UPSC Prelims 2019·GS1·geography·ecology and environment

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

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Last updated 8 Jul 2026, 4:39 pm IST
  1. AThey are considered harmful to marine ecosystems.Correct
  2. BThey are considered to cause skin cancer in children.
  3. CThey are small enough to be absorbed by crop plants in irrigated fields.
  4. DThey are often found to be used as food adulterants.

Explanation

Microbeads are tiny plastic particles, typically less than 5 millimeters in size, found in various personal care products (like exfoliants, toothpaste, and cleansers) and industrial applications. When these products are used, microbeads are washed down drains and, due to their small size, often pass through wastewater treatment plants into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Once in aquatic environments, they become a significant source of plastic pollution. Marine animals, including fish, filter feeders, and birds, often mistake these plastic particles for food and ingest them. This ingestion can lead to physical harm (like blockages in digestive tracts), starvation, and exposure to toxic chemicals that the microbeads absorb from the water. Therefore, the primary concern about microbeads is their detrimental impact on marine ecosystems and the broader aquatic food web.

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