Spatiotemporal Meta-Analysis and Risk Assessment of Microplastic Abundance in Indian Freshwater Systems (2015–2025)

Ankita Jaiswal¹, Vaishnavi Chaubey², Surinder Deswal³

^1,2Student, Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra, Kurukshetra, India.

³Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra, Kurukshetra, India. 

Abstract

This study presents a systematic meta-analysis of microplastic (MP) abundance across Indian freshwater ecosystems, covering research published between 2015 and 2025. The primary objective was to consolidate fragmented data from rivers, lakes, and sediments to identify national pollution hotspots and determine how urbanization influences plastic loads. Following PRISMA guidelines, data was extracted from Google Scholar and ScienceDirect. The study focuses on MP concentrations, polymer types (PE, PP, PVC), and particle morphology, utilizing Pearson’s r correlation and the Pollution Load Index (PLI) to standardize and compare contamination levels across different geographical regions and environmental matrices. The findings reveal that MP concentrations in surface waters range from 0.03 to over 28,000 particles/m³. Major river systems traversing industrial and densely populated areas, such as the Ganga, Yamuna, and Adyar, show significantly higher loads than rural or high-altitude sites. A strong positive correlation (r > 0.75) was identified between MP abundance and local population density, with urban stretches exhibiting loads 10 to 50 times higher than upstream locations. Morphologically, fibers are the dominant shape, accounting for 60–90% of the total count in major river basins, implicating untreated domestic sewage as a primary source. Furthermore, while low-density polymers prevail in surface waters, high-density polymers like PVC are prevalent in sediments, posing extreme ecological risks. This research establishes a critical baseline for India’s freshwater plastic crisis, providing the data necessary for future environmental policy and standardized management strategies. The findings directly inform SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water) by highlighting urgent needs for improved wastewater treatment and plastic waste reduction.       

Keywords: Microplastics, Freshwater ecosystem, Meta-analysis, Comparative analysis, Risk assessment, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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