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Microplastic Pollution in Indian Aquatic Ecosystems: Insights and Implications
Summary
Researchers documented widespread microplastic contamination across Indian lakes, rivers, and coastal waters — including in remote high-altitude regions like Ladakh — showing that no aquatic ecosystem in the country is untouched, with direct implications for the hundreds of millions of people who depend on these water sources.
Microplastic (MP) pollution has become a pressing environmental issue globally, prompting extensive research into its prevalence, distribution, and composition in diverse ecosystems. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of MP contamination in Indian lakes, rivers, and coastal environments, synthesizing recent investigations across the country. Significant MP abundance and distribution were observed in lakes, particularly in high-altitude and remote areas like Kashmir, Ladakh, and Himachal Pradesh. Notable findings include high MP concentrations in lakes such as Anchar Lake, Pangong Lake, and Tsomoriri Lake, with tourism, textile disposal, and industrial emissions identified as major pollution sources. Lonar Lake and Kanke Lake showed MP contamination in both surface water and sediments, highlighting the need for urgent mitigation measures. Studies on Indian rivers revealed diverse MP characteristics, with fragments, fibers, pellets, and foams being dominant. Chemical analysis identified common polymer components originating from industrial waste, plastic debris, and synthetic textiles. Seasonal and geographical factors influenced MP distribution in rivers, emphasizing plastic pollution's pervasive presence. Coastal regions of Southern India exhibited high concentrations of plastic debris, primarily fibres from synthetic textiles, with prevalent polymers derived from urban runoff, marine activities, and industrial discharges. The present study offers insightful information about the widespread and varied characteristics of MP contamination in Indian aquatic ecosystems, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive mitigation strategies to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem health. Further research is necessary to understand MP sources, impacts, and distribution, informing evidence-based management strategies to reduce the potential risks concerning people’s health and the environment related to plastic contamination. Different environment of deposition along with microplastic