Analysis by NGO reveals microplastics in Ganga

What is the News?

A Study titled ‘Quantitative analysis of Microplastics along River Ganga’ has been released by a Delhi-based environment NGO, Toxics Link.

About the Study:

• The study was carried out in collaboration with the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) in Goa.
• It studied the water samples at Haridwar, Kanpur, and Varanasi along River Ganga.

Key Findings of the study:

• Ganga is heavily polluted with microplastics at Varanasi, Haridwar, and Kanpur.
• Among the three cities, the water samples at Varanasi showed the maximum load of microplastics as compared to the other two cities.
  • This might be due to cumulative downstream pollution as well as industrial and human activities.

What are Microplastics?

• Microplastics are defined as synthetic solid particles sized ranging from 1 micrometre to 5 millimetre (mm) which are insoluble in water.

Source of Microplastics in Ganga River: Microplastics are recognised as a major source of marine pollution. Several sources of it include:

• Untreated sewage from many cities along the river’s course enters into the river.
• Industrial waste and religious offerings wrapped in non-degradable plastics pile pollutants enter into the river as it flows through several densely populated cities.
• The plastic products and waste materials released or dumped in the river break down and are eventually broken down into microparticles.