Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Occurrence, quantification and characterisation of microplastics in Godavari River, India

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in the Godavari River in India, finding an average of 3.9 particles per liter across six sites, with fibers making up over 80% of particles and polypropylene and polyethylene being the most common polymer types. Urban areas had higher concentrations, and the presence of these plastics in a major river system poses risks to agriculture and human health through contaminated water and food sources.

2023 Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Multifaceted analysis of microplastic pollution dynamics in the Yamuna river: Assessing anthropogenic impacts and ecological consequences

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution across 29 locations along the Yamuna River in India, spanning urban, rural, and industrial zones. They found an average of nearly 15,000 microplastic particles per liter, with hazardous polymers like PET and nylon being most common and concentrations highest near urban and industrial areas. The study highlights that the Yamuna is heavily contaminated with microplastics and that population density and industrial activity are major drivers of this pollution.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Baseline Study on Microplastics in Indian Rivers under Different Anthropogenic Influences

Researchers collected microplastic samples from Indian rivers under different levels of anthropogenic influence and found MPs in all sites, with concentrations correlating with population density and industrial activity, providing one of the first systematic field datasets for major Indian river systems.

2021 Water 113 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastics as a contaminant in Indian riverine system: a review

This systematic review examines microplastic contamination across India's river systems, documenting the types, sources, and concentrations of plastic particles found in major waterways. The findings are concerning for human health because these rivers provide drinking water and irrigation for hundreds of millions of people, creating widespread potential exposure to microplastics.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

Distribution and characterization of microplastics in Narmada River: Insights from differently impacted anthropogenic zones of upper and middle basin in Central India

Scientists found tiny plastic particles called microplastics throughout India's Narmada River, which millions of people depend on for drinking water. The plastic pollution was worst near tourist areas and semi-urban zones, with 19 different types of plastics detected, including some that are especially harmful to health. This matters because these microplastics can end up in our drinking water and food chain, potentially affecting human health.

2026 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Article Tier 2

Characteristics, Contamination Levels, and Ecosystem Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Surface Water of a Highly Urbanized River from a Developing Country

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.

2024 ACS Omega 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in freshwater environments: Influence of topography and water velocity on their distribution in river systems

Scientists found over 3,000 tiny plastic particles in rivers and lakes in India, with more plastics settling in slow-moving water areas like lake bottoms and wide river sections. The study shows that microplastics—plastic pieces smaller than a grain of rice—build up heavily in freshwater systems we rely on for drinking water and fish. This research helps us understand where plastic pollution concentrates most, which is important for protecting our water sources and food supply from contamination.

2026
Article Tier 2

Sources and factors influencing microplastic concentration during monsoon season in the Ganga River, Bihar, India

Researchers investigated sources and factors influencing microplastic concentrations in the Ganga River during monsoon season, finding that untreated residential and industrial waste from major Indian cities contributes significantly to contamination of one of the world's most biodiverse rivers.

2025 Discover Environment
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and heavy metal contamination along a land-use gradient in a Himalayan foothill river: Prevalence and controlling factors

Researchers mapped microplastic and heavy metal contamination in a river flowing through India's Himalayan foothills, finding plastic particles at every sampling site. Concentrations were highest near industrial areas and human settlements, with polyethylene and polystyrene being the most common plastic types. The study shows how human activity drives plastic pollution even in relatively remote freshwater environments.

2024 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in the Chapora River, Goa, Southwest India: spatial distribution and risk assessment

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in the Chapora River in Goa, India, finding concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.47 particles per liter across sampling stations. Fibers were the dominant shape, accounting for over 77% of particles, with polyethylene and polypropylene as the most common polymers. The study suggests that both urban activities and fishing contribute to microplastic contamination in this tropical river system.

2024 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Comprehensive study of the microplastic footprint in the urban pond and river of Eastern India

Scientists measured microplastic contamination in an urban river and pond in Eastern India and found concerning levels of 59-100 particles per liter in water and 167-193 particles per gram in sediment, with risk assessments showing crisis-level pollution. The dominant plastics found -- nylon and polyethylene -- come from everyday products, and the high contamination levels in these freshwater sources pose risks to the communities that depend on them.

2025 Scientific Reports 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Source-to-sink dynamics of microplastics and heavy metals along a land-use gradient in the tropical river system of India

Researchers tracked microplastics and heavy metals along a river system in southern India, finding widespread contamination in both water and sediment. Household waste was identified as a major source, with tiny plastic pellets and beads making up over 80% of the particles found. The study shows how urbanization and human activity drive microplastic pollution in freshwater systems that communities depend on for drinking and farming.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic in upper Himalayan Ganga river: Occurrence, seasonal dynamics and ecological risk

Researchers quantified microplastics at 19 sites across the upper Himalayan Ganga River over six months, finding concentrations of 100–1,550 particles per liter in water and rising contamination levels downstream toward densely populated cities, with fibers, polyethylene, and post-monsoon conditions dominating the pollution profile.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination and ecological risk in a riverine system: A case study from the Valvanti River, Goa, India

Researchers conducted a comprehensive assessment of microplastic contamination in the Valvanti River in Goa, India, finding concentrations ranging from 1.1 to 7.5 particles per liter. Despite moderate concentrations, ecological risk assessments indicated significant hazard levels due to the types of polymers present, with polypropylene, polyamide, and PET as the dominant plastic types.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 7 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

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

Urbanization and population resources affect microplastic concentration in surface water of the River Ganga

Researchers found that microplastic concentrations in River Ganga surface water were significantly higher near urbanized and densely populated areas, with fibers and fragments being the dominant types, indicating that urbanization and population density are key drivers of riverine microplastic pollution.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 58 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination: A Case Study in the Freshwater of Krishna River

Researchers found microplastic contamination in three sites along the Krishna River in India, identifying polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyoxymethylene particles at different pilgrimage locations. The study confirms freshwater microplastic pollution in this important Indian river and demonstrates a sampling approach applicable to future monitoring efforts.

2023 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

Microplastic pollution in Pearl River networks: Characteristic, potential sources, and migration pathways

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution across the Pearl River Basin in China, one of the country's largest river systems, and found microplastics in every water sample at an average of about 1,093 particles per liter. Population density and rainwater runoff were the main factors driving contamination levels, with rainfall washing plastics from land into the river. Since the Pearl River supplies water for millions of people, these findings raise concerns about microplastic exposure through drinking water sources.

2025 Water Research 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastic pollution in the aquatic ecosystems – An indian perspective

A review of Indian microplastic research across aquatic sediments, water, and biota found that river discharge, domestic sewage, and industrial runoff are major sources, and that monsoon hydrology plays a distinctive role in distributing MPs through India's aquatic ecosystems.

2020 Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering 84 citations
Article Tier 2

Sources and Factors Influencing Microplastic Concentration during Monsoon Season in Ganga River, Bihar, India

Researchers investigated sources and factors influencing microplastic concentrations in the Ganga River in Bihar, India during the monsoon season, examining how untreated residential and industrial waste discharge and traffic-related runoff affect plastic particle loads in one of the world's most biodiverse river systems. The study found elevated microplastic concentrations during monsoon flows, with urbanization and inadequate waste management identified as key drivers of microplastic inputs to the river.

2024
Article Tier 2

Comprehensive Review on Microplastic Pollution in Inland Waters of India

This comprehensive review examines microplastic pollution in India's inland freshwater systems, including major rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra. The study highlights that rapid industrialization, urbanization, and poor waste management have led to significant contamination from diverse sources including industrial effluents, untreated sewage, and agricultural runoff, with potential consequences for aquatic organisms and human health through bioaccumulation in food chains.

2025 UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 1 citations