Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences
Title : | Microplastic distributions in soils under different land use in Sonitpur district in the Brahmaputra Catchment |
Area of research : | Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Sciences |
Principal Investigator : | Dr. Sumi Handique, Tezpur University, Assam |
Timeline Start Year : | 2023 |
Timeline End Year : | 2026 |
Contact info : | sumihandique@gmail.com |
Equipments : | "Borosil Kjeldahl Distillation Unit, 100KDU000000
Digital stereomicroscope with camera & USB port equipped
Fridge
HI9829 Multiparameter pH/ISE/EC/DO/Turbidity Waterproof Meter with GPS option
Distillation unit" |
Details
Executive Summary : | Microplastic is an emerging threat to the ecosystem. In recent years, with the growing awareness of plastic pollution interest is increasing among researchers to study microplastic(MP) pollution in soil, however, there is a dearth of studies on different land uses and thus this hampers the real assessment of the problem faced due to MPs in soil ecosystems. Based on the research done to date, the presence of microplastics across different land uses remains almost unknown. In this proposal we propose to address this gap and carry out a regional-scale study across various land uses in Sonitpur district in Mid-Brahmaputra valley in Assam. Hypothesis to be tested : • The type and amount of microplastics in the topsoil will depend on population density and land use. • MPs are detrimental to soil health and affect the soil ecosystem services • There is a potential risk of groundwater contamination with MPs via leaching. Objectives: a) To identify and quantify MPs in topsoils in different land uses in Sonitpur district in Mid-Brahmaputra valley in Assam. b) To study the changes in soil physical, chemical and biological properties due to heavy metal and microplastic pollution in soils under different land use in the Sonitpur district. c) To investigate the possibility of microplastics in soil entering and contaminating the groundwater aquifers through leaching. Methodology : 1. Soil samples to be collected from soil layers under different land uses using a soil corer or auger. 2. Isolation, identification & quantification of microplastics. 3. Presence of microplastics in groundwater to be estimated by density separation and microscopic analysis. Microplastics and potentially toxic elements present in groundwater are to be identified by referring to literature and sample testing in ICP-MS and AAS. 4. All geospatial and statistical analyses are to be done using software such as ArcGIS, QGIS, Google Earth Pro, etc. and Microsoft Excel, SPSS, R, PAST etc., respectively. Significance of the proposed research There is no study to date on microplastic pollution in the biodiverse area of Sonitpur, which lies in an ecologically rich area on the periphery of the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot. The proposed project will explore the extent of soil pollution in the district of Sonitpur which is a major floodplain of the Brahmaputra. Sonitpur already struggles with iron and arsenic contamination in groundwater. It would be interesting to study the various geochemical interactions of microplastics with other potentially toxic elements and observe if the land covers play any role in controlling the movement of these pollutants. Worldwide, only a few studies have been carried out so far in this regard. Finally, a geostatistical model derived from all the observations will provide better insight into the extent of MP pollution in soil and groundwater. |
Total Budget (INR): | 28,01,120 |
Organizations involved