Assessment of Microplastics in Pond Water and Sediments in Vadodara City, India.

Abstract

Microplastics, an exceptional class of pollutants, have been found in several shapes and sizes in all segments of the environment. Their morphological characteristics may reveal their possible sources and potential behavior in the environment. This work reports microplastics pollution in water and sediments in ponds in terms of their amount and physical features of the isolated particles. After density separation, microscopes were used for studying the particles at 4× and 10× magnification. The morphology of the collected microplastics varied in shape, color, and weight. In the water samples, the average minimum and maximum amounts of microplastics by weight were 0.0212 and 0.0366 mg/L, respectively. In the sediment samples, the average minimum concentrations according to weight were 19.162 and 27.094 mg/kg. Four shape types-foams, fragments, fibers, and films-of varied colors were mostly observed in the isolated material. Field surveys of the sampling sites indicated that anthropogenic factors may be the major contributors. This study provides region-specific baseline data and is among the first to evaluate microplastic contamination in a freshwater pond in Vadodara. The findings can aid in the development of regional pollution reduction plans and enhance environmental monitoring initiatives.