Papers

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Article Tier 2

Hazardous microplastic characteristics and its role as a vector of heavy metal in groundwater and surface water of coastal south India

Researchers conducted the first baseline study of microplastics in groundwater and surface water along coastal south India and tested how different plastic polymers absorb heavy metals. They found microplastics at concentrations up to 19.9 particles per liter, with polypropylene showing the highest capacity to adsorb toxic metals like cadmium and manganese. The findings suggest microplastics may act as significant carriers of heavy metals through water systems, raising concerns about contamination of drinking water sources.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 400 citations
Article Tier 2

Integrated occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern, including microplastics, in urban and agricultural watersheds in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Researchers measured contamination from microplastics and other emerging pollutants in both urban and agricultural watersheds in the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo. They found microplastics in all sampled locations, along with pesticides, caffeine, and other chemicals, with pollution patterns differing between urban and farming areas. The study shows that microplastic contamination is widespread in Brazilian water systems used for drinking and irrigation, contributing to human exposure through multiple pathways.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 19 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

Assessment of microplastic and heavy metal pollution in agricultural soils of Ernakulam District, Kerala, India

Researchers measured microplastic and heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils across five farmlands in Kerala, India, finding higher pollution levels near commercial and urban areas. Polypropylene and polyethylene were the most common plastic types, and several heavy metals exceeded safe levels. The combined presence of microplastics and heavy metals in farmland soil is concerning because both contaminants can be taken up by crops, potentially affecting the safety of food grown in these areas.

2024 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of land cover on microplastics accumulation in freshwater sediments

Researchers tracked microplastic accumulation in freshwater sediments across sites with different land cover types, examining temporal trends to understand how land use affects plastic discharge into waterways. Land cover type was a significant predictor of sediment microplastic concentration, with urbanized and agricultural catchments showing higher accumulation.

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

Macro and microplastics in the soil: abundance, characterization, identification, and interactions under different land uses in an agricultural sub-basin

Researchers examined the abundance, characterization, identification, and interactions of macro- and microplastics in soils under different land uses within an agricultural sub-basin, assessing how land-use patterns influence plastic pollution distribution and potential interactions with the soil environment.

2025 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Changes in Microplastic and Associated Elemental Constituents Across Different Rice Farming Systems in North East India

Researchers assessed microplastic pollution across four agricultural land-use types in the Cachar district, India, including paddy rice, maize, vegetable, and fallow land. Microplastic abundance and composition varied by land use, with paddy rice fields showing higher contamination linked to irrigation and plastic mulch inputs.

2025 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Distribution pattern and risk assessment of microplastics contamination in different agricultural systems

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in agricultural soils across six sites in Coimbatore, India with distinct farming practices, finding microplastics in 81% of organic matter-removed samples. The study revealed that different agronomic inputs and land management practices produce distinct microplastic contamination profiles.

2024 International Journal of Environmental & Analytical Chemistry 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Baseline assessment of microplastic contamination in agricultural soils from the coastal stretches of Karnataka and Goa, Southwestern India

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in paddy field soils across coastal regions of Karnataka and Goa in India, finding microplastics in every sample tested at all depths up to 30 cm. Fibers and polypropylene particles were the most common types, likely originating from agricultural plastic use and atmospheric deposition. The presence of toxic heavy metals on the microplastic surfaces raises additional concerns about contamination of rice crops grown in these soils.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 9 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastic Contamination in Agricultural Soils Across India: A Systematic Review of Studies and Research Gaps

This systematic review examines microplastic contamination in agricultural soils across India, an area that has received far less attention than waterways. The research identifies polluted irrigation water, industrial discharge, and plastic mulch as key contamination sources, raising concerns about microplastics entering the food supply through crops grown in contaminated soil.

2025 1 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

Occurrence of Microplastics and Heavy Metals in Aquatic and Agroecosystem: A Case Study

Researchers investigated microplastic and heavy metal co-contamination in Pakistani farmland, collecting wastewater, soil, and vegetable samples from four sites in Faisalabad irrigated with raw effluents. They found average soil microplastic abundance of 2790.75 items/kg and identified chromium as the dominant metal with the highest transfer factor, establishing baseline contamination benchmarks for this agroecosystem.

2022 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 9 citations
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

Agronomic practices and road proximity drive plastic pollution in agricultural soils: Insights from Bihar, India on weathering, elemental association, and ecological risk

Researchers surveyed 22 agricultural sites in Bihar, India, measuring microplastic contamination in soil across different farming practices and road distances. Mulched fields near roads had the highest concentrations (up to 1,460 particles/kg), while PE and PP polymers dominated, and microplastics were found to adsorb multiple heavy metals including lead, arsenic, and cadmium.

2025 Environmental Pollution 2 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

Distribution, Sources, and Heavy Metal Interactions of Microplastics in Groundwater and Sediment of Semi‐Arid Regions of Northwest India

Researchers found microplastics at every sampling location in groundwater and sediment in a semi-arid region of northwest India, with concentrations reaching up to 122 particles per liter in well water. The groundwater also contained dangerously high levels of arsenic and manganese, and while a direct link between microplastics and heavy metals was not confirmed in water samples, electron microscopy showed heavy metal particles attached to microplastic surfaces in sediment.

2025 Land Degradation and Development 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of Soil Microplastics and Their Relation to Soil and Terrain Attributes Under Different Land Uses

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in tropical soils under different land uses including forest, grassland, and agricultural areas. They found that agricultural soils had the highest microplastic concentrations, likely due to the use of plastic-based materials in farming. The study reveals how land use practices and soil characteristics influence the distribution and accumulation of microplastics in tropical environments.

2025 AgriEngineering 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigation of microplastic pollution index in the urban surface water: A case study in west Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India

Researchers found microplastics in surface water and water treatment plants in the West Godavari region of India, with common types including polypropylene and PVC. Risk assessments showed that the type of plastic polymer poses a greater health risk than the amount of microplastics present. The study estimated daily, annual, and lifetime intake levels for people using these water sources.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 12 citations
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

Effect of Land Use within Watershed Boundary on the Types of Microplastics Observed in Surface Water

This study surveyed microplastics in the Ciujung watershed in Indonesia and found polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester particles in surface water, with the types of plastic reflecting local land use activities such as farming, irrigation, and settlement waste disposal. The research demonstrates that land use patterns within a watershed directly shape the microplastic contamination profile of its waterways, which is important for identifying pollution sources and designing targeted interventions.

2023 The International Journal of Science & Technoledge
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

Occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastic contaminated with heavy metals in a tropical river: Effect of land use and population density

Researchers studied microplastic pollution in Thailand's Chao Phraya River and found that population density and land use strongly influence contamination levels. Urban areas had the highest microplastic concentrations, and many particles were contaminated with heavy metals. The findings suggest that microplastics in rivers can serve as carriers of toxic metals, compounding the pollution risk for downstream communities.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-occurrence of microplastics and heavy metals in a freshwater lake system in Indian Himalaya: Distribution and influencing factors

Researchers found widespread microplastic contamination in both the water and sediments of Manasbal Lake in the Indian Himalayas, with concentrations up to 4,020 particles per kilogram of sediment. Domestic sewage was identified as the primary source, and the microplastics were found alongside elevated levels of heavy metals like lead. This co-contamination is concerning because microplastics can absorb and transport heavy metals, potentially increasing toxic exposure for communities that depend on the lake.

2024 Emerging contaminants 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic Debris in Agroecosystems: Distribution and Abundance Patterns, and Relationship with Terrain Characteristics in Southeastern Brazil

Researchers surveyed plastic debris across agricultural, grassland, and forest areas in southeastern Brazil and found that farmland accounted for over 91% of all plastic waste collected. Polypropylene, polyethylene, and PVC were the most common polymer types, and debris accumulation correlated strongly with terrain features like slope and vegetation cover. The findings highlight intensive agricultural practices as a primary driver of plastic pollution in agroecosystems.

2025 ACS Omega 1 citations