Microplastic pollution: threat to Indian river system

Abstract

Recently, there has been global concern about the occurrence of microplastics (MPs) and their associated ill effects on natural ecosystems. These MPs have detrimental effects on the aquatic biota and possible hazards to human health also. Hence, they have been included in the class of “contaminant of emerging concern” (CEC). They are being studied widely in the marine environment; their sources, fate, and ill-effects to marine life also. Recently it has been considered that rivers of the developed and developing countries, especially India and China, are the biggest sources of plastic pollution to the marine environment. However, till now very little data exists on the inland freshwater ecosystems. This paper reviews the occurrence and distribution of MPs in the inland open waters of India. It was found that MPs occurence are heavily studied in the coastal ecosystem of India. Although, freshwater ecosystems, like lakes, rivers and reservoirs are not touched. Only few rivers like Ganga, Netravathi, Sabarmati are studied for their MPs contamination. The study in the Ganga river showed that MPs load is less as compared to other reported rivers. It was also found that the MPs level in Ganga sediment is correlated with different pollution parameters viz. total phosphate, specific conductivity, and BOD.