Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Plastic driven pollution in Pakistan: the first evidence of environmental exposure to microplastic in sediments and water of Rawal Lake

This study provides the first evidence of microplastic contamination in a freshwater body in Pakistan, examining surface water and sediments of Rawal Lake near Islamabad. Researchers found microplastics in both water and sediment samples, with fibers and fragments being the most common types, composed primarily of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester. The study suggests that high population density, improper waste disposal, and recreational activities are the main drivers of contamination.

2020 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 173 citations
Article Tier 2

Comprehensive analysis of spatial distribution of microplastics in Rawal Lake, Pakistan using trawl net and sieve sampling methods

Researchers conducted a comprehensive spatial analysis of microplastics in Rawal Lake, Pakistan, finding that sampling methodology significantly influences microplastic counts and revealing widespread contamination across tributaries, settlement areas, and fishing zones.

2022 Chemosphere 37 citations
Article Tier 2

An unintended challenge of microplastic pollution in the urban surface water system of Lahore, Pakistan

Researchers conducted the first investigation of microplastic pollution in the urban freshwater systems of Lahore, Pakistan, sampling surface water and sediments from drains and canals of the Ravi River and finding highest microplastic concentrations in heavily polluted sullage carriers.

2020 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 104 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

Microplastic Pollution in Surface Waters and Sediments of Urban Lake

This book chapter reviews microplastic pollution in urban lake surface waters and sediments, describing sources, distribution patterns, and the ecological consequences of MP accumulation in these widely used but understudied freshwater habitats.

2025
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

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

First evidence of microplastics in surface water of urban waterbodies in Bhopal city, India- abundance and their characteristics

Researchers documented the first evidence of microplastics in surface water of urban waterbodies in Bhopal, India, characterizing particle abundance, morphology, and polymer composition across multiple sites and identifying nearby plastic waste disposal as the primary source.

2025 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in major urban lakes of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in three major urban lakes in Dhaka, Bangladesh, finding plastic particles in the water, sediment, and fish at all sites. The dominant plastics were common consumer types like polyethylene and PVC, with sizes mostly under 100 micrometers. Since these lakes are in a densely populated urban area, the findings raise concerns about microplastic exposure for the local population through both water and fish consumption.

2023 Heliyon 75 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment and treatment of microplastics in different environmental compartments of Kallar Kahar Lake—a case study

Researchers quantified and characterized microplastics in surface water, sediments, and fish from Kallar Kahar Lake in Punjab, Pakistan, and tested magnetization and coagulation-flocculation as removal methods. Both treatments reduced MP concentrations in water samples, providing early data on freshwater MP pollution in Pakistan and demonstrating accessible treatment options for lake water management.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in major urban wetlands of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Microplastics were found in water, sediment, and fish from three major urban lakes in Dhaka, Bangladesh, with concentrations ranging from 0 to 9 items per liter in water samples. Fibers were the most common type across all matrices, pointing to textile washing and wastewater discharge as key local sources.

2022 8 citations
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 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

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

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

The measurement of microplastics in surface water and their impact on histopathological structures in wading birds of district Lahore

Researchers measured microplastic pollution in surface water around Lahore, Pakistan, and examined its effects on local wading birds. The Ravi River had the highest contamination, with over 5,000 particles per cubic meter, and birds living near these waters showed tissue damage in multiple organs. This study demonstrates that microplastic pollution in urban waterways can harm wildlife and may indicate broader risks for communities relying on these water sources.

2025 Frontiers in Toxicology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Sources, concentrations, distributions, fluxes and fate of microplastics in a hypersaline lake: Maharloo, south-west Iran

Researchers investigated microplastic sources, concentrations, distributions, and fate in the hypersaline Maharloo Lake in southwest Iran and its inflowing anthropogenically impacted rivers, finding river microplastic concentrations ranging from 0.05 MP/L in headwaters to approximately 2 MP/L downstream of industrial effluents. The study provides one of the first assessments of microplastic dynamics in a hypersaline lake ecosystem.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 34 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

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

Microplastics in water, sediments, and fish at Alpine River, originating from the Hindu Kush Mountain, Pakistan: implications for conservation

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in water, sediments, and fish from the Swat River in Pakistan, originating from the Hindu Kush Mountains. The study found microplastics present across all sample types, even in this relatively remote mountain river system, with concentrations linked to municipal and industrial discharges along the river.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Flowing into Lake Winnipeg: Densities, Sources, Flux, and Fish Exposures

Researchers characterised microplastics flowing into Lake Winnipeg from upstream rivers, determining densities, sources, and flux rates and assessing fish exposure, finding that riverine inputs are a significant pathway delivering microplastics to this large freshwater lake.

2017 18 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

Risk assessment of microplastic pollution in urban lakes and peripheral Rivers of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Researchers assessed microplastic abundance and ecological risk in urban lake and river surface water and sediments across Dhaka, Bangladesh. Microplastics were detected at all 19 sites, with polymer hazard quotients indicating elevated ecological risk, particularly in heavily urbanized and industrialized locations.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 67 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics in water and sediment of a highly urbanized lake ecosystem in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Researchers sampled water and sediment from an urbanized lake in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and found microplastics predominantly consisting of polyethylene followed by PET, with small fragments and transparent particles most common. This study provides baseline data on freshwater microplastic pollution in an understudied East African ecosystem.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 2 citations