HC writ seeks probe

A writ petition was filed with the High Court seeking an independent investigation into the reported presence of potentially harmful microplastics in 26 of 34 toothpaste samples sold in Bangladesh.

The news was published by the Daily Observer on Monday.

Supreme Court lawyer Md Abdullah Al Mamun filed the petition with the related branch of the HC seeking its order in this regard. A HC bench is likely to hold hearing on the petition on Tuesday, he added.

Secretaries of the ministries of health, environment and commerce, the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), and the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection have been made respondent in the petition.

The petitioner said he is seeking an independent inquiry to determine the potential health and environmental risks posed by the detected microplastics. If the findings are confirmed, he will seek a court order directing the authorities to withdraw the affected products from the market.

The writ follows a study released yesterday (26 July) by the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO), which found microplastics in 26 of 34 toothpaste samples collected from 19 local and imported brands.

Researchers detected between 20 and 320 microplastic particles per 100 grams of toothpaste, including in four of the six children's toothpaste samples tested.

According to ESDO, the study did not assess the direct health impacts of the microplastics but warned that particles from toothpaste could enter the environment and eventually the human body through food and drinking water.

The organisation cited international research linking microplastic exposure to potential health risks, while noting that further studies are needed to establish its long-term effects on human health.