We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Is the River Ganga a gigantic contributor to microplastic contamination in the groundwater ecosystem under the aegis of climatic extremes?
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how microplastics from the heavily polluted Ganga River may infiltrate groundwater in the Indian Gangetic Floodplains, connecting rising agricultural plastic use, floods, and urbanization to an emerging risk of groundwater contamination in the region.
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.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic Contamination in Groundwater Aquifers along the Ganga River Basin: A Comprehensive study from Devprayag to Gangasagar, India
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in groundwater aquifers along the Ganga River basin from Devprayag to Gangasagar, India, detecting microplastics at all sampling sites and linking contamination levels to population density and river proximity.
Microplastic pollution in the Ganga River: A state-of-the-art review of pathways, mechanisms, and mitigation
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines microplastic pollution in India's Ganga River, which sustains hundreds of millions of people, identifying sources from industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and inadequate waste management. Microplastics in the river threaten aquatic life through ingestion and bioaccumulation and ultimately affect the communities that rely on the river for drinking water and food. The study calls for comprehensive management strategies to protect both ecological and public health.
Sources and factors influencing microplastic concentration during monsoon season in the Ganga River, Bihar, India
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated sources and factors influencing microplastic concentrations in the Ganga River during monsoon season, finding that untreated residential and industrial waste from major Indian cities contributes significantly to contamination of one of the world's most biodiverse rivers.
Microplastic in upper Himalayan Ganga river: Occurrence, seasonal dynamics and ecological risk
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers quantified microplastics at 19 sites across the upper Himalayan Ganga River over six months, finding concentrations of 100–1,550 particles per liter in water and rising contamination levels downstream toward densely populated cities, with fibers, polyethylene, and post-monsoon conditions dominating the pollution profile.
Microplastic Pollution in Ganga: Present Status and Future Need
AI summary Read the abstract
This review documents the growing problem of microplastic pollution in the Ganges River in India, finding that the river is heavily contaminated with plastic particles from urban and industrial sources, threatening one of the world's most ecologically and culturally important waterways.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.