Current State of Microplastics Research
in SAARC Countries—A Review
K. Amrutha , Vishnu Unnikrishnan , Sachin Shajikumar ,
and Anish Kumar Warrier
Abstract In recent decades, plastic has become an inevitable part of human life. It
is found to be more suitable for various applications than any other materials due to
its longevity, being lightweight, and versatility. However, it comes with its own set of
problems to the nature which is mainly due to its non-biodegradability. Microplastics
are small-sized (<5 mm) debris of plastics. They are ubiquitous in our environment
and are known to exist in all the five spheres of our planet. There is a growing concern
among the microplastic researchers about the fate of these tiny particles of plastics
which are floating in the oceans and suspended in the atmosphere. Since the last two
decades, significant amount of work has been reported on microplastic pollution and
its effects on the biota in different parts of the world. In this chapter, we present a
detailed review of microplastic studies carried out by SAARC nations (Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka). Sixty
research papers were reviewed and it was found that India had carried out significant
work in this research area. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Nepal
have reported few studies. Other SAARC nations such as Bhutan and Afghanistan
have yet to report the presence and effects of microplastics in their environment.
There are no significant studies made on the presence and distribution of airborne
microplastics and its impact on human health, influence of microplastics in agricultural and forest soils and how they affect the soil properties. Besides, there are
no studies to check the efficiency of the wastewater treatment plants in major and
minor cities of most of the SAARC nations. Studies have shown that the SAARC
nations account for nearly a quarter of the world’s population contribute a significant amount of plastic waste to the global plastic pollution. Therefore, a thorough
understanding of microplastic pollution in these countries is essential that can be
utilized for planning and implementing suitable legislative measures to safeguard
the environment.
K. Amrutha · V. Unnikrishnan · S. Shajikumar · A. K. Warrier (B)
Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
e-mail: anish.warrier@manipal.edu
A. K. Warrier
Centre for Climate Studies, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
S. S. Muthu (ed.), Microplastic Pollution, Sustainable Textiles: Production, Processing,
Manufacturing & Chemistry, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0297-9_2
27
in SAARC Countries—A Review
K. Amrutha , Vishnu Unnikrishnan , Sachin Shajikumar ,
and Anish Kumar Warrier
Abstract In recent decades, plastic has become an inevitable part of human life. It
is found to be more suitable for various applications than any other materials due to
its longevity, being lightweight, and versatility. However, it comes with its own set of
problems to the nature which is mainly due to its non-biodegradability. Microplastics
are small-sized (<5 mm) debris of plastics. They are ubiquitous in our environment
and are known to exist in all the five spheres of our planet. There is a growing concern
among the microplastic researchers about the fate of these tiny particles of plastics
which are floating in the oceans and suspended in the atmosphere. Since the last two
decades, significant amount of work has been reported on microplastic pollution and
its effects on the biota in different parts of the world. In this chapter, we present a
detailed review of microplastic studies carried out by SAARC nations (Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka). Sixty
research papers were reviewed and it was found that India had carried out significant
work in this research area. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Nepal
have reported few studies. Other SAARC nations such as Bhutan and Afghanistan
have yet to report the presence and effects of microplastics in their environment.
There are no significant studies made on the presence and distribution of airborne
microplastics and its impact on human health, influence of microplastics in agricultural and forest soils and how they affect the soil properties. Besides, there are
no studies to check the efficiency of the wastewater treatment plants in major and
minor cities of most of the SAARC nations. Studies have shown that the SAARC
nations account for nearly a quarter of the world’s population contribute a significant amount of plastic waste to the global plastic pollution. Therefore, a thorough
understanding of microplastic pollution in these countries is essential that can be
utilized for planning and implementing suitable legislative measures to safeguard
the environment.
K. Amrutha · V. Unnikrishnan · S. Shajikumar · A. K. Warrier (B)
Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
e-mail: anish.warrier@manipal.edu
A. K. Warrier
Centre for Climate Studies, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
S. S. Muthu (ed.), Microplastic Pollution, Sustainable Textiles: Production, Processing,
Manufacturing & Chemistry, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0297-9_2
27