Microplastics in mussels risk for human health, environment: Study
Kolkata: In a study, researchers have found alarming levels of microplastic (MP) contamination in freshwater mussels (Lamellidens marginalis), highlighting potential threats to both environmental and human health.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The joint study was conducted by three academic institutions: Raja NL Khan Women's College (Autonomous), Midnapore; Aliah University, Kolkata; and the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha. This study, led by Dr. Sujoy Midya, assistant professor of Zoology at Raja NL Khan Women's College, recently published a research article in the proceedings of the Indian National Science Academy Journal Springer-Nature.
A total of 373 specimens of L. marginalis were collected from six markets across Jhargram — specifically from Gopiballavpur, Jhargram Town, Jamda, Nayagram, Lalgarh, and Belpahari for analysis. These markets were selected due to the high local dependency on freshwater mussels as a source of nutrition. Microplastics were detected in 302 samples. The mussels from Jamda exhibited the highest concentrations of microplastics, whereas theNayagram ones had the lowest.
"Microplastics can enter human tissues—including the lungs and gastrointestinal tract—potentially triggering oxidative stress, inflammation, genetic damage, and even cell death. The presence of MPs in lung tissues of cancer patients underscores the need for urgent health investigations," Midya warned.
Live mussel specimens were carefully wrapped in aluminium foil, stored in ziplock bags, and transported in cooler boxes to the laboratory.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
They were frozen at −20°C for microplastic analysis.
Microplastics — as plastic particles less than 5 millimetres in size — emerged as a major pollutant in freshwater ecosystems. Visual analysis revealed that fibre-shaped microplastics were the most common, followed by fragments and sheets.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
How extracting and producing nickel can be made more sustainable
Manzoor, U., Mujica Roncery, L., Raabe, D. et al, 'Sustainable nickel enabled by hydrogen-based reduction', Nature 641, 365–373 (2025). Nickel powers everything, from gadgets to green technologies. But getting it currently involves a far from green, in fact, a dirty process. However, a new study has revealed what its authors have said is a game-changing and sustainable method to extract nickel from low-grade ores using hydrogen plasma instead of carbon. It's a one-step process free of carbon dioxide that reportedly saves both energy and time. Nickel is an important metal used in several clean energy technologies, especially Electric Vehicles (EVs), and the demand for it is expected to surpass six million tonnes a year by 2040. While EVs are seen as a cleaner alternative to traditional fossil fuel-powered vehicles, there are hidden environmental costs associated with their production, especially in the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries. A major component in these batteries is nickel and its extraction is highly carbon-intensive. Producing just one tonne of nickel can result in more than 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. So while EVs reduce emissions during operation, the process of sourcing materials like nickel simply shifts the pollution burden from the transportation sector to the mining and processing sector, among others. The methodology The study, published in Nature on April 30, was conducted by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials in Düsseldorf, Germany. In the study, the researchers bypassed the traditional multistep process to extract nickel — which includes calcination, smelting, reduction, and refining — and developed a single metallurgical step conducted in one furnace. 'The proposed method has the potential to be up to about 18% more energy efficient while cutting direct carbon dioxide emissions by up to 84% compared with the current practice,' the paper wrote. Ubaid Manzoor, a researcher at the Max Planck Institute and lead author of the study, said, 'Traditional nickel extraction is multi-step, energy-intensive and relies on carbon. Nickel oxide is heated with carbon, which removes the oxygen, producing pure nickel, along with carbon dioxide emissions.' The researchers have proposed replacing carbon with hydrogen as the reducing agent and using electricity as the energy source, specifically through an electric arc furnace. 'In our method, we use hydrogen plasma. Hydrogen gas, when subjected to high-energy electrons in an electric arc, splits into high-energy ions, entering a plasma state — the extremely hot and reactive fourth state of matter. It is distinct from solids, liquids, and gases. This hydrogen plasma rapidly reduces the metal oxides. From a thermodynamic perspective, the process is not only cleaner but significantly faster,' Mr. Manzoor said. He added that the method is kinetically superior — meaning the chemical reaction is more energetically favoured — thanks to the highly reactive and unstable nature of plasma. 'The end product of hydrogen reacting with oxygen is water, not carbon dioxide. Therefore, the entire process is carbon-free, using only electricity, hydrogen, and yielding water as a byproduct,' he added. Enabling sustainable production The study focused on laterite ores, a type of soil-rich rocks that contain metals like nickel. They form in hot, tropical regions when rain and heat break down rocks over time, leaving behind metal-rich layers. They are abundant but tough to process. 'While sulphide ores are found deeper underground and are easier to process, they're rapidly depleting. The new method used in the study works efficiently on laterites, making it key to future nickel production,' Mr. Manzoor said. India has substantial nickel laterite reserves, particularly in Odisha's Sukinda region. 'These deposits, containing 0.4-0.9% nickel as nickeliferous limonite in chromite mine overburden, are often overlooked because traditional methods require higher-grade ores. But [the team's method] excels at extracting value from these lower-grade resources,' Dierk Raabe, professor and director of the Max Planck Institute and co-author of the study, said. He added that the technology could play a major role as the demand for sustainably produced materials continues to grow. 'Without such innovations, the sustainability revolution — whether in electrification, renewables, or green infrastructure — risks merely shifting the carbon dioxide and energy burdens from one sector to another. In other words, we might build a 'greener' world through EVs, solar panels, and high-performance magnets while still relying on carbon-intensive methods to mine and refine the critical metals … that make all of it possible,' he said. The inescapable demand for nickel in multiple industries and its traditionally carbon-intensive production pose 'a particular challenge for countries like India, where rapid industrial growth is essential for economic development. India must simultaneously meet ambitious climate goals and leverage market opportunities in the green economy,' Mr. Raabe added. He continued that the technology aligns well with India's dual goals — to accelerate industrialisation and infrastructure development while staying committed to the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. It also reduces the need to import high-grade ores and maximises the potential of domestic, underutilised mineral assets, he added. Some challenges Pratik Kumar, assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at IIT-Jammu and who wasn't associated with the new study, said this research could be a very appropriate method for nickel extraction from an ore, especially when the world is thinking critically in the direction of carbon neutrality. The method produces high-purity ferronickel — an alloy with which stainless steel can be made — eliminating the need for extensive refining steps and making the overall process more sustainable on paper. 'However, the scalability of the mentioned study to an industrial production would involve certain challenges, including a high initial investment in infrastructure and renewable energy and limitations in ore applicability. Also, further in-depth study on thermodynamic kinetics may be required along with a demand for continuous free oxygen species supply at the arc-melt interface,' Mr. Kumar cautioned. 'Despite these hurdles, the study offers a promising, sustainable alternative to conventional nickel extraction methods.' Hirra Azmat is a Kashmir-based journalist who writes on science, health, and environment.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Microplastics in mussels risk for human health, environment: Study
Kolkata: In a study, researchers have found alarming levels of microplastic (MP) contamination in freshwater mussels (Lamellidens marginalis), highlighting potential threats to both environmental and human health. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The joint study was conducted by three academic institutions: Raja NL Khan Women's College (Autonomous), Midnapore; Aliah University, Kolkata; and the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, Odisha. This study, led by Dr. Sujoy Midya, assistant professor of Zoology at Raja NL Khan Women's College, recently published a research article in the proceedings of the Indian National Science Academy Journal Springer-Nature. A total of 373 specimens of L. marginalis were collected from six markets across Jhargram — specifically from Gopiballavpur, Jhargram Town, Jamda, Nayagram, Lalgarh, and Belpahari for analysis. These markets were selected due to the high local dependency on freshwater mussels as a source of nutrition. Microplastics were detected in 302 samples. The mussels from Jamda exhibited the highest concentrations of microplastics, whereas theNayagram ones had the lowest. "Microplastics can enter human tissues—including the lungs and gastrointestinal tract—potentially triggering oxidative stress, inflammation, genetic damage, and even cell death. The presence of MPs in lung tissues of cancer patients underscores the need for urgent health investigations," Midya warned. Live mussel specimens were carefully wrapped in aluminium foil, stored in ziplock bags, and transported in cooler boxes to the laboratory. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now They were frozen at −20°C for microplastic analysis. Microplastics — as plastic particles less than 5 millimetres in size — emerged as a major pollutant in freshwater ecosystems. Visual analysis revealed that fibre-shaped microplastics were the most common, followed by fragments and sheets.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Neeri studying health effects of microplastics, experts discuss sustainable tech, waste management
Nagpur: CSIR-Neeri director Dr S Venkata Mohan on Thursday expressed concern over plastic waste entering the oceans during his address at the institute's auditorium on the occasion of World Environment Day. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Plastic waste is a major issue globally. Only 10% of plastic is being recycled. Plastic management is a multi-pronged issue. Neeri is monitoring microplastic, toxicology and health issues from it," he said. Dr Mohan described Neeri's role in plastics management, including the monitoring of microplastics in air, water, and soil. He also mentioned that Neeri is actively involved in health studies related to microplastic exposure. He briefed the audience on technologies such as waste-to-graphene conversion and thermocatalytic combustion for plastic waste management. K Rajeevan, vice president and chief technology officer, Larsen and Toubro Limited, Chennai, was the chief guest. Besides Dr Mohan, Dr P Ganesh Kumar, R&D Head, L&T Water Technology Centre, Chennai, was also present. A meeting was also held between Rajeevan and Neeri scientists to explore new avenues for joint research, technology transfer, and deployment Rajeevan said that science and technology can play a pivotal role in converting plastics into biodegradable materials. He highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to tackle complex environmental challenges. He stressed the need to shift from a linear to a circular economy and called for a change in mindset — from exploitation of nature to co-existence with it. He also underlined the value of sustainable innovations in industrial processes and urged scientists and engineers to develop scalable and affordable green technologies. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Rajeevan briefed about water supply, irrigation, and municipal wastewater projects accomplished by Larsen and Toubro Limited. He discussed smart monitoring systems, automation, and advanced technologies such as membrane filtration and MBBR, highlighting their role in delivering efficient, sustainable, and scalable water and irrigation solutions for both urban and industrial applications. He informed that the Prime Minister recently inaugurated the L&T-built Surya Regional Bulk Water Supply Scheme to ensure a water-secure future for Vasai-Virar and Mira Bhayandar regions. He also highlighted the futuristic innovations of L&T's Water Resource Centre.. Dr Debishree Khan, senior scientist, Neeri, conducted the proceedings. Prakash Kumbhare, senior principal scientist, Neeri, proposed a vote of thanks.
