Papers

61,005 results
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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

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

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.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 8 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 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

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
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 Upstream and Downstream Surface Water Microplastic Pollution in Lower Himalayan Gaula River, Uttarakhand, India

A survey of surface water in the Gaula River, Uttarakhand, India found microplastics at four upstream and four downstream sites, characterizing the particles' size, shape, color, and polymer type to establish a baseline for understanding how human activity along the river affects MP concentrations.

2025 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in Ganga: Present Status and Future Need

This review documents the growing problem of microplastic pollution in the Ganges River in India, finding that the river is heavily contaminated with plastic particles from urban and industrial sources, threatening one of the world's most ecologically and culturally important waterways.

2022 Science and Culture 7 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

Characteristics and spatial distribution of microplastics in the lower Ganga River water and sediment

Researchers sampled microplastics in water and sediment at five cities along India's Ganga River, finding concentrations of 17–36 items/kg in sediment and 380–684 items/1000 m in water, with white film-shaped polyethylene particles as the dominant type.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 186 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Commercial Fishes in the River Ganga and Their Human Health Risk Assessment

Researchers analyzed gastrointestinal tracts and muscle tissue of four fish species from the Ganga River in India, finding microplastics in two-thirds of GI tracts and 15% of muscle samples, with Johnius coitor showing the highest contamination at 19 particles per gram.

2025 ACS ES&T Water
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

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

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 Contamination in Groundwater Aquifers along the Ganga River Basin: A Comprehensive study from Devprayag to Gangasagar, India

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in groundwater aquifers along the Ganga River basin from Devprayag to Gangasagar, India, detecting microplastics at all sampling sites and linking contamination levels to population density and river proximity.

2024
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in the Ganga River: A state-of-the-art review of pathways, mechanisms, and mitigation

This review examines microplastic pollution in India's Ganga River, which sustains hundreds of millions of people, identifying sources from industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and inadequate waste management. Microplastics in the river threaten aquatic life through ingestion and bioaccumulation and ultimately affect the communities that rely on the river for drinking water and food. The study calls for comprehensive management strategies to protect both ecological and public health.

2025 Water Science & Technology Water Supply 9 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

Urbanization and population resources affect microplastic concentration in surface water of the River Ganga

Researchers found that microplastic concentrations in River Ganga surface water were significantly higher near urbanized and densely populated areas, with fibers and fragments being the dominant types, indicating that urbanization and population density are key drivers of riverine microplastic pollution.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 58 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

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.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 195 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

A comprehensive assessment of macro and microplastics from Rivers Ganga and Yamuna: Unveiling the seasonal, spatial and risk factors

This study provides the first comprehensive look at plastic pollution in India's Ganga and Yamuna rivers, finding microplastics in surface water, deeper water, and sediments at all sampling locations. Contamination was higher during the wet season, and some of the polymers found are classified as hazardous. The millions of people living in the Indo-Gangetic Plain may be at risk from both direct water contact and indirect exposure through the food chain.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 38 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