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Tracing microplastic footprints in pristine ecosystems: Insights and implications of Parsons Valley and Sandynulla Lakes, Western Ghats
Summary
Researchers conducted the first microplastic assessment of surface waters in Parsons Valley Lake and Sandynulla Lake in the Western Ghats, India, collecting 40 samples and identifying polyethylene and nylon as the dominant plastic types. Pollution levels were highest near tourist and waste disposal areas, and built-up area expansion between 2017 and 2024 was identified as a key driver of microplastic input into these pristine ecosystems.
• Polyethylene and nylon were the main plastic types. • Pollution was higher near tourist and dumping areas. • Built-up area growth (2017–2024) is a key factor driving microplastic input into the lakes. • Sandynulla showed significant spatial variation in MP types and properties. • Parsons Lake exhibited more uniform MP distribution across sites. This study presents the first assessment of microplastic (MP) pollution in the surface waters of Parsons Valley Lake and Sandynulla Lake in Udhagamandalam Taluk, Nilgiris District, Tamil Nadu, India. Forty surface water samples (twenty per lake) were analyzed using a stereo microscope and FT-IR spectroscopy to identify, count, and characterize MPs. Concentrations ranged from 1 to 81 particles/L (average 10.3 particles/L). MPs were predominantly white (42.2 %), followed by red (23.3 %), green (16.5 %), and black (8.6 %). Parsons Valley Lake showed 51.5 % fibrous and 48.5 % irregular forms, while Sandynulla Lake had 71.5 % irregular and 28.5 % fibrous MPs. Polyethylene was the dominant polymer in both lakes (42.23 % in Parsons and 64.40 % in Sandynulla), followed by nylon, polystyrene, and polypropylene. Pollution Load Index (PLI), Polymer Hazard Index (PHI), and Potential Ecological Risk Index (RI) were used to evaluate water quality. Findings confirm the presence of MPs in these remote, high-altitude lakes, highlighting the pervasive nature of plastic pollution. This study offers baseline data and a replicable methodology for future monitoring and contributes to global efforts toward understanding and mitigating microplastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems.
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