We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Characterisation of Plastics and their Relation to Benthic Organisms in Metsina Stream, Punakha Dzongkhag
Summary
Researchers characterised macro-, meso-, and microplastic pollution across upstream, midstream, and downstream sites of Metsina Stream in Bhutan's Punakha Dzongkhag and assessed the relationship between plastic presence and benthic macroinvertebrate communities. The study provided a baseline for freshwater plastic pollution in Bhutan and found associations between plastic abundance and altered benthic community composition.
Plastics in freshwater ecosystem is an emerging environmental concern, yet spatial characterisation and ecological assessment remain limited in Bhutan. The study provides a baseline of the presence, types, and concentration of plastics classified as macro, meso, and microplastics across upstream, midstream, and downstream transects of the Metsina Stream. It also examined the relationship between plastic contamination and benthic organisms. Macro and mesoplastics were collected and weighed (items·kg⁻¹) from each plot while microplastics were extracted from the sediment samples using ZnCl2 density separation. Macroinvertebrate diversity were assessed using the EPT index (57%) and HKH Biotic score (4.53). The Kruskal-Wallis test indicated significant difference between macro, meso and microplastics (p < .001) concentration across the stream transects with Mann-Whitney U tests confirming significant pairwise differences across stream transects. Inverse Distance Weighted interpolation revealed increasing plastic concentrations from upstream to downstream, suggesting anthropogenic influence. However, no significant correlation between plastic concentration and macroinvertebrate abundance (r = .029, p = .87) under current conditions. Principle Component Analysis explained 85.68% of variance among variables. These findings highlight the threats posed by plastics to freshwater ecosystem specifically benthic organisms and offers framework to integrate plastic contamination monitoring in Bhutan’s national freshwater assessment protocols for improved waste management strategies and conservation efforts.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Extent and distribution of microplastic contamination in the benthic sediment of Turag river in Bangladesh
Researchers quantified microplastic contamination in benthic sediments of the Turag River in Bangladesh, finding widespread microplastic accumulation that poses threats to benthic communities and highlights a significant knowledge gap in freshwater sediment microplastic studies.
Plastic recycling plant as a point source of microplastics to sediment and macroinvertebrates in a remote stream
Researchers investigated a plastic recycling plant in a remote area of Norway as a point source of microplastic pollution to an upland stream, collecting approximately 2 kg of sediment and 549 macroinvertebrate individuals and finding elevated polyethylene film-derived microplastic contamination linked to the facility.
Microplastics and heavy metal contamination along a land-use gradient in a Himalayan foothill river: Prevalence and controlling factors
Researchers mapped microplastic and heavy metal contamination in a river flowing through India's Himalayan foothills, finding plastic particles at every sampling site. Concentrations were highest near industrial areas and human settlements, with polyethylene and polystyrene being the most common plastic types. The study shows how human activity drives plastic pollution even in relatively remote freshwater environments.
Microplastic Pollution of Stream Water and Sediment in a Tributary of a Major Drinking Water Supplying River in Sri Lanka
Researchers monitored microplastic pollution in stream water and sediment of a tributary feeding a major drainage system, documenting spatial patterns of contamination and identifying land use practices as key predictors of microplastic abundance in this freshwater system.
Microplastics in the River Ganga and its fishes: Study of a Himalayan River
This study investigated microplastic contamination in water, sediment, and fish in the upper stretch of the River Ganga in Uttarakhand, India, providing baseline data on microplastic distribution in a Himalayan river reach previously unstudied.