International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN. 

Distribution and Characterizations of Microplastics from the Pamba River with special reference to the Pilgrimage season at Sabarimala, Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, South India

    , ,

Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Zoology, Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India
  • 2Department of Zoology, St. Thomas College, Ranni, Kerala, India
  • 3Department of Ocean Studies &Marine Biology, Pondicherry University, Andaman & Nicobar Island, India

Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., Volume 14, Issue (2), Pages 22-28, April,22 (2025)

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in the aquatic environment due to plastic waste proliferation in diverse sectors. Microplastics (MPs) are small particles of plastics with < 5mm in size. Pilgrim centers are also one of the significant sources of microplastic pollution in India. The present study focused on the assessment of MPs in water and sediment along the Pamba River. Pamba is the third longest river in Kerala, (southern Ganga). One of the most important vital riverine systems is a source of food, water, and pilgrim activities. The river is peculiarized, because one of the famous pilgrimage Centres in south India, the Sabarimala is located on the bank of this river. Microplastics were present in the water as well as in sediment samples. The result indicates that the abundance of MPs in water ranges from 116/m3and 66 items/kg in the sediment samples. On characterizing them it shows that most of them are shaped as fibre (77.3%) and in the case of colour patterns dominated by blue (23.3 %) followed by pink (21.5 %), Black (20.9%), violet and transparent (7.09%) respectively. The most abundant type of microplastic present in both the water and sediment samples is polystyrene (51.64%), followed by polypropylene (31.8%) and polyethylene (13.1%). The result shows the presence of microplastics during the pilgrimage season in both water and sediment samples.

References

  1. Sajudeen, P.A. (2014). A study on the Pamba River pollution and its possible treatment strategies. Kottayam: Mahatma Gandhi University. (master’s Thesis, MG University, 2013)., undefined, undefined
  2. Anju B, Thottungal Drissia, P T Nowshaja, (2021), One-dimensional hydrodynamic modeling of Pamba River for identifying the flood vulnerability, 10.1088/1757-899X/1114/1/012023 IOP Conference Series: Materials Science., undefined, undefined
  3. Ahrensberg, N., Bhat, N., Annemieke, A., MacDonald, M., and Chackacherry, G. (2011). Integrated river basin planning: Replicable model based on the Pamba River basin pilot project. EU-India Action Plan Suport,Facility–Environment.(http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/Final_Report_IWRM_Roadmap_Pamba_Pilot_Project_2_0.pdf), undefined, undefined
  4. Municipal solid wastes (management & handling) rules, 2000, Annual report (2000-2001), central pollution control board (ministry of environment & forests) Parivesh Bhawan, East Arjun Nagar, delhi-110 032 March 2002. https://cpcb.nic.in/uploads/MSW/MSW_AnnualReport_2000-01.pdf., undefined, undefined
  5. George, T. H. O. M. A. S., & John, S. K. (2015). Water pollution and its impact rural health. Micro analysis based on River Pompa, Kerala, India. Minor Research Project Report. University Grants Commission, South Block, Bang lore: 55pp., undefined, undefined
  6. Srinivasalu, S., Natesan, U., Ayyamperumal, R., Kalam, N., Anbalagan, S., Sujatha, K., & Alagarasan, C. (2021). Microplastics as an emerging threat to the freshwater ecosystems of Veeranam lake in south India: A multidimensional approach. Chemosphere, 264, 128502., undefined, undefined
  7. Nikki, R., Jaleel, K. A., Ragesh, S., Shini, S., Saha, M., & Kumar, P. D. (2021). Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in commercially important bottom dwelling finfishes and shellfish of the Vembanad Lake, India. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 172, 112803., undefined, undefined
  8. Ganesan, S., Magee, M., Stone, J. E., Mulhall, M. D., Collins, A., Howard, M. E., ... & Sletten, T. L. (2019). The impact of shift work on sleep, alertness and performance in healthcare workers. Scientific reports, 9(1), 4635., undefined, undefined
  9. Cai, Y., Yang, T., Mitrano, D. M., Heuberger, M., Hufenus, R., & Nowack, B. (2020). Systematic study of microplastic fiber release from 12 different polyester textiles during washing. Environmental Science & Technology, 54(8), 4847-4855., undefined, undefined
  10. Hossain, M. J., AftabUddin, S., Akhter, F., Nusrat, N., Rahaman, A., Sikder, M. N. A., ... & Zhang, J. (2022). Surface water, sediment, and biota: the first multi-compartment analysis of microplastics in the Karnafully river, Bangladesh. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 180, 113820., undefined, undefined
  11. Galgani, F., Fleet, D., Van Franeker, J., Katsanevakis, S., Maes, T., Mouat, J., ... & Janssen, C. (2010). Marine strategy framework directive: task group 10 report marine litter (p. 57). Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities., undefined, undefined
  12. Masura, J., Baker, J. E., Foster, G. D., Arthur, C., & Herring, C. (2015). Laboratory methods for the analysis of microplastics in the marine environment: recommendations for quantifying synthetic particles in waters and sediments., undefined, undefined
  13. Proshad, R., Kormoker, T., Islam, M. S., Haque, M. A., Rahman, M. M., & Mithu, M. M. R. (2018). Toxic effects of plastic on human health and environment: A consequences of health risk assessment in Bangladesh. International Journal of Health, 6(1), 1-5., undefined, undefined
  14. American Public Health Association (APHA), American Water Works Association (AWWA), and Water Environment Federation (WEF). (1998). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 20th Edition. United Book Press,Inc., Baltimore, Maryland. Vol (1):1368, undefined, undefined
  15. Sax, L. (2010). Polyethylene terephthalate may yield endocrine disruptors. Environmental health perspectives, 118(4), 445-448., undefined, undefined
  16. Aryanto, A., & Muliohardjo, A. (2023). Effect of macro-synthetic polypropylene fiber on mechanical properties and drying shrinkage cracking of self-consolidating concrete. Geomate Journal, 24(101), 60-67., undefined, undefined
  17. Seltenrich, N., (2015). New link in the food chain? Marine plastic pollution and seafood safety. Environmental Health Perspectives 123 (2), A34eA41. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.123-A34., undefined, undefined
  18. Hwang, J., Choi, D., Han, S., Choi, J., & Hong, J. (2019). An assessment of the toxicity of polypropylene microplastics in human derived cells. Science of the Total Environment, 684, 657-669., undefined, undefined
  19. Radulovic, L. L., & Wojcinski, Z. W. (2024). PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene; Teflon®)., undefined, undefined
  20. Thacharodi, A., Hassan, S., Meenatchi, R., Bhat, M. A., Hussain, N., Arockiaraj, J., ... & Pugazhendhi, A. (2024). Mitigating microplastic pollution: A critical review on the effects, remediation, and utilization strategies of microplastics. Journal of Environmental Management, 351, 119988., undefined, undefined
  21. Song, Q., Zhang, Y., Ju, C., Zhao, T., Meng, Q., & Cong, J. (2024). Microbial strategies for effective microplastics biodegradation: insights and innovations in environmental remediation. Environmental Research, 120046, undefined, undefined
  22. Mahmud, A., Wasif, M. M., Roy, H., Mehnaz, F., Ahmed, T., Pervez, M. N., ... & Islam, M. S. (2022). Aquatic microplastic pollution control strategies: sustainable degradation techniques, resource recovery, and recommendations for Bangladesh. Water, 14(23), 3968., undefined, undefined