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
Sign in to save
Microplastic pollution and its implicated risks in the estuarine environment of Tamil Nadu, India
The Science of The Total Environment2022
52 citations
?
Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 55
?
0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Narmatha Sathish,
Jamila Patterson,
Narmatha Sathish,
Jamila Patterson,
Narmatha Sathish,
Jamila Patterson,
Narmatha Sathish,
R.L. Laju,
R.L. Laju,
Narmatha Sathish,
Jamila Patterson,
Jamila Patterson,
Jamila Patterson,
Jamila Patterson,
Jamila Patterson,
Jamila Patterson,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
Jamila Patterson,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
Jamila Patterson,
Jamila Patterson,
Jamila Patterson,
J. K. Patterson Edward,
R.L. Laju,
R.L. Laju,
J. K. Patterson Edward
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
M. Jayanthi,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
Narmatha Sathish,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
M. Jayanthi,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
Narmatha Sathish,
M. Jayanthi,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
R.L. Laju,
Jamila Patterson,
M. Jayanthi,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
R.L. Laju,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
Jamila Patterson,
R.L. Laju,
Narmatha Sathish,
Jamila Patterson,
R.L. Laju,
Jamila Patterson,
Jamila Patterson,
Jamila Patterson,
Jamila Patterson,
Jamila Patterson,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
Jamila Patterson,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
Jamila Patterson,
Jamila Patterson,
Jamila Patterson,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
Jamila Patterson,
Jamila Patterson,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
Jamila Patterson,
Jamila Patterson,
Jamila Patterson,
Jamila Patterson,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
Jamila Patterson,
Jamila Patterson,
Narmatha Sathish,
Narmatha Sathish,
Narmatha Sathish,
Narmatha Sathish,
Narmatha Sathish,
Narmatha Sathish,
Narmatha Sathish,
Narmatha Sathish,
R.L. Laju,
R.L. Laju,
R.L. Laju,
R.L. Laju,
R.L. Laju,
R.L. Laju,
J. K. Patterson Edward
Jamila Patterson,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
J. K. Patterson Edward
J. K. Patterson Edward
Jamila Patterson,
J. K. Patterson Edward
J. K. Patterson Edward,
Jamila Patterson,
M. Jayanthi,
J. K. Patterson Edward,
J. K. Patterson Edward,
Jamila Patterson,
J. K. Patterson Edward,
Deepak S. Bilgi,
R.L. Laju,
R.L. Laju,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
Deepak S. Bilgi,
Deepak S. Bilgi,
Deepak S. Bilgi,
K. Immaculate Jeyasanta,
J. K. Patterson Edward
R.L. Laju,
R.L. Laju,
J. K. Patterson Edward,
R.L. Laju,
R.L. Laju,
Deepak S. Bilgi,
Deepak S. Bilgi,
Narmatha Sathish,
R.L. Laju,
R.L. Laju,
Narmatha Sathish,
Narmatha Sathish,
Narmatha Sathish,
Narmatha Sathish,
Narmatha Sathish,
J. K. Patterson Edward
Narmatha Sathish,
J. K. Patterson Edward,
Jamila Patterson,
J. K. Patterson Edward,
J. K. Patterson Edward,
J. K. Patterson Edward,
J. K. Patterson Edward
J. K. Patterson Edward,
J. K. Patterson Edward
J. K. Patterson Edward
J. K. Patterson Edward
Summary
Researchers investigated microplastic pollution across 19 estuaries in Tamil Nadu, India, measuring contamination in water, sediment, and marine organisms. They found microplastic levels were higher during monsoon season due to stormwater discharge, and estimated that local residents may ingest approximately 781 microplastic items through fish and 2,809 through shellfish annually. The study suggests that estuarine microplastic pollution poses meaningful human exposure risks through seafood consumption.
Estuaries are transition zones between freshwater and seawater. There are only few studies on microplastic (MPs) pollution in estuaries. In this study, investigating the spatiotemporal variations of MPs in water, sediment and biota samples of 19 estuaries in Tamil Nadu, India, we assessed the chemical and human exposure risks of MPs. MPs extracted by digestion and density separation and characterized them using microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive analysis of X-rays. MP abundancesin summer and monsoon range from 31.7 ± 3.8 to 154.7 ± 4.2 items/L in water and 51.7 ± 3.6 to 171.4 ± 9.1 items/kg in sediment. Highest MPs abundance is found in water and sediment of the urbanized Adayar estuary. MP levels are higher in monsoon than in summer (P < 0.05) due to the discharge of wastewater via storm water outlets. More small-size MPs are found in summer (<0.5-1 mm) while monsoon has a greater diversity of MP polymers (MPDII: 0.81). MP abundance in fish varies from 0.01 ± 0.003 to 0.15 ± 0.03 items/g, and in shellfish from 0.75 ± 0.12 to 9.7 ± 0.28 items/g. In fish, more MPs are found in intestine than in gill or muscle. Shell fishes contain more MPs than fishes. In all the matrices, fibers of different sizes, and polymers of polyethylene and polypropylene are commonly found. An average local person is likely to ingest 781 items of MPs via fish and 2809 items via shellfish annually. Polymer hazard index shows hazard levels of IV to V indicating the serious MP pollution trend, which poses a risk to the biota. In conclusion, MPs observed in this study show that estuaries are a major pathway for land-derived plastics to reach the ocean. The results will help implement remedial/clean-up measures for the estuary for better ecosystem conservation.