Microplastic Identification and Abundance in the Freshwater Resource—A Lentic Body

Plastic is becoming a major environmental threat with its continuously increasing deposition on earth. Nowadays plastic and its types are becoming a more concern. Despite this plastic pollution, microplastics are also contributing a harmful environmental cause. They are affecting living and non-living matter which is a serious alarm for each ecosystem. So, in this study, we have chosen a lentic body in the Solapur district, i.e., Ekrukh Lake, Hipparaga. Sediment and water samples were taken from the six locations around the lake. This study highlighted the direct and indirect sources of plastic which is a source of microplastics pollution. Water samples are collected with Neuston Net and sediment samples are filtered with the four different mesh sizes 1mm, 600 µm, 300 µm, and 150 µm, respectively. The abundance and evaluation of MP were identified with stereomicroscope and FTIR analysis. We observed that the frequency of microplastic concentration was high in the village shore area sediment sample. Open drainage flows, tourist wastes, and open garbage disposal are the leading cause of pollution. The area of microplastic pollution that is intervening with living and non-living mechanisms needs to be studied.