Eclectic Northeast – July 2019

July 2019 │ │ 47

up sustainable living and subsequently, generation
of waste go down,’ shared Prof Surjit Singha from
Kokrajar, Assam.
In Nagaland, most of the drains are jammed with
plastic waste. Activists in Agartala claim that plastic
pollution in rural Tripura has reached alarming
levels, similar to that of cities and semi-urban towns.
Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh are also battling
the growing plastic waste menace, found not only in
water bodies, but along roadsides as well. In Manipur,
the uncontrolled inflow of plastic products and bags
from across the border, like Myanmar, made from
‘questionable’ materials is also raising concerns.

Health at Risk
Harmful elements from plastic can enter into
the human body through multiple channels. Bottled
water, pipe water, and even underground water can be
carriers. Fish and animals who consume contaminated
water can also be agents. Milk, considered as the purest
form of food for newborn babies, might be affected
if the milk-giving animal consumes contaminated
water.

The writer is an Indian Social Scientist. She completed her

graduation from St Anthony’s College, Shillong, and is cur-

rently working as an Assistant Professor at Kristu Jayanti

College, Bengaluru

To mitigate plastic pollution,

one should adopt the 4Rs as

the mantra, i.e. Reuse, Reduce,

Recycle, and Refuse.

Micro plastics are known to contain and absorb

toxic chemicals. If it enters the human body, there is

a chance that it will pass directly through the body

without being absorbed, like indigestible roughage.

But the smaller the particles, the more likely they are

to enter the bloodstream and cells in the body. Some

pesticides and chemicals called dioxins, identified in

micro plastics, are known to cause cancer, affect the

reproductive system and create other developmental

problems.

As per the Indian Council of Medical Research

(ICMR) data, cancer rate has doubled in last 26 years.

The National Health Profile (NHP) also mentions

that as per the SRS Statistical Report of 2016 by the

Registrar General of India, fertility is declining

rapidly, including among the poor and illiterate.

‘Dispensation of plastics in water causes mixing

of hazardous materials that includes toxic substance

such as Bisphenol A. It is a common ingredient that

is present in many plastic commodities, and pollutes

the water drastically. Since it doesn’t get diluted in

water, it results in serious environmental issues like

low level of oxygen in the water. The availability of

oxygen predominantly affects the ecosystem, and the

life of living forms including human beings,’ stated Dr

Challaraj Emmanuel, environmental microbiologist

from Bengaluru.

But not all is lost, we should all make an effort to

minimize plastic waste generation, adopt extended

producer responsibility to collect waste and promote

sustainable plastic waste management. And let’s not

forget, the existing plastic may be recycled and utilized

for road construction, energy and oil generation. It

is time for governments, industry, communities and

individuals to come together and explore sustainable

alternatives, and reduce the production and excessive

use of plastics in our day-to-day life.