Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastic in Fishes: the First Report From a Himalayan River –alaknanda

This study documented microplastic ingestion for the first time in five fish species from the Himalayan river Alaknanda, a headwater of the Ganges. Even remote mountain rivers are now contaminated with microplastics, indicating these particles have reached freshwater ecosystems far from their primary sources.

2023 Research Square (Research Square) 2 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

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

Assessment of microplastic contamination in the gastrointestinal tracts of indigenous fishes from north eastern hill regions of Bhogdoi, a tributary of River Brahmaputra, India

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in the digestive tracts of freshwater fish from the Bhogdoi River in northeast India. The study found that all 180 fish examined contained microplastics, with fibers and fragments in the 100-500 micrometer range being most common, and herbivorous species showing the highest accumulation. Evidence indicates that polyamide and polypropylene were the most prevalent polymer types, providing baseline data on microplastic ingestion by fish in the Brahmaputra tributary system.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 11 citations
Article Tier 2

First incidence of microplastic in commercially important food fishes and waters: A case study in the dal Lake ecosystem of North-Western Himalaya (India)

Researchers found microplastics for the first time in commercially important fish and water from Dal Lake in India's Himalayas, with water containing about 197 particles per liter and fish harboring up to 22 particles each. Polyethylene was the most common plastic type found, and the presence of microplastics in food fish indicates these particles are moving up the food chain toward human consumers.

2025 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance 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.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastics in commercially valued Gangetic fishes and its exposure assessment on humans

Researchers characterized microplastics in commercially sold fish from the Ganges River in India, finding plastic contamination across multiple species and providing an initial exposure assessment for human consumers who rely on freshwater fish as a primary protein source.

2023
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

Pervasiveness of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of some selected fish species from Turag River alongside the capital city of Bangladesh

Researchers found microplastics in all three species of fish collected from the Turag River near Dhaka, Bangladesh, with fiber being the dominant type at 89-93% of all particles found. The most common plastics identified were polypropylene, polystyrene, and low-density polyethylene, with the majority of particles smaller than 0.5 mm. Since these freshwater fish are a major protein source for local communities, the contamination raises concerns about microplastic exposure through the food supply in urban areas of developing countries.

2024 Emerging contaminants 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance, characteristics, and risk assessment of microplastics in indigenous freshwater fishes of India

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in five widely consumed freshwater fish species from India and found plastic particles in all specimens, with fibers being the most dominant type. Evidence of microplastics in edible fish tissue indicates translocation from the gut, suggesting a pathway for human exposure through consumption. Risk assessment showed that while microplastic abundance posed a low quantitative risk, the polymer types identified indicated a high hazard potential for the fish species studied.

2022 Environmental Research 48 citations
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

Prevalence of microplastics in commonly consumed fish species of the river Old Brahmaputra, Bangladesh

Researchers found microplastics in nearly 59% of edible fish from Bangladesh's Old Brahmaputra river, with polyethylene fibers and pellets dominating, and ingestion rates linked to fish size, feeding behavior, and downstream location.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance, characteristics and variation of microplastics in different freshwater fish species from Bangladesh

Researchers examined 48 freshwater fish from 18 species in Bangladesh and found microplastics in the digestive tracts of over 73% of the fish studied. Fibers were the most common shape, and the plastics were primarily polyethylene and polypropylene-based polymers. Bottom-dwelling fish contained more microplastics than those living higher in the water column, suggesting that contaminated sediments are a significant source of exposure for freshwater species.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 220 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 110 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics in Fish from Mendoza River: First Insights into Plastic Pollution in the Central Andes, Argentina

Researchers found microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of all three fish species examined from Argentina's Mendoza River in the Central Andes, with fibers comprising 85% of particles, marking the first evidence of microplastic pollution in this high-altitude freshwater system.

2022 Water 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in water, sediments, and fish at Alpine River, originating from the Hindu Kush Mountain, Pakistan: implications for conservation

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in water, sediments, and fish from the Swat River in Pakistan, originating from the Hindu Kush Mountains. The study found microplastics present across all sample types, even in this relatively remote mountain river system, with concentrations linked to municipal and industrial discharges along the river.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of Microplastics in Gastointestinal Tracts of Some Selected Fish Species in Akhalia River, Fulbaria, Mymensingh

Researchers found microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of three freshwater fish species — Channa punctatus, Macrognathus armatus, and Anabas testudineus — collected from the Akhalia River in Bangladesh, documenting the abundance, distribution, and characteristics of ingested particles.

2025 Journal of Agroforestry and Environment
Article Tier 2

First Evidence of Microplastic Ingestion by Riverine Fish From the Freshwater of Northwest Peninsular Malaysia

Researchers found microplastics in the guts of multiple fish species from two rivers in northwest Malaysia, with some species averaging nearly 50 microplastic particles per gram of body weight. The dominant particles were fibers and fragments of polyethylene and polypropylene — findings that signal widespread contamination of freshwater food sources and raise concerns about human exposure through fish consumption.

2024 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Ingestion by Fishes from Jamuna River, Bangladesh

Freshwater fish from the Jamuna River in Bangladesh were examined for microplastic ingestion, finding plastics in a high proportion of individuals across multiple species. The study provides early evidence of freshwater microplastic contamination in Bangladesh and highlights the Jamuna River as a significant conduit for plastic pollution.

2022 Environment and Natural Resources Journal 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in Indigenous Fish From the Padma River, Bangladesh: A Case Study

Researchers examined indigenous fish species from the Padma River in Bangladesh and found microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of all species studied, with fibers being the dominant type. The abundance and types of microplastics varied across species, reflecting differences in feeding habits and habitat. The findings highlight the widespread presence of microplastic contamination in an important inland waterway and its potential impact on food security in the region.

2025 Aquaculture Research 2 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the high-altitude Himalayas: Assessment of microplastic contamination in freshwater lake sediments, Northwest Himalaya (India)

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in sediments of freshwater Anchar Lake in the Kashmir Himalayas, finding an average of 606 particles per kilogram dominated by polyamide fibers, with domestic wastewater and textile sources identified as primary contributors.

2021 Chemosphere 166 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization, distribution, and risk assessment of microplastic in fish and sediment from the longest river of Bangladesh

Researchers characterized microplastic contamination in fish and sediment from the Brahmaputra River in Bangladesh, the country's longest river. They found microplastics in all fish and sediment samples, with fibers being the most common type, and bottom-dwelling fish species containing more particles than those living near the surface. The study provides important baseline data on freshwater microplastic pollution in a major South Asian river system.

2025 Water Environment Research 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of plastics and their characterization in wild caught fish species (Labeo rohita, Wallago attu and Mystus tengara) of River Ganga (India) compared to a commercially cultured species (L. rohita)

Researchers analyzed nine wild-caught fish species from two sites along the River Ganga in Patna, India, detecting plastics in gastrointestinal tracts, liver, gills, and muscles, providing rare data on plastic contamination in one of the world's most polluted rivers.

2023 Environmental Pollution 26 citations