Papers

61,005 results
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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

Microplastics pollution in tropical estuary (Muttukadu Backwater), Southeast Coast of India: Occurrence, distribution characteristics, potential sources and ecological risk assessment

Scientists surveyed microplastic contamination in the water and sediments of a tropical estuary on India's southeast coast. They found moderate to high levels of microplastic pollution, with common polymers like polyethylene and polystyrene contributing the most to ecological risk. The presence of trace metals on microplastic surfaces suggests these particles may also serve as carriers for heavy metal contamination in coastal ecosystems.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic profile and ecological risk assessment of emerging estuarine contaminants in two tourist hotspots of northern Kerala backwaters

Researchers investigated microplastic pollution in sediments and water of two tourist-heavy estuarine systems in northern Kerala, India. They found average concentrations of 187 to 259 particles per kilogram in sediments and 251 to 284 particles per liter in water, with polyamide as the dominant polymer type, indicating high ecological risk driven by tourism, fishing, and poor waste management.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Plastics 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Presence of microplastics in estuarine environment: a case study from Kavvayi and Kumbla backwaters of Malabar Coast, Kerala, India

Researchers investigated the distribution and characteristics of microplastics in sediments and organisms from two backwater estuaries along the Malabar Coast in Kerala, India. The study detected microplastics in all samples analyzed, confirming widespread contamination across these estuarine environments, with particles identified down to 1 micrometer in size using optical microscopy and confocal Raman spectroscopy.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution and its implicated risks in the estuarine environment of Tamil Nadu, India

Researchers investigated microplastic pollution across 19 estuaries in Tamil Nadu, India, measuring contamination in water, sediment, and marine organisms. They found microplastic levels were higher during monsoon season due to stormwater discharge, and estimated that local residents may ingest approximately 781 microplastic items through fish and 2,809 through shellfish annually. The study suggests that estuarine microplastic pollution poses meaningful human exposure risks through seafood consumption.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential Ecological Risk Assessment Studies Based on Source and Distribution of Microplastics from the Surface Sediments of Tropical Backwaters, Kerala, India

Researchers characterized microplastic pollution in surface sediments of three tropical estuaries along the southwest coast of Kerala, India, finding 407 total particles and conducting ecological risk assessment to evaluate hazard levels from microplastic accumulation.

2023 Total Environment Research Themes 21 citations
Article Tier 2

The Prevalence of Microplastics in Water and Sediment Collected from Vellar Estuary in South India

Microplastic contamination was assessed in water and sediment samples from Vellar Estuary in Tamil Nadu, South India, finding widespread MP presence with fibres and fragments most common. The study identified this coastal estuary as significantly impacted by microplastic pollution from adjacent urban and industrial activities.

2024 UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in Vembanad Lake, Kerala, India: The first report of microplastics in lake and estuarine sediments in India

Researchers conducted the first study of microplastics in Vembanad Lake, Kerala, India, finding plastic particles across sampled sites and documenting the types and polymer composition of contamination in this important freshwater ecosystem.

2016 Environmental Pollution 580 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

Presence of Microplastics in Estuarine Environment- A Case Study from Kavvayi and Kumbla Backwaters of Malabar Coast, Kerala, India

Researchers detected microplastics as small as 500 nanometers in sediments and bottom-dwelling organisms from two estuaries on India's Malabar Coast, using confocal Raman spectroscopy to identify polymer types and documenting contamination across all sampled sites.

2022 Research Square (Research Square) 5 citations
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
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in seafood as an emerging threat to marine environment: A case study in Goa, west coast of India

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in water, sediment, and shellfish from the Sal estuary in Goa, India. They found microplastics present across all environmental samples, with sediment containing particularly high concentrations. The study highlights that commercially important seafood species in this region are accumulating microplastics, posing potential concerns for both marine ecosystems and human dietary exposure.

2020 Chemosphere 198 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecological assessment of microplastic contamination in surface water and commercially important edible fishes off Kadalundi estuary, Southwest coast of India

Researchers documented microplastic contamination in both the surface water and 12 commercially important fish species from the Kadalundi estuary in India. Fibers were the most common type of microplastic found, with contamination levels varying across fish species. The findings are significant because this estuary is Kerala's first community reserve, and the contaminated fish are widely consumed by local populations.

2024 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 8 citations
Article Tier 2

The estuarine plastics menace: Insights into prevalence, characterization and polymeric risk assessment of microplastics in the Mahi River Estuary, Gujarat, India

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination along 30 sites of the Mahi River Estuary in Gujarat, India, characterizing particle abundance, morphology, polymer type, and ecological risk. Microplastics were found at all sites with concentrations and polymer risk indices reflecting the estuary's proximity to urban and industrial sources.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and characterization of microplastics and ecological risks in Vellayani Lake, Kerala, India

Researchers surveyed Vellayani Lake in Kerala, India, for microplastic contamination and found particles in both water and sediment samples across the lake. The most common types were fibers and fragments, primarily from polyethylene and polypropylene, likely originating from household waste, fishing activities, and agricultural runoff. The ecological risk assessment indicated moderate contamination levels, raising concerns for this freshwater lake that serves local communities.

2023 Total Environment Research Themes 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastic contamination in clams and shrimp from estuarine environments of Goa: implications for environmental health and food safety

Researchers examined clams and shrimp from estuarine environments in Goa, India, and found microplastics present in both species and their surrounding waters, with shrimp from one site showing particularly high contamination and bioaccumulation. The particles were predominantly polyamide, polyethylene, and polystyrene fibers and fragments, likely originating from fishing, tourism, and waste disposal activities. The findings raise concerns about food safety for local and tourist populations who regularly consume seafood from these coastal areas.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial heterogeneity of microplastic pollution and associated emerging contaminants in tropical estuarine environments: Novel insights into distribution, bioavailability, and ecological risk

Scientists found tiny plastic particles in water, mud, and seafood like shellfish and crabs in two river areas in India. These microplastics carry harmful chemicals and are getting into the food chain, which could affect the safety of seafood that people eat. While the current risk appears low, this research shows we need better policies to reduce plastic pollution to protect both ocean ecosystems and human food sources.

2026 Marine Pollution Bulletin
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the benthic invertebrates from the coastal waters of Kochi, Southeastern Arabian Sea

Researchers examined benthic invertebrates from coastal waters near Kochi in southern India and found microplastics present across multiple species, documenting the extent of contamination in a region with limited prior monitoring data.

2018 Environmental Geochemistry and Health 138 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial, seasonal and ecological risk assessment of microplastics in sediment and surface water along the Thoothukudi, south Tamil Nadu, south east India

Researchers assessed the spatial and seasonal variation of microplastics in sediment and surface water along the Thoothukudi coast in southeastern India. The study found significant differences in microplastic abundance across sampling sites and seasons, with monsoon periods recording the highest concentrations, and conducted an ecological risk assessment of the contamination levels.

2022 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization and distribution of microplastics in estuarine surface sediments, Kayamkulam estuary, southwest coast of India

Microplastic characterization in surface sediments of the Kayamkulam estuary in southwestern India found fibers and fragments dominated by polyethylene and polypropylene, establishing a pollution baseline for this ecologically important wetland.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 89 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution of microplastics in the catchment region of Pallikaranai marshland, a Ramsar site in Chennai, India

Researchers analyzed microplastic distribution in surface water and sediments of the Pallikaranai marshland, a Ramsar-designated wetland in Chennai, India, finding significant contamination in this ecologically sensitive freshwater ecosystem that serves as an important urban biodiversity hotspot.

2022 Environmental Pollution 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification and Analysis of Microplastics in Sediments of Muzhapilangad Beach, Kannur

Researchers identified and quantified microplastics in sediment samples from Muzhapilangad Beach in Kerala, India. The study documents coastal microplastic contamination and characterizes particle types, providing baseline data for monitoring and managing plastic pollution at this popular tourist beach.

2023 Journal of Environmental Engineering and Studies
Article Tier 2

Microplastic surge in the Ariyankuppam river, Puducherry, India: A study on abundance, characterization, and pollution load index

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in the Ariyankuppam River in southern India over three months during the post-monsoon period. They found an average of over 136 microplastic particles per kilogram of sediment, with concentrations varying by location and season. The study reveals significant microplastic contamination in a river that flows into the Bay of Bengal, raising concerns about downstream marine pollution.

2025 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization and risk assessment of microplastics accumulated in sediments and benthic molluscs in the mangrove wetlands along the south-west coast of India

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in mangrove sediments and four species of benthic molluscs from Vembanad Lake, a major estuary on India's southwest coast. Average sediment contamination levels were relatively high compared to other mangrove regions in India, with polyethylene and polypropylene as the dominant polymers, and ecological risk indices indicated severe microplastic pollution risk for the molluscs studied.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 5 citations