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An Analytical Assessment of Microplastic Flux in the Sutlej and Beas Rivers: Comparative Regional Trends and Ecological Implications for Punjab
Summary
Researchers reviewed existing data on plastic pollution in Punjab's Sutlej and Beas rivers and found tiny plastic bits (microplastics) — mostly from textile fibers and packaging — are building up heavily downstream of industrial areas like Ludhiana, with a protected wetland now acting as a "plastic trap." Since these rivers feed into drinking water, irrigation, and the food chain (including fish and migratory birds people may eventually eat), this pollution could pose long-term risks to human health, making better monitoring and factory filtration systems an urgent priority.
Microplastic (MP) pollution has emerged as a pervasive threat to freshwater ecosystems, yet its trajectory in the freshwater riverine systems of Punjab remains largely under-scrutinized. Utilizing existing literature and records of national and state pollution control boards, this study presents a comprehensive secondary data analysis of MP contamination in the Sutlej and Beas rivers, focusing on the period between 2021 and 2025. The Sutlej River, particularly downstream of the Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana, shows a predominance of fibrous and fragmented MPs (polyethylene and polypropylene), with significantly higher concentrations than the relatively pristine stretches of the Beas. The findings suggest that the Harike Wetland, a Ramsar site, is increasingly acting as a plastic sink, posing risks to migratory avian fauna and local food chains. This paper concludes by advocating for better policy making, the integration of MP monitoring into the Water Quality Monitoring Programme (WQMP) of the state and suggests that Punjab’s textile hub requires specialized filtration infrastructure to mitigate synthetic fibre discharge and curb MP accumulation.