Bengaluru: Toxic chemicals ranging from pesticides and antibiotics to steroids and “forever chemicals” have been detected in 93 per cent of blood samples collected from urban populations across India, according to a recent analysis spanning nine states and 14 cities.
The findings point to widespread, and largely unnoticed, exposure to harmful substances that may be entering the body through everyday food consumption, plastic use, groundwater, and environmental pollution.
The analysis, conducted on samples from urban residents, revealed significant levels of cumulative exposure across multiple toxin categories suggesting that chemical intake may not be isolated, but chronic and layered.
Among the key findings, 78 per cent of individuals showed pesticide residues in their bloodstream, with 36 per cent exposed to three or more pesticides, indicating potential cumulative health risk. 54 per cent tested positive for antibiotics, raising concerns around antimicrobial resistance and gut microbiome disruption. 39 per cent showed presence of steroids, compounds linked to endocrine disruption and increased carcinogenic risk.
38 per cent tested positive for “forever chemicals” persistent synthetic compounds associated with cancer risk, thyroid disease, reduced fertility, high cholesterol, liver damage and ulcerative colitis. 17 per cent of samples contained 10 or more toxins across three categories, pointing to hidden chronic exposure.
Forever chemicals widely used in non-stick cookware, food packaging, stain-resistant fabrics and industrial coatings — are designed to resist heat, water and grease. Many are known for their long environmental lifespan and potential health hazards, yet public awareness around their presence in daily life remains limited.
While regulatory systems primarily test food products for contamination, far fewer studies assess how much of these chemicals ultimately accumulate in human bloodstreams. The latest findings suggest that exposure pathways may be broader and more persistent than commonly assumed.
Experts warn that long-term accumulation of such substances may interfere with gut bacteria, digestion, immunity, metabolism and hormonal balance. Antibiotic residues may contribute to antimicrobial resistance, while pesticides and steroids are associated with endocrine and metabolic disturbances.
The analysis was enabled through toxin-detection capabilities recently added to testing platforms developed by Bengaluru-based startup MicrobioTx, which focuses on gut and metabolic health assessment.
Company officials said the findings highlight the need for greater awareness and early detection to help individuals make informed preventive health choices.
Public health experts note that the results underline the importance of deeper epidemiological research and stronger environmental surveillance to better understand long-term risks linked to chronic chemical exposure in urban India.
