Comprehensive study of the microplastic footprint in the urban pond and river of Eastern India

Freshwater ecosystems, comprising lakes, ponds, rivers, and groundwater, provides essential resources that support life on Earth. Though, during last few decades, the increasing concentrations of microplastics (MPs) in freshwater ecosystems are becoming a serious environmental concern with far-reaching and unpredictable consequences for human health and aquatic life. This study aimed to quantify and assess the dynamic footprint of MPs in the urban river and pond with their potential risks. The quantitative analyses revealed the presence of MPs in surface water and sediment of study sites between the range of 59-100 particles/l and 167-193 particles/g, respectively. According to the size distribution, 56.98% of the MPs were between 300 and 1180 μm, and 43.02% were between 1180 and 5000 μm. Further polymer characterization confirmed the presence of nylon (36%) as the dominant type, followed by polyethylene (25%), polyethylene terephthalate (18%), polyvinyl chloride (9%), polyurethane (5%), polypropylene (5%), and polystyrene (2%) in the available MPs. The film (39.07%) shaped MPs were dominant throughout the samples, followed by fragments (22.2%), particles (12.63%), fibre (9.73%), pellets (9.3%), foam (1.7%), and others. Following the risk analyses, the polymer hazard index and polymer load index values were above the crisis level (V and IV level), and potential ecological risk index for river water and pond surface water were extremely danger and danger levels.