Microplastic Abundance in the Indian Environs

As the population of the globe is increasing, the demand for plastic is also increasing. Global demand for plastic is a major concern for plastic pollution and its management. A user-friendly approach and low costs are a huge addition in global plastic production. These plastics and their types are now becoming resources for microplastics. All types of plastics get fragmented in other forms and lead to the formation of microplastics. Microplastics have been reported from various ecosystems, including lakes, ponds, wetlands, mountains and forests globally. Therefore, there is a strong need to explore the abundance of microplastics in the environment. This chapter discusses and explains the occurrence and distribution of microplastics in the Indian area. It also highlights techniques that are used for microplastic isolation and identification; for example, filtration techniques and identification methods such as microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, stereo-microscopy and SEM-EDS. The study reveals microplastic abundance and its identification status, which can provide us with significant examinations of microplastic pollution and its impact on different biota around the globe. It exposes microplastic pollution in environmental areas of India and highlights the research gaps for further environmental research.