By Osman Gani.

Recently, a very shocking information has come to light in the anti-adulteration campaign conducted in the country. Which has been published in various print and electronic media in the country, including social media. An integral part of our daily lives, such as the toothpaste we use in the morning or the soybean oil used for cooking at noon, has been found to contain unimaginable levels of harmful plastic particles or microplastics. This news is not just another common picture of food adulteration, but it is a big warning about our national health. An invisible poison is constantly entering the body through the daily necessities that we use from morning to night without realizing it. This situation has now put our normal life in deep doubt.

When we talk about plastic pollution, we once saw images of polythene floating in river water or plastic bottles accumulating in drains. But with the advancement of science, we are learning that this plastic waste is not only causing visible damage to the environment, but is also breaking down into tiny particles and mixing with our environment, air, and food chain. These plastic particles smaller than five millimeters are called microplastics. When this plastic breaks down further and comes down to nanometers, it easily gains the ability to penetrate the inner walls of living cells. When these deadly chemicals are found in shiny bottles of oil or fragrant toothpaste bought from the market, we must understand that the danger is no longer outside the house, it has reached our dining table and sink.

Analyzing how these harmful particles enter the human body, we see that it is a cyclical process. Plastic that falls from the environment into the sea or soil is gradually fragmented by sunlight, heat, and wind pressure. During food processing, due to the use of low-quality plastic containers, carelessness in packaging, or mechanical friction, it is easily mixed with liquids and pastes like cooking oil or toothpaste. During the use of toothpaste, the particles go directly to the stomach through the fine blood vessels in the mouth or due to accidental swallowing. On the other hand, the microplastics in soybean oil melt in the heat and mix with the oil and reach the stomach and intestines through our daily food.

After entering the body, these tiny particles start a terrible rampage. They mix with the blood and spread from one part of the body to another. Scientists have shown that microplastics have the ability to reach the human liver, lungs, kidneys and even the bloodstream of the brain. Most recently, the existence of this material has also been found in the placenta of pregnant mothers and breast milk, which has become a serious threat to unborn and newborn children. These tiny particles can cause inflammation in the blood vessels by obstructing blood flow, which can ultimately lead to heart disease or stroke.

The negative effects of microplastics on the stomach and intestines are most alarming. They accumulate in the organs associated with the digestive process and cause cellular damage. In addition to destroying the beneficial bacteria in the human body and impairing digestion, they are responsible for chronic inflammation of the stomach and intestines. These particles, which enter the stomach from toothpaste and cooking oil day after day, can cause sores or ulcers in the digestive tract, which later increase the risk of developing into complex colon cancer.

These tiny particles contain harmful toxic chemical compounds like phthalates and bisphenol-A, which prevent the secretion of hormones. They destroy the proper functioning of the endocrine system or hormone glands of the human body. As a result, from disruption of normal physical growth to thyroid problems, diabetes and serious damage to reproductive ability. Modern medicine is now accusing plastic pollution as a major cause of infertility in women and men. Due to the continuous presence of chemicals, the body's natural immunity breaks down, as a result of which people are frequently affected by various unknown diseases.

After the presence of microplastics in toothpaste and edible oil in a recent campaign, it is clear that our existing food safety system is quite weak in protecting our health. To avoid this dangerous situation, it is essential to take both immediate and far-reaching steps. First of all, strict legal supervision is needed. Contact with plastic should be completely banned in the food processing and cosmetic industries. It is necessary to take strict legal action against all the institutions that are using low-quality bottles or packaging and are not able to ensure plastic particle-free food and cosmetics during processing. Anti-adulteration campaigns should not be limited to special days but should be made a part of daily supervision.

Manufacturing and marketing institutions should be encouraged to use glass bottles or high-quality metal containers. It is necessary to make specific policies and regulations mandatory to ensure that no plastic filters or harmful pipelines are used in the processing of oil or toothpaste. Also, making it mandatory to test products for plastic particles or obtain microplastic-free certificates before selling them in the market will increase awareness among traders.

We also need to bring about major changes in our lifestyles at the personal and family levels. From the market When buying food, focus on using glass bottles or traditionally crushed safe oils instead of plastic bottles or packaged oils. When purchasing toothpaste, emphasis can be placed on microplastic-free natural cosmetics or herbal alternatives. Plastic kitchen items, such as plastic bowls, spoons, and cutting boards, should be completely eliminated. It is never a good idea to store hot food in plastic containers or heat plastic containers in the microwave, as excessive heat melts the plastic and turns it into liquid.

After boiling drinking water at home, it is necessary to develop the habit of using high-quality filters or storing water in glass containers. It is almost impossible to solve this crisis unless we develop a mindset to completely stop the use of disposable or single-use plastics in our daily lives. Increasing the use of natural fibers such as cotton, jute, or glass products can greatly reduce the overall production and intake of microplastics in the body.

We must not forget that the environment and human health complement each other. The way we have polluted the environment with plastic, the same poison is now returning to our bodies in the form of food and cosmetics, in accordance with the natural laws of nature. The presence of plastic particles in oil bottles and toothpaste is definitely a red flag. If we ignore this red flag, we will push the next generation towards a crippled and chronically diseased future.

Only state supervision, strict law enforcement, responsibility of industrial owners and, above all, awareness of the common people can protect us from this invisible poison. If we do not reduce our over-reliance on plastic today and do not take a strong stand on food safety, then there will be no other way open before us but to silently and slowly move towards death. Now is the right time to take the right steps to save ourselves.

The spread of microplastic toxicity is no longer just a topic of discussion among environmentalists; it is a direct threat to our intestines, bloodstream and overall existence. The presence of these harmful particles in everyday essentials like cooking oil or toothpaste has posed a terrible challenge to our entire food security and lifestyle. To survive the attack of this silent killer, we cannot just rely on the law, but we must bring about radical changes in personal habits along with strict state supervision.

The need of the hour is to reduce excessive dependence on plastic and get used to using glass, metal or natural materials. At the same time, effective policies must be adopted to reduce the use of plastic in the cosmetics and food processing industries to zero. It is important for us to remember that we all have the responsibility to build a healthy and safe future. If we do not pledge to live a plastic-free life today and do not take strict steps in time, this invisible plastic monster will very quickly push our next generation towards a sick and crippled future.