Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

First report on microplastics in tributaries of the upper Ganga River along Dehradun, India: Quantitative estimation and characterizations

Researchers quantified microplastics in tributaries of the upper Ganga River near Dehradun, India, finding significant contamination in both water and sediments dominated by fibers and fragments, providing the first baseline data for this ecologically important region.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 39 citations
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

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

Microplastics in the River Ganga and its fishes: Study of a Himalayan River

This study investigated microplastic contamination in water, sediment, and fish in the upper stretch of the River Ganga in Uttarakhand, India, providing baseline data on microplastic distribution in a Himalayan river reach previously unstudied.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Insights into the seasonal variation, distribution, composition and dynamics of microplastics in the Ganga River ecosystem of Varanasi City, Uttar Pradesh, India

Researchers measured microplastic pollution in the Ganga River in Varanasi, India, and found contamination in both water and sediment samples across all seasons. Concentrations were higher after the monsoon season, with common plastics like polyethylene terephthalate, polyester, and PVC dominating the samples. Since the Ganga is used for drinking water, bathing, and agriculture by millions of people, this contamination raises direct concerns about human exposure to microplastics.

2024 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 10 citations
Article Tier 2

The seasonal variation and ecological risk of microplastics in the Lower Ganges River, Bangladesh

Researchers characterized seasonal variation in microplastic abundance and polymer composition in the lower Ganges River, finding that monsoon flows dramatically increase microplastic loads and that dry season concentrations reflect local urban pollution.

2024 Water Environment Research 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics and spatial distribution of microplastics in the lower Ganga River water and sediment

Researchers sampled microplastics in water and sediment at five cities along India's Ganga River, finding concentrations of 17–36 items/kg in sediment and 380–684 items/1000 m in water, with white film-shaped polyethylene particles as the dominant type.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 186 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

Seasonal Dynamics of Microplastic Pollution in the River Ganga: A Case Study from Bihar

Researchers sampled microplastics at three locations along the Ganga River in Bihar, India, comparing concentrations before and after the monsoon season. Pre-monsoon levels averaged 1,045 particles per sample versus 624 post-monsoon, with higher dry-season concentrations attributed to reduced river flow and concentrated human activity near the riverbanks.

2025 International Journal of Plant and Environment
Article Tier 2

A comprehensive assessment of macro and microplastics from Rivers Ganga and Yamuna: Unveiling the seasonal, spatial and risk factors

This study provides the first comprehensive look at plastic pollution in India's Ganga and Yamuna rivers, finding microplastics in surface water, deeper water, and sediments at all sampling locations. Contamination was higher during the wet season, and some of the polymers found are classified as hazardous. The millions of people living in the Indo-Gangetic Plain may be at risk from both direct water contact and indirect exposure through the food chain.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 38 citations
Article Tier 2

The abundance and characteristics of microplastics in surface water in the transboundary Ganges River

Researchers conducted the first investigation of microplastic abundance along a 2,575-kilometer stretch of the Ganges River across pre- and post-monsoon seasons. The study found that fibers comprised 91% of microplastics, with higher concentrations before the monsoon, and estimates that the combined Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system could release 1 to 3 billion microplastic particles into the Bay of Bengal every day.

2021 Environmental Pollution 383 citations
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

Spatial distribution of meso and microplastics in the sediments of river Ganga at eastern India

Meso- and microplastics were documented throughout the sediments of the Ganga River at sites in eastern India, with concentrations varying by location and sediment type. The study highlights that India's most sacred and heavily populated river carries significant plastic pollution that settles in sediments along its lower reaches.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 287 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in Ganga: Present Status and Future Need

This review documents the growing problem of microplastic pollution in the Ganges River in India, finding that the river is heavily contaminated with plastic particles from urban and industrial sources, threatening one of the world's most ecologically and culturally important waterways.

2022 Science and Culture 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in the Ganga River: A state-of-the-art review of pathways, mechanisms, and mitigation

This review examines microplastic pollution in India's Ganga River, which sustains hundreds of millions of people, identifying sources from industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and inadequate waste management. Microplastics in the river threaten aquatic life through ingestion and bioaccumulation and ultimately affect the communities that rely on the river for drinking water and food. The study calls for comprehensive management strategies to protect both ecological and public health.

2025 Water Science & Technology Water Supply 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination in Groundwater Aquifers along the Ganga River Basin: A Comprehensive study from Devprayag to Gangasagar, India

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in groundwater aquifers along the Ganga River basin from Devprayag to Gangasagar, India, detecting microplastics at all sampling sites and linking contamination levels to population density and river proximity.

2024
Article Tier 2

Investigations on the co-occurrence of microplastics and other pollutants in the River Yamuna, Delhi

Researchers found increasing microplastic concentrations along the Yamuna River in Delhi, with levels rising from 500 MP/m3 upstream to 3,900 MP/m3 downstream near major drain outfalls, alongside elevated heavy metal and fecal coliform contamination.

2022 Water Science & Technology Water Supply 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics assessment in the lower stretch of the Ganga River sediment from East Indian region: Influence of land use and rainfall patterns

This study investigated microplastic pollution in sediments along the lower Ganga River in East India, finding that land use type and seasonal rainfall patterns significantly influence the abundance and distribution of microplastics across different stretches of the river.

2025 Chemosphere 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution of microplastics in shoreline water and sediment of the Ganges River Basin to Meghna Estuary in Bangladesh

Researchers measured microplastic contamination along the Ganges River from the India-Bangladesh border to the Meghna Estuary in Bangladesh. They found microplastics at every sampling point, with higher concentrations downstream, indicating pollution accumulates as the river flows through populated areas. The overall pollution level was rated higher than other studies in Bangladesh, raising concerns for the millions of people who depend on this water.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 66 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
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

Pervasiveness and characteristics of microplastics in surface water and sediment of the Buriganga River, Bangladesh

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in the Buriganga River in Bangladesh, finding concentrations of 4.33 to 43.67 items per liter in surface water, with fibers and fragments as dominant types linked to textile industries and urban waste discharge in the Dhaka megacity.

2022 Chemosphere 80 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of Upstream and Downstream Surface Water Microplastic Pollution in Lower Himalayan Gaula River, Uttarakhand, India

A survey of surface water in the Gaula River, Uttarakhand, India found microplastics at four upstream and four downstream sites, characterizing the particles' size, shape, color, and polymer type to establish a baseline for understanding how human activity along the river affects MP concentrations.

2025 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Seasonal variation in abundance and characteristics of microplastic in sewage sludge from major cities across the upper stretch of River Ganga, India

Researchers tracked seasonal changes in microplastic contamination in sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants along the upper Ganga River in India. They found that microplastic abundance in sludge varied significantly across monsoon, pre-monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons, with fibers being the dominant type year-round. The study reveals that sewage sludge is a major pathway for microplastic contamination of agricultural soils when used as fertilizer.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 8 citations