Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Plastics aplenty in paddy lands: incidence of microplastics in Indian rice fields and ecotoxicity on paddy field phytoplankton

Researchers found microplastic contamination in the surface water of rice paddy fields in Kerala, India, with polyethylene and polypropylene fragments being the most common types. Microplastic levels were three times higher during the planting phase than near harvest, and the plastics affected the growth of tiny organisms that naturally live in rice paddies. These findings are concerning because rice is a dietary staple, and microplastics in rice paddies could potentially enter the food supply.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics retrieval from commercial rice brands in india: Characterization, dietary exposure, and risk assessment

Researchers detected and characterized microplastics in commercial rice brands from India for the first time, finding contamination in a staple food consumed by hundreds of millions of people. Fiber and fragment morphotypes dominated, with polymer identification confirming synthetic plastic rather than processing artifacts.

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

Microplastic contamination in Indian rice: A comprehensive characterization and health risk assessment

Researchers found microplastics in all samples of Indian rice tested, averaging about 30 particles per 100 grams, with polyethylene and PET being the most common types. The study estimated daily microplastic intake from rice consumption for men, women, and children, highlighting that this dietary staple is a potential pathway for plastic particles to enter the human body.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 20 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
Article Tier 2

Are we eating microplastics with our staple food? A pioneering study of microplastic contamination in store-bought rice and cooked rice in Bangladesh

In the first study of its kind in Bangladesh, researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in 15 commonly consumed store-bought rice varieties in both raw and cooked forms. The study found microplastics present in rice samples and estimated potential human exposure through this staple food, highlighting a previously overlooked dietary source of microplastic intake.

2025 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Fate of nano/microplastics and associated toxic pollutants in paddy ecosystems: Current knowledge and future perspectives

Researchers reviewed how micro- and nanoplastics enter rice paddies through irrigation, mulch films, and atmospheric deposition, then harm soil health and rice plant growth by disrupting nutrient cycles and increasing oxidative stress. Their findings are especially significant because rice feeds more than half the world's population, yet research on plastic contamination in paddy systems remains very limited.

2024 Earth Critical Zone 3 citations
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

Microplastics retrieval from commercial rice brands in india: Characterization, dietary exposure, and risk assessment

Researchers detected microplastics for the first time in commercial rice brands sold in India, using FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy to identify polymer types. The findings raise concerns about dietary microplastic exposure through one of the world's most widely consumed staple foods.

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

The Occurrence of Microplastics in the Gut Contents of Selected Estuarine Fishes of Southern Kerala, India

A two-year survey of estuarine fish in southern Kerala, India, found microplastics — predominantly polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene — in the stomachs of multiple commercially consumed species. The study documents spatial and seasonal variation in contamination levels, raising concern about human dietary exposure to microplastics through fish consumption in Indian coastal communities.

2023 UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 1 citations
Clinical Trial Tier 1

Effect of High-Density Polyethylene, Polyvinyl Chloride and Low-Density Polyethylene Microplastics on Seeding of Paddy

This study tested how three common types of plastic microparticles affect rice seedling growth, finding that they can interfere with early plant development. The results matter for food safety because rice is a staple crop for billions of people, and microplastic contamination in agricultural soil could affect crop yields and potentially introduce plastic particles into the food supply.

2024 Sarhad Journal of Agriculture 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigation of microplastic pollution on paddy fields in Xiangtan City, Southern China

Researchers found that microplastic abundance in paddy seedling-raising fields in China was approximately nine times higher than in standard paddy fields, with transparent plastic films being the dominant type, suggesting agricultural plastic mulch is a major source of farmland microplastic contamination.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in Kerala's coastal ecosystems: a review of sources, distribution, and ecological implications

Researchers reviewed microplastic contamination in Kerala's coastal waters and sediments, finding concentrations as high as 200 particles per liter in some areas, with pollution disrupting mangrove and coral reef ecosystems, entering the food chain through seafood, and posing inflammation and endocrine disruption risks to humans.

2025 Discover Geoscience 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in rice systems: Impacts, mechanisms and green remediation strategies

This review examines how microplastic contamination in rice paddies affects soil health, microbial communities, and crop yields, finding that the particles disrupt nutrient cycling, impair root growth, and reduce grain production. Researchers evaluated a range of remediation strategies including phytoremediation, microbial degradation, algae-based approaches, and genetic engineering techniques. The study highlights the urgent need for integrated solutions to protect food security from growing plastic pollution in agricultural soils.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating the Impact of Microplastics Type of Polyethylene, Polypropylene, and Polystyrene on Seed Germination and Early Growth of Rice Plants

Researchers investigated how three common types of microplastics, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene, affect rice seed germination and early seedling growth. They found that microplastic exposure altered root development and shoot growth, with the effects varying by polymer type. The study raises concerns about how microplastic-contaminated agricultural soils could affect staple crop establishment and food production.

2024 Environmental Quality Management 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics pollution in rice fields: a case study of Pir Bazar rural district of Gilan, Iran

Researchers measured microplastic pollution in rice paddy soils in a rural area of northern Iran and compared them with non-paddy vegetable farms. Rice fields contained higher concentrations of microplastics, likely due to irrigation practices and plastic mulch use. The study found that fibers were the most common shape, and soil properties like organic matter content correlated with microplastic abundance, suggesting these particles could affect soil health over time.

2023 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Uneven Distribution of Microplastic Pollution in Paddy Fields Driven by Irrigation Hydrodynamics

Microplastic distribution in paddy fields was found to be uneven, with accumulation patterns influenced by irrigation, tillage, and proximity to field edges. The study maps how common rice cultivation practices drive heterogeneous microplastic distribution in one of the world's most important cropping systems.

2025 Land Degradation and Development 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on growth and metabolism of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Researchers found that polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride microplastics inhibited rice growth and disrupted ionic homeostasis and antioxidant metabolism in a dose-dependent manner, with PVC microplastics causing more severe effects than polystyrene.

2022 Chemosphere 153 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 in Indian aquatic systems and its effects on plants, aquatic organisms and humans, and its methods of remediation

This review summarizes microplastic pollution across India's rivers, coasts, and estuaries, finding contamination widespread in both water and sediment. The highest concentrations were found in estuaries and the Hooghly River, with most research focused on southern India's coastal areas. The study highlights that microplastics in Indian waterways pose health risks to the large populations that depend on these water sources for drinking, fishing, and irrigation.

2024 Chemistry and Ecology 17 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

Assessment of Microplastic Pollution Across the Malabar Coast, India

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in water, sediment, and commercially important fish along the Malabar coast in India. They found microplastics in all sample types, with the highest concentrations in fish gastrointestinal and gill tissues, predominantly consisting of fragments and fibers of common plastics like HDPE, PET, and nylon. The study points to direct discharges, runoff, and poor wastewater management as key sources, underscoring the need for regulatory measures to protect both marine ecosystems and the people who consume seafood from the region.

2024 Environmental Quality Management 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Status of Microplastic Accumulation in Water and Sediments of Selected Estuarine Ecosystem of Southern Kerala, India

Researchers measured microplastic levels in water and sediment from estuaries in southern Kerala, India, finding significant contamination in both habitats. The study identifies these coastal estuaries as accumulation zones for microplastic pollution, posing risks to local aquatic life and fishing communities.

2023 UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Microplastic Contamination in Commercially Edible Fresh Water and Marine Fishes Bought from Fish Markets, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India

This Indian study examined microplastic contamination in freshwater and marine fish sold in markets in Tamil Nadu, finding plastic particles in multiple commercially important species. People who regularly eat fish from contaminated markets are likely consuming microplastics as part of their diet.

2023 UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in India-Evidence of major health concern

This review documents evidence for major microplastic health concerns in India, covering contamination of food, water, and air in urban and rural contexts, and calling for nationally coordinated monitoring and regulatory responses to plastic pollution.

2025 World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews