Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Assessment, characterization, and quantification of microplastics from river sediments

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in sediments from 14 sites along the Kaveri River in South India, characterizing particle types, sizes, and polymer compositions to quantify the extent of microplastic pollution in this freshwater system.

2022 Chemosphere 86 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

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 sediments from urban and suburban rivers: Influence of sediment properties

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in sediments from 12 sites across three Vietnamese rivers in the Red River Delta during dry and rainy seasons, finding concentrations ranging from 1,600 to 94,300 items per kg dry weight. Fiber-dominated microplastic contamination was strongly influenced by sediment properties including grain size and organic carbon content.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence, quantification and characterisation of microplastics in Godavari River, India

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in the Godavari River in India, finding an average of 3.9 particles per liter across six sites, with fibers making up over 80% of particles and polypropylene and polyethylene being the most common polymer types. Urban areas had higher concentrations, and the presence of these plastics in a major river system poses risks to agriculture and human health through contaminated water and food sources.

2023 Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Baseline Study on Microplastics in Indian Rivers under Different Anthropogenic Influences

Researchers collected microplastic samples from Indian rivers under different levels of anthropogenic influence and found MPs in all sites, with concentrations correlating with population density and industrial activity, providing one of the first systematic field datasets for major Indian river systems.

2021 Water 113 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

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

Initial investigation of microplastic pollution in river sediments at Yogyakarta City Indonesia

Researchers conducted an initial investigation of microplastic pollution in river sediments crossing Yogyakarta City in Indonesia, finding microplastics at all sampling sites. Fragment and fiber types dominated, reflecting common plastic pollution sources in this urban environment.

2021 Sustinere Journal of Environment and Sustainability 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in the Chapora River, Goa, Southwest India: spatial distribution and risk assessment

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in the Chapora River in Goa, India, finding concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.47 particles per liter across sampling stations. Fibers were the dominant shape, accounting for over 77% of particles, with polyethylene and polypropylene as the most common polymers. The study suggests that both urban activities and fishing contribute to microplastic contamination in this tropical river system.

2024 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of suspended microplastics in surface waters of Chalakudy River, Kerala, India

Researchers characterized microplastics in surface waters of India's Chalakudy River, finding an average of 55.81 particles per liter dominated by fragments and low-density polyethylene, with smaller particles posing particular risks of accidental ingestion by aquatic organisms.

2023 Chemistry and Ecology 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Textural characteristics and abundance of microplastics in the Nethravati river estuary sediments, south-west Mangalore beach, India

This study characterized microplastics in sediments from the Nethravati River estuary and adjacent beach in southwest India, finding that fibers made up 96% of all particles and polyamide (nylon) was the dominant polymer type at 60%. Secondary microplastics — fragments from the breakdown of larger plastic items — were far more common than primary microplastics. The study highlights how rivers funnel microplastic pollution into coastal zones where it accumulates and threatens marine biodiversity.

2023 Indian Association of Sedimentologists 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Pervasiveness and characteristics of microplastics in surface water and sediment of the Buriganga River, Bangladesh

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in the Buriganga River in Bangladesh, finding concentrations of 4.33 to 43.67 items per liter in surface water, with fibers and fragments as dominant types linked to textile industries and urban waste discharge in the Dhaka megacity.

2022 Chemosphere 80 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination: A Case Study in the Freshwater of Krishna River

Researchers found microplastic contamination in three sites along the Krishna River in India, identifying polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyoxymethylene particles at different pilgrimage locations. The study confirms freshwater microplastic pollution in this important Indian river and demonstrates a sampling approach applicable to future monitoring efforts.

2023 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

Comprehensive study of the microplastic footprint in the urban pond and river of Eastern India

Scientists measured microplastic contamination in an urban river and pond in Eastern India and found concerning levels of 59-100 particles per liter in water and 167-193 particles per gram in sediment, with risk assessments showing crisis-level pollution. The dominant plastics found -- nylon and polyethylene -- come from everyday products, and the high contamination levels in these freshwater sources pose risks to the communities that depend on them.

2025 Scientific Reports 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Contamination and characterization of microplastics in different sediments of the river estuaries (the inner Gulf of Thailand)

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in river estuary sediments in the inner Gulf of Thailand, finding widespread contamination at all sites. The study characterizes the types and abundance of microplastics in a highly trafficked coastal region of Southeast Asia.

2019
Article Tier 2

Recent Investigation of Characterizing, quantifying, and Contamination of Microplastic in the surface water of Adyar River Estuary, Tamil Nadu, India

Researchers examined microplastic identity, characterisation, spatial distribution, and abundance in surface water samples from the Adyar River Estuary in Tamil Nadu, India, finding polyethylene at 52 percent, polypropylene at 32 percent, and polystyrene at 16 percent across 12 sampling sites totalling 82 microplastic items.

2024
Article Tier 2

Characteristics, Contamination Levels, and Ecosystem Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Surface Water of a Highly Urbanized River from a Developing Country

Researchers characterized microplastic contamination in an urban river near a megacity in a developing country, finding concentrations of 350 to 660 particles per cubic meter of water. Polyethylene and polypropylene from household and municipal waste were the most common types, and a risk assessment found concerning contamination levels at several sampling sites. The study highlights how rivers in developing nations can serve as major pathways for microplastics to reach the ocean and enter the food chain.

2024 ACS Omega 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization and Quantification of Microplastics in Surface Water of Shitalakshya River, Bangladesh

Researchers characterized and quantified microplastics in surface water samples from the Shitalakshya River in Bangladesh, finding an average concentration of 1.52 particles per liter. Fibers made up over 68% of particles found, with black being the most common color and polyethylene the dominant polymer type. The findings indicate that this industrial-area river is becoming increasingly contaminated with microplastics, posing ecological risks to the urban river ecosystem.

2025 Dhaka University Journal of Science 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Prevalence of Microplastic Pollution in Freshwater Ecosystem: A Case Study of Thal Canal

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in a freshwater ecosystem in a case study region, measuring particle concentrations and types in water and sediment samples across multiple sites. Microplastics were detected at all sampling locations with higher concentrations near urban areas, and fibres and fragments were the dominant particle morphologies found.

2024 Proceedings of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences B Life and Environmental Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination and ecological risk in a riverine system: A case study from the Valvanti River, Goa, India

Researchers conducted a comprehensive assessment of microplastic contamination in the Valvanti River in Goa, India, finding concentrations ranging from 1.1 to 7.5 particles per liter. Despite moderate concentrations, ecological risk assessments indicated significant hazard levels due to the types of polymers present, with polypropylene, polyamide, and PET as the dominant plastic types.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in water and sediments of Mahanadi River, India: An assessment of ecological risk along rural-urban area

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in the water and sediments of the Mahanadi River estuary in India during pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons. The study found microplastics across all sampling sites, with fibers as the most common shape and polyester as the dominant polymer type, and risk indices indicating very high pollution hazard levels. Evidence indicates that urban runoff and domestic waste are major contributors to microplastic pollution in this coastal river system.

2023 Journal of Environmental Management 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Multifaceted analysis of microplastic pollution dynamics in the Yamuna river: Assessing anthropogenic impacts and ecological consequences

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution across 29 locations along the Yamuna River in India, spanning urban, rural, and industrial zones. They found an average of nearly 15,000 microplastic particles per liter, with hazardous polymers like PET and nylon being most common and concentrations highest near urban and industrial areas. The study highlights that the Yamuna is heavily contaminated with microplastics and that population density and industrial activity are major drivers of this pollution.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 7 citations