Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Tracing the Plastic Tide: Assessing Microplastic Abundance and Distribution along the Attanagalu River in Sri Lanka

Researchers assessed the abundance and distribution of microplastics in surface water and sediments along the Attanagalu River in Sri Lanka, identifying key pollution sources and transport pathways. The study found elevated microplastic concentrations linked to urban and agricultural land use, underscoring the role of freshwater systems in conveying terrestrial plastic pollution to the ocean.

2025
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Weras Ganga, Bolgoda North Lake, Sri Lanka: A Reflection of Urban Waste Mismanagement

Researchers analyzed microplastic pollution in a river and lake system near an open waste dump in Sri Lanka and found microplastics present in all water and sediment samples. Over half of the particles were fibers, and smaller microplastics dominated near the dump site, with sediments acting as a major sink for contamination. The study highlights how inadequate waste management practices directly contribute to microplastic pollution in urban waterways.

2025 Results in Engineering 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution of Stream Water and Sediment in a Tributary of a Major Drinking Water Supplying River in Sri Lanka

Researchers monitored microplastic pollution in stream water and sediment of a tributary feeding a major drainage system, documenting spatial patterns of contamination and identifying land use practices as key predictors of microplastic abundance in this freshwater system.

2025 ACS ES&T Water 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Evidence of microplastics pollution in coastal beaches and waters in southern Sri Lanka

Researchers found microplastic pollution along 91 km of coastline in southern Sri Lanka, with 60% of beach sand sites and 70% of surface water sites testing positive, characterizing the polymers, shapes, and colors present across the sampled coastal environments.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 130 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of micro-plastics in water and sediments in Batticaloa lagoon at Kattankudy

Researchers characterized microplastics in water and sediments of Batticaloa Lagoon in Sri Lanka, near a municipal dumping site. The study found measurable microplastic concentrations, linking land-based plastic waste disposal directly to aquatic contamination in this coastal lagoon.

2023 Journal of Science
Article Tier 2

Water quality and floating microplastics pollution along Southern to Northwestern Coast, Sri Lanka

Researchers surveyed microplastic levels and water quality at 12 coastal sites along Sri Lanka's western and southern coast, finding microplastics present at all locations with fibers being the dominant form. The study also found correlations between microplastic abundance and certain water quality parameters, suggesting that areas with poorer water quality tended to have higher plastic loads. The research adds to growing evidence that South Asian coastal waters are significantly contaminated with microplastics, with potential implications for marine food webs and fishing communities.

2025 Sri Lanka Journal of Aquatic Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Sampling and Analysis of Microplastics in the Coastal Environments of Sri Lanka: Estuaries of the Kelani River to Mahaoya

Microplastics were found in both beach sediments and coastal seawater along 42 kilometers of Sri Lanka's western coastline, with polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene being the most common types. The results document significant plastic contamination along the coast of a densely populated South Asian nation, raising concerns about exposure for coastal communities and marine life in the Indian Ocean region.

2024 Water 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification and morphological characterization of plastic litter (0.30–100 mm) in surface waters of off Colombo, west coast of Sri Lanka

Surface water off Colombo, Sri Lanka, contained an average of 140 plastic items per square meter, with 99.6% classified as small microplastics under 1 mm in size. Filament-shaped plastics dominated and concentrations were highest near the most populated coastal districts, reflecting urban plastic pollution inputs.

2020 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Present Status of Microplastic Pollution Research Data in Sri Lanka and Microplastic Risk Mitigation Solutions; Lessons from a Global Policy Context

This review synthesizes the present status of microplastic pollution research data in Sri Lanka and evaluates risk mitigation solutions within a global policy context. The paper assesses monitoring data across aquatic environments and proposes lessons from international policy frameworks to strengthen Sri Lanka's response to microplastic contamination.

2024 Advances in Technology
Article Tier 2

Sampling and Analysis of Microplastics in the Coastal Environments of Sri Lanka: Estuaries of Kelani River to Mahaoya

Microplastic abundance and types were quantified in beach sediments and seawater across nine sites along 42 km of Sri Lanka's western coast, documenting widespread contamination in estuarine and coastal environments.

2024 Preprints.org 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatiotemporal variation in microplastic contamination along a subtropical reservoir shoreline

Researchers tracked microplastic contamination along the shoreline of a subtropical reservoir over two years and found that microplastic abundance was higher near urban areas and varied with season, with storm-related inputs creating significant temporal spikes.

2020 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 67 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in Urban Lake Phewa, Nepal: The First Report on Abundance and Composition in Surface Water of Lake in Different Seasons

Researchers conducted the first survey of microplastics in Lake Phewa, a major freshwater lake in Nepal, finding plastic particles in surface water across all seasons. Fiber microplastics were most abundant, consistent with laundry and textile sources. This study provides baseline data for microplastic monitoring in Nepal, where freshwater microplastic research has been largely absent.

2021 Research Square (Research Square) 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Seasonal variations in the abundance and distribution of microplastic particles in the surface waters of a Southern Indian Lake

Researchers documented seasonal variations in microplastic abundance in a southern Indian lake, finding higher concentrations during monsoon season due to stormwater runoff, with fibers and fragments as the dominant particle types linked to nearby urban and agricultural activities.

2022 Chemosphere 128 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic occurrence and densities in small subtropical reservoirs of Southern Africa

Researchers measured microplastic levels across seasons in small reservoirs in southern Africa, finding that microplastic concentrations were higher during the dry season and in reservoirs near areas with greater human activity. The study establishes baseline data for a region where plastic pollution research is scarce and warns that contamination could worsen without targeted intervention.

2025 Discover Sustainability 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in a Canal: Seasonal and Spatial Impact

Researchers examined seasonal and spatial patterns of microplastic pollution in a canal environment, characterising how particle concentrations vary across locations and time periods to better understand microplastic dynamics in tributary waterways.

2024
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

Microplastic pollution in urban Lake Phewa, Nepal: the first report on abundance and composition in surface water of lake in different seasons

Surface water from Lake Phewa, Nepal's second-largest lake, was analyzed for microplastics across seasons in the first such study from Nepal, finding plastics present in all samples with concentrations varying seasonally. The results establish a baseline for freshwater microplastic monitoring in a South Asian developing country context and raise concerns about impacts on a lake important for tourism and local livelihoods.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 74 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

Characterization of microplastics and its pollution load index in freshwater Kumaraswamy Lake of Coimbatore, India

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in Kumaraswamy Lake in India across four seasons and found plastic particles at every sampling point. The most common types were polyethylene and polypropylene, with concentrations varying by season and location within the lake. This study provides baseline pollution data for a freshwater lake that serves local communities, highlighting how widespread microplastic contamination has become.

2023 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 55 citations
Article Tier 2

Airborne Microplastics in Indoor and Outdoor Environments of a Developing Country in South Asia: Abundance, Distribution, Morphology, and Possible Sources

Researchers measured airborne microplastics in indoor and outdoor environments across Sri Lanka, one of the first studies of its kind in a lower-middle-income country. They found that indoor microplastic concentrations were significantly higher than outdoor levels, with fibers being the most common particle type. The study estimates that people in these environments inhale thousands of microplastic particles daily, raising concerns about respiratory health impacts.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 107 citations
Article Tier 2

Evolving research perspectives on microplastic pollution: A focus on Sri Lanka in comparison to the South and Southeast Asian region

This review examines the evolving research landscape on microplastic pollution in Sri Lanka, comparing it to the broader South and Southeast Asian regional context. The paper identifies gaps in local monitoring data and highlights the need for standardized methodologies and expanded research capacity in the region.

2024 Ceylon Journal of Science
Article Tier 2

The first report on the source-to-sink characterization of microplastic pollution from a riverine environment in tropical India

This first source-to-sink study of microplastic pollution in a tropical Indian river system tracked microplastics from urban sources through the river to estuarine and coastal deposition zones, characterizing polymer types and morphologies at each stage.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 334 citations
Article Tier 2

Identifikasi Karakteristik dan Kelimpahan Mikroplastik Pada Sampel Air Kali Surabaya

This Indonesian study characterized microplastic abundance and types in water samples from the Kali Surabaya river in Surabaya. The urban waterway showed widespread plastic contamination, with sources linked to densely populated residential areas along the riverbanks.

2023 Environmental Pollution Journal
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