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Quantification of Microplastics in Water, Sediment, and Fish at Baloki Headworks: A Case Study From the Indus River Basin
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Researchers tested water, sediment, and fish from the Baloki headworks on Pakistan's Indus River for tiny plastic particles called microplastics. They found 20 particles per liter of water, 6 to 8 particles per kilogram of sediment, and 3 to 4 particles per fish, with different shapes and plastic types common in each.
ABSTRACT The issue of plastic pollution is becoming hotter with every passing day. The widespread discharge of plastic waste into aquatic systems has led to increasing accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in freshwater environments, posing significant risks to aquatic organisms due to their high persistence. The present study was conducted to explore the occurrence and abundance of microplastics in various environmental compartments (water, sediment, and fish) of the Baloki headworks. This place holds great significance regarding freshwater sources to nearby areas and agricultural lands, tourism, and fishing activities. The grab sampling method was adopted, and samples were collected from five different points. The chemical characterization of MPs was carried out through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, while for the morphological characterization, a stereomicroscope was used. Results indicated that the abundance of MPs in the water, sediment, and fish was 20 particles/L, 6–8 particles/kg, and 3–4 particles/fish. For the MPs' shape, film (54%) was the dominant type in water samples, followed by foam (22%), fragment (11%), fiber (8%), and filament (5%). In sediment samples, the dominant type was fragment (69%), followed by foam (19%), film (7%), and fiber (5%). Similarly, in fish samples, the dominant type was foam (62%), followed by film (21%) and fragment (17%). The detected polymers through FTIR were (PS, PP, ABS, PU, EVA, nitrile, and latex), (LDPE, HDPE, PS, EVA, PP, PC, PU, ABS, latex, nitrile, nylon, and CA), and (PE, PS, PP, PC, PU, PET, ABS, latex, nitrile, nylon, and PA) in water, sediment, and fish samples, respectively. The present study is the first comprehensive investigation of MPs pollution at Baloki headworks, to the best of our knowledge. Therefore, this study will serve as a baseline for further monitoring and help policymakers in developing mitigation measures for plastic pollution.
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