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Microplastics pollution in the Brahmaputra River and the Indus River of the Indian Himalaya
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Researchers sampled shoreline sediments of the Brahmaputra and Indus Rivers in the Indian Himalayas and found microplastics at all sites, with concentrations increasing downstream toward more populated areas, representing some of the first MP data for major Himalayan river systems.
Rivers act as temporary sinks of microplastics and a key medium allowing microplastics to enter the ocean. In this study, microplastics pollution in river shore sediment of the Indian Himalaya, including the Brahmaputra River and the Indus River was discussed. Sampling campaigns were performed in years 2018 and 2019. Sample pretreatment was performed using Na2WO4·2H2O for density separation and H2O2 for oxidation of organic material. Microplastics analysis was performed by using FTIR microscope. The smaller size of microplastics 20-150 μm were more abundant (531-3485 MP/kg in the Brahmaputra River and 525-1752 MP/kg in the Indus River) than microplastics in size range between 150 μm and 5 mm (20-240 MP/kg in the Brahmaputra River and 60-340 MP/kg in the Indus River). Microplastics were found in sediments of all sampling sites. Fragmented, secondary microplastics were dominant in the river shore sediment of the Indian Himalaya. This study contributes towards filling research gap of microplastics in India's freshwater source and highlights the importance of in-depth complete studies of microplastics in the rivers that act as pathways and sinks for microplastics.
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Microplastics and heavy metal contamination along a land-use gradient in a Himalayan foothill river: Prevalence and controlling factors
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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.
Analysis and characterization of microplastics in river water and sediments of the Doon Valley foothills in the Himalayan region
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Researchers sampled water and sediments from five rivers in India's Doon Valley and detected microplastics at all sites — predominantly polyethylene fibers and pellets ranging from 68 µm to 1.28 mm — establishing a baseline contamination profile for a Himalayan foothills watershed with mixed domestic and industrial sources.
Occurrence, Characterization, and Potential Ecological Risks of Microplastics in the Himalayan Riverine Systems
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Scientists found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in Himalayan rivers that feed into the Ganges and Yamuna, with pollution levels rising as the water flows through more populated downstream areas — meaning even remote mountain water sources aren't safe from plastic contamination. Worse, these plastic bits act like tiny magnets for heavy metals, detergent chemicals, and microbes, potentially carrying harmful substances into the water systems that communities rely on for drinking and irrigation.
Characteristics of microplastics in tributaries of the upper Brahmaputra River along the Himalayan foothills, India
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Researchers measured microplastic levels in surface water and riparian soil near two rural rivers in the Eastern Himalaya foothills of India, finding average water concentrations of 0.14 pieces per cubic meter and soil concentrations of 633 pieces per kilogram dry weight. Fibers were the dominant type, and Micro-Raman spectroscopy identified common synthetic polymer types.
Microplastics in the shore sediment of the freshwater sources of the Indian Himalaya
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Microplastics were detected for the first time in shore sediments from high-altitude freshwater sources of the Indian Himalaya, including major river headwaters and remote mountain lakes. The study found microplastics even in the most remote sites, indicating that atmospheric deposition carries plastics to these pristine high-altitude environments. The contamination of Himalayan river sources is significant given their importance as freshwater supplies for hundreds of millions of people downstream.
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