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Occurrence, Characterization, and Potential Ecological Risks of Microplastics in the Himalayan Riverine Systems.

Deepa Kumari¹, Ramendra Pati Pandey², Ankur Rajpal³

¹Department of Allied Health Sciences, School of Health Sciences and Technology, UPES, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248007, India.

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

|July 8, 2026

Summary

Microplastic (MP) pollution is a growing threat in Indian Himalayan rivers. This study found MPs, mainly colored fibers, are more abundant before monsoon, carrying heavy metals and detergents, posing ecological risks.

Keywords:

Heavy metals Himalayan riverine system Microorganisms Microplastics Physicochemical Temporal variation

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Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Ecotoxicology
Riverine Ecology

Background:

Microplastic (MP) pollution is a pervasive global issue, significantly impacting aquatic ecosystems.
Indian Himalayan riverine systems face increasing MP contamination, necessitating urgent investigation.
Previous research has highlighted MP presence, but temporal variations and pollutant association in this region require detailed study.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the occurrence, abundance, characterization, and temporal variation of MPs in Dehradun's riverine systems.
To analyze water chemistry, including heavy metals, Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus, in relation to MP pollution.
To identify MP types, polymer composition, and associated contaminants like heavy metals, microorganisms, and detergents.

Main Methods:

Sampling of river water from Rispana, Bindal, and Tons tributaries during pre- and post-monsoon seasons.
Physicochemical and heavy metal analysis of water samples.
Microscopic (light microscopy, SEM-EDS) and spectroscopic (FTIR, Raman) analysis for MP characterization and identification of surface contaminants.

Main Results:

MP abundance varied from 0.1 to 10.95 particles/L, significantly higher in the pre-monsoon period.
Colored fibers were the dominant MP type, with polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and PVC being the primary polymers identified.
MPs were found to carry heavy metals, microorganisms, and detergent components, indicating their role as contaminant vectors.

Conclusions:

Himalayan rivers in Dehradun are contaminated with microplastics, with higher loads observed pre-monsoon.
Microplastics act as carriers for various pollutants, potentially altering riverine ecosystem dynamics and posing ecological risks.
The findings emphasize the need for targeted mitigation strategies to address microplastic pollution in these vital river systems.