Rupesh Samant

Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Feb 29: A senior ocean researcher said that there is a need for a comprehensive study on plastics, microplastics and nanoplastics in the Indian rivers, estuaries and coastal waters, which should be mandatory to know the environmental carrying capacity of industrial areas, Special Economic Zones (SEZs) or while declaring places as the Critically Polluted Area (CPAs).

In a paper presented during the 'National Workshop on ‘Microplastics Pollution – A Global Threat’ in New Delhi last week by senior scientist Mahua Saha working with Goa-based CSIR- National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) underlined the need for a comprehensive study on accumulation of plastics, microplastics and nanoplastics in the Indian rivers, estuaries and coastal waters.

“Our own (CSIR-NIO) studies have found that the deposition of sea-based microplastics is more during the northeast monsoon along the east coast of India, whereas those plastics are abundant during the southwest monsoon along the west coast of India,” Saha said in her paper 'Quantification and characterization of macro to micro plastics emanation from rivers to the coastal environment of India.”

“There are no comprehensive studies on the plastics, microplastics or nanoplastics in the Indian rivers, estuaries and coastal waters. There is no data on the quantities, sources and fragments from Indian waters and it does not reflect in any national reports of the ‘state of the environment’ or state of the rivers,” the researcher said.

“This (plastic pollution) aspect is not considered while studying the environmental carrying capacity of industrial areas, Special Economic Zones (SEZs) nor while declaring the Critically Polluted Area (CPAs). As a new and emerging environmental threat, a comprehensive baseline is desperately required to at least understand the status of plastic pollution in the country,” she added.

As per data available, Saha said, "In India, 8 million ton of plastic products are consumed every year and eleven kg plastics per capita is consumed. “India's plastic consumption has increased from 10.2 metric ton (MTs) in the financial year 2013-14 to almost 16 to 20 MTs by 2015-16."

She said that as per a 2013 estimate by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Indians throw out 15,342 ton of plastic waste every day, of which about 60 percent is recycled, most of it in the informal sector.

“While the recycling rate in India is considerably higher than the global average of 14 percent there are still over 6,100 ton of plastic, which are either landfilled or end up polluting streams or groundwater resources,” she added.

Saha said that although some data is available on the contribution of microplastics via different rivers around the world no work has been done on the rivers in India.

Speaking about the recent study by NIO, Saha said, “We have also quantified the microplastics concentration along the west coast of India ( Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa) and its toxicity effect on biota.

“However, quantifying plastic pollution in the world’s ocean requires a good understanding of sources. It is commonly accepted that most plastic found in or near the marine environment is coming from land-based sources.

“Coastal inputs have been assumed to be proportional to the amount of mismanaged plastic waste (MMPW) generated in that coastal zone, but rivers have not been
explicitly accounted for. Land-based sources are considered the dominant input of plastics into oceans.

"A comprehensive risk assessment of this marine microplastic contamination requires defining, understanding and quantifying emissions both geographically and temporally. “Hence, study along the river should be taken into account at the catchment area, their importance in industrial and economic area, population, river discharge, tourist and maritime activities.

“This knowledge will help in refining our understanding of marine plastic pollution sources and pathways, while working towards an assessment of plastics in the coastal waters. It will also assist in identifying the critical locations and seasons of plastic releases, supporting the implementation of cost-effective monitoring and source mitigation efforts,” the researcher said.