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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastics and heavy metal contamination along a land-use gradient in a Himalayan foothill river: Prevalence and controlling factors
ClearAbundance and characteristics of microplastics in a freshwater river in northwestern Himalayas, India - Scenario of riverbank solid waste disposal sites
Researchers measured microplastic contamination in the Jhelum River in the Himalayas near garbage dump sites, finding an average of about 1,474 particles per cubic meter. Fibers and fragments from everyday plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene were the most common types found. The study shows that even remote freshwater sources used for drinking and irrigation are contaminated with microplastics, raising concerns for the communities that depend on them.
Microplastic pollution in the Himalayas: Occurrence, distribution, accumulation and environmental impacts
This review documents microplastic contamination throughout the Himalayan region, from mountain glaciers and rivers to remote high-altitude locations. Microplastics reach these areas through wind, precipitation, tourism waste, and river transport, and can become trapped in glacial ice before being released during snowmelt. The findings show that even one of the most remote places on Earth is not free from microplastic pollution, with implications for the billions of people who depend on Himalayan rivers for drinking water.
Microplastics pollution in the Brahmaputra River and the Indus River of the Indian Himalaya
Researchers sampled shoreline sediments of the Brahmaputra and Indus Rivers in the Indian Himalayas and found microplastics at all sites, with concentrations increasing downstream toward more populated areas, representing some of the first MP data for major Himalayan river systems.
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.
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.
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.
Distribution and characteristics of microplastics and phthalate esters from a freshwater lake system in Lesser Himalayas
Researchers surveyed a freshwater lake system in the Indian Himalayas and found microplastics in all water and sediment samples, with concentrations highest near areas of human activity. They also detected phthalate esters, chemical additives commonly found in plastics, at levels that correlated with microplastic abundance. The study provides the first evidence of significant microplastic and associated chemical contamination in this relatively remote Himalayan freshwater ecosystem.
Microplastics Monitoring in Environmental Matrices of an Alpine River originating from Hindu Kush Mountain Range
Scientists found microplastics in an alpine river originating from the Hindu Kush mountain range in Pakistan, demonstrating that plastic pollution reaches remote high-altitude environments. Glaciers, rainfall, and downstream human activity all appeared to contribute microplastics to the river system.
Spatial distribution and characteristics of microplastics and associated contaminants from mid-altitude lake in NW Himalaya
Researchers documented microplastic contamination and associated phthalate esters in Rewalsar Lake in the Northwest Himalayas, demonstrating that even remote mid-altitude freshwater lakes are significantly affected by microplastic pollution.
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.
Assessment of microplastic contamination in the Karnali River: A baseline study in remote region of western Nepal
Researchers surveyed 16 sites along the Karnali River in remote western Nepal and found microplastics at every location, with fiber-shaped particles making up 94% of what they detected — suggesting that even rivers far from cities are not protected from plastic pollution. The findings call for urgent long-term monitoring across Nepal's freshwater systems, most of which have never been studied for microplastic contamination.
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.
Characteristics of microplastics in tributaries of the upper Brahmaputra River along the Himalayan foothills, India
Researchers measured microplastic levels in surface water and riparian soil near two rural rivers in the Eastern Himalaya foothills of India, finding average water concentrations of 0.14 pieces per cubic meter and soil concentrations of 633 pieces per kilogram dry weight. Fibers were the dominant type, and Micro-Raman spectroscopy identified common synthetic polymer types.
Assessment of Microplastics in Hanumante River of Kathmandu Valley
Researchers found 14–23 microplastic particles per liter in water samples from the Hanumante River in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley, with polyethylene, polypropylene, and polycarbonate identified as the dominant polymer types. The contamination reflects poor plastic waste management in the surrounding communities, as the river receives untreated runoff and waste. The study underscores the need for improved waste infrastructure in rapidly urbanizing South Asian cities to prevent rivers from becoming conduits for microplastic pollution.
Investigating the Occurrence of Riverine Microplastic Pollution in Western Himalayan region
Scientists found tiny plastic particles called microplastics in rivers throughout the western Himalayan mountains, even in remote areas far from cities. These microscopic plastic pieces are flowing downstream from high mountain areas toward lower regions where millions of people get their drinking water. This matters because microplastics can potentially harm human health when they get into our water supply, and this study shows that even pristine mountain areas aren't safe from plastic pollution.
Spatial characteristics of microplastics in the high-altitude area on the Tibetan Plateau
Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination across water bodies and sediments on the Tibetan Plateau, one of the most remote high-altitude regions on Earth, and found microplastics in every sample tested. Contamination levels were highest in turbid rivers and agricultural channels, and decreased at higher altitudes where there is less human activity. The study highlights that even remote, high-altitude areas are not free from microplastic pollution.
Occurrence of microplastics in the headwaters of Yellow River on the Tibetan Plateau: Source analysis and ecological risk assessment
Researchers documented microplastic contamination in the headwaters of the Yellow River on the Tibetan Plateau, a remote area often considered pristine. They found polypropylene and polyester particles to be the most common types, with sources linked to both local human activities and atmospheric transport. The study suggests that even remote high-altitude ecosystems are not immune to microplastic pollution and face associated ecological risks.
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.
Microplastic in fishes: the first report from a Himalayan River — Alaknanda
Researchers found microplastics in the gut contents of all five fish species sampled from the Alaknanda River — a headwater of the Ganges — making this the first microplastic study in a Himalayan river. Fibers (66%) dominated, chemically identified as polyester, HDPE, and polypropylene, and the herbi-omnivore species Tor chelenoid had the highest ingestion rates. This finding extends the known geographic reach of freshwater microplastic contamination into remote high-altitude river systems.
Microplastic pollution differences in freshwater river according to stream order: Insights from spatial distribution, annual load, and ecological assessment
Researchers compared microplastic pollution levels in a freshwater river across different land-use zones, finding higher concentrations near urban and agricultural areas than in forested regions. Fiber-type microplastics were predominant across all sampling locations.
Microplastic pollution in the rivers of the Tibet Plateau
Researchers collected water and sediment samples from rivers on the Tibet Plateau and found microplastic contamination even in this remote, sparsely populated region. The microplastics included fibers and fragments from synthetic textiles and packaging, likely transported by atmospheric deposition and human activity along river corridors. The study demonstrates that microplastic pollution has reached some of the most isolated freshwater systems on Earth.
Distribution of Microplastic Contamination in Sapta-Gandaki River System, Nepal
This study documented the spatiotemporal distribution of microplastics in Nepal's Sapta-Gandaki River — the country's second largest river — from its Himalayan headwaters to the lowland plains. The research addresses a significant gap in data quality for Himalayan transboundary rivers and shows that microplastic contamination reaches even remote high-altitude freshwater systems.
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.
Impact of land use land cover on microplastic accumulation in high-altitude freshwater lakes of the central Himalayas
Researchers investigated the spatial distribution of microplastics in the surface water of three high-altitude lakes in the Kumaun region of the central Himalayas — Nainital, Garudtal, and Bhimtal — and examined the influence of land use and land cover (LULC) at the catchment scale on microplastic accumulation. The study found that lakes with greater proportions of built-up and agricultural land in their catchments had higher microplastic concentrations, demonstrating that LULC is a key driver of microplastic loading in remote mountain lakes.