Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Co-occurrence of microplastics and heavy metals in a freshwater lake system in Indian Himalaya: Distribution and influencing factors

Researchers found widespread microplastic contamination in both the water and sediments of Manasbal Lake in the Indian Himalayas, with concentrations up to 4,020 particles per kilogram of sediment. Domestic sewage was identified as the primary source, and the microplastics were found alongside elevated levels of heavy metals like lead. This co-contamination is concerning because microplastics can absorb and transport heavy metals, potentially increasing toxic exposure for communities that depend on the lake.

2024 Emerging contaminants 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination and risk assessment in the biotic and abiotic components of freshwater Manasbal Lake, western Himalaya, India

Researchers assessed microplastic abundance and characteristics across abiotic and biotic compartments of Manasbal Lake in the western Himalayas, finding that MPs are pervasive even in remote mountain catchments and presenting risk assessment data for this understudied high-altitude freshwater ecosystem.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination and risk assessment in the biotic and abiotic components of freshwater Manasbal Lake, western Himalaya, India

Researchers assessed microplastic abundance and characteristics across abiotic and biotic compartments of Manasbal Lake in the western Himalayas, finding that MPs are pervasive even in remote mountain catchments and presenting risk assessment data for this understudied high-altitude freshwater ecosystem.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Microplastic and heavy metal contamination in sediments of the high-altitude Nundkol Lake of northwestern Himalayas-Kashmir

Researchers found both heavy metals and microplastics in the sediment of a remote high-altitude glacial lake in the Himalayas, with microplastic levels averaging 76 particles per kilogram of dry sediment — predominantly plastic fibers from nylon. The contamination is likely linked to tourism, trekking, and fishing activities in what was once considered a pristine wilderness area.

2024 Environmental Pollution and Management 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and characteristics of microplastics and phthalate esters from a freshwater lake system in Lesser Himalayas

Researchers surveyed a freshwater lake system in the Indian Himalayas and found microplastics in all water and sediment samples, with concentrations highest near areas of human activity. They also detected phthalate esters, chemical additives commonly found in plastics, at levels that correlated with microplastic abundance. The study provides the first evidence of significant microplastic and associated chemical contamination in this relatively remote Himalayan freshwater ecosystem.

2021 Chemosphere 128 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution and characteristics of microplastics and associated contaminants from mid-altitude lake in NW Himalaya

Researchers documented microplastic contamination and associated phthalate esters in Rewalsar Lake in the Northwest Himalayas, demonstrating that even remote mid-altitude freshwater lakes are significantly affected by microplastic pollution.

2023 Chemosphere 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination and risk assessment in the biotic and abiotic components of freshwater Manasbal Lake, western Himalaya, India

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in both abiotic (water, sediment) and biotic (fish, invertebrates) components of Manasbal Lake in the western Himalaya, India, providing one of the first combined assessments of microplastic distribution in a remote mountain lake ecosystem. The study characterised microplastic abundance, morphology, and polymer types across compartments and conducted ecological risk assessments, finding measurable contamination despite the lake's remote location.

2025 ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the high-altitude Himalayas: Assessment of microplastic contamination in freshwater lake sediments, Northwest Himalaya (India)

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in sediments of freshwater Anchar Lake in the Kashmir Himalayas, finding an average of 606 particles per kilogram dominated by polyamide fibers, with domestic wastewater and textile sources identified as primary contributors.

2021 Chemosphere 166 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

Identification, characterization, and quantification of microplastics in water and sediments of high-altitude Himalayan Dal Lake

Scientists found tiny plastic particles called microplastics in both the water and bottom sediments of Dal Lake, a high-altitude lake in the Himalayas. This discovery is concerning because it shows plastic pollution has reached even remote mountain areas, and these microscopic plastic pieces can enter our food chain through fish and drinking water. The findings suggest that microplastic contamination is more widespread than previously thought, potentially affecting water sources that communities depend on for drinking and fishing.

2026 Environmental Research Water
Article Tier 2

Lake sediments act as a sink of microplastics in the High-Altitude Himalayan Dal Lake, India

Researchers quantified microplastic concentrations in surface water and sediments of Dal Lake, a high-altitude Himalayan urban lake in India at 1,583 meters elevation, finding sediment concentrations up to nearly 13,000 particles per kilogram dry weight and concluding that lake sediments act as a long-term sink for microplastic accumulation.

2025
Article Tier 2

Distribution and characteristics of microplastics and phthalate esters from a freshwater lake system in Lesser Himalayas

Researchers investigated microplastics and phthalate ester contamination in freshwater lakes of the Lesser Himalayas in India, detecting MPs in all water and sediment samples at concentrations ranging from 2 to 64 particles per liter alongside co-occurring chemical plasticizers.

2022 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Additional file 1 of Microplastic contamination and risk assessment in the biotic and abiotic components of freshwater Manasbal Lake, western Himalaya, India

Researchers provided supplementary material supporting an assessment of microplastic contamination and ecological risk in both biotic and abiotic components of freshwater Manasbal Lake in the western Himalaya, India.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Additional file 1 of Microplastic contamination and risk assessment in the biotic and abiotic components of freshwater Manasbal Lake, western Himalaya, India

Researchers provided supplementary material supporting an assessment of microplastic contamination and ecological risk in both biotic and abiotic components of freshwater Manasbal Lake in the western Himalaya, India.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Microplastic assessment in remote and high mountain lakes of Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in eight remote, high-altitude lakes in the mountains of northern Pakistan, finding plastic particles in both water and sediment at all locations. Despite the lakes being far from major population centers, microplastics were present at measurable levels, likely transported by wind and water from lower elevations. The contamination of these pristine mountain lakes is concerning because they serve as water sources for local communities.

2024 Chemosphere 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in environmental matrices of multi-basin Dal Lake, Kashmir

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination across water, sediment, and fish in Dal Lake, Kashmir, and found that sediments contained far higher concentrations than water or fish tissue. Polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene were the most common plastic types identified, with finer sediment particles trapping more microplastics. Ecological risk assessments indicated moderate pollution levels, raising concerns about this popular freshwater ecosystem.

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

Pollution status of microplastics in the sediments of warm monomictic Dal lake, India: Abundance, composition, and risk assessment

Researchers conducted the first investigation of microplastic contamination in the sediments of Dal Lake in Jammu and Kashmir, India. They found concentrations ranging from 503 to over 3,000 particles per kilogram, with the highest levels occurring in spring, and identified multiple polymer types with polyester and polyethylene being most common. The study establishes baseline pollution data for this ecologically important lake and highlights the seasonal patterns of microplastic accumulation.

2024 Environmental Pollution 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence, fate and removal of microplastics as heavy metal vector in natural wastewater treatment wetland system

Researchers studied microplastic contamination in a natural wastewater treatment wetland system in Eastern India, finding high concentrations in both water and sediments along with toxic heavy metals adsorbed onto the plastic particles. The study found that microplastics acted as vectors for heavy metal contamination in fish and that the treatment ponds removed approximately 53% of surface water microplastics, highlighting the need to account for microplastic pollution in natural wastewater treatment systems.

2021 Water Research 262 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in lacustrine sediments in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Current status and transfer mechanisms

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in lacustrine sediments across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, finding abundances ranging from 17 to 2,644 items/kg dry weight and identifying atmospheric deposition and river transport as key transfer mechanisms to these remote high-altitude lakes.

2022 China Geology 7 citations
Article Tier 2

First incidence of microplastic in commercially important food fishes and waters: A case study in the dal Lake ecosystem of North-Western Himalaya (India)

Researchers found microplastics for the first time in commercially important fish and water from Dal Lake in India's Himalayas, with water containing about 197 particles per liter and fish harboring up to 22 particles each. Polyethylene was the most common plastic type found, and the presence of microplastics in food fish indicates these particles are moving up the food chain toward human consumers.

2025 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics abundance in abiotic and biotic components along aquatic food chain in two freshwater ecosystems of Pakistan

Researchers quantified microplastic abundance across multiple trophic levels in two Pakistani freshwater ecosystems, finding evidence of bioaccumulation along the food chain from water and sediment through invertebrates to fish species.

2022 Chemosphere 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Unveiling microplastic pollution in Rawal Lake: Assessment and treatment in different environmental compartments

Researchers quantified and characterized microplastics in water, sediments, and fish from Rawal Lake in Pakistan, finding widespread contamination across all environmental compartments. The study also evaluated magnetic extraction and chemical coagulation as treatment approaches for removing microplastics from water, identifying effective removal pathways.

2025 Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the himalayan glaciers: a looming environmental threat

This review assessed microplastic contamination detected in Himalayan glaciers, highlighting the threat these particles pose to a critical freshwater source. The presence of microplastics in such remote, high-altitude ecosystems underscores how far airborne and atmospheric transport can carry pollution.

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

Adsorption of trace metals by microplastic pellets in fresh water

Researchers measured the adsorption of trace metals by microplastic pellets in freshwater, finding that pellets accumulate metals from the surrounding water, potentially concentrating metals and altering their bioavailability to aquatic organisms.

2015 Environmental Chemistry 554 citations