Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in Indian rural and urban lacustrine ecosystems

Researchers surveyed 39 rural and urban lakes across Tamil Nadu, India, for microplastic contamination and found particles present in water and sediment samples from every lake studied. Urban lakes had significantly higher microplastic concentrations than rural ones, with fibers being the most common particle shape across all sites. The study provides one of the most comprehensive assessments of freshwater microplastic pollution in India, revealing that even relatively remote lakes are not free from contamination.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in freshwater lakes: A case study from Southern India

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in Vellayani Lake, a major drinking water source in southern India, and found particles present across all sampling sites and seasons. Fibers were the most common shape, with polyethylene and polypropylene as the dominant polymer types, likely originating from domestic wastewater and fishing activities. The study highlights the need for monitoring microplastic pollution in freshwater lakes that serve as critical drinking water supplies.

2024 Geosystems and Geoenvironment 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Freshwater Ecosystems in India: A Comprehensive Review

This review examines the occurrence, sources, and ecological risks of microplastics across freshwater ecosystems in India, synthesizing current literature on contamination levels in rivers, lakes, and other inland water bodies.

2025 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND ANALYTICAL REVIEWS
Article Tier 2

Quantification of microplastic in Red Hills Lake of Chennai city, Tamil Nadu, India

Researchers conducted the first study of microplastic distribution and sources in Red Hills Lake, a freshwater reservoir supplying drinking water to northern Chennai, India. Analysis of sediment samples revealed the presence of microplastic contamination, highlighting concerns about microplastic pollution in freshwater systems used for human water supply.

2020 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 188 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Freshwater Ecosystems of India: Current Trends and Future Perspectives

The study provides a comprehensive review of microplastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems across India, including lakes and rivers. Researchers found that microplastic research in Indian freshwater environments has grown significantly but remains limited compared to marine studies, highlighting the need for expanded monitoring given India's increasing plastic production and low recycling rates.

2023 ACS Omega 58 citations
Article Tier 2

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

Researchers examined the distribution, composition, and abundance of microplastics in the Hiren-2 Reservoir in Gujarat, India, finding microplastic concentrations ranging from 1.756 to 5.422 particles per liter. The study characterized microplastic contamination in a freshwater reservoir representing a growing concern for drinking water quality and aquatic ecosystem health in South Asia.

2025 JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY INDIA
Article Tier 2

Microplastics – an emerging threat in the Indian waterbodies

This review examines the current state of microplastic research in Indian aquatic ecosystems, documenting widespread contamination in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters alongside growing evidence of impacts on aquatic biota. The authors call for standardized national monitoring frameworks to better characterize and address India's emerging microplastic pollution crisis.

2022 Marine Biology Research 10 citations
Article Tier 2

First evidence of microplastics in surface water of urban waterbodies in Bhopal city, India- abundance and their characteristics

Researchers documented the first evidence of microplastics in surface water of urban waterbodies in Bhopal, India, characterizing particle abundance, morphology, and polymer composition across multiple sites and identifying nearby plastic waste disposal as the primary source.

2025 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring Microplastic Pollution in Bellandur and Madiwala Lakes of Bangalore: A Preliminary Study

Researchers conducted a preliminary study of microplastic pollution in two urban lakes in Bangalore, India—Bellandur and Madiwala—collecting water and sediment samples for analysis. Both lakes contained microplastics at measurable concentrations, with fibers and fragments most common, reflecting the heavy human activity and wastewater inputs in the surrounding urban areas.

2025 Water Resources
Systematic Review Tier 1

A Critical Review on the Characterization and Distribution of Microplastic Contaminants in Indian Water Environments: Pathways and Related Hazards

This systematic review examines microplastic contamination in India's freshwater environments, including rivers and lakes. While marine ecosystems have gotten the most attention, freshwater sources — which supply drinking water — are also heavily contaminated. The findings highlight how inadequate waste management and recycling infrastructure allow microplastics to spread through the water systems that communities depend on.

2025 Water Resources 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution – a rising threat along an urban lake in the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, India: abundance and risk exposure

Researchers assessed microplastic pollution in Dharapadavedu Lake in Tamil Nadu, India, finding contamination in both water and sediment samples. Medium-sized microplastics (500-1,000 micrometers) were the most common, with polyethylene and polypropylene as the dominant plastic types. The study highlights the growing microplastic contamination in urban lake ecosystems that communities rely on, raising concerns about water quality and human exposure.

2024 Water Quality Research Journal 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in lentic environments: implications for Indian ecosystems

Researchers assessed microplastic pollution in lentic (still water) environments across India using material flow analysis and field data from 2011 to 2022. They found significant geographical variation in microplastic contamination across different Indian states, influenced by local waste management practices and population density. The study provides a framework for understanding how plastic waste flows contribute to microplastic accumulation in lakes and reservoirs.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as an emerging threat to the freshwater ecosystems of Veeranam lake in south India: A multidimensional approach

Microplastic contamination in water and soil samples from Veeranam Lake in Tamil Nadu, India was quantified and characterized as a multidimensional assessment of an emerging freshwater pollution threat. The study documented microplastics in both water and surrounding soils, establishing baseline data for a lake region important to local communities.

2020 Chemosphere 167 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics pollution: An emerging threat to freshwater aquatic ecosystem of India

This review examined microplastic pollution as an emerging threat to freshwater aquatic ecosystems in India, discussing sources, distribution, ecotoxicological effects on aquatic biota, and potential human health hazards. The authors highlighted that while marine microplastic research is extensive, freshwater ecosystems in India remain critically understudied relative to the scale of contamination.

2020 Journal of the Inland Fisheries Society of India 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics, their abundance, and distribution in water and sediments in North Chennai, India: An assessment of pollution risk and human health impacts

Researchers analyzed microplastic pollution in water and sediment samples from North Chennai, India, finding contamination at all sampling sites. Landfills, densely populated areas, and tourist spots had the highest concentrations, with pollution risk levels ranging from low to extremely high. The presence of microplastics in lake water used for drinking purposes is a concern for human health in the region.

2024 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in Urban Natural Lakes of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Researchers studied microplastic pollution in the surface waters of two urban natural lakes in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. Using stereomicroscopy and FTIR spectroscopy, they characterized the abundance, types, and polymer composition of microplastics, finding notable contamination levels that highlight the need for monitoring microplastic pollution in urban freshwater systems in developing regions.

2026 Environmental Quality Management
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in the surface water of Yele Mallappa Shetty Lake, Bengaluru: first report

Researchers found microplastics in water samples from four inlet points of Yele Mallappa Shetty Lake in Bengaluru, India, with an average concentration of about 10 particles per liter — the first such report for this urban lake. Fragments, fibers, films, and foam were all present, made from plastics including polyester and polypropylene. The data provide an important baseline for tracking pollution in urban freshwater bodies, which are critical ecosystems for biodiversity and human water security.

2024 Journal of Environmental Biology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and characterization of microplastics and ecological risks in Vellayani Lake, Kerala, India

Researchers surveyed Vellayani Lake in Kerala, India, for microplastic contamination and found particles in both water and sediment samples across the lake. The most common types were fibers and fragments, primarily from polyethylene and polypropylene, likely originating from household waste, fishing activities, and agricultural runoff. The ecological risk assessment indicated moderate contamination levels, raising concerns for this freshwater lake that serves local communities.

2023 Total Environment Research Themes 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Tracing microplastic footprints in pristine ecosystems: Insights and implications of Parsons Valley and Sandynulla Lakes, Western Ghats

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.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances
Article Tier 2

Delving Deep into the Microplastics Crisis in the Indian Aquatic Environment

This review synthesized research on microplastic contamination in India's aquatic environments—rivers, lakes, and coastal waters—covering sources, distribution, ecological impacts, and human exposure risks. The authors found microplastics widespread in Indian water bodies and highlighted the particular vulnerability of rural communities that rely on these waters for drinking and food.

2025
Article Tier 2

Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in major urban lakes of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in three major urban lakes in Dhaka, Bangladesh, finding plastic particles in the water, sediment, and fish at all sites. The dominant plastics were common consumer types like polyethylene and PVC, with sizes mostly under 100 micrometers. Since these lakes are in a densely populated urban area, the findings raise concerns about microplastic exposure for the local population through both water and fish consumption.

2023 Heliyon 75 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in Vembanad Lake, Kerala, India: The first report of microplastics in lake and estuarine sediments in India

Researchers conducted the first study of microplastics in Vembanad Lake, Kerala, India, finding plastic particles across sampled sites and documenting the types and polymer composition of contamination in this important freshwater ecosystem.

2016 Environmental Pollution 580 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics pollution in inland aquatic ecosystems of India with a global perspective on sources, composition, and spatial distribution

Researchers reviewed microplastic contamination in India's rivers, lakes, and wetlands, finding widespread pollution across water, sediment, and wildlife, with concentrations peaking during monsoon season due to runoff. The review highlights a critical gap: most studies don't account for how water flow and seasonal variation affect where microplastics go, making it hard to gauge the true health risk to people and ecosystems.

2024 Journal of Hydrology Regional Studies 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in Surface Waters and Sediments of Urban Lake

This book chapter reviews microplastic pollution in urban lake surface waters and sediments, describing sources, distribution patterns, and the ecological consequences of MP accumulation in these widely used but understudied freshwater habitats.

2025