Characterization and quantification of microplastics in various environments in and around greater chennai and evaluation of human health risks

Abstract

Microplastics are ubiquitous in a variety of environments ranging newlinefrom high mountain ranges, inland lakes, rivers, reservoirs and to oceans. newlineIn the Indian context, studies on microplastic polymer type, classification and newlinequantification have been limited to specific environment whereas a newlinecomprehensive study on multiple environments and their relative abundance newlineand distribution of various polymer types is lacking. Hence, a comprehensive newlinestudy has been carried out on the distribution and characterization of newlinemicroplastics (shapes, colours, polymer types) in various environments newlinenamely surface and subsurface waters, and sediments in and around Greater newlineChennai. newlineSurface water samples were collected from different lakes (44 No.) newlinein and around Chennai, nearshore sea water from eight locations from newlineMahabalipuram to Thiruvottriyur, river mouth water samples from two newlineprominent rivers and a representative two samples from RO (Reverse newlineOsmosis) and tap water within the city limits. To study the microplastic newlinecontaminations in subsurface waters, a total of seven samples were collected; newlinetwo samples from bore holes, three open wells and two hand pumps. newlineEstimation of microplastic abundance in sediments has been studied from newlinethree major environments namely from lake bottom sediments, river mouth newlineand foreshore sediments. Microplastic content in the water samples were newlineestimated from one litter (particles/L) while in sediments the estimations is newlinefrom 5 gram (particle/5g-1 newlined.s). newline