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Occurence of Microplastics and Estimation of Sources to River Water in Kathmandu City, Nepal
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Microplastic concentrations in road dust and river surface water in Kathmandu, Nepal were measured for particles larger than 100 µm, finding 25.7-339 items/m2 in road dust and 600-45,600 items/m3 in river water. The results suggest that untreated sewage discharged directly into rivers is the primary source of waterway microplastic contamination in Kathmandu, and that building wastewater treatment infrastructure could substantially reduce river microplastic loads.
近年，環境中におけるマイクロプラスチック（MPs）の存在実態について世界中で研究が進められている．本研究では，2018年9～10月に発展途上国であるネパール国の首都カトマンズ市における100μm以上のMPsの存在実態の調査を行った．その結果，道路塵埃中では25.7～339個/m2，河川表層水中では600～45,600個/m3のMPsが検出された．また，道路塵埃中ではポリエチレンおよびゴム系樹脂，河川表層水中ではアクリル樹脂が主成分であった．さらに，同一手法によるベトナム国ダナン市と滋賀県草津市における調査結果との比較を行った結果，カトマンズ市では未処理の汚水の河川への直接流入が，河川表層水中のMPsの主な負荷となっている可能性が推察された．本結果よりカトマンズ市では，下水処理場を整備することにより，河川表層水中のMPs密度が大きく減少することが予想された．
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Researchers characterized microplastic contamination at a wastewater treatment plant in Kathmandu, Nepal, finding an average of 31 particles per liter in incoming wastewater. The plant removed about 72.5% of microplastics, but significant amounts still escaped into the Bagmati River through treated water and sludge. This study from South Asia highlights that wastewater treatment in developing countries may not be sufficient to prevent microplastic pollution of rivers used for drinking water.
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Researchers found 14–23 microplastic particles per liter in water samples from the Hanumante River in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley, with polyethylene, polypropylene, and polycarbonate identified as the dominant polymer types. The contamination reflects poor plastic waste management in the surrounding communities, as the river receives untreated runoff and waste. The study underscores the need for improved waste infrastructure in rapidly urbanizing South Asian cities to prevent rivers from becoming conduits for microplastic pollution.
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Researchers characterized microplastic contamination in an urban river near a megacity in a developing country, finding concentrations of 350 to 660 particles per cubic meter of water. Polyethylene and polypropylene from household and municipal waste were the most common types, and a risk assessment found concerning contamination levels at several sampling sites. The study highlights how rivers in developing nations can serve as major pathways for microplastics to reach the ocean and enter the food chain.
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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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