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Microplastic Pollution in Shoreline Sediments of Selected Rivers of Mizoram, North-East India: A Baseline Assessment and Preliminary Report
Summary
Scientists found tiny plastic bits (microplastics) in the sediment of four rivers in Mizoram, a remote biodiversity-rich region in northeast India — with the most pollution near the city of Aizawl. Most of the plastic was in the form of tiny fibers made from polyethylene, a common plastic used in bags and packaging, showing that even ecologically pristine areas far from major industrial centers aren't safe from plastic pollution. Since these rivers likely supply drinking water and support local food sources like fish, this pollution could eventually make its way into people's bodies, adding to growing concerns about long-term health eff
Microplastics have emerged as another dimension of hazardous and persistent pollutants afflicting every corner of the globe, even permeating critical biodiversity hotspots. This study aims to serve as a preliminary report on the occurrence and assessment of MP pollution in shore sediments of four selected rivers in the state of Mizoram, which lies in one of the sensitive biodiversity hotspots in India, and is also a part of the eastern Himalayan range. There have been minimal studies on microplastic pollution in this region despite its critical ecological location. Four freshwater rivers, namely Chite, Tlawng, Serlui-A, and Tuirial, were selected for the study due to their proximity to urban settlements and have been subjected to rampant plastic pollution. The study revealed that MPs were detected from all sampling sites, and abundance was highest in Chite, which runs through parts of Aizawl city. Particles within the size range of 0.15-0.25 mm were found to be the highest in numbers in all sampling locations, while MPs between 3-5 mm were the least in number. The shapes of MPs were varied, constituting fragments, fibers, pellets, and spheres, with fibers (40%) being the dominant shape overall. Polyethylene was found to be the dominant polymer type among particles analyzed using FTIR spectroscopy. This study contributes to the imperative assessment of MP pollution in river sediments of the eastern Himalayan region of India, as comprehensive research in this regard is still lacking.