Microplastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems: The Hiren-2 Reservoir case study from Gujarat, India

Microplastics, significant and emerging pollutants, are increasingly contaminating air, soil and water, posing a threat to the entire planet. The purpose of this study was to examine the distribution, composition, and abundance of microplastics in the freshwater body of the Hiren-2 reservoir in the state of Gujarat, India. The microplastic abundance per liter of water varied from 1.756 to 5.422. Among the water samples, those with microplastic sizes of 0.05–0.5 mm were the most dominant, followed by those with sizes of 0.05–1 mm, 1–2 mm, 2–3 mm and 3–5 mm. In terms of shape, fibers were the most dominant, followed by fragments, pellets, foams and films. The color distribution of the microplastics revealed black as the most prevalent color, followed by blue, red, green, white, yellow, orange, purple and gray. The average abundance of microplastics per kilogram of sediment ranged from 8.556 to 13.778. Among the sediment samples, those with microplastic sizes of 0.05–0.5 mm were the most dominant, followed by those with sizes of 0.5–1 mm, 1–2 mm, 2–3 mm and 3–5 mm. Fibers were the most prevalent fibers in the sediment, followed by fragments, pellets, foams and films. In the sediment, black emerged as the predominant color, followed by red, blue, green, yellow, orange, white, gray and purple. Polyethylene and polypropylene were identified as the predominant polymers in both the sediment and water samples. These findings underscore the significant presence of microplastics in the sediment and water of the reservoir, highlighting the urgency of addressing microplastic pollution in this freshwater ecosystem.