Papers

61,005 results
|
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

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

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

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

Microplastics pollution in the river Karnaphuli: a preliminary study on a tidal confluence river in the southeast coast of Bangladesh

Researchers found high concentrations of microplastics in the surface water and sediments of Bangladesh's Karnaphuli River, with downstream areas showing the greatest abundance, fibers as the dominant type, and polyethylene terephthalate as the most common polymer.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatio-temporal dynamics and flux of microplastics in the lower Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna River system and estuary

Researchers examined the spatial and seasonal dynamics of microplastics across the lower Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna River system and estuary, one of the world's largest river systems and a major contributor to global ocean plastic inputs. The study quantified microplastic flux and found significant spatio-temporal variation driven by river discharge, monsoon seasonality, and anthropogenic land use across the catchment.

2025 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology
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

Potential Ecological Risk and Characterization of Floating Microplastics in the Surface Water of a Highly Urbanized Large River in Southeast Asia

Researchers characterized floating microplastics in the Jamuna River in Bangladesh, finding significant contamination likely originating from industrial, domestic, and hospital waste, and assessed the ecological risks posed by the identified polymer types to aquatic organisms.

2025 Scientifica
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 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

Seasonal assessment and characterization of microplastics in two urban (Balu) and peri-urban (Shitalakshya) rivers of Bangladesh

This study assessed microplastic contamination in the Shitalakshya and Balu rivers of Bangladesh across seasons, finding that sediments contained far higher concentrations than water samples, with the Balu River reaching up to 5,673 MPs per kg of dry sediment during the dry season.

2025 RSC Advances
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in surface water from a mighty subtropical estuary: First observations on occurrence, characterization, and contamination assessment

Researchers documented the first observations of microplastic contamination in surface waters of the Meghna estuary in Bangladesh, finding widespread pollution that poses risks to this ecologically and economically critical subtropical ecosystem.

2023 Environmental Research 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Dynamics of microplastics in urban rivers under varying hydrological regimes

Monitoring of urban rivers showed that microplastic concentrations fluctuate significantly with varying hydrological conditions such as storm events and seasonal flow changes. Understanding these dynamics is essential for accurately characterizing the river microplastic load and its variability over time.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in the water and sediment of the Karnaphuli River, Bangladesh: An ecological risk assessment

Researchers assessed the spatial and seasonal distribution of microplastics along the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram, Bangladesh. Microplastic concentrations were higher in sediment than surface water and elevated in downstream locations, with fibers and fragments of PET, polyethylene, and polystyrene being the most common types, and the ecological risk assessment rated the pollution as Category I, indicating a significant pollution load.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 5 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

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

Extent and distribution of microplastic contamination in the benthic sediment of Turag river in Bangladesh

Researchers quantified microplastic contamination in benthic sediments of the Turag River in Bangladesh, finding widespread microplastic accumulation that poses threats to benthic communities and highlights a significant knowledge gap in freshwater sediment microplastic studies.

2022 Global NEST International Conference on Environmental Science & Technology
Article Tier 2

Spatio-temporal distribution and ecological risks of microplastics in surface water and sediments of Bangshi River

A seasonal survey of the Bangshi River in Bangladesh found microplastics at all 10 sampling sites, with concentrations spiking during monsoon season as runoff flushed plastics from urban and industrial areas into the river. Ecological risk assessments classified both the water and sediments in the most extreme hazard category, signalling urgent risks to the river's aquatic life and the communities that depend on it.

2026 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Anthropogenic influences on seasonal microplastic dispersion in the Pasur River of Bangladesh based on field observations and numerical simulation

Scientists found tiny pieces of plastic pollution in a major river in Bangladesh, with the highest levels near busy ports where human activities are concentrated. During dry seasons, these microplastics stay trapped in the river for long periods, but during monsoon season they get washed out to the ocean within 10 days. This matters because microplastics can enter our food and water supply, and understanding when they build up in rivers can help communities plan better waste management to protect public health.

2026 Discover Environment
Article Tier 2

Effects of seasonal variation and resuspension on microplastics in river sediments

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in river sediments across multiple seasons and examined the role of resuspension events, finding that MP levels varied significantly by season and that high-flow events released previously deposited particles, redistributing contamination downstream.

2021 Environmental Pollution 214 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization and spatial distribution of microplastics in Surma river, Bangladesh: Assessing water and sediment dynamics

Researchers characterized the abundance, distribution, and types of microplastics in the water and sediments of the Surma River in Bangladesh. They found widespread microplastic contamination, with fibers being the dominant particle shape, linked to nearby textile and urban sources. The study provides baseline data on microplastic pollution in a major South Asian river system and highlights the need for mitigation strategies.

2024 Water Environment Research 13 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

Environmental fate of microplastics in an urban river: Spatial distribution and seasonal variation

Researchers investigated microplastic distribution along an urban river in Guangzhou, China, finding that abundance increased from upstream to midstream and decreased toward the estuary, with seasonal variation linked to rainfall and human activity patterns.

2023 Environmental Pollution 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and Distribution of Microplastics in Surface Water and Sediment of Two Selected Rivers in Bangladesh

Researchers found microplastics in both surface water and sediment of the Jamuna and Turag Rivers in Bangladesh, identifying 145 and 261 microplastic particles respectively across sampling stations, highlighting emerging plastic pollution in South Asian freshwater systems.

2022 Environmental Engineering and Management Journal 20 citations