Article
?
AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button.
Tier 2
?
Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence.
Environmental Sources
Policy & Risk
Sign in to save
Microplastic pollution in the Chapora River, Goa, Southwest India: spatial distribution and risk assessment
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment2024
18 citations
?
Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 50
?
0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in the Chapora River in Goa, India, finding concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.47 particles per liter across sampling stations. Fibers were the dominant shape, accounting for over 77% of particles, with polyethylene and polypropylene as the most common polymers. The study suggests that both urban activities and fishing contribute to microplastic contamination in this tropical river system.
The amount of information available on the microplastic (MP) contamination in Goa's riverine water systems is currently limited. The abundance, size, colour, and polymer composition of microplastics in Chapora River surface water were investigated in this study. MPs in Chapora River surface water ranged from 0.1 particles/L (station 13) to 0.47 particles/L (station 5). The mean (± standard deviation) MP concentration was 0.25 (± 0.13) particles/L. Fibre was the dominant shape (77.15%), followed by fragments (12.36%), films (9.36%), and foam (1.12%). Most MPs were found in the 0.1-0.3 mm size range, then in the 0.3-1 mm and 1-5 mm. The dominant type of polymer studied was polyethylene terephthalate (PET; 46%), followed by high-density polyethylene (HDPE; 14%), polypropylene (PP; 5%), and polystyrene (PS; 1%). The risk assessment study indicated high risk with respect to PHI, while PLI shows low risk in the area. The source of MPs was mostly anthropogenic in nature in the region. When compared with other tropical rivers, MP pollution was relatively lower in the Chapora River. Nevertheless, the baseline data will help the local administration take mitigation measures to reduce the impact of MP pollution in the region.