Papers

61,005 results
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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

Spatial and seasonal variations in nutrient load and trophic status of Ganga and Yamuna rivers in Uttar Pradesh, India

This paper is not about microplastics; it analyzes nutrient concentrations and eutrophication risk along the Ganga and Yamuna rivers in Uttar Pradesh, India.

2023 Water Science & Technology Water Supply 13 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

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

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

The seasonal variation and ecological risk of microplastics in the Lower Ganges River, Bangladesh

Researchers characterized seasonal variation in microplastic abundance and polymer composition in the lower Ganges River, finding that monsoon flows dramatically increase microplastic loads and that dry season concentrations reflect local urban pollution.

2024 Water Environment Research 7 citations
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

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

A case study investigating temporal factors that influence microplastic concentration in streams under different treatment regimes

Microplastic concentrations in streams fluctuate significantly over time, influenced by rainfall events and seasonal factors, which can make single-sample studies misleading. The study emphasizes the need for repeated, time-series sampling to accurately assess microplastic pollution in rivers.

2019 Environmental Science and Pollution 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

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

Assessment of microplastic pollution in the aquatic ecosystems – An indian perspective

A review of Indian microplastic research across aquatic sediments, water, and biota found that river discharge, domestic sewage, and industrial runoff are major sources, and that monsoon hydrology plays a distinctive role in distributing MPs through India's aquatic ecosystems.

2020 Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering 84 citations
Article Tier 2

Metal adsorption by naturally aged polymers in the river ganga: An environmental assessment

Researchers measured the adsorption of metals onto naturally aged microplastic polymers collected from the Ganga River, examining how plastics weathered under real environmental conditions accumulate heavy metals. Aged microplastics from the river showed significant metal adsorption capacity, suggesting they act as vectors transferring metals to aquatic organisms through the food chain.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

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

Metal adsorption by naturally aged polymers in the river ganga: An environmental assessment

Researchers investigated how naturally aged microplastics from the Ganga River adsorb metals, assessing the environmental risk of metal-loaded plastic particles in a major river system. The study found that aged microplastics adsorb higher concentrations of metals than virgin particles, increasing their potential for toxicity transfer.

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

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.

2021 Water 113 citations
Article Tier 2

Transport of (Micro)plastic Within a River Cross-Section—Spatio-Temporal Variations and Loads

This study measured the transport of micro- and macroplastics across a river cross-section over time, revealing how spatial position in the river, flow conditions, and seasonal variation influence plastic distribution. The findings inform more accurate monitoring protocols for river plastic load assessment.

2024 Microplastics 6 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Environmental Research Communications 8 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

Spatial distribution of meso and microplastics in the sediments of river Ganga at eastern India

Meso- and microplastics were documented throughout the sediments of the Ganga River at sites in eastern India, with concentrations varying by location and sediment type. The study highlights that India's most sacred and heavily populated river carries significant plastic pollution that settles in sediments along its lower reaches.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 287 citations
Article Tier 2

Seasonal variation in abundance and characteristics of microplastic in sewage sludge from major cities across the upper stretch of River Ganga, India

Researchers tracked seasonal changes in microplastic contamination in sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants along the upper Ganga River in India. They found that microplastic abundance in sludge varied significantly across monsoon, pre-monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons, with fibers being the dominant type year-round. The study reveals that sewage sludge is a major pathway for microplastic contamination of agricultural soils when used as fertilizer.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 8 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

Investigations on the co-occurrence of microplastics and other pollutants in the River Yamuna, Delhi

Researchers found increasing microplastic concentrations along the Yamuna River in Delhi, with levels rising from 500 MP/m3 upstream to 3,900 MP/m3 downstream near major drain outfalls, alongside elevated heavy metal and fecal coliform contamination.

2022 Water Science & Technology Water Supply 30 citations