Investigations on the co-occurrence of microplastics and other pollutants in the River Yamuna, Delhi
The Yamuna River is a threatened resource of freshwater in Delhi, India. The present study is focused on investigating three important contaminants, namely microplastics (MPs), heavy metals, and fecal coliforms in the surface water of the river, with major emphasis on MPs occurrence and characteriza...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IWA Publishing
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Water Supply |
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| Online Access: | http://ws.iwaponline.com/content/22/12/8767 |
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| author | Mansi Vaid Komal Mehra Kiranmay Sarma Anshu Gupta |
| author_facet | Mansi Vaid Komal Mehra Kiranmay Sarma Anshu Gupta |
| author_sort | Mansi Vaid |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Yamuna River is a threatened resource of freshwater in Delhi, India. The present study is focused on investigating three important contaminants, namely microplastics (MPs), heavy metals, and fecal coliforms in the surface water of the river, with major emphasis on MPs occurrence and characterization. MPs showed an increase in abundance in the river from the Wazirabad barrage (n = 500 MPs/m3) to the Okhla barrage downstream (n = 3,900 MPs/m3) in Delhi, with a maximum abundance downstream to the Najafgarh and Shahdara drain outfalls. White color and fragmented shape were prevalent characteristics of the isolated MPs. Attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy revealed five types of polymers. Heavy metals (chromium, lead, manganese, and iron) and fecal coliforms were at unacceptable levels at most of the sampling sites. Due to the emergence of issues concerning the tendency of MPs to actively interact with heavy metals and pathogenic microorganisms, investigation of the co-occurrence of such harmful pollutants is very important. The present study is aimed at this issue and urges similar kinds of investigations in other riverine regions of our country, as well as globally, due to their scarcity in literature. This study can further provide a baseline database to help the Government of India's efforts to clean and revive the Delhi stretch of the Yamuna River.
HIGHLIGHTS
Microplastics (MPs) were prevalent across the Yamuna River stretch with a mean abundance of 1.78 × 103 MPs/m3.;
MPs were most abundant near the wastewater discharge points of the Najafgarh and Shahdara drains.;
In addition to MPs, the presence of co-contaminants like heavy metals and fecal coliforms in the study area was also a serious concern.;
Co-contaminant interactions may disturb the balance of several biological systems.; |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:37:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4a08a38a45bf4a2d892f6e2215e56692 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1606-9749 1607-0798 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:37:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | IWA Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water Supply |
| spelling | doaj.art-4a08a38a45bf4a2d892f6e2215e566922023-02-17T17:04:49ZengIWA PublishingWater Supply1606-97491607-07982022-12-0122128767877710.2166/ws.2022.408408Investigations on the co-occurrence of microplastics and other pollutants in the River Yamuna, DelhiMansi Vaid0Komal Mehra1Kiranmay Sarma2Anshu Gupta3 University School of Environment Management, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Sector-16C, Dwarka, New Delhi 110078, India University School of Environment Management, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Sector-16C, Dwarka, New Delhi 110078, India University School of Environment Management, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Sector-16C, Dwarka, New Delhi 110078, India University School of Environment Management, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Sector-16C, Dwarka, New Delhi 110078, India The Yamuna River is a threatened resource of freshwater in Delhi, India. The present study is focused on investigating three important contaminants, namely microplastics (MPs), heavy metals, and fecal coliforms in the surface water of the river, with major emphasis on MPs occurrence and characterization. MPs showed an increase in abundance in the river from the Wazirabad barrage (n = 500 MPs/m3) to the Okhla barrage downstream (n = 3,900 MPs/m3) in Delhi, with a maximum abundance downstream to the Najafgarh and Shahdara drain outfalls. White color and fragmented shape were prevalent characteristics of the isolated MPs. Attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy revealed five types of polymers. Heavy metals (chromium, lead, manganese, and iron) and fecal coliforms were at unacceptable levels at most of the sampling sites. Due to the emergence of issues concerning the tendency of MPs to actively interact with heavy metals and pathogenic microorganisms, investigation of the co-occurrence of such harmful pollutants is very important. The present study is aimed at this issue and urges similar kinds of investigations in other riverine regions of our country, as well as globally, due to their scarcity in literature. This study can further provide a baseline database to help the Government of India's efforts to clean and revive the Delhi stretch of the Yamuna River. HIGHLIGHTS Microplastics (MPs) were prevalent across the Yamuna River stretch with a mean abundance of 1.78 × 103 MPs/m3.; MPs were most abundant near the wastewater discharge points of the Najafgarh and Shahdara drains.; In addition to MPs, the presence of co-contaminants like heavy metals and fecal coliforms in the study area was also a serious concern.; Co-contaminant interactions may disturb the balance of several biological systems.;http://ws.iwaponline.com/content/22/12/8767emerging threatsfecal coliformsheavy metalsmicroplasticswater pollutionyamuna river |
| spellingShingle | Mansi Vaid Komal Mehra Kiranmay Sarma Anshu Gupta Investigations on the co-occurrence of microplastics and other pollutants in the River Yamuna, Delhi Water Supply emerging threats fecal coliforms heavy metals microplastics water pollution yamuna river |
| title | Investigations on the co-occurrence of microplastics and other pollutants in the River Yamuna, Delhi |
| title_full | Investigations on the co-occurrence of microplastics and other pollutants in the River Yamuna, Delhi |
| title_fullStr | Investigations on the co-occurrence of microplastics and other pollutants in the River Yamuna, Delhi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigations on the co-occurrence of microplastics and other pollutants in the River Yamuna, Delhi |
| title_short | Investigations on the co-occurrence of microplastics and other pollutants in the River Yamuna, Delhi |
| title_sort | investigations on the co occurrence of microplastics and other pollutants in the river yamuna delhi |
| topic | emerging threats fecal coliforms heavy metals microplastics water pollution yamuna river |
| url | http://ws.iwaponline.com/content/22/12/8767 |
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