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Microplastic Contamination in Harike Wetland, a Ramsar Site in Punjab: An Environmental Assessment
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Researchers collected water samples from Harike Wetland, a Ramsar-protected biodiversity hotspot in Punjab, India, and analyzed them for microplastic presence, morphology, and polymer composition using FTIR and pyrolysis-GC/MS. Microplastics including polyethylene were detected, raising concerns about contamination of this critical freshwater ecosystem and its food chain.
Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly recognized as pervasive pollutants in aquatic ecosystems, posing significant threats to environmental health and food chain integrity. This study focuses on the presence, distribution and characteristics of MPs in water samples from the Harike wetland, a critical biodiversity hotspot in Punjab. Water samples were systematically collected and subjected to a comprehensive process involving filtration and subsequent analysis to isolate and identify MPs. Characterization of MPs was conducted based on their size, morphology and color, using advanced spectroscopic techniques including Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (py-GCMS). These analyses revealed the presence of MPs, with polyethylene and polypropylene emerging as the dominant polymer types in the samples. Seasonal variations in MP concentrations were evident, with the highest levels recorded during the summer season. Specifically, the dominant morphology of MPs was found to be fragments, indicating diverse sources and pathways of MP pollution within the wetland. The high levels of MPs present risks to aquatic life and ecosystem health, highlighting the need for better monitoring and mitigation strategies. This study also serves as a baseline for future research on the long-term ecological effects of MPs in aquatic environments.
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Spatiotemporal microplastic occurrence study of Harike wetland, A Ramsar wetland of India
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Researchers conducted a spatiotemporal study of microplastic contamination in Harike wetland, India's largest Ramsar wetland, examining water, canal sediment, and gut contents of Cyprinus carpio fish using ATR-FTIR and GC-MS. They found HDPE and nylon as the dominant polymer types, seasonal variation with higher concentrations in winter, and a 7% microplastic recovery rate from fish gut contents, highlighting contamination in this internationally protected ecosystem.
Existence of Microplastic as Pollutant in Harike Wetland: An Analysis of Plastic Composition and First Report on Ramsar Wetland of India
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This first-ever study of microplastics in Harike Wetland, India's largest northern wetland and a Ramsar-designated protected site, found plastic particles throughout the water and sediment. The contamination of this internationally recognized conservation area highlights that even protected freshwater ecosystems are not shielded from microplastic pollution.
Spatiotemporal microplastic occurrence study of Harike wetland, A Ramsar wetland of India
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This spatiotemporal study examined microplastic contamination in Harike wetland—the largest wetland in northern India and a Ramsar-designated site—across multiple seasons, sampling both surface water from the associated canal and gut contents of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Microplastic concentrations were significantly higher in winter than in summer or the rainy season, with HDPE and nylon dominating, and FTIR and GC-MS confirmed polymer identity. Microplastics were recovered from 7% of fish guts analyzed, indicating trophic transfer in this ecologically important and regionally water-supply-critical wetland.
Non-Invasive Assessment of Microplastic Contamination in the Avian Biodiversity of Gharana Wetland, Jammu and Kashmir
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Researchers used a non-invasive approach, analyzing bird droppings, to detect microplastic contamination in avian species at the Gharana Wetland in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Microplastics including fragments, fibers, and microbeads were confirmed in the scat of multiple bird species across different trophic levels, with chemical composition verified by FTIR analysis. The findings raise concerns about microplastic exposure in both native and migratory birds at this protected Important Bird Area.
Identification and polymeric profiling of microplastics in Schizothorax niger and Cyprinus carpio using FTIR spectroscopy
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Researchers examined two freshwater fish species from Dal and Wular Lake in Kashmir and found six types of plastic particles in their tissues, including polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyester. Dal Lake fish mostly contained polyethylene, while Wular Lake fish had more polyamide and polyester, suggesting different pollution sources, such as packaging, fishing gear, and textiles, around each lake.
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