Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

‘‘Spatial distribution, abundance, and risk assessment of microplastics in the surface water of Kaptai Lake: Southeast Asia's largest artificial reservoir’’

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in Kaptai Lake, Southeast Asia's largest artificial reservoir, finding concentrations up to 683 particles per cubic meter of water. Polyethylene and PET were the most common plastic types, and risk assessments indicated serious contamination levels. The findings are concerning because the lake serves local communities for drinking water and fishing, creating direct pathways for human microplastic exposure.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination in Water and Sediment at Maninjau Lake, Indonesia

Researchers quantified microplastic contamination in surface water and sediment across 10 locations in Maninjau Lake, Indonesia, finding abundances ranging from 65.63 to 195.31 particles/m3 in water and 199.52 to 7,000 particles/kg dry weight in sediment. Fiber, film, fragment, and granule shapes were identified, highlighting contamination risks to a lake critical for water supply, hydroelectric energy, and aquaculture.

2025 ASM Science Journal
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Distribution of Microplastics from Nepal’s Second Largest Lake

Researchers conducted the first microplastic survey of Phewa Lake in Nepal, finding an average of 55–122.5 microplastic items per kilogram of sediment, with fiber shapes and polypropylene polymers dominating, and highest concentrations near densely populated shorelines.

2022 Water Air & Soil Pollution 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in Waters and Sediments in a Lentic System: A Case Study in a Tropical Wet Urban Lake of Samarinda, Indonesia

Researchers sampled water and sediment from a tropical urban lake in Samarinda, Indonesia, finding microplastic contamination at all 10 sampling sites with an average of 0.91 particles per litre in water and 375 particles per kilogram in sediment. Fibres — likely from textiles — dominated in both water and sediment, and polyethylene was the most common polymer identified. The study highlights how urban lakes in rapidly developing tropical cities are becoming significant repositories of microplastic pollution, driven by inadequate waste management infrastructure.

2025 Lakes & Reservoirs Science Policy and Management for Sustainable Use 1 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

Microplastics in freshwater lakes: A case study from Southern India

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in Vellayani Lake, a major drinking water source in southern India, and found particles present across all sampling sites and seasons. Fibers were the most common shape, with polyethylene and polypropylene as the dominant polymer types, likely originating from domestic wastewater and fishing activities. The study highlights the need for monitoring microplastic pollution in freshwater lakes that serve as critical drinking water supplies.

2024 Geosystems and Geoenvironment 15 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

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

Sediment-associated microplastics in Chilika lake, India: Highlighting their prevalence, polymer types, possible sources, and ecological risks

Scientists surveyed microplastic contamination in the sediments of Chilika Lake, India, finding 440 particles per kilogram across 22 sites, with polyethylene being the most common type. Fibers and fragments were the dominant shapes, likely originating from fishing activities, tourism, and nearby urban areas. Since Chilika Lake supports important fisheries, this microplastic contamination raises concerns about exposure for both the aquatic ecosystem and the people who depend on the lake for food and livelihood.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 42 citations
Article Tier 2

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

This study characterized microplastic abundance and composition in Kumaraswamy Lake, a freshwater body in India, mapping spatial distribution and calculating a pollution load index to assess the extent and risk of microplastic contamination.

2023 Research Square (Research Square) 4 citations
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 pollution in sediments of tropical shallow lakes

Researchers found microplastics in all sediment samples from 48 tropical shallow lakes across a climatic gradient, with fibres dominating over fragments and polyester being the most common polymer, indicating widespread plastic contamination even in inland freshwater ecosystems.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 31 citations
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

Global microplastic contamination in freshwater lakes: Spatial patterns, environmental drivers, and methodological challenges

This review systematically analyzed 84 studies covering more than 300 lakes worldwide to assess global microplastic contamination in freshwater lake systems. Surface water MP concentrations ranged from below 0.001 to over 200 MP/L, with fibers and fragments dominating, polyethylene and polypropylene most common, and highest levels found in shallow, lowland, and eutrophic systems near urbanized shorelines.

2025 Environmental Research
Article Tier 2

Characterization and risk assessment of microplastics pollution in Mohamaya Lake, Bangladesh

Researchers characterized microplastic pollution in Mohamaya Lake, Bangladesh, finding concentrations of 20-95 particles per liter in water and 550-1,900 particles per kilogram in sediment. The most common types were fibers and fragments made of polyethylene and polypropylene, likely from fishing activities, tourism, and nearby urban areas. The study's risk assessment indicates that microplastic levels in some areas of the lake could pose ecological risks to aquatic life and potentially to the communities that use the lake for water and food.

2024 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in lakeshore sediments: the first report on abundance and composition of Phewa Lake, Nepal

The first study of microplastic pollution in Phewa Lake sediments in Nepal found an average abundance of 100.5 items per kg dry weight, with fibres dominating at 78% and polypropylene as the main polymer, establishing a baseline for freshwater microplastic research in the country.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems: macro-, meso-, and microplastic debris in a floodplain lake

Researchers surveyed macro-, meso-, and microplastic debris in a South American floodplain lake and found an average of 704 microplastic particles per square meter in sediments, with plastic contamination comparable to marine beaches — demonstrating that freshwater lakes can be major plastic pollution reservoirs.

2017 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 308 citations
Article Tier 2

Seasonal distribution of microplastics and associated ecological risks in a semi-arid freshwater ecosystem in India

Researchers measured microplastic contamination across seasons in a semi-arid lake in northwestern India and found significantly higher levels after the monsoon season compared to before. The most common plastics detected were polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene, mostly in the form of fragments and fibers smaller than 500 micrometers. Risk assessments indicated that about 70% of the lake area faces very high ecological risk from microplastic pollution in both seasons.

2025 Environmental Pollution 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as an emerging threat to the freshwater ecosystems of Veeranam lake in south India: A multidimensional approach

Microplastic contamination in water and soil samples from Veeranam Lake in Tamil Nadu, India was quantified and characterized as a multidimensional assessment of an emerging freshwater pollution threat. The study documented microplastics in both water and surrounding soils, establishing baseline data for a lake region important to local communities.

2020 Chemosphere 167 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
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Global occurrence characteristics, drivers, and environmental risk assessment of microplastics in lakes: A meta-analysis

This meta-analysis of 42 studies found significant heterogeneity in microplastic pollution levels across global lakes, driven by geographical location and sampling methods. Small microplastics (under 1 mm) were disproportionately concentrated in sediment compared to water, and while most lakes showed low overall environmental risk, pollution levels in lake sediments were generally higher than in surrounding water.

2024 Environmental Pollution 44 citations
Article Tier 2

A study of microplastics in water and sediments of Lakes around Dhaka city

Researchers investigated microplastic presence, distribution, and characterization in water and sediment samples from four urban lakes in Dhaka City, Bangladesh (Dhanmondi, Hatirjheel, Gulshan, and Banani), characterizing particles by size, shape, and polymer type via visual identification and FTIR spectroscopy, contributing freshwater microplastic data from an underrepresented South Asian urban setting.

2025 Journal of Environmental Engineering and Science
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

Microplastic pollution – a rising threat along an urban lake in the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, India: abundance and risk exposure

Researchers assessed microplastic pollution in Dharapadavedu Lake in Tamil Nadu, India, finding contamination in both water and sediment samples. Medium-sized microplastics (500-1,000 micrometers) were the most common, with polyethylene and polypropylene as the dominant plastic types. The study highlights the growing microplastic contamination in urban lake ecosystems that communities rely on, raising concerns about water quality and human exposure.

2024 Water Quality Research Journal 10 citations