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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Assessment of microplastic contamination in the Karnali River: A baseline study in remote region of western Nepal
ClearMicroplastics 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.
Assessment of Microplastics in Hanumante River of Kathmandu Valley
Researchers found 14–23 microplastic particles per liter in water samples from the Hanumante River in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley, with polyethylene, polypropylene, and polycarbonate identified as the dominant polymer types. The contamination reflects poor plastic waste management in the surrounding communities, as the river receives untreated runoff and waste. The study underscores the need for improved waste infrastructure in rapidly urbanizing South Asian cities to prevent rivers from becoming conduits for microplastic pollution.
Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in a freshwater river in northwestern Himalayas, India - Scenario of riverbank solid waste disposal sites
Researchers measured microplastic contamination in the Jhelum River in the Himalayas near garbage dump sites, finding an average of about 1,474 particles per cubic meter. Fibers and fragments from everyday plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene were the most common types found. The study shows that even remote freshwater sources used for drinking and irrigation are contaminated with microplastics, raising concerns for the communities that depend on them.
An Evaluation of Microplastics Contamination in Narayani River
Researchers examined microplastic contamination in the Narayani River, one of Nepal's major drainage systems, collecting surface water samples from five locations spanning seven kilometers from upstream of a cremation site to downstream of a landfill, and extracting MPs using NOAA-referenced protocols.
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.
Microplastic pollution in the rivers of the Tibet Plateau
Researchers collected water and sediment samples from rivers on the Tibet Plateau and found microplastic contamination even in this remote, sparsely populated region. The microplastics included fibers and fragments from synthetic textiles and packaging, likely transported by atmospheric deposition and human activity along river corridors. The study demonstrates that microplastic pollution has reached some of the most isolated freshwater systems on Earth.
Microplastic pollution in two remote rivers of Türkiye
Researchers documented microplastic pollution in two remote rivers of Turkey, finding that even waterways far from major urban centers contain significant microplastic contamination, highlighting the widespread reach of plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems.
Distribution of Microplastic Contamination in Sapta-Gandaki River System, Nepal
This study documented the spatiotemporal distribution of microplastics in Nepal's Sapta-Gandaki River — the country's second largest river — from its Himalayan headwaters to the lowland plains. The research addresses a significant gap in data quality for Himalayan transboundary rivers and shows that microplastic contamination reaches even remote high-altitude freshwater systems.
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.
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.
Large-scale monitoring and risk assessment of microplastics in the Amazon River
Researchers conducted the largest microplastic monitoring study in the Amazon River, sampling 40 sites across 1,500 kilometers. Microplastics were found everywhere, with urban streams near cities showing concentrations up to 1,000 times higher than the main river. This study confirms that even remote freshwater ecosystems like the Amazon are contaminated with microplastics, which could affect the fish and water that local communities depend on.
Fate, transport, and source of microplastics in the headwaters of the Yangtze River on the Tibetan Plateau
Researchers studied microplastic pollution in the headwaters of the Yangtze River on the remote Tibetan Plateau. They found microplastics present even in this isolated region, with higher concentrations in tributaries than the main river channel. The findings suggest that microplastic contamination has reached some of the most remote freshwater sources on Earth.
Microplastics pollution in the river Karnaphuli: a preliminary study on a tidal confluence river in the southeast coast of Bangladesh
Researchers found high concentrations of microplastics in the surface water and sediments of Bangladesh's Karnaphuli River, with downstream areas showing the greatest abundance, fibers as the dominant type, and polyethylene terephthalate as the most common polymer.
Investigating the Occurrence of Riverine Microplastic Pollution in Western Himalayan region
Scientists found tiny plastic particles called microplastics in rivers throughout the western Himalayan mountains, even in remote areas far from cities. These microscopic plastic pieces are flowing downstream from high mountain areas toward lower regions where millions of people get their drinking water. This matters because microplastics can potentially harm human health when they get into our water supply, and this study shows that even pristine mountain areas aren't safe from plastic pollution.
Microplastics in the Koshi River, a remote alpine river crossing the Himalayas from China to Nepal
Researchers investigated microplastic pollution in the Koshi River, a remote alpine river that flows from China through the Himalayas to Nepal. They found an average of 202 microplastic particles per cubic meter in water and 58 per kilogram in sediment, with fibers and fragments being the most common types. The study demonstrates that even rivers in remote, high-altitude regions are not free from microplastic contamination, likely due to atmospheric deposition and upstream human activities.
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.
Microplastic pollution characteristics and its future perspectives in the Tibetan Plateau
Researchers reviewed microplastic pollution on the Tibetan Plateau, one of the most remote places on Earth, and found plastic particles in rivers, lakes, soil, snow, and even the atmosphere near Mount Everest. While concentrations are lower than in populated areas, the presence of microplastics in such a remote region shows how far these pollutants can travel through air and water currents. The findings underscore that microplastic contamination is truly a global problem with no pristine environments left untouched.
Microplastic pollution in the Himalayas: Occurrence, distribution, accumulation and environmental impacts
This review documents microplastic contamination throughout the Himalayan region, from mountain glaciers and rivers to remote high-altitude locations. Microplastics reach these areas through wind, precipitation, tourism waste, and river transport, and can become trapped in glacial ice before being released during snowmelt. The findings show that even one of the most remote places on Earth is not free from microplastic pollution, with implications for the billions of people who depend on Himalayan rivers for drinking water.
Occurrence of microplastics in the headwaters of Yellow River on the Tibetan Plateau: Source analysis and ecological risk assessment
Researchers documented microplastic contamination in the headwaters of the Yellow River on the Tibetan Plateau, a remote area often considered pristine. They found polypropylene and polyester particles to be the most common types, with sources linked to both local human activities and atmospheric transport. The study suggests that even remote high-altitude ecosystems are not immune to microplastic pollution and face associated ecological risks.
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.
The distribution of microplastics in water, sediment, and fish of the Dafeng River, a remote river in China
Microplastics were detected in surface water, sediment, and fish of the remote Dafeng River in Guangxi, China -- a habitat of the nationally protected pink dolphin -- demonstrating that microplastic contamination reaches even remote river systems far from major urban and industrial centers.
Environmental fate of microplastics in high-altitude basins: the insights into the Yarlung Tsangpo River Basin
Researchers mapped microplastic pollution across the Yarlung Tsangpo River Basin in Tibet, finding contamination in water, sediment, and soil even in remote high-altitude areas. Below 4,000 meters, human activity was the main source, while above 4,500 meters, microplastics arrived through the atmosphere. The study shows that microplastic pollution has reached some of Earth's most remote regions, meaning no freshwater source is truly free from contamination.
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.
Microplastic accumulation in water from protected areas in Western Forest Complex of Thailand
Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems within protected areas of Thailand's Western Forest Complex. The study found microplastics present in nearly 99% of water samples, predominantly as fibers, with polyethylene and polypropylene among the most common polymer types, suggesting that even remote protected areas are not immune to microplastic pollution.