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Existence of Microplastic as Pollutant in Harike Wetland: An Analysis of Plastic Composition and First Report on Ramsar Wetland of India
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This first-ever study of microplastics in Harike Wetland, India's largest northern wetland and a Ramsar-designated protected site, found plastic particles throughout the water and sediment. The contamination of this internationally recognized conservation area highlights that even protected freshwater ecosystems are not shielded from microplastic pollution.
Wetlands are ecologically important and productive environments which help in several global processes. Microplastic pollution is an environmental issue of great concern. The studies related to this issue have been reported chiefly on the marine environment whereas freshwater ecosystems especially wetlands are receiving less consideration. Harike wetland is a northern largest wetland of India with area at present of 86km2. It is home to several migratory birds along with being rich in fish diversity. In this study the presence and type of microplastic in surface water of Harike wetland were investigated. Two types of microplastic are found in harike wetland namely nylon (Nylon 6) and high density polyethylene with size ranging from 4mm to 60µm. Results from the FTIR, RAMAN and GC-MS confirmed the presence of microplastic in Harike wetland. Rivers Sutlej and Beas could be a source of sewage input towards Harike wetland thereby being the reason of microplastic contamination in it. This study insights better understanding of microplastic pollution in wetlands giving way towards the threat that microplastic transfer could cause through the food chain and affect other organisms.
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Spatiotemporal microplastic occurrence study of Harike wetland, A Ramsar wetland of India
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Researchers conducted a spatiotemporal study of microplastic contamination in Harike wetland, India's largest Ramsar wetland, examining water, canal sediment, and gut contents of Cyprinus carpio fish using ATR-FTIR and GC-MS. They found HDPE and nylon as the dominant polymer types, seasonal variation with higher concentrations in winter, and a 7% microplastic recovery rate from fish gut contents, highlighting contamination in this internationally protected ecosystem.
Spatiotemporal microplastic occurrence study of Harike wetland, A Ramsar wetland of India
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This spatiotemporal study examined microplastic contamination in Harike wetland—the largest wetland in northern India and a Ramsar-designated site—across multiple seasons, sampling both surface water from the associated canal and gut contents of common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Microplastic concentrations were significantly higher in winter than in summer or the rainy season, with HDPE and nylon dominating, and FTIR and GC-MS confirmed polymer identity. Microplastics were recovered from 7% of fish guts analyzed, indicating trophic transfer in this ecologically important and regionally water-supply-critical wetland.
Microplastic Contamination in Harike Wetland, a Ramsar Site in Punjab: An Environmental Assessment
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Researchers collected water samples from Harike Wetland, a Ramsar-protected biodiversity hotspot in Punjab, India, and analyzed them for microplastic presence, morphology, and polymer composition using FTIR and pyrolysis-GC/MS. Microplastics including polyethylene were detected, raising concerns about contamination of this critical freshwater ecosystem and its food chain.
Microplastic contamination in Ramsar wetlands: a systematic review of global sources, ecological impacts, and policy implications
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This review summarizes studies from 2012 to 2025 on microplastic pollution in Ramsar wetlands, protected areas valued for ecology and water systems. It found microplastics in water, sediment and animals worldwide, with hotspots in Ecuador, China, India and Ghana, and sediments showing the highest contamination levels.
Microplastic contamination in Ashtamudi Lake, India: Insights from a Ramsar wetland
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Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in water, sediment, fish, and shellfish of Ashtamudi Lake, a Ramsar-designated wetland in southwest India. They found microplastics present across all sampled compartments of this ecologically and economically important brackish water system. The study raises concerns about potential human exposure to microplastics through locally consumed fishery resources from this important coastal lake.
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