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Investigations on the co-occurrence of microplastics and other pollutants in the River Yamuna, Delhi
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Researchers found increasing microplastic concentrations along the Yamuna River in Delhi, with levels rising from 500 MP/m3 upstream to 3,900 MP/m3 downstream near major drain outfalls, alongside elevated heavy metal and fecal coliform contamination.
Abstract The Yamuna River is a threatened resource of freshwater in Delhi, India. The present study is focused on investigating three important contaminants, namely microplastics (MPs), heavy metals, and fecal coliforms in the surface water of the river, with major emphasis on MPs occurrence and characterization. MPs showed an increase in abundance in the river from the Wazirabad barrage (n = 500 MPs/m3) to the Okhla barrage downstream (n = 3,900 MPs/m3) in Delhi, with a maximum abundance downstream to the Najafgarh and Shahdara drain outfalls. White color and fragmented shape were prevalent characteristics of the isolated MPs. Attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy revealed five types of polymers. Heavy metals (chromium, lead, manganese, and iron) and fecal coliforms were at unacceptable levels at most of the sampling sites. Due to the emergence of issues concerning the tendency of MPs to actively interact with heavy metals and pathogenic microorganisms, investigation of the co-occurrence of such harmful pollutants is very important. The present study is aimed at this issue and urges similar kinds of investigations in other riverine regions of our country, as well as globally, due to their scarcity in literature. This study can further provide a baseline database to help the Government of India's efforts to clean and revive the Delhi stretch of the Yamuna River.
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Researchers measured microplastics in Delhi's Najafgarh drain, secondary drains, and the Yamuna River, finding concentrations of 100-6,700 particles per cubic meter in secondary drains with clear seasonal variation. Urban drainage channels were identified as a major pathway for microplastics from terrestrial sources into the Yamuna River system.
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Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution across 29 locations along the Yamuna River in India, spanning urban, rural, and industrial zones. They found an average of nearly 15,000 microplastic particles per liter, with hazardous polymers like PET and nylon being most common and concentrations highest near urban and industrial areas. The study highlights that the Yamuna is heavily contaminated with microplastics and that population density and industrial activity are major drivers of this pollution.
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Microplastic contamination was detected at high densities in the Yamuna River in Delhi, with these sub-0.5mm particles found to carry carcinogenic compounds into freshwater systems used by millions of people. The findings highlight the urgent need for pollution controls in South Asian urban waterways, where microplastics pose compounding risks to both aquatic life and human drinking water sources.
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Researchers quantified microplastics at 19 sites across the upper Himalayan Ganga River over six months, finding concentrations of 100–1,550 particles per liter in water and rising contamination levels downstream toward densely populated cities, with fibers, polyethylene, and post-monsoon conditions dominating the pollution profile.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.