Microplastics in Salt, Blood: NGT Demands Progress on National Detection Protocol
The National Green Tribunal has given the CPCB eight weeks to update its progress on a uniform national protocol to detect microplastics in India.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has stepped up its scrutiny over the invisible threat of plastic pollution, granting the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) a strict eight-week deadline to submit a progress report on the National microplastics detection protocol. This move comes as the tribunal addresses alarming reports regarding the presence of microplastics in everyday consumables and even within the human body.
The Catalyst: Salt, Sugar, and Human Blood
The legal proceedings were triggered by a series of disturbing revelations. A news report from August 13, 2024, titled “All Indian Salt Sugar Brands Contain Microplastics Reveals Study,” brought the issue of food contamination to the forefront. Furthermore, the tribunal is considering connected proceedings stemming from a 2022 report that highlighted the detection of microplastics in human blood, raising serious concerns about public health and environmental safety.
The Quest for a Uniform Methodology
Currently, India lacks a detailed, standardized system to track these tiny plastic particles across different environments. While the Bureau of Indian Standards has adopted IS 18998:2025, the NGT noted that this standard only provides general guiding principles. It does not offer the specific, step-by-step procedures required for sampling and analysis across various "matrices"—the different materials where microplastics are found.
To bridge this gap, a joint committee is working to develop uniform methodologies for the sampling, preparation, and detection of microplastics in:
- Water (Freshwater and Marine)
- Soil and Sediments
- Air
- Sludge
- Biota (Living organisms)
Who is Doing the Work?
The CPCB has enlisted the help of specialized institutions to create these matrix-specific protocols:
- Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET): Tasked with developing methodologies for freshwater and soil.
- National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM): Focusing on marine water, coastal sediments, sludge, and biota.
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI): Responsible for creating the protocol to detect microplastics in the air.
The Road Ahead: Validation and Timeline
The CPCB has informed the bench, comprising NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Dr. Afroz Ahmad, that creating a comprehensive national methodology is a complex process. It requires not just development, but matrix-specific standardization and rigorous inter-laboratory validation before it can be implemented nationwide.
The board indicated that approximately 12 months may be needed to finalize these methodologies, which will then undergo further refinement and deliberation. Funding for these critical studies is expected to come from the NGTEC fund maintained by the CPCB, with work awarded via Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) after evaluation by the Scientific, Technical and Financial Evaluation Committee.
The National Green Tribunal has listed the matter for a further hearing on February 4, 2027, ensuring that the government remains accountable in its fight against microplastic contamination.