40
K. Amrutha et al.
were the materials used by the construction industries and related activities and
pinpointed the source of the pieces as ship breaking activities. Recreational beaches
of Mumbai, Maharashtra have been studied for plastic pollution by Jayasiri et al.
[54, 55]. They found that the beaches are predominated by plastic litter. Their work
concluded terrestrial input to be the prominent source of these materials. The activities including recreational, tourism, religious, and fishing were the major sources
of plastic pollution in the area [54, 55]. They also carried out the size fractionation
studies of plastics obtained from the beach sediment samples. They found that almost
41.85% of the microplastic particles, that is, the lion shares of the obtained plastic
debris in size range of 1–5 mm. The study conducted by Maharana et al. [73] in
Maharashtra beaches also observed the same—higher abundance of microplastics
than the large-sized plastics. The quantity of tiny-sized plastic pieces observed in
the latter study is almost double the former, which may be due to the high level of
industrialization and seasonal tourism. Another study observed the higher abundance
of microplastics in the Mumbai Coast compared to two other beaches they studied in
the Bay of Bengal coast [126]. Further, [53] concluded that the plastic pellets are a
trap for various cyclodiene compounds, including DDT, PCB, and HCH. They also
suggested that pellet study can be used to study the temporal variability for specific
micropollutants (Table 2).
Marine litter and its pathways in three beaches in the Mangalore Coast, Karnataka
has been investigated by Sulochanan et al. [122] and suggested the need for a proper
plastic management system for the conservation of the coastal ecosystem. The study
highlighted that the physical forces result in the fragmentation of the litter and its
adverse effect on the food web. From the research on marine litter in Karnataka
coast, they reflected the role of rivers in carrying plastics to the coast [122, 121].
Sridhar et al. [117, 73] have also reported plastic pollution in Karnataka. Microplastic
studies along the Goa coast were conducted by Veerasingam et al. [127]. The authors
studied the characteristics and surface degradation properties of microplastics pellets
(MPPs). They observed striking seasonal variations of their distribution along the
coast. According to them, the southwest monsoonal rainfall played a significant role
in transporting the microplastic particles to the beaches. In 2020, Maharana et al.
also observed the high abundance of Mps along the Goan coast. But according to
their study, the Goan coast shows a lower level of plastic pollution compared to the
other two coasts—Maharashtra and Karnataka coast—studied by them. Two studies
from the Kerala Coast revealed the influence of fishing and recreational activities
on the distribution of microplastics in the coastal environments/beaches [29, 56].
The study conducted by Jeyasanta et al. [56] observed a close relationship between
mesoplastics and microplastics. Still, according to their research, there is no influence of the abundance of macroplastics on the concentration of small-sized plastic
particles. They also stressed the urgency of a proper management system to control
plastic waste, which may otherwise result in a high level of pollution on the beaches.
Ashwini and Varghese [3] have applied an effective strategy, environmental forensic
investigation, to identify the source of microplastics on the Nattika coast. The process
consists of three levels matching the material identity with the possible material using
tests; comparing the materials with similar macroplastics and finding the pathway
K. Amrutha et al.
were the materials used by the construction industries and related activities and
pinpointed the source of the pieces as ship breaking activities. Recreational beaches
of Mumbai, Maharashtra have been studied for plastic pollution by Jayasiri et al.
[54, 55]. They found that the beaches are predominated by plastic litter. Their work
concluded terrestrial input to be the prominent source of these materials. The activities including recreational, tourism, religious, and fishing were the major sources
of plastic pollution in the area [54, 55]. They also carried out the size fractionation
studies of plastics obtained from the beach sediment samples. They found that almost
41.85% of the microplastic particles, that is, the lion shares of the obtained plastic
debris in size range of 1–5 mm. The study conducted by Maharana et al. [73] in
Maharashtra beaches also observed the same—higher abundance of microplastics
than the large-sized plastics. The quantity of tiny-sized plastic pieces observed in
the latter study is almost double the former, which may be due to the high level of
industrialization and seasonal tourism. Another study observed the higher abundance
of microplastics in the Mumbai Coast compared to two other beaches they studied in
the Bay of Bengal coast [126]. Further, [53] concluded that the plastic pellets are a
trap for various cyclodiene compounds, including DDT, PCB, and HCH. They also
suggested that pellet study can be used to study the temporal variability for specific
micropollutants (Table 2).
Marine litter and its pathways in three beaches in the Mangalore Coast, Karnataka
has been investigated by Sulochanan et al. [122] and suggested the need for a proper
plastic management system for the conservation of the coastal ecosystem. The study
highlighted that the physical forces result in the fragmentation of the litter and its
adverse effect on the food web. From the research on marine litter in Karnataka
coast, they reflected the role of rivers in carrying plastics to the coast [122, 121].
Sridhar et al. [117, 73] have also reported plastic pollution in Karnataka. Microplastic
studies along the Goa coast were conducted by Veerasingam et al. [127]. The authors
studied the characteristics and surface degradation properties of microplastics pellets
(MPPs). They observed striking seasonal variations of their distribution along the
coast. According to them, the southwest monsoonal rainfall played a significant role
in transporting the microplastic particles to the beaches. In 2020, Maharana et al.
also observed the high abundance of Mps along the Goan coast. But according to
their study, the Goan coast shows a lower level of plastic pollution compared to the
other two coasts—Maharashtra and Karnataka coast—studied by them. Two studies
from the Kerala Coast revealed the influence of fishing and recreational activities
on the distribution of microplastics in the coastal environments/beaches [29, 56].
The study conducted by Jeyasanta et al. [56] observed a close relationship between
mesoplastics and microplastics. Still, according to their research, there is no influence of the abundance of macroplastics on the concentration of small-sized plastic
particles. They also stressed the urgency of a proper management system to control
plastic waste, which may otherwise result in a high level of pollution on the beaches.
Ashwini and Varghese [3] have applied an effective strategy, environmental forensic
investigation, to identify the source of microplastics on the Nattika coast. The process
consists of three levels matching the material identity with the possible material using
tests; comparing the materials with similar macroplastics and finding the pathway