Hydro-environmental effects of microplastic dynamics and distribution in Ganga River basin system: An urban impact...

Emerging micropollutants like microplastics (MPs) pose a global environmental concern that has gathered significant attention. MPs were evaluated in the Ganges River Basin (GRB), the largest river basin in India, specifically emphasizing MPs transportation along the GRB. Remarkable differences were indicated about the abundance in the water and sediment column at 27 sampling stations, with a mean of 2.99 ± 2.20items/L and 303.82 ± 215.94items/kg dw respectively, at p < 0.05. The most prevalent size of MPs in the water column was 0.10 to 0.50 mm, while the primary polymer types of MPs were recognised as polyethylene, PE (28.30 %), and polypropylene, PP (24.70 %). MP characteristics in sediments were similar in classification; however, there was a significantly higher count of denser particles, with those in the <0.1 mm size range being notably more abundant than in the water column, exceeding by over 18.60 % (P < 0.05). The extended retention of MPs in sediment were influenced by density, shape, particle size, environmental parameters (AT: Absolute Temperature, TP: Total Phosphate, TN: Total Nitrogen) and socioeconomic parameters (UD: Urban Density, UR: Urbanisation Rate, ALR: Agricultural Land Utility, RLU: Residential Land Utility).