Is the River Ganga a gigantic contributor to microplastic contamination in the groundwater ecosystem under the aegis of climatic extremes?

This article examines how microplastics (MPs) may increasingly infiltrate the groundwater in the Indian Gangetic Floodplains (IGFP) due to rising pollution in the Ganga River. The study aims to clarify the connection between MPs and the use of agricultural plastics and their direct effects on groundwater quality. Explicit evidence indicates an increase in pollution loads, floods, and urbanization along the IGFP over time, correlating with a heightened likelihood of MPs accumulating in river waters, sediments, and eventually groundwater. Floodwaters can transport MPs downstream, posing a risk to major cities such as Patna and Kolkata along the IGFP. Despite the heavy reliance of the densely populated regions on groundwater for drinking, limited research is available on MPs' import through surface-groundwater interactions in India. Addressing this issue is both essential and urgent; immediate attention and mitigation strategies, such as improved waste management and urban planning, are needed.