Spatiotemporal dynamics of microplastics burden in River Ravi, Pakistan

Aslam, Mehmood; Qadir, Abdul; Hafeez, Saba; Aslam, Hafiz Muhammad Umer; Ahmad, Sajid Rashid

doi:10.1016/j.jece.2022.107652

Cited by 17 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…Likewise, Wicaksono et al (2021) reported higher microplastics in the dry season compared with concentrations in the high‐flow season from the Tallo River, Indonesia. Moreover, a recent study from Pakistan by Aslam et al (2022) also demonstrated higher microplastics from the Ravi River in low‐flow season compared with high‐flow season. Results from these studies correspond to the findings of the present study, and lower concentrations of microplastics are likely attributable to dilution during high flow.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…The predominance of transparent/white particles can be related to the bleaching of their colors during the degradation of plastic particles (Y. Li et al, 2020). Also, the chemicals used in the digestion process of organic matter may result in the bleaching of some colored particles (Aslam et al, 2022). Another reason may be the widespread use of transparent/white packaging in most of the products.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Until now, only a few studies related to microplastics have been conducted in Pakistan. The concentration of microplastics has been studied in canals and drains of the Ravi River, Lahore (M. Irfan et al, 2020), and in Rawal Lake, Islamabad (T. Irfan et al, 2020), with the spatiotemporal dynamics of microplastics studied in the Ravi River, Pakistan (Aslam et al, 2022). More than 50 million people (Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, 2017) reside in the Chenab River's catchment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Environmental Risks of Microplastics on the Spatial and Temporal Gradient in a River Originating from the Western Himalayas

Hafeez

Qadir

Aslam

et al. 2023

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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The presence of microplastics in different environmental matrices has raised many concerns about potential effects of microplastics on humans and freshwater ecosystems. In Pakistan, rivers potentially receive microplastics from anthropogenic activities in their catchments. However, research studies regarding microplastics' presence, distribution, and risks are scarce in Pakistan. To bridge the gap, the present study was conducted to evaluate microplastic pollution in the Chenab River. Surface water samples were collected from selected sites on the Chenab River using a manta trawl in the low-flow season during postmonsoon (October) 2019 and 2020 and in the high-flow season during monsoon (July) 2020 and 2021. Samples were digested, followed by density separation and filtration. Identification and polymer characterization of microplastics were completed using stereomicroscopy and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively. Microplastics were found in all samples with significant spatiotemporal variation in microplastic concentration, with an average of 45.98 ± 10.45 microplastics/m 3 in the low-flow season and 34.66 ± 16.15 microplastics/m 3 in the high-flow season. Among microplastic shapes, fibers were the most dominant shape, whereas polyethylene terephthalate (38.2%) and polypropylene (19%) were the most abundant polymers. Polymer risk index analysis and pollution load index demonstrated that most of the sites ranked as safe. The potential ecological risks from single polymers and combined polymers showed minor risks posed by microplastics. The present study is the first step to focus on microplastic pollution in the Chenab River; it will help river managers to mitigate the microplastic pollution without compromising the ecological integrity of the river.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 87%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Environmental Risks of Microplastics on the Spatial and Temporal Gradient in a River Originating from the Western Himalayas

Hafeez

Qadir

Aslam

et al. 2023

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…They found that PVC was the most common MP polymer, followed by PS, PP, and PE . Aslam et al investigated that due to irrigation, MPs are downstream of barrages . Pakistan’s drinking water quality ranks 80th out of 122 countries.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…19 Aslam et al investigated that due to irrigation, MPs are downstream of barrages. 20 Pakistan's drinking water quality ranks 80th out of 122 countries. Surface and groundwater are contaminated with coliforms, toxic metals, and pesticides.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pakistan toward Achieving Net-Zero Emissions: Policy and Roadmap

Tamoor

Samak

Xing

2022

ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng.

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Pakistan generated 12.17 million tons (Mt) of plastic waste in 2020, reaching 22.04 Mt in 2050. Plastic production emits about 0.8 billion tons (Bt) of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in Pakistan. An increase in production will lead this amount to 1.46 Bt in 2050. The eco-indicator 95, BEES, and ReCiPe methods investigated the life cycle of petroleum-based and corn-based plastics. Through technology, policies, and strategies implementations, Pakistan can control white pollution and environmental hazards until 2043−2050 with the recycling rate (i.e., 28%). The defined policy roadmap for net-zero emissions will limit the GHGs to 1.66 Bt in 2050. These emissions can be reduced through life cycle assessment, policy decisions, implementation strategies, and technology utilization. Rapid and widespread changes in policy and investment across many sectors of society, participation, and commitment by government, industry, and individuals are needed. The baseline technologies require renewable energy for production and carbon capture, storage, and utilization technology to reduce emissions into the atmosphere. Policy roadmaps and literature studies concluded that net-zero emissions are possible with available technologies until 2043. Identified the critical technological and socio-economic goals that must be achieved for net-zero carbon emissions through near-term critical actions defined from 2020 to 2050.

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Smartphone microscopic method for imaging and quantification of microplastics in drinking water

Karki,

Thaiba,

Shishir Acharya

et al. 2024

Microscopy Res & Technique

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Analysis of microplastics in drinking water is often challenging due to smaller particle size and low particle count. In this study, we used a low cost and an easy to assemble smartphone microscopic system for imaging and quantitating microplastic particles as small as 20 μm. The system consisted of a spherical sapphire ball lens of 4 mm diameter attached to a smartphone camera as a major imaging component. It also involved pre‐concentration of the sample using ZnCl2 solution. The spike recovery and limit of detection of the method in filtered distilled and deionized water samples (n = 9) were 55.6% ± 9.7% and 34 particles/L, respectively. Imaging performance of the microscopic system was similar to a commercial bright field microscopic system. The method was further implemented to examine microplastic particles in commercial bottled and jar water samples (n = 20). The particles count in bottled and jar water samples ranged from 0–91 particles/L to 0–130 particles/L, respectively. In both sample types, particles of diverse shape and size were observed. The particles collected from water samples were further confirmed by FTIR spectra (n = 36), which found 97% of the particles tested were made of plastic material. These findings suggested that the smartphone microscopic system can be implemented as a low‐cost alternative for preliminary screening of microplastic in drinking water samples.Research Highlights Ball lens based smartphone microscopic method was used for microplastic analysis. Particles of diverse shape and size were found in bottle and jar water samples.

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Spatiotemporal dynamics of microplastics burden in River Ravi, Pakistan

Cited by 17 publications

References 76 publications

Environmental Risks of Microplastics on the Spatial and Temporal Gradient in a River Originating from the Western Himalayas

Environmental Risks of Microplastics on the Spatial and Temporal Gradient in a River Originating from the Western Himalayas

Pakistan toward Achieving Net-Zero Emissions: Policy and Roadmap

Smartphone microscopic method for imaging and quantification of microplastics in drinking water

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