Papers

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Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution, morphological characteristics, and risk assessment of microplastics in the beach sediments of Odisha Coast, India

A large survey of 34 beach sites along the Odisha coast of India found an average of 948 microplastic particles per kilogram of sediment, with fibers making up nearly 99% of particles, and ecological risk indices rating the coast as 'extremely dangerous.' This is one of the first spatially extensive assessments of microplastic pollution on India's eastern coastline, establishing a critical baseline for a densely populated and ecologically important region. The high polymer hazard scores—driven by PET, PP, and PE—point to urgent need for pollution reduction and policy intervention.

2026 Frontiers in Water
Article Tier 2

Vertical profiling of microplastic contamination in coastal sediments of Tamil Nadu, Southeast India

Researchers investigated vertical and horizontal stratification of microplastics in coastal sediment cores from three sites in Tamil Nadu, India, finding the highest contamination at Rameswaram with up to 2,800 particles per kilogram of dry sediment, dominated by fibers at 59.1%. High-density polymers such as PET and PA were disproportionately enriched in deeper sediment layers reflecting density-driven sinking, while site-specific risk assessments confirmed Rameswaram as the greatest ecological risk area.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin
Article Tier 2

Microplastics pollution in tropical estuary (Muttukadu Backwater), Southeast Coast of India: Occurrence, distribution characteristics, potential sources and ecological risk assessment

Scientists surveyed microplastic contamination in the water and sediments of a tropical estuary on India's southeast coast. They found moderate to high levels of microplastic pollution, with common polymers like polyethylene and polystyrene contributing the most to ecological risk. The presence of trace metals on microplastic surfaces suggests these particles may also serve as carriers for heavy metal contamination in coastal ecosystems.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of micro and macroplastics along the west coast of India: Abundance, distribution, polymer type and toxicity.

This study assessed the abundance and types of micro- and macroplastics on ten beaches along India's west coast, finding plastic in all locations with fragments being the most common form. Polymer analysis revealed polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene as the dominant types, and toxicity testing indicated the plastic-contaminated sediments posed ecological risks.

2020 Chemosphere
Article Tier 2

Potential Ecological Risk Assessment Studies Based on Source and Distribution of Microplastics from the Surface Sediments of Tropical Backwaters, Kerala, India

Researchers characterized microplastic pollution in surface sediments of three tropical estuaries along the southwest coast of Kerala, India, finding 407 total particles and conducting ecological risk assessment to evaluate hazard levels from microplastic accumulation.

2023 Total Environment Research Themes 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Risk assessments of microplastics accumulated in estuarine sediments at Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, southeast coast of India

This study measured microplastic abundance and composition in sediments from two estuaries in Cuddalore, India, finding 36-52 particles per kg dry weight with fibers dominant, and conducted ecological risk assessments highlighting potential hazards to estuarine organisms.

2023 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecological risk assessment and characterization of microplastics in the beach sediments of southeast coast of India

Surveys along India's southeast coast found hundreds of microplastic particles per kilogram of beach sediment, with fibers being the most common shape and polystyrene among the dominant polymer types. Ecological risk indices suggest the pollution is at low-to-medium levels currently, but the study underscores the need for targeted waste reduction strategies to protect coastal biodiversity in one of the world's most densely populated shorelines.

2024 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance, characteristics and surface degradation features of microplastics in beach sediments of five coastal areas in Tamil Nadu, India

Microplastic abundance and surface weathering features were characterized in beach sediments from five coastal areas in Tamil Nadu, India, with concentrations reaching up to 439 particles per kg and polyethylene and polypropylene dominating.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 270 citations
Article Tier 2

The extent of microplastic pollution along the eastern coast of India: Focussing on marine waters, beach sand, and fish

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination across water, sand, and fish from seven major beaches along India's eastern coast, finding widespread pollution dominated by polyethylene and polystyrene with hazard indices indicating potential ecological risk.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 50 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and characterization of microplastics in beach sand from three different Indian coastal environments

Beach sands from three locations on the Indian coast were analyzed for microplastics, finding concentrations of 45–220 particles/kg dry sand with polyethylene (43%) as the dominant polymer, followed by PET and polystyrene. The study establishes baseline contamination data for Indian beaches and demonstrates consistent polymer profiles across geographically distinct coastal environments.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 432 citations
Article Tier 2

Prevalence of microplastics in the sediments of Odisha beaches, southeastern coast of India

This first study of microplastic prevalence on beaches of the Odisha coast in southeastern India documented widespread contamination, with fiber and fragment types dominated by polypropylene and polyethylene across multiple beach sites.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 73 citations
Article Tier 2

Contamination of microplastics, surface morphology and risk assessment in beaches along the Thoothukudi coast, Gulf of Mannar region

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in beach sediments along the Thoothukudi coast in India, finding widespread presence of fragments and films with high ecological risk scores, alongside surface morphological analysis revealing weathering and chemical changes consistent with long-term environmental exposure.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 28 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Assessment of potential ecological risk of microplastics in the coastal sediments of India: A meta-analysis

This meta-analysis assesses the ecological risk of microplastics in coastal sediments along India's coastline, finding high hazard levels in several areas. The presence of harmful plastic polymers in coastal sediments is concerning because these areas are important for fishing and seafood harvesting that feeds millions of people.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 474 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial, seasonal and ecological risk assessment of microplastics in sediment and surface water along the Thoothukudi, south Tamil Nadu, south east India

Researchers assessed the spatial and seasonal variation of microplastics in sediment and surface water along the Thoothukudi coast in southeastern India. The study found significant differences in microplastic abundance across sampling sites and seasons, with monsoon periods recording the highest concentrations, and conducted an ecological risk assessment of the contamination levels.

2022 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Macro-, meso- and microplastic debris in the beaches of Tuticorin district, Southeast coast of India

Researchers surveyed eight sandy beaches along the Tuticorin district coast in southeast India for macro-, meso-, and microplastic debris. The study found microplastic concentrations ranging from 25 to 83 items per square meter, with contamination levels varying by site depending on the intensity of fishing and other human activities, confirming widespread plastic pollution along India's southeastern coastline.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 232 citations
Article Tier 2

Seasonal variation, polymer hazard risk and controlling factors of microplastics in beach sediments along the southeast coast of India

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination at six beaches along India's southeast coast, comparing seasonal variation and hazard risk. They found that polyethylene and polypropylene fibers were the most common types, likely originating from fishing, textile, and urban activities. Although overall contamination levels were low, the presence of hazardous polymers like PVC and polystyrene contributed to a very high ecological risk index for marine life.

2022 Environmental Pollution 100 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecological footprint of microplastics in coastal and estuarine environments of India: Sediment-water interface analysis

This study mapped microplastic pollution across 16 coastal and estuarine sites along India's coastline, finding contamination everywhere with concentrations varying based on local human activities like port operations, tourism, and fishing. The microplastics were mostly small fibers and fragments under 500 micrometers, and certain plastic types were especially good at absorbing heavy metals. This means microplastics in coastal waters serve as carriers that can transport toxic metals into the seafood chain and ultimately into human diets.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of Microplastic Pollution Across the Malabar Coast, India

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in water, sediment, and commercially important fish along the Malabar coast in India. They found microplastics in all sample types, with the highest concentrations in fish gastrointestinal and gill tissues, predominantly consisting of fragments and fibers of common plastics like HDPE, PET, and nylon. The study points to direct discharges, runoff, and poor wastewater management as key sources, underscoring the need for regulatory measures to protect both marine ecosystems and the people who consume seafood from the region.

2024 Environmental Quality Management 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in surface sediments of Coromandel coastline, South-East Coast, India: Diversity index, carbonyl index, pollution load index, risk fraction and MPs inventory

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution across a 1,076-kilometer stretch of India's Coromandel coastline, using multiple indices to assess abundance, degradation, and ecological risk. They found that microplastic levels varied significantly between wet and dry seasons, with dry season samples showing higher concentrations. The study provides a comprehensive baseline assessment of microplastic contamination along one of India's most extensive coastal regions.

2024 Environmental Pollution 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence, spatial distribution, and risk assessment of microplastics in surface water and sediments of Saint Martin Island in the Bay of Bengal

Researchers surveyed microplastic occurrence, spatial distribution, and pollution risk in surface water and beach sediments of Saint Martin Island in the Bay of Bengal, finding 3,166 particles/kg in beach sediments and elevated polymer risk indices indicating significant coastline pollution despite a low overall risk category.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in Kerala's coastal ecosystems: a review of sources, distribution, and ecological implications

Researchers reviewed microplastic contamination in Kerala's coastal waters and sediments, finding concentrations as high as 200 particles per liter in some areas, with pollution disrupting mangrove and coral reef ecosystems, entering the food chain through seafood, and posing inflammation and endocrine disruption risks to humans.

2025 Discover Geoscience 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro-plastic pollution along the Bay of Bengal coastal stretch of Tamil Nadu, South India

Researchers quantified microplastic particles in water column, wet sediment, and dry sand samples from Marina Beach, Chennai, India — one of the world longest urban beaches — using optical microscopy. Fibrous microplastics were dominant across all matrices (52-79%), with concentrations indicating significant pollution along this heavily urbanised coastline.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 80 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic distribution patterns in Kappil Beach sediments, Kerala

Beach sediment samples from Kappil, Kerala in India revealed 766 microplastic particles dominated by nylon fibers (78%), along with polyethylene and polystyrene, with the majority smaller than 1 mm. Risk assessments classified contamination as moderate to high, suggesting active fragmentation of larger plastic debris is ongoing. This baseline data is valuable for tracking pollution trends in Indian coastal ecosystems where fishing and tourism create significant plastic inputs.

2026 Discover Geoscience
Article Tier 2

Characteristics of microplastics in the beach sediments of Marina tourist beach, Chennai, India

Researchers conducted the first baseline study of microplastic pollution in beach sediments at Marina and Pattinapakkam beaches in Chennai, India. They identified an average of 459 and 297 microplastic particles at the two sites respectively, with polyethylene being the dominant polymer type. The study suggests that both human activities and natural coastal processes contribute to microplastic accumulation at these popular tourist beaches.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 47 citations