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Himalayan springs under plastic stress: an integrated microplastic risk assessment
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Researchers tested natural springs, soil and air near Srinagar, India for tiny plastic particles called microplastics. They found microplastics in all three, mostly as colorless or white fibers, and calculated a pollution risk score showing some springs posed medium risk to local people who drink the water.
Himalayan springs are extensively used for drinking purposes, considering their groundwater origin. Microplastics (MPs), an emerging environmental contaminant, have been studied and found in nearly every water resource. However, the Himalayan springs in this context have not been explored to date. Hence, this study aims to provide an overview of MPs in the springs around Srinagar (Central Himalaya, India) and investigates the abundance of MPs in atmospheric deposition and springshed soil. For this purpose, spring water, springshed soil and atmospheric samples were collected, digested using hydrogen peroxide, filtered through cellulose nitrate filter paper and analysed under a stereo microscope to quantify and classify MPs based on shape, size and colour. Additionally, the Pollution Risk Index (PRI) was assessed to evaluate the potential risks to the local community from consuming spring water. The average concentration of MPs ranges from 15.5 to 61.25 particles per 1000 L in spring water, 423.24 MPs/m2/hr to 1048.24 MPs/m2/hr in atmospheric samples and 36.33 to 174.22 particles per 100 g in soil samples. Fibres were the most common shape, and colourless and white MPs were the dominant colours. Spectroscopic analysis revealed various polymer types, and PRI values indicated risks ranging from minor (< 150) to medium (150–300), with values varying from 2.81 to 212.31, highlighting a greater risk in the study area. The findings show a significant risk from MPs to hilly communities, underscoring the need for contamination management in the springshed and ongoing monitoring of the springs.
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This review documents microplastic contamination throughout the Himalayan region, from mountain glaciers and rivers to remote high-altitude locations. Microplastics reach these areas through wind, precipitation, tourism waste, and river transport, and can become trapped in glacial ice before being released during snowmelt. The findings show that even one of the most remote places on Earth is not free from microplastic pollution, with implications for the billions of people who depend on Himalayan rivers for drinking water.
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