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Impact of microplastics on riverine greenhouse gas emissions: a view point

  • Microplastic Pollutants in Terrestrial and Aquatic Environment
  • Published:
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Abstract

In recent decades, microplastics (MPs < 5 mm) are ubiquitous and considered a serious emerging environmental problem. However, due to the limited recovery and long-lasting durability MPs, debris is frequently accumulating in riverine ecosystems, thereby impacting microbial activity and its communities. The presence of MPs may alter the microbial richness, variety, and population, thereby impacting the transformation of biogeochemical cycles. The occurrence, fate, and transport of MPs in marine and terrestrial ecosystems and their impact on biogeochemical or nutrient cycling are reported in the scientific fraternity. Yet, the global scientific community is conspicuously devoid of research on impact of MPs on riverine greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The presented view point provides a novel idea about the fate of MPs in the riverine system and its impact on GHG emissions potential. Literature reveals that DO and nutrients (organic carbon, NH4+, NO3−) concentrations play an important role in potential of GHG emission in riverine ecosystems. The proposed mechanism and research gaps provided will be highly helpful to the hydrologist, environmentalist, biotechnologist, and policymakers to think about the strategic mitigation measure to resolve the future climatic risk.

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Funding

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)-International Young Scientist (Grant no: 52150410400).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Hydrology and Water Resources, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China

    Amit Kumar

  2. Key Laboratory of Hydrometeorological Disaster Mechanism and Warning, Ministry of Water Resources, Nanjing, China

    Amit Kumar

  3. Environment and Biofuel Research Laboratory, Department of Hydro and Renewable Energy, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Uttarakhand, 247667, India

    Pooja Upadhyay & Sanjeev Kumar Prajapati

Authors
  1. Amit Kumar
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  2. Pooja Upadhyay
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  3. Sanjeev Kumar Prajapati
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Contributions

AK: Conceptualization; writing, original draft preparation; review and editing; visualization; funding acquisitions. PU and SKP: Writing—review and editing. All the authors have read the manuscript critically and approved it for final submission.

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Correspondence to Amit Kumar.

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Kumar, A., Upadhyay, P. & Prajapati, S.K. Impact of microplastics on riverine greenhouse gas emissions: a view point. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 107300–107303 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-23929-2

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