We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Comprehensive Review on Microplastic Pollution in Inland Waters of India
AI summary Read the abstract
This comprehensive review examines microplastic pollution in India's inland freshwater systems, including major rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra. The study highlights that rapid industrialization, urbanization, and poor waste management have led to significant contamination from diverse sources including industrial effluents, untreated sewage, and agricultural runoff, with potential consequences for aquatic organisms and human health through bioaccumulation in food chains.
Microplastic pollution has emerged as a significant environmental concern in inland aquatic ecosystems, primarily due to its persistent nature, widespread presence, and potential risks to ecological stability and human health. In India, rapid industrialization, urbanization, and inefficient plastic waste management have exacerbated the accumulation of microplastics in freshwater bodies such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and wetlands. This review critically examines the sources, distribution patterns, ecological implications, detection techniques, and mitigation strategies associated with microplastic contamination in Indian inland waters. Microplastics originate from diverse sources, including industrial effluents, untreated domestic sewage, agricultural runoff, fishing-related activities, and atmospheric deposition. Major riverine networks, including the Ganga, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra, exhibit significant microplastic pollution, with distribution patterns influenced by hydrological dynamics, land-use practices, and demographic pressures. The ingestion and bioaccumulation of microplastics pose severe threats to aquatic organisms, leading to physiological and behavioral disturbances. Moreover, the potential for microplastics to transfer through trophic levels raises critical concerns regarding their implications for human health. Various analytical methodologies, including optical microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy, have been employed to identify and characterize microplastics. However, discrepancies in analytical standardization continue to pose challenges for accurate quantification and comparison across studies. Effective mitigation measures necessitate the implementation of advanced waste management systems, stringent regulatory policies such as plastic bans, improved recycling technologies, and comprehensive policy frameworks. Despite these efforts, knowledge gaps persist concerning the long-term ecological consequences and the effectiveness of existing regulatory measures. Addressing microplastic pollution requires a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach involving scientific research, government regulations, and community participation. This review highlights the pressing need for extensive investigations and sustainable intervention strategies to safeguard India's freshwater ecosystems from the detrimental impacts of microplastic contamination.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in Freshwater Ecosystems in India: A Comprehensive Review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the occurrence, sources, and ecological risks of microplastics across freshwater ecosystems in India, synthesizing current literature on contamination levels in rivers, lakes, and other inland water bodies.
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.
Microplastics in Indian Freshwater Systems: Current Status and Future Research Needs
AI summary Read the abstract
This review pulls together existing research showing that major Indian rivers and lakes—including the Ganga and Brahmaputra—are contaminated with tiny plastic particles called microplastics, mostly tiny fibers and fragments from things like laundry, packaging waste, and industrial runoff. Since people in these regions eat freshwater fish and drink water from these sources, this contamination is a potential pathway for human exposure, and these plastic particles can also carry harmful chemicals and bacteria along with them. The researchers stress that better monitoring and pollution-reduction efforts are urgently needed, though more studies are still required to f
Microplastics as a contaminant in Indian riverine system: a review
AI summary Read the abstract
This systematic review examines microplastic contamination across India's river systems, documenting the types, sources, and concentrations of plastic particles found in major waterways. The findings are concerning for human health because these rivers provide drinking water and irrigation for hundreds of millions of people, creating widespread potential exposure to microplastics.
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.