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Lake sediments act as a sink of microplastics in the High-Altitude Himalayan Dal Lake, India
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Researchers quantified microplastic concentrations in surface water and sediments of Dal Lake, a high-altitude Himalayan urban lake in India at 1,583 meters elevation, finding sediment concentrations up to nearly 13,000 particles per kilogram dry weight and concluding that lake sediments act as a long-term sink for microplastic accumulation.
Plastic debris is a growing concern in freshwater ecosystems worldwide. This study investigates the presence, characterization, and quantification of microplastics (MPs) in Dal Lake, a known urban Himalayan lake in India, located at an altitude of 1583 meters and covering 24 km². The analysis revealed MP concentrations in surface water ranging from 140±20 to 846±136 particles per liter, and in sediments, from 2616±1016 to 12966±496 particles per kilogram (dry weight). The higher accumulation of MPs in sediments suggests they act as a long-term sink for these particles, trapping them over time. The MPs found exhibited three main morphologies: fragments, films, and lines, indicating the breakdown of larger plastic debris. Around 90% of the detected MPs in both water and sediment were smaller than 500 µm, with polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common polymers identified. Pollution levels were assessed using a count-based index, which indicated higher contamination in sediments compared to surface water, with sediment contamination being approximately 2.05 times higher. This places the lake in hazard category II, suggesting significant ecological risks. The primary sources of MP pollution in Dal Lake appear to be domestic waste, tourism activities, and urban runoff, all of which introduce plastics into the water system. This study highlights the widespread and pervasive nature of MP pollution in high-altitude freshwater ecosystems like Dal Lake.
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Identification, characterization, and quantification of microplastics in water and sediments of high-altitude Himalayan Dal Lake
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Scientists found tiny plastic particles called microplastics in both the water and bottom sediments of Dal Lake, a high-altitude lake in the Himalayas. This discovery is concerning because it shows plastic pollution has reached even remote mountain areas, and these microscopic plastic pieces can enter our food chain through fish and drinking water. The findings suggest that microplastic contamination is more widespread than previously thought, potentially affecting water sources that communities depend on for drinking and fishing.
Microplastics in the high-altitude Himalayas: Assessment of microplastic contamination in freshwater lake sediments, Northwest Himalaya (India)
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Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in sediments of freshwater Anchar Lake in the Kashmir Himalayas, finding an average of 606 particles per kilogram dominated by polyamide fibers, with domestic wastewater and textile sources identified as primary contributors.
Microplastics in the shore sediment of the freshwater sources of the Indian Himalaya
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Microplastics were detected for the first time in shore sediments from high-altitude freshwater sources of the Indian Himalaya, including major river headwaters and remote mountain lakes. The study found microplastics even in the most remote sites, indicating that atmospheric deposition carries plastics to these pristine high-altitude environments. The contamination of Himalayan river sources is significant given their importance as freshwater supplies for hundreds of millions of people downstream.
Pollution status of microplastics in the sediments of warm monomictic Dal lake, India: Abundance, composition, and risk assessment
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Researchers conducted the first investigation of microplastic contamination in the sediments of Dal Lake in Jammu and Kashmir, India. They found concentrations ranging from 503 to over 3,000 particles per kilogram, with the highest levels occurring in spring, and identified multiple polymer types with polyester and polyethylene being most common. The study establishes baseline pollution data for this ecologically important lake and highlights the seasonal patterns of microplastic accumulation.
Microplastic and heavy metal contamination in sediments of the high-altitude Nundkol Lake of northwestern Himalayas-Kashmir
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Researchers found both heavy metals and microplastics in the sediment of a remote high-altitude glacial lake in the Himalayas, with microplastic levels averaging 76 particles per kilogram of dry sediment — predominantly plastic fibers from nylon. The contamination is likely linked to tourism, trekking, and fishing activities in what was once considered a pristine wilderness area.
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