Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Microplastic pollution in lakeshore sediments: the first report on abundance and composition of Phewa Lake, Nepal

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Microplastic pollution in a freshwater environment has captured the attention of the scientific world in recent years. Microplastic is a new area of research in the freshwater of Nepal. Hence, the present study aims to examine the concentration, distribution, and characteristics of microplastic pollution in the sediments of Phewa Lake. Twenty sediment samples were collected from 10 sites to cover the vast area (5.762 km2) of the lake. The mean abundance of microplastic was 100.5 ± 58.6 items/kg dry weight. The average abundance of microplastics in five sections of the lake showed a significant difference (test statistics = 10.379, p < 0.05). Fibers (78.11%) dominated the sediments of Phewa Lake in all sampling sites. Transparent was the prominent color observed followed by red and altogether 70.65% of the microplastics detected were found at 0.2–1 mm size class. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of visible microplastic particles (1–5 mm) confirmed polypropylene (PP) (42.86%) as the dominant polymer type followed by polyethylene (PE). This study can help to bridge the knowledge gap regarding the microplastic pollution in freshwater shoreline sediments of Nepal. Furthermore, these findings would create a new research area to explore the impact of plastic pollution which has been ignored in Phewa Lake.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

References

  • Andrady AL (2011) Microplastics in the marine environment. Mar Pollut Bull 62:1596–1605

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bai C-L, Liu L-Y, Hu Y-B, Zeng EY, Guo Y (2022) Microplastics: a review of analytical methods, occurrence and characteristics in food, and potential toxicities to biota. Sci Total Environ 806:150263

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baldwin AK, Spanjer AR, Rosen MR, Thom T (2020) Microplastics in Lake Mead national recreation area, USA: occurrence and biological uptake. PLoS One 15:e0228896

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ballent A, Corcoran PL, Madden O, Helm PA, Longstaffe FJ (2016) Sources and sinks of microplastics in Canadian Lake Ontario nearshore, tributary and beach sediments. Mar Pollut Bull 110:383–395

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blettler M, Ulla MA, Rabuffetti AP, Garello N (2017) Plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems: macro-, meso-, and microplastic debris in a floodplain lake. Environ Monit Assess 189:1–13

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Browne MA, Galloway TS, Thompson RC (2010) Spatial patterns of plastic debris along Estuarine shorelines. Environ Sci Technol 44:3404–3409

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Browne MA, Crump P, Niven SJ, Teuten E, Tonkin A, Galloway T, Thompson R (2011) Accumulation of microplastic on shorelines woldwide: sources and sinks. Environ Sci Technol 45:9175–9179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CBS (2019) Environmental Statistics of Nepal, 2019. Central Breau of Statistics, Kathmandu

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole M, Lindeque P, Halsband C, Galloway TS (2011) Microplastics as contaminants in the marine environment: a review. Mar Pollut Bull 62:2588–2597

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corcoran PL, Biesinger MC, Grifi M (2009) Plastics and beaches: a degrading relationship. Mar Pollut Bull 58:80–84

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cozar A, Echevarria F, Gonzalez-Gordillo JI, Irigoien X, Ubeda B, Hernandez-Leon S, Palma AT, Navarro S, Garcia-de-Lomas J, Ruiz A, Fernandez-de-Puelles ML, Duarte CM (2014) Plastic debris in the open ocean. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111:10239–10244

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Witte B, Devriese L, Bekaert K, Hoffman S, Vandermeersch G, Cooreman K, Robbens J (2014) Quality assessment of the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis): comparison between commercial and wild types. Mar Pollut Bull 85:146–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Devriese LI, De Witte B, Vethaak AD, Hostens K, Leslie HA (2017) Bioaccumulation of PCBs from microplastics in Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus): an experimental study. Chemosphere 186:10–16

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Di M, Wang J (2018) Microplastics in surface waters and sediments of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China. Sci Total Environ 616:1620–1627

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dovidat LC, Brinkmann BW, Vijver MG, Bosker T (2020) Plastic particles adsorb to the roots of freshwater vascular plant Spirodela polyrhiza but do not impair growth. Limnol Oceanogr Lett 5:37–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dris R, Gasperi J, Saad M, Mirande C, Tassin B (2016) Synthetic fibers in atmospheric fallout: a source of microplastics in the environment? Mar Pollut Bull 104:290–293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dusaucy J, Gateuille D, Perrette Y, Naffrechoux E (2021) Microplastic pollution of worldwide lakes. Environ Pollut 284:117075

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eo S, Hong SH, Song YK, Han GM, Shim WJ (2019) Spatiotemporal distribution and annual load of microplastics in the Nakdong River, South Korea. Water Res 160:228–237

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer EK, Paglialonga L, Czech E, Tamminga M (2016) Microplastic pollution in lakes and lake shoreline sediments–a case study on Lake Bolsena and Lake Chiusi (central Italy). Environ Pollut 213:648–657

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez-Pleiter M, Velazquez D, Edo C, Carretero O, Gago J, Baron-Sola A, Hernandez LE, Yousef I, Quesada A, Leganes F, Rosal R, Fernandez-Pinas F (2020) Fibers spreading worldwide: microplastics and other anthropogenic litter in an Arctic freshwater lake. Sci Total Environ 722:137904

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gopinath K, Seshachalam S, Neelavannan K, Anburaj V, Rachel M, Ravi S, Bharath M, Achyuthan H (2020) Quantification of microplastic in red hills lake of Chennai city, Tamil Nadu, India. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27:33297–33306

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guimaraes ATB, Charlie-Silva I, Malafaia G (2021) Toxic effects of naturally-aged microplastics on zebrafish juveniles: a more realistic approach to plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems. J Hazard Mater 407:124833

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gurung TB, Dhakal RP, Husen MA, Jones JR (2010) Abundance and nutrient limiting growth rate of heterotrophic bacterio-plankton in Himalayan foot hill Lake Phewa, Nepal. Lakes Reserv Res Manag 15:53–61

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hendrickson E, Minor EC, Schreiner K (2018) Microplastic abundance and composition in western Lake Superior as determined via microscopy, Pyr-GC/MS, and FTIR. Environ Sci Technol 52:1787–1796

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hengstmann E, Weil E, Wallbott PC, Tamminga M, Fischer EK (2021) Microplastics in lakeshore and lakebed sediments–external influences and temporal and spatial variabilities of concentrations. Environ Res 197:111141

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hidalgo-Ruz V, Gutow L, Thompson RC, Thiel M (2012) Microplastics in the marine environment: a review of the methods used for identification and quantification. Environ Sci Technol 46:3060–3075

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horton AA, Walton A, Spurgeon DJ, Lahive E, Svendsen C (2017) Microplastics in freshwater and terrestrial environments: evaluating the current understanding to identify the knowledge gaps and future research priorities. Sci Total Environ 586:127–141

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Irfan T, Khalid S, Taneez M, Hashmi MZ (2020) Plastic driven pollution in Pakistan: the first evidence of environmental exposure to microplastic in sediments and water of Rawal Lake. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27:15083–15092

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jian M, Zhang Y, Yang W, Zhou L, Liu S, Xu EG (2020) Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in China’s largest freshwater lake system. Chemosphere 261:128186

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang C, Yin L, Wen X, Du C, Wu L, Long Y, Liu Y, Ma Y, Yin Q, Zhou Z (2018) Microplastics in sediment and surface water of West Dongting Lake and South Dongting Lake: abundance, source and composition. Int J Environ Res Public Health 15:2164

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang C, Yin L, Li Z, Wen X, Luo X, Hu S, Yang H, Long Y, Deng B, Huang L (2019) Microplastic pollution in the rivers of the Tibet Plateau. Environ Pollut 249:91–98

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jin Y, Xia J, Pan Z, Yang J, Wang W, Fu Z (2018) Polystyrene microplastics induce microbiota dysbiosis and inflammation in the gut of adult zebrafish. Environ Pollut 235:322–329

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klein M, Fischer EK (2019) Microplastic abundance in atmospheric deposition within the Metropolitan area of Hamburg, Germany. Sci Total Environ 685:96–103

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klein S, Worch E, Knepper TP (2015) Occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastics in river shore sediments of the Rhine-Main area in Germany. Environ Sci Technol 49:6070–6076

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Knight LJ, Parker-Jurd FNF, Al-Sid-Cheikh M, Thompson RC (2020) Tyre wear particles: an abundant yet widely unreported microplastic? Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 27:18345–18354

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar A, Behera D, Bhattacharya S, Mishra PK, Ankit Y, Anoop A (2021a) Distribution and characteristics of microplastics and phthalate esters from a freshwater lake system in Lesser Himalayas. Chemosphere 283:131132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar R, Sharma P, Verma A, Jha PK, Singh P, Gupta PK, Chandra R, Prasad P (2021b) Effect of physical characteristics and hydrodynamic conditions on transport and deposition of microplastics in riverine ecosystem. Water 13:2710

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lechner A, Ramler D (2015) The discharge of certain amounts of industrial microplastic from a production plant into the River Danube is permitted by the Austrian legislation. Environ Pollut 200:159–160

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lei L, Wu S, Lu S, Liu M, Song Y, Fu Z, Shi H, Raley-Susman KM, He D (2018) Microplastic particles cause intestinal damage and other adverse effects in zebrafish Danio rerio and nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Sci Total Environ 619–620:1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu C, Zhang W, Song S, Li H (2019a) A novel method to improve carboxymethyl cellulose performance in the flotation of talc. Miner Eng 131:23–27

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu K, Wang X, Song Z, Wei N, Li D (2020) Terrestrial plants as a potential temporary sink of atmospheric microplastics during transport. Sci Total Environ 742:140523

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu S, Jian M, Zhou L, Li W (2019b) Distribution and characteristics of microplastics in the sediments of Poyang Lake, China. Water Sci Technol 79:1868–1877

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu L, Wan Z, Luo T, Fu Z, Jin Y (2018) Polystyrene microplastics induce gut microbiota dysbiosis and hepatic lipid metabolism disorder in mice. Sci Total Environ 631–632:449–458

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malla-Pradhan R, Suwunwong T, Phoungthong K, Joshi TP, Pradhan BL (2022) Microplastic pollution in urban Lake Phewa, Nepal: the first report on abundance and composition in surface water of lake in different seasons. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29:39928–39936

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mao R, Hu Y, Zhang S, Wu R, Guo X (2020) Microplastics in the surface water of Wuliangsuhai Lake, northern China. Sci Total Environ 723:137820

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Masura J, Baker J, Foster G, Arthur C (2015) Laboratory methods for the analysis of microplastics in the marine environment: recommendations for quantifying synthetic particles in waters and sediments. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS-OR&R-48

  • Munno K, Helm PA, Jackson DA, Rochman C, Sims A (2018) Impacts of temperature and selected chemical digestion methods on microplastic particles. Environ Toxicol Chem 37:91–98

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Napper IE, Bakir A, Rowland SJ, Thompson RC (2015) Characterisation, quantity and sorptive properties of microplastics extracted from cosmetics. Mar Pollut Bull 99:178–185

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nizzetto L, Futter M, Langaas S (2016) Are agricultural soils dumps for microplastics of urban origin? Environ Sci Technol 50:10777−10779

  • Oni BA, Ayeni AO, Agboola O, Oguntade T, Obanla O (2020) Comparing microplastics contaminants in (dry and raining) seasons for Ox-Bow Lake in Yenagoa, Nigeria. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 198:110656

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Onoja S, Nel HA, Abdallah MA-E, Harrad S (2021) Microplastics in freshwater sediments: analytical methods, temporal trends, and risk of associated organophosphate esters as exemplar plastics additives. Environ Res 203:111830

  • PlasticsEurope (2021) Plastics - the Facts 2021: an analysis of European plastics production, demand and waste data

  • Qi R, Jones DL, Li Z, Liu Q, Yan C (2020) Behavior of microplastics and plastic film residues in the soil environment: a critical review. Sci Total Environ 703:134722

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qin Y, Wang Z, Li W, Chang X, Yang J, Yang F (2020) Microplastics in the sediment of lake Ulansuhai of Yellow river basin, China. Water Environ Res 92:829–839

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R Core Team (2021) R: a language and environment for statistical computing. R foundation for statistical computing, Vienna, Austria, Vienna, Austria. http://www.R-project.org/

  • Rimal B, Baral H, Stork NE, Paudyal K, Rijal S (2015) Growing city and rapid land use transition: assessing multiple hazards and risks in the Pokhara Valley, Nepal. Land 4(4):957–978

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigues M, Abrantes N, Gonçalves F, Nogueira H, Marques J, Gonçalves A (2018) Spatial and temporal distribution of microplastics in water and sediments of a freshwater system (Antuã River, Portugal). Sci Total Environ 633:1549–1559

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-Seijo A, Pereira R (2019) Microplastics in agricultural soils: are they a real environmental hazard?, Bioremediation of Agricultural Soils. CRC Press, pp. 45–60

  • Roebroek CT, Harrigan S, Van Emmerik TH, Baugh C, Eilander D, Prudhomme C, Pappenberger F (2021) Plastic in global rivers: are floods making it worse? Environ Res Lett 16:025003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • RStudio Team (2022) RStudio: integrated development environment for R. RStudio, PBC, Boston, MA, Boston, MA. http://www.rstudio.com/

  • Sarkar DJ, Sarkar SD, Das BK, Manna RK, Behera BK, Samanta S (2019) Spatial distribution of meso and microplastics in the sediments of river Ganga at eastern India. Sci Total Environ 694:133712

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schell T, Hurley R, Nizzetto L, Rico A, Vighi M (2021) Spatio-temporal distribution of microplastics in a Mediterranean river catchment: the importance of wastewater as an environmental pathway. J Hazard Mater 420:126481

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt C, Krauth T, Wagner S (2017) Export of plastic debris by rivers into the sea. Environ Sci Technol 51:12246–12253

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schwarz AE, Ligthart TN, Boukris E, Van Harmelen T (2019) Sources, transport, and accumulation of different types of plastic litter in aquatic environments: a review study. Mar Pollut Bull 143:92–100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scopetani C, Chelazzi D, Cincinelli A, Esterhuizen-Londt M (2019) Assessment of microplastic pollution: occurrence and characterisation in Vesijarvi lake and Pikku Vesijarvi pond, Finland. Environ Monit Assess 191:652

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shrestha P, Janauer G (2001) Management of aquatic macrophyte resource: a case of Phewa Lake, Nepal. Environment and Agriculture: biodiversity, Agriculture and Pollution in South Asia, 99–107

  • Song Y, Cao C, Qiu R, Hu J, Liu M, Lu S, Shi H, Raley-Susman KM, He D (2019) Uptake and adverse effects of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics fibers on terrestrial snails (Achatina fulica) after soil exposure. Environ Pollut 250:447–455

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sruthy S, Ramasamy E (2017) Microplastic pollution in Vembanad Lake, Kerala, India: the first report of microplastics in lake and estuarine sediments in India. Environ Pollut 222:315–322

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strungaru SA, Jijie R, Nicoara M, Plavan G, Faggio C (2019) Micro-(nano) plastics in freshwater ecosystems: abundance, toxicological impact and quantification methodology. Trends Analyt Chem 110:116–128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Su L, Xue Y, Li L, Yang D, Kolandhasamy P, Li D, Shi H (2016) Microplastics in Taihu Lake. Chin Environ Pollut 216:711–719

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thetford D, Chorlton A, Hardman J (2003) Synthesis and properties of some polycyclic barbiturate pigments. Dyes Pigm 59:185–191

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson RC (2006) Plastic debris in the marine environment: consequences and solutions. Mar Nat Conserv Europe 193:107–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Treilles R, Gasperi J, Tramoy R, Dris R, Gallard A, Partibane C, Tassin B (2022) Microplastic and microfiber fluxes in the Seine River: flood events versus dry periods. Sci Total Environ 805:150123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vaughan R, Turner SD, Rose NL (2017) Microplastics in the sediments of a UK urban lake. Environ Pollut 229:10–18

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Von Moos N, Burkhardt-Holm P, Köhler A (2012) Uptake and effects of microplastics on cells and tissue of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis L. after an experimental exposure. Environ Sci Technol 46:11327–11335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Fu Z, Qiao H, Liu F (2019a) Assessment of eutrophication and water quality in the estuarine area of Lake Wuli, Lake Taihu, China. Sci Total Environ 650:1392–1402

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Liu X, Li Y, Powell T, Wang X, Wang G, Zhang P (2019b) Microplastics as contaminants in the soil environment: a mini-review. Sci Total Environ 691:848–857

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Wang X, Li Y, Li J, Liu Y, Xia S, Zhao J (2021) Effects of exposure of polyethylene microplastics to air, water and soil on their adsorption behaviors for copper and tetracycline. Chem Eng J 404:126412

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watson CS, Kargel JS, Regmi D, Rupper S, Maurer JM, Karki A (2019) Shrinkage of Nepal’s second largest lake (Phewa tal) due to watershed degradation and increased sediment influx. Remote Sens 11:444

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wickham H (2016) Data analysis, ggplot2. Springer, pp. 189–201

  • Wright SL, Thompson RC, Galloway TS (2013) The physical impacts of microplastics on marine organisms: a review. Environ Pollut 178:483–492

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wright SL, Ulke J, Font A, Chan KLA, Kelly FJ (2020) Atmospheric microplastic deposition in an urban environment and an evaluation of transport. Environ Int 136:105411

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xia F, Yao Q, Zhang J, Wang D (2021) Effects of seasonal variation and resuspension on microplastics in river sediments. Environ Pollut 286:117403

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xiang Y, Jiang L, Zhou Y, Luo Z, Zhi D, Yang J, Lam SS (2021) Microplastics and environmental pollutants: key interaction and toxicology in aquatic and soil environments. J Hazard Mater 422:126843

  • Xiong X, Zhang K, Chen X, Shi H, Luo Z, Wu C (2018) Sources and distribution of microplastics in China’s largest inland lake–Qinghai Lake. Environ Pollut 235:899–906

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yan M, Wang L, Dai Y, Sun H, Liu C (2021) Behavior of microplastics in inland waters: aggregation, settlement, and transport. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 107:700–709

  • Yang S, Zhou M, Chen X, Hu L, Xu Y, Fu W, Li C (2022) A comparative review of microplastics in lake systems from different countries and regions. Chemosphere 286:131806

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yang W, Cheng P, Adams CA, Zhang S, Sun Y, Yu H, Wang F (2021) Effects of microplastics on plant growth and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in a soil spiked with ZnO nanoparticles. Soil Biol Biochem 155:108179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yin L, Wen X, Du C, Jiang J, Wu L, Zhang Y, Hu Z, Hu S, Feng Z, Zhou Z (2020) Comparison of the abundance of microplastics between rural and urban areas: a case study from East Dongting Lake. Chemosphere 244:125486

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yin L, Wen X, Huang D, Du C, Deng R, Zhou Z, Tao J, Li R, Zhou W, Wang Z (2021) Interactions between microplastics/nanoplastics and vascular plants. Environ Pollut 290:117999

  • Yuan W, Liu X, Wang W, Di M, Wang J (2019) Microplastic abundance, distribution and composition in water, sediments, and wild fish from Poyang Lake, China. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 170:180–187

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang K, Gong W, Lv J, Xiong X, Wu C (2015) Accumulation of floating microplastics behind the Three Gorges Dam. Environ Pollut 204:117–123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, Liu J, Xie Y, Zhong S, Yang B, Lu D, Zhong Q (2020) Distribution of microplastics in surface water and sediments of Qin river in Beibu Gulf, China. Sci Total Environ 708:135176

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Q, Liu T, Liu L, Fan Y, Rao W, Zheng J, Qian X (2021) Distribution and sedimentation of microplastics in Taihu Lake. Sci Total Environ 795:148745

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao J, Ran W, Teng J, Liu Y, Liu H, Yin X, Cao R, Wang Q (2018) Microplastic pollution in sediments from the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea, China. Sci Total Environ 640:637–645

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand for research support. We extend our gratitude to Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) for providing laboratory space and facilities to conduct research work. We thank Central Department of Geology, Tribhuvan University, for providing us access to use microscope for capturing photographs of microplastics.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Assessment and Technology for Hazardous Waste Management Research Center, Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand

    Rajeshwori Malla-Pradhan & Khamphe Phoungthong

  2. Environment and Climate Study Laboratory, Faculty of Science, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Lalitpur, Nepal

    Rajeshwori Malla-Pradhan & Tista Prasai Joshi

  3. Department of Environmental Science, Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Ghantaghar, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Rajeshwori Malla-Pradhan

  4. Center of Chemical Innovation for Sustainability (CIS), School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, 57100, Thailand

    Thitipone Suwunwong

  5. Amrit Campus, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Bijay Lal Pradhan

Authors
  1. Rajeshwori Malla-Pradhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Khamphe Phoungthong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Thitipone Suwunwong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tista Prasai Joshi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Bijay Lal Pradhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Conceptualization, visualization, and writing—original draft were done by Rajeshwori Malla-Pradhan. Writing—reviewing and editing was done by Thitipone Suwunwong and Tista Prasai Joshi. Supervision and validation were done by Khamphe Phoungthong. Data curation and formal analysis were performed by Bijay Lal Pradhan. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Khamphe Phoungthong.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Christian Gagnon

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

ESM 1

(DOCX 441 KB)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Malla-Pradhan, R., Phoungthong, K., Suwunwong, T. et al. Microplastic pollution in lakeshore sediments: the first report on abundance and composition of Phewa Lake, Nepal. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 70065–70075 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27315-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27315-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation