globe’s plastic pollution, according to the study’s data.

The United States ranks 90th in plastic pollution with more than 52,500 tonnes and the United Kingdom ranks 135th with nearly 5,100 tonnes, according to the study.

In 2022, most of the world’s nations agreed to make the first legally binding treaty on plastics pollution, including in the oceans. Final treaty negotiations take place in South Korea in November.

The study used artificial intelligence to concentrate on plastics that were improperly burned about 57 per cent of the pollution or just dumped. In both cases incredibly tiny microplastics, or nanoplastics, are what turn the problem from a visual annoyance at beaches and a marine life problem to a human health threat, Velis said.

Several studies this year have looked at how prevalent microplastics are in our drinking water and in people’s tissue, such as hearts, brains and testicles, with doctors and scientists still not quite sure what it means in terms of human health threats.

The big time bomb of microplastics are these microplastics released in the Global South mainly, Velis said. We already have a huge dispersal problem. They are in the most remote places … the peaks of Everest, in the Mariana Trench in the ocean, in what we breathe and what we eat and what we drink.

He called it everybody’s problem and one that will haunt future generations.

We shouldn’t put the blame, any blame, on the Global South, Velis said. And we shouldn’t praise ourselves about what we do in the Global North in any way.

It’s just a lack of resources and ability of government to provide the necessary services to citizens, Velis said.

Outside experts worried that the study’s focus on pollution, rather than overall production, lets the plastics industry off the hook. Making plastics emits large amounts of greenhouse gas that contribute to climate change.

These guys have defined plastic pollution in a much narrower way, as really just macroplastics that are emitted into the environment after the consumer, and it risks us losing our focus on the upstream and saying, hey now all we need to do is manage the waste better,” said Neil Tangri, senior director of science and policy at GAIA, a global network of advocacy organisations working on zero waste and environmental justice initiatives. It’s necessary but it’s not the whole story.

Theresa Karlsson, science and technical advisor to International Pollutants Elimination Network, another coalition of advocacy groups on environment, health and waste issues, called the volume of pollution identified by the study alarming and said it shows the amount of plastics being produced today is unmanageable.

But she said the study misses the significance of the global trade in plastic waste that has rich countries sending it to poor ones. The study said plastic waste trade is decreasing, with China banning waste imports. But Karlsson said overall waste trade is actually increasing and likely plastics with it. She cited EU waste exports going from 110,000 tonnes in 2004 to 1.4 million tonnes in 2021.

Velis said the amount of plastic waste traded is small. Kara Lavender Law, an oceanography professor at the Sea Education Association who wasn’t involved in the study, agreed, based on US plastic waste trends. She said this was otherwise one of the more comprehensive studies on plastic waste.

Officials in the plastics industry praised the study.

This study underscores that uncollected and unmanaged plastic waste is the largest contributor to plastic pollution and that prioritising adequate waste management is critical to ending plastic pollution, Chris Jahn, council secretary of the International Council on Chemical Associations, said in a statement. In treaty negotiations, the industry opposes a cap on plastic production.

The United Nations projects that plastics production is likely to rise from about 440 million tonnes a year to more than 1,200 million tonnes, saying our planet is choking in plastic.

Source: Business-standard

India emerges as the largest plastic polluter globally

A new study by the University of Leeds, published in Nature Journal, revealed India as the biggest contributor to plastic pollution. Annually a staggering amount of 57 million tons of plastic pollution are generated which infilter every space of the planet- from the deepest trenches, and mountaintops to the human brain.

The researchers drew an analogy to explain the enormous scale of plastic waste production. The annual, global plastic waste is enough to fill New York City’s Central Park and pile up as high as 157 Empire State Building. Almost two-thirds of this pollution originates from the uncollected and ill-disposed waste. This is because almost 15% of the world lacks access to proper waste collection services. This prompts a haphazard disposal of the waste that continues to build up.

India- the biggest polluter
India topped the list, producing 9.3 million tons of plastic waste, double that of populous countries like China, Nigeria, and Indonesia. Previously, China generated higher levels of plastic waste but improved, producing 2.8 million tonnes of waste, a substantial improvement from its earlier records. Their relentless improvements in collecting and processing waste made them dip in the list of plastic contributors, now ranking in 4th place.

India became a major contributor due to its large population’s waste, and lack of proper waste management. A significant portion of the waste still remains uncollected. It indicates that India lacks a strong waste management system.

Health concerns
Almost 57% of the pollution is burnt, deeming incineration a convenient way to address plastic pollution. They are burnt in streets, dumpsites, and homes, without any regard for the environmental and health repercussions. Uncontrolled burning of plastic poses fatal threats to humans, like neurodevelopmental, reproductive, and birth issues. The world’s poor communities are most vulnerable to these threats. Without adept solid waste management, people are left without any choice but to ‘self-manage’ plastic waste by burning or littering water bodies. Waste collection is imperative for sanitation, and essential for basic living. By improving policies related to waste collection, billions of lives can be improved.

Source: HT

HC issues notice over plea to make Dwarka plastic-free

After ordering the authorities to ensure that the Girnar hills and Girnar eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) remain plastic free, the Gujarat high court on Tuesday issued notice to the authorities concerned over a request to make Dwarka and Bet Dwarka plastic- free.

Petitioner advocate Amit Panchal requested the court to act on a local environment group’s demand to make the area, particularly local waterbodies and coastal areas, plastic free. He urged the HC to demand an explanation from the authorities about their failure to make the area pollution-free, which is mandated by constitutional provisions. The HC later issued a notice to the Okha municipality and the Gujarat Pollution Control Board.

Meanwhile, regarding efforts to make Girnar hills and the ESZ of the sanctuary plastic free, the HC sought an affidavit from the secretary of the forest department on the progress made in the declaration of the zonal master plan in Girnar ESZ. The court found the Junagadh municipal commissioner’s response on recycling of plastic collected from Girnar ESZ insufficient. The municipal corporation, therefore, sought more time to file a better affidavit. The Junagadh district collector has been asked to keep a close watch on steps taken by the monitoring committee to make the area plastic-free.

Source:  Timesofindia

Lakes developed under Smart Cities Initiative in Coimbatore turn dumping grounds for plastic waste

Lakes developed under the Smart Cities initiative in Coimbatore have become dumping grounds for plastic waste, with food outlets both on the premises and nearby areas disposing of their waste on the banks of the water bodies.

Packaged drinking water bottles, snack wrappers, disposable cutlery, trays, plastic bags, and other single-use packaging are being discarded around the lakes. Non-governmental organisations have called for stricter action and improved waste management to safeguard the water bodies.

R. Manikandan, founder of Kovai Kulangal Padhukappu Amaippu, highlighted the need for more sustainable alternatives at the food outlets surrounding the lakes. “Vendors should offer snacks in biodegradable packaging, such as thonnai cups or leaves. This shift could help revive the traditional snacking market,” he said. He also suggested placing public information systems at the lakes to educate visitors about the importance of water bodies and the harmful effects of pollution.

S. Sivaraja, secretary of Koushika Neer Karangal Trust, urged the civic body to ban the sale of packaged water bottles at lakesides or to install drinking water kiosks. He also proposed introducing a buyback scheme for water bottles sold at lakeside stalls, similar to the one for liquor bottles, to encourage responsible waste disposal and curb littering.

Siruthuli co-founder Vanitha Mohan stressed that efforts to keep the lakes clean must come from both the public and the Corporation. “The public should refrain from littering, and the Corporation must enforce stricter rules, continuously monitor the area, and impose fines on those who dump waste in the lakes,” she said. The amount of waste dumped has increased since the lakes were developed into public spaces, making it the Corporation’s responsibility to ensure they remain clean.

Corporation Commissioner Sivaguru Prabhakaran stated that inspections would begin soon, and eateries would be asked to gradually reduce plastic use and switch to biodegradable items. Public notifications will also be issued, warning that fines will be imposed on individuals caught littering.

Source: Thehindu

Chikkamagaluru DC to declare Mullayyanagiri hill station plastic-free zone on World Earth Day

Chikkamagaluru Deputy Commissioner has decided to declare Mullayyanagiri Hill Station, a popular tourist destination in Chikkamagaluru taluk, a plastic-free zone with effect from April 22, the day when World Earth Day is observed.

Meena Nagaraj, the DC, in an order issued on Tuesday, April 16, said that the tourists and public visiting Mullayyanagiri Hill Station are prohibited from carrying single-use plastic items that include, pet bottles, plastic water bottles (up to 4.99 litres), gutka packets. The order will come into effect on April 22.

The DC has directed the Forest Department to set up a plastic screening check-post between the Allampura check-post and Mullayyanagiri Hill Station. The staff at the check-post will ensure the visitors do not carry any of the banned items.

The homestays and resorts in the plastic-free zone should have a proper system to ensure scientific disposal of plastic items. The Panchayat Development Officers had been instructed to provide the homestays following the order.

The DC said the decision was taken in the interest of conserving the hill station, which is part of the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot. There had been complaints of visitors polluting the place by throwing plastic covers, bottles, and utensils.

Source: Thehindu

How Telangana’s Amrabad Tiger Reserve fights back against its biggest threat—plastic

Forest staff seize disposable plastics at three checkpoints inside the Amrabad Tiger Reserve, where 17,000 kg of recyclable and 33,000 kg of non-recyclable waste was collected by ragpickers from a local tribal community in 2023-24. The reserve was declared plastic-free on July 1.

As much as 5,600 kg of plastic waste collected in less than a month: that is perhaps how one could quantify the significance of the Amrabad Tiger Reserve’s fight against one of the biggest threats to its ecology—plastic waste. All this at a time when its tiger population has been increasing steadily—from seven in 2018 to 33 last year.

Source: Indianexpress