Microplastics research in Nepal: Present scenario and current gaps in knowledge.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Ecotoxicology
• Pollution Research

Background:

• Microplastic pollution is a growing global concern.
• Scholarly interest in microplastics has significantly increased recently.
• Research on microplastics in Nepal is in its initial phase.

Purpose of the Study:

• To overview the current state of microplastic pollution research in Nepal.
• To identify research gaps and provide future recommendations.
• To synthesize existing findings on microplastic occurrence in Nepal.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar.
• Analysis of six research papers published between 2020 and 2023.
• Data extraction on microplastic types, concentrations, and environmental compartments.

Main Results:

• Microplastic research in Nepal commenced in 2020, with six papers published by 2023.
• Microplastics detected in rivers, lakes, snow, and sediments, with varying concentrations (e.g., 100.5 ± 58.6 items/kg in lakeshore sediments).
• Fibers were the predominant microplastic type in freshwater, while fragments were found in road dust; diverse polymers like PP, PE, and PET were identified.

Conclusions:

• Microplastic pollution is evident in Nepal's diverse aquatic ecosystems.
• Current research is limited, highlighting the need for expanded studies.
• Significant research gaps exist regarding the ecological and human health impacts of microplastics in Nepal.