Assessment of pollution and risks associated with microplastics in the riverine sediments of the Western Ghats: a heritage site in southern India.

ABSTRACT: There is very little knowledge on microplastic pollution in the Western Ghats (WG), a heritage site in southwest India. To address this, we have studied the spatiotemporal variations of sedimentary microplastics (MPs) from the River Sharavathi, a pristine river in the Western Ghats (WG), southern India. The rich biodiversity in the region makes it relevant to analyse the distribution of this emerging pollutant that is causing harm to the biota and the ecosystem. We analysed the sedimentological and carbon content (organic and inorganic) of these sediments and explored their relationship with MPs. Finally, risk assessment indices such as the Pollution Load Index (PLI), the Polymer Hazard Index (PHI), and the Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI) were calculated to detect the levels of plas

SUBMITTER: Amrutha K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10017654 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature