Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Heavy Metal Contamination in Surface Water of Harike Wetland, India: Source and Health Risk Assessment

Researchers measured levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and zinc in the surface water of Harike Wetland in India across different seasons. They found that cadmium and lead exceeded safe drinking water standards, particularly during winter months, with industrial discharge and agricultural runoff identified as primary sources. The health risk assessment indicated that these contaminated waters pose potential non-cancer health risks, especially for children.

2023 Water 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of potentially toxic elements in groundwater through interpolation, pollution indices, and chemometric techniques in Dehradun in Uttarakhand State

Researchers assessed potentially toxic heavy metals (including iron, cadmium, lead, and chromium) in groundwater across an industrial region of northern India, finding contamination levels linked to agricultural runoff, industrial discharge, and land use patterns that pose ongoing health risks to local communities.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecological health risk assessment of microplastics and heavy metals in sediments, water, hydrophytes (Alternanthera philoxeroides, Typha latifolia, and Ipomoea carnea), and fish (Labeo rohita) in Marala wetlands in Sialkot, Pakistan

Researchers assessed heavy metal and microplastic contamination in the Marala wetlands in Pakistan, sampling water, sediment, aquatic plants, and fish across five locations. They found lead, cadmium, and chromium levels exceeding WHO permissible limits at most sites, along with high microplastic abundance in sediments. While plants accumulated significant amounts of heavy metals, the estimated dietary intake for humans consuming fish from the wetland remained below safety thresholds.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Existence of Microplastic as Pollutant in Harike Wetland: An Analysis of Plastic Composition and First Report on Ramsar Wetland of India

This first-ever study of microplastics in Harike Wetland, India's largest northern wetland and a Ramsar-designated protected site, found plastic particles throughout the water and sediment. The contamination of this internationally recognized conservation area highlights that even protected freshwater ecosystems are not shielded from microplastic pollution.

2021 Current World Environment 14 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

Spatial Distributions and Intrinsic Influence Analysis of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb in Sediments from the Wuliangsuhai Wetland, China

Researchers mapped heavy metal concentrations in sediments of the Wuliangsuhai wetland in China, finding arsenic and cadmium levels six- and seven-fold above background values respectively, largely from irrigation water inputs. High bioavailable fractions of cadmium, lead, and zinc raised concerns about ecological and human health risks in this agriculturally managed wetland.

2022 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Heavy Metal Concentrations in Certain Edible Freshwater Fishes and Sediments from Kapila River in Mysore District, Karnataka

Researchers measured heavy metal concentrations in three freshwater fish species from the Kapila River in Karnataka, India. Levels of arsenic, lead, nickel, and other metals were found in fish tissues and sediments. Since heavy metals can accumulate in fish consumed by local populations, these findings raise food safety concerns for communities relying on this river.

2023 Shanlax International Journal of Arts Science and Humanities
Article Tier 2

Bioaccumulation and potential sources of heavy metal contamination in fish species in River Ganga basin: Possible human health risks evaluation

Researchers assessed heavy metal contamination in seven commonly consumed fish species from the Ganga River basin in India, measuring zinc, lead, copper, cadmium, and chromium levels. They found that chromium, cadmium, and lead concentrations in river water exceeded safe limits at all sampling sites, with the highest metal accumulation occurring in fish liver tissue. The health risk assessment indicated potential long-term hazards for human populations consuming fish from these contaminated river segments.

2019 Toxicology Reports 346 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

Ecological and health risk assessment of heavy metals bioaccumulation in Ganges fish near Varanasi, India

Not relevant to microplastics — this study measured heavy metal (lead, manganese, chromium, cadmium) contamination in the Ganges River at Varanasi and in fish caught there for human consumption, finding metal levels well above safe drinking water standards and significant bioaccumulation in fish tissue.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Risk assessment of heavy metals in the freshwater lake sediments around Eppawala phosphate deposit, Sri Lanka

Not relevant to microplastics — this study assesses heavy metal (including chromium, cadmium, lead, and arsenic) contamination in freshwater lake sediments near a phosphate deposit in Sri Lanka, finding elevated concentrations likely linked to agricultural practices.

2024 Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatiotemporal microplastic occurrence study of Harike wetland, A Ramsar wetland of India

Researchers conducted a spatiotemporal study of microplastic contamination in Harike wetland, India's largest Ramsar wetland, examining water, canal sediment, and gut contents of Cyprinus carpio fish using ATR-FTIR and GC-MS. They found HDPE and nylon as the dominant polymer types, seasonal variation with higher concentrations in winter, and a 7% microplastic recovery rate from fish gut contents, highlighting contamination in this internationally protected ecosystem.

2024 BIO Web of Conferences
Article Tier 2

Eutrophication and sediment–water exchange of total petroleum hydrocarbons and heavy metals of Hashilan wetland, a national heritage in NW Iran

Researchers analyzed heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons in the water and sediments of Hashilan wetland in Iran, finding elevated levels of nickel, copper, and chromium largely from natural geological sources, with agricultural activity contributing to molybdenum pollution. The study found relatively low petroleum contamination and ecological risk in the water column.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination in Harike Wetland, a Ramsar Site in Punjab: An Environmental Assessment

Researchers collected water samples from Harike Wetland, a Ramsar-protected biodiversity hotspot in Punjab, India, and analyzed them for microplastic presence, morphology, and polymer composition using FTIR and pyrolysis-GC/MS. Microplastics including polyethylene were detected, raising concerns about contamination of this critical freshwater ecosystem and its food chain.

2025 Research Journal of Chemistry and Environment
Article Tier 2

Occurrence, fate and removal of microplastics as heavy metal vector in natural wastewater treatment wetland system

Researchers studied microplastic contamination in a natural wastewater treatment wetland system in Eastern India, finding high concentrations in both water and sediments along with toxic heavy metals adsorbed onto the plastic particles. The study found that microplastics acted as vectors for heavy metal contamination in fish and that the treatment ponds removed approximately 53% of surface water microplastics, highlighting the need to account for microplastic pollution in natural wastewater treatment systems.

2021 Water Research 262 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantifying Microplastics Abundance and Their Implications as Vectors for Heavy Metal Adsorption in Freshwater Aquatic System of Kashmir Himalaya

Researchers measured microplastic abundance in both water and sediment of Manasbal Lake in the Kashmir Himalaya and examined how the particles interact with heavy metals. Microplastics were found throughout the lake and showed capacity to adsorb heavy metals, raising dual concerns about plastic particles and metal contamination in a sensitive Himalayan freshwater system.

2023
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals from Wuliangsuhai Lake, Yellow River Basin, China

Researchers investigated heavy metal contamination in Wuliangsuhai Lake sediments in China's Yellow River Basin, finding that mercury and cadmium are the main pollutants, with cadmium showing the highest bioavailability due to its exchangeable fraction, and exogenous pollution concentrated in the top 20 cm of sediment cores.

2022 Water 24 citations
Article Tier 2

[Research Progress on Trojan-horse Effect of Microplastics and Heavy Metals in Freshwater Environment].

This review examines the Trojan-horse effect in freshwater environments where microplastics adsorb and transport heavy metals, significantly increasing their potential ecological harm due to the large surface area and persistence of microplastic particles.

2023 PubMed 6 citations
Article Tier 2

A study on various pollutants in water and their effect on blood of the consumers

Researchers tested drinking water supplied to students in Sahiwal, Pakistan and found contamination with toxic metals, pesticides, and arsenic at levels exceeding WHO safety limits, and linked these pollutants to measurable effects in the blood of water consumers. The study illustrates how inadequate water infrastructure and industrial waste disposal create serious public health risks.

2021 Applied Water Science 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact Imposed by Urbanization on Soil Heavy Metal Content of Lake Wetland and Evaluation of Ecological Risks in East Dongting Lake in China

This Chinese study measured heavy metal contamination in wetland soils of East Dongting Lake, finding elevated concentrations of several metals linked to nearby industrial and agricultural activities. Wetland contamination with heavy metals often co-occurs with microplastic pollution, and these combined stressors can have synergistic harmful effects on wetland ecosystems.

2021 Research Square (Research Square) 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Sequential speciation analysis of heavy metals on suspended particulate matter in water using electrochemical mass spectrometry

Researchers developed an electrochemical mass spectrometry method for sequential speciation analysis of heavy metals — distinguishing dissolved, colloidal, and particulate fractions — in suspended particulate matter from lake water samples.

2023 Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Levels of heavy metals in water and Nile tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus) of Eleyele Lake in Ibadan, Nigeria

This is not a microplastics study; it measures heavy metals in water and Nile tilapia from a Nigerian lake, finding that lead concentrations in fish tissue exceeded WHO and FAO limits even though water concentrations appeared acceptable, raising food safety concerns for local consumers.

2023 Dutse Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Heavy metal mobility and bioavailability in sediment fractions of major tourist beaches on the south-west coast of India: Implications for coastal ecological health

Researchers applied sequential extraction to sediments from four tourist beaches in Kovalam, India, characterizing the mobility and bioavailability of seven heavy metals across five geochemical fractions, finding copper and cadmium at high pollution and enrichment levels and identifying significant non-carcinogenic health risks for children from lead, chromium, zinc, and copper at all beaches.

2026 Environmental Earth Sciences
Article Tier 2

Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk assessment of river Ganges in different climatic conditions and regions of Uttarakhand, India

Researchers assessed health risks from heavy metals in the Ganges River, finding elevated arsenic at some sites and correlations between physicochemical parameters and metal concentrations.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)