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Spatial Distribution, Characterization and Ecological Risk Assessment of Microplastic Pollution in Different Environmental Matrices of River Ravi, Pakistan
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Sampling across five sites along Pakistan's Ravi River found microplastics in water, air, and sediment at all locations, with textile-derived fibers (1–3 mm) dominating and highest concentrations near urban centers; ecological risk indices indicated moderate-to-high hazard. The Ravi River is a primary irrigation source for agricultural land in Punjab, meaning microplastic contamination directly threatens food safety and drinking water quality for millions of people downstream.
Over the last few years, the problem of microplastics has emerged as one of the critical threats to global ecosystems. In aquatic ecosystems, significant research has been carried out in seas and oceans, while limited studies have been reported on freshwaters. This research has focused on the abundance and characterization of microplastics along the Ravi River in Pakistan, a key source of irrigation water. The Ravi River is one of the five rivers of the Punjab province, originating from the Himalayan range in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, India. The sediment, water, and air samples were collected from five distinct sites i.e., Ravi Siphon, Saggian, Dina Nath, Head Balloki, and Okara in September 2023. The microplastics were identified using a stereomicroscope and categorized by size, shape, and color. Across all five sites, the average abundance of microplastics in water, air, and sediment samples was 0.05 ± 0.04 n/ml, 12.4 ± 3.86 n/filter paper, and 0.84 ± 0.71 n/g, respectively. The average microplastic concentration was found higher in Saggian (5.3 ± 6.8), followed by Head Balloki (5.09 ± 7.61), Ravi Siphon (4.37 ± 5.73), Okara (4.29 ± 5.93), and Dina Nath (3.03 ± 4.35). Fibers, predominantly within the size range of 1–3 mm were the most common shape of microplastics, indicating that they are secondary in nature, primarily originating from textiles. In addition, the least common form of microplastics was pellet. The microplastics mostly observed in all samples were black, brown, and blue, which might be due to the degradation of synthetic textiles, fishing nets, plastic bottles, and caps. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis revealed that the most prevalent polymer types were polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyisobutylene (PIB), and polychloroprene rubber (PCR). Using Polymer Hazard Index (PHI), hazard levels III and IV were identified, indicating a significant risk of microplastic pollution. Microplastic abundances in the Ravi River were positively correlated with pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Electrical Conductivity (EC) of water. The study concludes that the Ravi River is contaminated with microplastics, with synthetic textiles and domestic sewage likely being the primary sources of this pollution.
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