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Microplastics in Indian aquatic systems and its effects on plants, aquatic organisms and humans, and its methods of remediation
Summary
This review summarizes microplastic pollution across India's rivers, coasts, and estuaries, finding contamination widespread in both water and sediment. The highest concentrations were found in estuaries and the Hooghly River, with most research focused on southern India's coastal areas. The study highlights that microplastics in Indian waterways pose health risks to the large populations that depend on these water sources for drinking, fishing, and irrigation.
Plastic is ubiquitously present in the environment due to its low biodegradability. Microplastics (MPs) are the degraded form of plastic having a diameter ranging from 0.1 µm to 5 mm. The present review aims to sum up the MP pollution in aquatic ecosystems of India to assess the probable effects of the MPs in organisms, and to find out the possible remedies to remove MPs. In India, MP concentrations were found maximum in the surface sediment of the estuarine ecosystem and water sample of the Hooghly River. Maximum MPs-based works focused on the ocean, sea, and estuarine aquatic systems of the southern states of India. Once entering the soil and sediment, MPs cause detrimental health effects on living beings. Generally, combined MP remediation methods exhibited better removal efficiency. Some microbial bioremediators are effectively being used for MP removal from aquatic systems. This study will be useful in making precise decisions regarding strengthening the law to control MP pollution, promoting the regular monitoring of MPs in Indian aquatic systems, and implementing a better MP removal process. It will not only save our environment from MP exposure but also improve the living standards and health status of people in developing countries.