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Q30 (IAS/2019) Environment & Ecology › Pollution & Conservation › Plastic and microplastics Official Key

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

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The correct answer is option A because microbeads are a danger to the environment, especially the oceans because they do not easily degrade and are often washed into the sea[1]. They can cause physical and mechanical harm (e.g., cause abnormalities in internal organs) to marine organisms when they mistakenly ingest microplastics[2]. Additionally, as microplastics exist in micro-level to nano-level sizes, they are virtually impossible to remove once released into the environment[3], making them a persistent threat to marine ecosystems.

Option B is incorrect as there is no evidence in the sources linking microbeads to skin cancer in children. Option C, while microplastics can be absorbed by crops grown using soil or fertilizers that have microplastics in them[4], this is not the primary concern specifically about microbeads. Option D is incorrect as the sources do not mention microbeads being used as food adulterants; rather, humans consume fish that may be contaminated with microbeads[1], which is an indirect exposure pathway, not food adulteration.

Sources
  1. [2] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10151227/
  2. [3] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10151227/
  3. [4] https://iee.psu.edu/news/blog/microplastics-sources-health-risks-and-how-protect-yourself
How others answered
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Q. Why is there a great concern about the 'microbeads' that are released into environment? [A] They are considered harmful to marine ecosys…
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 7.5/10
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This is a classic 'Buzzword Awareness' question. Microbeads were heavily debated in 2016-2018 due to bans in cosmetics (USA, UK, and proposed in India). While standard books cover 'Marine Pollution', the specific term 'microbeads' and their mechanism (passing through filtration systems) was purely a Current Affairs topic found in DownToEarth and The Hindu.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Are microbeads released into the environment harmful to marine ecosystems?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Due to these characteristics, microplastics pose potential hazards to humans and the environment. As a representative example of the risk posed by microplastics, they can cause physical and mechanical harm (e.g., cause abnormalities in internal organs) to marine organisms when they mistakenly ingest microplastics."
Why this source?
  • Explains microplastics are persistent and virtually impossible to remove once released, increasing long-term exposure.
  • States microplastics pose hazards to humans and the environment and can cause physical/mechanical harm to marine organisms when ingested.
  • Identifies ecotoxicity sources (polymers, monomers, additives, impurities) that can harm marine life.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"microplastics can leach toxic chemicals into the soil. Not only are they made from potentially harmful chemicals that can be released into the environment as they break down, microplastics can also absorb other toxic substances"
Why this source?
  • Describes chemical pathways by which microplastics are harmful: they can leach toxic chemicals as they break down.
  • Notes microplastics can absorb other toxic substances, which can then be transported into environments, increasing ecological risk.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"The impact of marine plastic pollution has far-reaching economic, ecological and health impacts. The annual global damage of plastics to marine ecosystems is estimated at US$13 billion per year."
Why this source?
  • Frames marine plastic pollution as having far-reaching ecological impacts on marine ecosystems.
  • Provides an estimate of economic damage to marine ecosystems from plastics, indicating significant harmful effects.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 5: Environmental Pollution > 5.12. PLASTIG POLLUTION > p. 96
Strength: 5/5
“Plastics pollution can interfere with the plankton species that form the foundation ofthe food web, and other organisms adversely affecting the delicate balance in the marine ecosystem.”
Why relevant

Explicitly states that plastic pollution can interfere with plankton and other organisms that form the base of the marine food web.

How to extend

A student could infer microbeads (a form of plastic) might similarly be ingested or physically interfere with plankton, propagating effects up the food web.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > Sources of Marine Pollution > p. 45
Strength: 4/5
“Intentional release of petroleum products: Some petroleum and petroleum products are released in the oceans intentionally, quietly, and routinely, during the loading, unloading, discharging, and fushing of tanker ships. Tis oil is particularly harmful to seabirds, zooplanktons, and microorganisms.• 3. Marine pollution due to organic waste: Tere is great diversity in marine fauna and fora. Te amount of oxygen dissolved in the water is vital for the plants and animals living in it. Wastes, which directly or indirectly afect the oxygen concentration, play an important role in determining the quality of water.”
Why relevant

Notes that petroleum releases are particularly harmful to seabirds, zooplanktons, and microorganisms, showing that small-scale pollutants affect a range of marine life.

How to extend

By analogy, a student could test whether micro-sized plastic beads similarly impact zooplankton and microorganisms through ingestion or surface interactions.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 4: Aquatic Ecosystem > Toxicity > p. 38
Strength: 4/5
“• Some algal blooms, when die or eaten, release neuro & hepatotoxins which can kill aquatic organisms and pose a threat to humans. (e.g) Shellfish poisoning. • Depletion of dissolved oxygen levels. • Increased incidences of fish kills and loss of desirable fish species, as well as reduction in harvesting. • Loss of coral reefs. • Decrease in water transparency and increase in turbidity.”
Why relevant

Lists general toxic and ecological effects in aquatic systems (toxin release, oxygen depletion, fish kills, loss of coral reefs).

How to extend

A student could investigate whether microbeads contribute to these pathways (e.g., carrying toxins, shading affecting oxygen/primary production) to evaluate harm.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 3: MAJOR BIOMES > Classifcation of marine ecosystems > p. 31
Strength: 4/5
“Numerous types of habitats and ecosystems are found in the oceanic environment at diferent depths. On the basis of sunlight penetration, depth, sediments, nutrients, and salinity the marine ecosystems may be classifed under the categories of (i) pelagic, and benthic (Fig. 3.14). (i) Pelagic Biome: Te coasts and sea-shores are characterised with diferent types of rocks, landforms, temperature and salinity. Te pelagic biome is found up to a depth of about 200 metres, mainly on the continental shelves. Pelagic organisms include planktons (phytoplanktonplant-planktons and zooplanktons-animal planktons). Tere are numerous nektons (swimming organism). Most of the animals of nekton group are vertebrates (fshes).”
Why relevant

Describes marine ecosystem zones (pelagic, benthic, plankton presence) and that plankton are central in pelagic zones.

How to extend

Using this, one could predict where microbeads accumulate (surface/pelagic vs. benthic) and which organisms (plankton, nekton, benthos) are most likely exposed.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > Oil-Pollution > p. 25
Strength: 3/5
“It is difcult to generalise about the efects that concentrated release of oil and oil spill from a tanker, coastal storage, or will have in the marine environment. Te consequences of spill vary with its location and proximity to shore; with the quantity and composition of the oil; with the season of the year, ocean-currents, and weather conditions at the time of release; and with the composition and diversity of afected communities. Intertidal and shallow-water sub-tidal communities are most sensitive to the efects of an oil spill. Spills of crude oil are generally larger in volume and more frequent than spills of refned oil.”
Why relevant

Explains that pollutant impacts vary with proximity to shore, currents, season and community composition—showing pollutant effects depend on environmental context.

How to extend

A student could use this pattern to assess microbead risk by combining knowledge of local currents, shorelines and sensitive habitats to judge likely harm.

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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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