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Assessing Microplastic Pollution in Indian Lake Ecosystems: A Mini Review
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This mini-review synthesizes findings from the 12 Indian lakes studied for microplastic contamination since the field's 2017 inception in the country, examining contamination levels, methodologies, and pollution sources across surface water, sediments, and biota. Freshwater lakes are critically understudied relative to marine environments, and the lack of standardized methods across studies makes cross-comparison difficult—limiting effective policy responses.
The inaugural microplastic study on Indian lakes, conducted in 2017, marked a significant milestone in addressing the emerging issue of microplastic pollution. Despite the early recognition of microplastics in oceans since the 1970s, our knowledge cutoff reveals that only 12 Indian lakes have been investigated for microplastic contamination. Given the vulnerability of lacustrine ecosystems to pollution, they may face challenges akin to those observed in marine environments. While the contamination of oceans has received considerable attention, the impact on freshwater ecosystems and lakes is increasingly recognized. However, the relatively nascent nature of this field has led to methodological diversity, posing challenges for standardization. This review focuses on three key aspects: (1) assessing microplastic contamination in 12 Indian lakes; (2) exploring methodologies across various compartments, including surface water, sediments, and biota; and (3) examining microplastic characteristics and sources. The analysis concludes with recommendations to guide decision-making by public authorities and foster consensus among research teams in this critical field.
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Microplastic Pollution in Indian Aquatic Ecosystems: Insights and Implications
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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 in the Inland Water Ecosystem of India
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This review documented microplastic contamination in India's inland water systems — including rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and groundwater — identifying land-based pollution sources and assessing concentrations relative to international benchmarks. Inland freshwater contamination is particularly concerning because these systems supply drinking water and irrigation to hundreds of millions of people, creating direct human exposure routes.
Microplastic Contamination of the Aquatic Environment in the Indian Scenario: A Review
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Researchers reviewed microplastic distribution and ecological risk across India's aquatic environments, finding polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET as the dominant polymers in water, sediment, and fish — including edible species — with contamination detected even in remote Himalayan locations.
Microplastic Pollution in Urban-Dal Lake, India: Uncovering Sources and Polymer Analysis for Effective Assessment
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A survey of 32 sediment sites in Dal Lake in the Himalayas found an average of 416 MP/kg dry sediment, dominated by nylon fibers (62.5%), with tourism, fishing, and untreated wastewater identified as primary sources. Microplastic contamination of a high-altitude Himalayan lake—a freshwater source for surrounding communities—demonstrates that MP pollution has reached even remote mountain ecosystems far from industrial centers.
Assessment of Potential Ecological Risk of Microplastics in India
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This study assessed the ecological risks of microplastic contamination across India's aquatic ecosystems, evaluating particle abundance data against toxicological benchmarks to identify regions and species at highest risk. India's densely populated river basins and coastal zones concentrate both plastic inputs and the populations most dependent on aquatic food sources, making this risk assessment foundational for prioritizing regulatory intervention.
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