50
K. Amrutha et al.
(190.46 ± 83.38 particles/100 g). A study by Zhang et al. [141] obtained different
microplastic particles (TPA, PET, BPA, PC) from various indoor dust samples (n =
33) collected from different houses of Patna during 2014.
4 Pakistan
According to the International Trade Administration (2019), plastics account for
around 6% of the total solid waste produced in Pakistan. Improper waste management
practices often lead them to ending up in water bodies primarily rivers, and lakes.
Irfan et al. [48] investigated the microplastic distribution in the River Ravi, Lahore.
A mean concentration of 2074 ± 3651 Mps/m
3 and 3726 ± 9030 Mps/m
2 was
found in the water and sediment samples, respectively. They observed microplastic
distribution along a gradient of human impact showing municipal sewage as the
greatest contributor [5, 16]. They reported a high proportion of large-sized (300 µm–
5 mm) microplastics in the surface water samples compared to sediment samples
unlike many other studies. This possibly could be due to the collection of samples
near to industrial sources or due to insufficient fragmentation time [87]. Another
study on the freshwater system in Pakistan was conducted by Irfan et al. [48]. They
collected surface water and sediment samples from the Lake Rawal. They reported
mean concentration of microplastics in water and sediments as 0.142 items/0.1 L and
1.04 items/0.01 kg, respectively. Fibres and fragments were the dominant categories
of Mps found in this study which was also reported by Irfan et al. [49]. They observed
a comparatively significant amount of microplastics in the bottom sediments than in
the surface water similar to other studies [120, 137], possibly due to biofouling or
due to low bottom currents in the lake.
Rafique et al. [92] investigated the impact of land-use practices and population
density on the microplastic distribution in soils from Lahore. They observed an
average concentration of microplastics around 4483 ± 2315 Mps/kg. High concentration of microplastics was found in the parks and lawns indicating the human influence on the microplastic concentration. Zhang et al. [141] examined the microplastics
present in indoor dust samples from a dozen or so countries in which Pakistan was
one of them. They quantitatively measured the freely available TPA and BPA present
in the dust samples. PET-based microplastics were the major contributors showing
a positive correlation between TPA and PET concentration [70, 77]. A significant
correlation was observed between the GDP of the country and its indoor microplastic
pollution. Concentrations of PET- and PC-based microplastics in urban area were
higher than the rural area. However, they restricted the study to PET- and PC-based
microplastics and there are many other sources which need to be addressed.
K. Amrutha et al.
(190.46 ± 83.38 particles/100 g). A study by Zhang et al. [141] obtained different
microplastic particles (TPA, PET, BPA, PC) from various indoor dust samples (n =
33) collected from different houses of Patna during 2014.
4 Pakistan
According to the International Trade Administration (2019), plastics account for
around 6% of the total solid waste produced in Pakistan. Improper waste management
practices often lead them to ending up in water bodies primarily rivers, and lakes.
Irfan et al. [48] investigated the microplastic distribution in the River Ravi, Lahore.
A mean concentration of 2074 ± 3651 Mps/m
3 and 3726 ± 9030 Mps/m
2 was
found in the water and sediment samples, respectively. They observed microplastic
distribution along a gradient of human impact showing municipal sewage as the
greatest contributor [5, 16]. They reported a high proportion of large-sized (300 µm–
5 mm) microplastics in the surface water samples compared to sediment samples
unlike many other studies. This possibly could be due to the collection of samples
near to industrial sources or due to insufficient fragmentation time [87]. Another
study on the freshwater system in Pakistan was conducted by Irfan et al. [48]. They
collected surface water and sediment samples from the Lake Rawal. They reported
mean concentration of microplastics in water and sediments as 0.142 items/0.1 L and
1.04 items/0.01 kg, respectively. Fibres and fragments were the dominant categories
of Mps found in this study which was also reported by Irfan et al. [49]. They observed
a comparatively significant amount of microplastics in the bottom sediments than in
the surface water similar to other studies [120, 137], possibly due to biofouling or
due to low bottom currents in the lake.
Rafique et al. [92] investigated the impact of land-use practices and population
density on the microplastic distribution in soils from Lahore. They observed an
average concentration of microplastics around 4483 ± 2315 Mps/kg. High concentration of microplastics was found in the parks and lawns indicating the human influence on the microplastic concentration. Zhang et al. [141] examined the microplastics
present in indoor dust samples from a dozen or so countries in which Pakistan was
one of them. They quantitatively measured the freely available TPA and BPA present
in the dust samples. PET-based microplastics were the major contributors showing
a positive correlation between TPA and PET concentration [70, 77]. A significant
correlation was observed between the GDP of the country and its indoor microplastic
pollution. Concentrations of PET- and PC-based microplastics in urban area were
higher than the rural area. However, they restricted the study to PET- and PC-based
microplastics and there are many other sources which need to be addressed.