Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastics, their abundance, and distribution in water and sediments in North Chennai, India: An assessment of pollution risk and human health impacts

Researchers analyzed microplastic pollution in water and sediment samples from North Chennai, India, finding contamination at all sampling sites. Landfills, densely populated areas, and tourist spots had the highest concentrations, with pollution risk levels ranging from low to extremely high. The presence of microplastics in lake water used for drinking purposes is a concern for human health in the region.

2024 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination Analysis For Chennai Coastal Region

A survey of microplastic contamination at 25 sites along the Tamil Nadu (Chennai) coastline of India found widespread contamination from multiple sources. The findings document the scale of microplastic pollution in a major coastal region and highlight the need for local management interventions.

2023 Applied Environmental Biotechnology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro-plastic pollution along the Bay of Bengal coastal stretch of Tamil Nadu, South India

Researchers quantified microplastic particles in water column, wet sediment, and dry sand samples from Marina Beach, Chennai, India — one of the world longest urban beaches — using optical microscopy. Fibrous microplastics were dominant across all matrices (52-79%), with concentrations indicating significant pollution along this heavily urbanised coastline.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 80 citations
Article Tier 2

Urbanization increases microplastic pollution in beach sediments along the Chennai Coast, South India

Surveys of beaches in China found that microplastic concentrations rise with proximity to urban areas, with higher urbanization correlating with more fragments and pellets in sediments. The findings underscore how human population density directly drives coastal microplastic pollution levels.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro Plastic Contamination in Cooum River Sediment: a Case Study from Chennai, India

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in sediments from the Cooum River in Chennai, India, finding widespread contamination with diverse polymer types and identifying textile waste and urban runoff as dominant local sources.

2024
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in Indian rural and urban lacustrine ecosystems

Researchers surveyed 39 rural and urban lakes across Tamil Nadu, India, for microplastic contamination and found particles present in water and sediment samples from every lake studied. Urban lakes had significantly higher microplastic concentrations than rural ones, with fibers being the most common particle shape across all sites. The study provides one of the most comprehensive assessments of freshwater microplastic pollution in India, revealing that even relatively remote lakes are not free from contamination.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Contamination, morphological and chemical characterization, and hazard risk analyses of microplastics in drinking water sourced from groundwater in a developing nation

Researchers analyzed groundwater from six coastal districts in a developing nation and found widespread microplastic contamination, with fibers and fragments of polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common types. Since groundwater is the primary drinking water source in many developing countries, this contamination represents a direct pathway for microplastic ingestion by millions of people.

2024 Frontiers in Environmental Science 20 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

Patterns and variability in the microplastic contamination along the southwest coast of India with emphasis on submarine groundwater discharge sites

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in beach sediments along the southwest coast of India, including submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) sites, finding average loads of 230 particles per 100 g dominated by blue polyethylene fibers. Both SGD and non-SGD sites showed microplastic contamination, with SGD zones potentially acting as conduits for microplastics from groundwater to the coast.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of Microplastic Contamination in the Sediments of Adyar River, Chennai: Distribution and Source Identification

This study assessed microplastic contamination in sediments of the Adyar River in Chennai, India, documenting spatial distribution patterns, dominant polymer types including polyethylene and polypropylene, and identifying probable sources through correlation with land use.

2024
Article Tier 2

Microplastics' occurrence, distribution, and chemical toxicity in backwater sediments from Puducherry Coast, Southeast India

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in sediment cores from three sites along India's Puducherry coast, finding over 100 microplastic particles per square centimeter near the surface — with fibers and fragments made of PE, PP, and PET being most common — and high pollution risk scores at all sites.

2025 Kuwait Journal of Science 2 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

Exploring the presence and distribution of microplastics in subterranean estuaries from southwest India

Researchers explored microplastic distribution in subterranean estuaries of southwest India, finding microplastics in pore water, groundwater, and seawater with fibers as the dominant shape, revealing a previously understudied pathway for plastic contamination.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Prevalence and characteristics of microplastics present in the street dust collected from Chennai metropolitan city, India

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in street dust from 16 locations across Chennai, India, in the first study of its kind from the country. They found an average of about 228 microplastic particles per hundred grams of street dust, with fibers being overwhelmingly the most common type at over 92 percent. The study identifies urban street dust as a significant reservoir and transport medium for microplastic pollution in densely populated cities.

2020 Chemosphere 161 citations
Article Tier 2

An Investigation on Microplastics at Wastewater Confluence Points in the Southern Coastal Regions of Tamil Nadu, India

A survey of 16 wastewater samples at mixing points near Tamil Nadu's southern coast found microplastic concentrations between 20 and 51 particles per liter, with polyethylene being the dominant polymer type at 45%. Fibers were the most common shape, pointing to domestic textile waste as a key source alongside industrial discharge. The study highlights wastewater effluent as a major pathway delivering microplastics into coastal marine ecosystems.

2024 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and distribution of subsurface microfibres and seabed macrolitter in Thoothukudi, Gulf of Mannar, South-east coast of India

This study measured the abundance and distribution of microfibers and larger plastic litter in coastal waters and seafloor sediments off Thoothukudi, India, finding widespread contamination. Microfibers were present throughout inshore waters, contributing to the growing body of evidence for plastic contamination along India's coastlines.

2023 Journal of Environmental Biology
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

Characteristics of microplastics in the beach sediments of Marina tourist beach, Chennai, India

Researchers conducted the first baseline study of microplastic pollution in beach sediments at Marina and Pattinapakkam beaches in Chennai, India. They identified an average of 459 and 297 microplastic particles at the two sites respectively, with polyethylene being the dominant polymer type. The study suggests that both human activities and natural coastal processes contribute to microplastic accumulation at these popular tourist beaches.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigation of microplastic contamination in the sediments of Noyyal River- Southern India

Researchers documented microplastic contamination across 15 sites in the urban Noyyal River in southern India, finding concentrations up to 6,500 particles per cubic meter in dried sediments, with fragments and fibers in a variety of colors the most common forms.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigation of microplastic pollution index in the urban surface water: A case study in west Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India

Researchers found microplastics in surface water and water treatment plants in the West Godavari region of India, with common types including polypropylene and PVC. Risk assessments showed that the type of plastic polymer poses a greater health risk than the amount of microplastics present. The study estimated daily, annual, and lifetime intake levels for people using these water sources.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and characterization of microplastics in beach sand from three different Indian coastal environments

Beach sands from three locations on the Indian coast were analyzed for microplastics, finding concentrations of 45–220 particles/kg dry sand with polyethylene (43%) as the dominant polymer, followed by PET and polystyrene. The study establishes baseline contamination data for Indian beaches and demonstrates consistent polymer profiles across geographically distinct coastal environments.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 432 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecological footprint of microplastics in coastal and estuarine environments of India: Sediment-water interface analysis

This study mapped microplastic pollution across 16 coastal and estuarine sites along India's coastline, finding contamination everywhere with concentrations varying based on local human activities like port operations, tourism, and fishing. The microplastics were mostly small fibers and fragments under 500 micrometers, and certain plastic types were especially good at absorbing heavy metals. This means microplastics in coastal waters serve as carriers that can transport toxic metals into the seafood chain and ultimately into human diets.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 5 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

Occurrence, characterization, and source delineation of microplastics in the coastal waters and shelf sediments of the central east coast of India, Bay of Bengal

This study characterized microplastics in surface water and shelf sediments along 1,200 km of India's east coast, finding average concentrations of 5.3 million particles per square kilometer in surface water and 209 particles per kilogram in sediments. Fibers dominated surface water while fragments dominated sediments, with riverine inputs and fishing activities identified as primary sources.

2022 Chemosphere 56 citations