Question 98 from UPSC CSE 2019 - Environment

Question

Why is there great concern about the 'microbeads' that are released into the environment?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. They are considered harmful to marine ecosystems.

Strategy: Focus on the environmental angle in the question. 'Microbeads' are mainly discussed in the context of pollution, particularly in oceans and aquatic systems. The correct option references harm to marine ecosystems, matching the main concern. The other options mention skin cancer, crop plant uptake, and food adulteration—none of which are primary or widely recognized concerns with microbeads.

Key Info: Microbeads are tiny synthetic plastic particles, typically less than 5 mm in diameter, used in personal care products like exfoliating scrubs, toothpaste, and soaps. Made from non-biodegradable materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene, they pass through sewage systems into waterways.

**Environmental Impact:**
- They persist in oceans, rivers, and lakes, where marine organisms ingest them, leading to physical harm or death.
- Their large surface area allows them to adsorb toxic chemicals and heavy metals, amplifying their impact on the food chain.
- They threaten biodiversity and contribute to plastic accumulation in marine species, potentially entering the human diet via seafood.

In response to these threats, many countries and the United Nations have called for bans or strict regulation. The primary global concern is their ecological persistence and toxicity to marine and freshwater ecosystems.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: They are considered to cause skin cancer in children.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: They are small enough to be absorbed by crop plants in irrigated fields.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: They are often found to be used as food adulterants.