Current State of Microplastics Research …
53
the pellets suggesting fragmentation of bigger plastics to smaller sizes. Carbonyl
absorption spectra through FTIR-ATR however showed intensity values out of the
normal absorption band (1715–1775 cm
−1 ) [31] suggesting the micoplastics were
relatively new. This possibly could be due to the presence of UV stabilizers present
in the Mps or the better waste management practices.
8 Nepal
Yukioka et al. [138] studied the microplastic presence in road dust samples in Kathmandu, Nepal. They found 12.5 ± 10.1 pieces/m2 of microplastic distributed in the
samples collected. They observed microplastics from 100 µm-5 mm mainly from
container or packaging Mps however they suggested the importance of identifying
smaller microplastics <100 µm mainly from clothing fibres and tires [45, 132] that
was not included in the study.
9 Recommendations for Future Studies
In the recently concluded decade, there have been several studies on microplastics
and its impacts on the biota. The information derived from them has helped the
community to refine the knowledge on microplastics and its behaviour in different
ecosystems. When compared with the other countries, Mps research in SAARC
nations is pretty much in the nascent stage of development. This is evident from
the microplastic studies reported by researchers from SAARC nations. Apart from
India, other countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, and Maldives
have not carried out any large-scale investigation on these tiny plastic particles and
its impact on the biota. Hence, there are still several fundamental issues and serious
questions which need to be immediately addressed. The Indian studies highlighted
above are greatly restricted to the coastal and lacustrine environments and very few
studies have been made on the major and minor rivers debouching into the Arabian
Sea and the Bay of Bengal. This is important as rivers are considered to be one of
the dominant pathways for the transfer of microplastics from the hinterland into the
oceans/seas. Besides, no significant studies on microplastics have been made on the
different types of soil samples (agricultural, urban, rural, forest, coastal, etc.) and
their effects on the soil organisms. The vertical distribution of microplastics both
in soils and sediments needs to be well studied. Microplastic investigation in soil
profiles and sediment cores provides knowledge about the infiltration capacity of
microplastics. Besides, it will help in understanding the effect of microplastics on
various properties of soil and sediments such as permeability, porosity, and other
mechanical characteristics. Further, mangrove sediments which are considered to be
one of the major sinks of microplastics has been least studied in the SAARC nations.
53
the pellets suggesting fragmentation of bigger plastics to smaller sizes. Carbonyl
absorption spectra through FTIR-ATR however showed intensity values out of the
normal absorption band (1715–1775 cm
−1 ) [31] suggesting the micoplastics were
relatively new. This possibly could be due to the presence of UV stabilizers present
in the Mps or the better waste management practices.
8 Nepal
Yukioka et al. [138] studied the microplastic presence in road dust samples in Kathmandu, Nepal. They found 12.5 ± 10.1 pieces/m2 of microplastic distributed in the
samples collected. They observed microplastics from 100 µm-5 mm mainly from
container or packaging Mps however they suggested the importance of identifying
smaller microplastics <100 µm mainly from clothing fibres and tires [45, 132] that
was not included in the study.
9 Recommendations for Future Studies
In the recently concluded decade, there have been several studies on microplastics
and its impacts on the biota. The information derived from them has helped the
community to refine the knowledge on microplastics and its behaviour in different
ecosystems. When compared with the other countries, Mps research in SAARC
nations is pretty much in the nascent stage of development. This is evident from
the microplastic studies reported by researchers from SAARC nations. Apart from
India, other countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, and Maldives
have not carried out any large-scale investigation on these tiny plastic particles and
its impact on the biota. Hence, there are still several fundamental issues and serious
questions which need to be immediately addressed. The Indian studies highlighted
above are greatly restricted to the coastal and lacustrine environments and very few
studies have been made on the major and minor rivers debouching into the Arabian
Sea and the Bay of Bengal. This is important as rivers are considered to be one of
the dominant pathways for the transfer of microplastics from the hinterland into the
oceans/seas. Besides, no significant studies on microplastics have been made on the
different types of soil samples (agricultural, urban, rural, forest, coastal, etc.) and
their effects on the soil organisms. The vertical distribution of microplastics both
in soils and sediments needs to be well studied. Microplastic investigation in soil
profiles and sediment cores provides knowledge about the infiltration capacity of
microplastics. Besides, it will help in understanding the effect of microplastics on
various properties of soil and sediments such as permeability, porosity, and other
mechanical characteristics. Further, mangrove sediments which are considered to be
one of the major sinks of microplastics has been least studied in the SAARC nations.