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Ecological risk assessment of microplastics contamination in water, sediment and native fish species of the Brahmaputra River, India
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Researchers assessed microplastic contamination across water, sediment, and seven native fish species in the Indian stretch of the Brahmaputra River, finding water concentrations of 140–420 particles/m³ and sediment loads of 13–53 particles/kg, with polymer hazard indices reaching the highest risk category at multiple sites due to polyurethane and PVC particles—providing the first ecological risk baseline for this major Himalayan river.
Microplastics (MPs) pollution has garnered substantial attention over the last decade owing to its potential health risk associated with aquatic life. The present study assesses the risk associated with MPs pollution in water, sediment, and native fish fauna in the Indian stretch of the river Brahmaputra. MPs abundance in water ranged from 140 to 420 particles m, while in sediment it varied between 13.63 and 53.33 particles kg. MPs of various polymer types (PE, PP, PS, PVC, PA and PES) were found (1 to 5.33 particles individual) in the gut of native fish species viz. Gudusia chapra, Clarias magur, Ompok bimaculatus, Labeo calbasu, Cirrhinus reba, Wallago attu and Systomus sarana. The Pollution Load Index (PLI) of MPs was estimated to be low (< 10) at all sites. However, water at Guwahati, Dhola, Guijan, Dibrugarh, Desangmukh and Dubri was found with very high (risk category V) Polymer Hazard Index (PHI) due to the presence of polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride MPs. The same PHI category also existed for almost all sediments except for Guijan, Desangmukh and Dubri. Further, the estimated Potential Ecological Risk Index was categorized as extreme danger (> 1200) for all sediments. The research provides the first step in understanding the ecological risk associated with MPs contamination in the Brahmaputra River.
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