Anthropogenic marine litter: An approach to environmental quality for India's southeastern Arabian Sea coast

Long-term monitoring (2022-2024) of solid waste pollution in inland water ecosystems of Türkiye: Spatial and temporal dynamics

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of solid waste pollution in Türkiye's inland water ecosystems, focusing on the Borçka, Muratlı, and Torul reservoirs, along with Uzungöl Lake, over a three-year period (2022-2024). By employing systematic seasonal sampling, geospatial analysis, and statistical evaluation, the research highlights the spatial and temporal dynamics of solid waste accumulation across these diverse aquatic systems. During the sampling period, a total of 52,666 solid waste items were collected and analyzed from Borçka Dam Lake (29,701 items), Muratlı Dam Lake (6,917 items), Torul Dam Lake (11,635 items), and Uzungöl (4,413 items), revealing significant variations in litter abundance among the lakes, seasons, and years, with Borçka Reservoir having the highest waste density and Uzungöl the lowest. Plastic waste emerged as the dominant category, accounting for over 60% of the total waste in all study sites, followed by metals, glass/ceramics, and paper/cardboard. Statistical analyses, including ANOVA, NMDS, and SIMPER, revealed distinct waste compositions across the lakes and seasons, emphasizing the need for targeted mitigation strategies. This research bridges a significant knowledge gap by focusing on long-term pollution dynamics in Türkiye's inland waters, providing actionable insights for waste management and environmental conservation. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended to implement effective waste management systems, introduce stricter regulations, and raise public awareness through targeted campaigns.

Geospatial distribution and anthropogenic litter impact on coastal mangrove ecosystems from the Saudi Arabia coast of the Gulf

Mangrove ecosystems are significantly impacted by marine litter pollution, an increasingly important environmental problem. These ecosystems, situated at the interface between sea and land, serve as critical habitats and act as traps for plastic pollution. This study investigated the concentration, source, and composition of marine litter on both the mangrove bottom and canopy along the Saudi Arabia coast in the Gulf. The observed concentration of surface litter ranged from 0.98 ± 0.05 to 2.96 ± 0.25 items/m², with a mean concentration of 1.4 ± 0.61 items/m² (SD; N = 9). The mean trapped litter was 0.79 ± 0.45 items/tree, ranging from 0 to 7 items/tree. Plastic litter dominates the mangrove environment, accounting for 80% of debris items on the floor and 43% of those entangled in the canopy. Single-use plastics were the most prevalent type of litter detected across all surveyed locations. The sediments within the mangrove ecosystem serve as long-term repositories for plastic litter, evaluated through various indices, such as General Index, Clean Coast Index, Pollution Load Index, and Hazardous Litter Index, to assess the cleanliness of the mangrove floor. The Pollution Load Index shows a "Hazard level I," indicating that the mangrove floor is less contaminated. A higher concentration of litter was observed in urban areas with greater population density, likely originating from terrestrial activities like urban runoff and marine activities, particularly fishing.

Coastal beach ecosystems contaminated by marine litter: Impact on coastal biodiversity, tourism, and environmental sustainability

This study examined the abundance, composition, sources, and pollution status of marine macro litter (>2.5 cm) at four beaches in Sri Lanka (Kallady, Negombo, Kandakuliya, and Balapitiya), located along the coastline of the northern Indian Ocean. Clean Coast Index (CCI), Plastic Abundance Index (PAI), Hazardous Item Index (HII), and Environmental Status Index (ESI) were used to evaluate the pollution levels. A total of 10,873 litter items were collected from four beaches representing 11 typologies. The average density of the litter collected was 0.7-1.2 items/m2. Plastic items constituted the majority of litter found, with a percentage of 51%. Kallady Beach was classified as "extremely dirty," while the others were rated as "dirty" according to the CCI. All beaches fell under category "II" on the HII. PAI indicated high and moderate plastic contamination, and the ESI classified all sites as having a "bad" environmental status. The majority of litter originated from land-based sources, including unsustainable fishing practices, poor waste management, and harmful recreational activities. The findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive marine and coastal management frameworks to address these challenges. Despite existing awareness and cleanup efforts, the study calls for innovative waste management solutions, enhanced regulations, corporate responsibility, and further research to protect Sri Lanka's coastal ecosystems. These effective management steps are essential to mitigate marine litter and ensure the long-term health of these sensitive ecosystems.

Spatial distribution, contamination levels, and risk assessment of heavy metals along the Eastern India coastline

The proposed comprehensive study was accomplished to analyze the ecological phenomenon, heavy metals occurrence, and its significance. The spatial distribution of heavy metals in the sediments such as Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Cupper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Nickel (Ni), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), and Chromium (Cr) of the Eastern coastline of India (ECI) was evaluated across 61 sites along the 1400 km stretch of the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea coastline. The heavy metal concentration was higher for Hg (0.08 μg/g) and Cd (3.44 μg/g), likely due to mining and extraction activities. Strong positive correlations (R2>0.5,p<0.01) observed between Cd∼Fe R2=0.70, Cd∼-Cr R2=0.68, Co∼Zn R2=0.79, Cu∼Ni R2=0.73 suggesting co-miming sources while negative correlations Ni∼Cr R2=-0.50, Ni∼Pb R2=-0.56, Cu∼Pb R2=-0.58 indicate the separation of these metals in sediments due to geochemical conditions and tailing disposal. The heavy metals, Co, Cu, Pb, Ni, Fe, and Cr were under the concentrations proposed by sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). It indicated there is fewer immediate effects of heavy metals, however, even at low levels metals like Hg, Cd, and Pb can cause chronic exposure effects, bioaccumulation and subclinical health impacts over time. The stations of Utkal (UC 14-UC 18) and Coromandel (CC 8-CC 11) coastline act as shipping ports and are involved in mining activities and recorded geological weathering of rocks in these areas, compared to other sampling locations along Utkal, Andhra and Coromandel coastline.

Marine litter pollution in inhabited and uninhabited Lakshadweep islands, Indian Ocean

The Lakshadweep archipelago, located in the Arabian Sea off India's southwestern coast, is renowned for its rich biodiversity and vibrant coral reefs. However, the region faces a growing environmental threat from marine debris, particularly plastic waste, which poses a significant challenge to its delicate ecosystem. To identify potential sources of pollution, we assessed environmental quality and ecological risk using indices such as the Clean Coast Index (CCI), Plastic Abundance Index (PAI), and Pollution Load Index (PLI). We also analyzed the spatial distribution of marine litter on Lakshadweep's beaches and mapped the annual wind direction. The study, conducted across six islands, recorded 3933 plastic litter items, with an average abundance of 0.77 ± 0.33 items/m2, making up 82.9 % of the total litter. The high mean values of CCI (17.98), PAI (5.39), and PLI (34.25) indicate severe ecological risk and critical pollution levels along the Lakshadweep coastline, driven by extensive macroplastic accumulation. Furthermore, the study highlights the influence of wind patterns on plastic movement across the islands. These findings provide essential insights for developing effective strategies to manage and mitigate marine litter, contributing to the broader effort to combat plastic pollution in the region.

Unravelling coastal plastic pollution dynamics along southeastern Australia: Insights from oceanographic modelling informed by empirical data

Marine plastic pollution poses a global environmental challenge, understanding dispersal patterns at management-relevant scales is required to inform effective actions. We combine high-resolution oceanographic modelling and particle tracking with empirical data from Australia's largest marine debris database to investigate plastic debris transport across southeastern Australia. Our results challenge the assumption that marine debris primarily originates from distant sources, revealing that source regions are predominantly confined within a 15-km coastal band, with 50% of the debris modelled only spending 8 days at sea, and originating (on average) 20-km away. A comparison of empirically-informed simulations with uniform seeding scenarios shows significant differences in the number and intensity of identified marine source hotspots of plastic debris across the coastal band. These findings emphasize the importance of local management strategies and demonstrate how integrating observational data with oceanographic modelling can enhance our understanding of marine debris dynamics, ultimately supporting more targeted pollution reduction efforts.

Assessment of beach litter, including Abandoned, Lost, or Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG), along the coast of Tamil Nadu, India: Magnitude, sources, composition, pollution status, and management strategies

Coastal environment provides economic, recreational, and aesthetic benefits, serving as a habitat for diverse species. This study assessed beach litter across 52 coastal villages in 13 districts of Tamil Nadu, India, examining its magnitude, sources, composition, and pollution status. The average litter density was 1.14 items/m2 (0.05 kg/m2), with significant site variation. Abandoned, Lost, or Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) constituted 47.46% of the litter, plastics 39.64 %, and non-plastic items 12.9 %. Pudukottai district showed the highest concentration, with 2.68 items/m2 and 0.20 kg/m2. ALDFG magnitude was estimated at 4554 tons per annum, based on a FAO surveys and Bootstrap method. Polyethylene identified as the dominant polymer through FTIR analysis, highlighting challenges in waste management. Management strategies for ALDFG include enforcing regulations, promoting sustainable gear designs, implementing Extended Producer Responsibility policies, and enhancing waste reception facilities. Industry inventions to reduce packaging waste by adopting eco-friendly alternatives and zero plastic production are crucial. While clean-up measures are necessary, prevention measures, industry collaboration, and waste disposal facilities remain vital for long term improvements. Pollution indices such as Clean Coast Index reveal a dire situation: 31 % of beaches are dirty and 46 % extremely dirty and 62 % of the study area is categorised as extremely dirty by the Clean Environment Index. The Plastic Abundance Index shows high plastic waste on 39 % of beaches and the Hazardous Litter Index indicates 62 % beaches have widespread hazardous litter. These findings highlight the urgent need for integrated pollution management to restore and protect Tamil Nadu coastal environment.

Multidimensional risk assessment of marine litter pollution in the ecologically fragile coral atolls of India

Marine litter (ML), predominantly plastic, threatens oceanic biodiversity and ecosystem functioning globally. However, limited knowledge exists about its impact on India's coastal areas, particularly the Lakshadweep Islands, the nation's sole coral atolls. Within this frame of reference, the present study comprehensively investigated the distribution, abundance, typology, and ecological risks associated with ML across 28 beaches and three lagoon reef stations on Kavaratti Island. A total of 32,710 litter items, divided into 11 categories, were found with an average litter density of 0.82 ± 0.80 items/m2. Plastic litter emerged as the most prevalent category across the study area, constituting 63.7% of the total, and public littering was identified as the primary source (43%). Assessments of environmental quality and ecological risk, employing indices like the Clean Coast Index (CCI), Plastic Abundance Index (PAI), Hazardous Litter Index (HLI), Pollution Load Index (PLI), and Environmental Status Index (ESI), identified the Lakshadweep coastline as being at risk due to litter pollution and hazardous litter abundance. The mean concentration of trapped litter on the coral reef was estimated at 1.73 ± 0.46 items/m2, with a PLI value of 53.4, indicating an alarming ecological risk and highly perilous condition for the lagoon reef ecosystem. Approximately 5.94% ± 0.18% of coral colonies, particularly of the Porites genus, were found in contact with ML, with a significant proportion displaying signs of disease and tissue loss (59.37%), and partial bleaching or pale (14.86%). The results highlight the growing threat of litter to beach and coral communities, emphasizing the urgent need for effective regional litter management, strengthened policies for banning and phasing out single-use plastics in Lakshadweep, and efficient transportation of non-biodegradable waste to authorized recyclers on the mainland.

Assessment of coastal litter trends in tourist vs. non-tourist beaches: A case study from Indian coastal smart city

Coastal ecosystems are increasingly threatened by the accumulation of marine litter globally. Limited data availability along India's eastern coast hinders targeted mitigation efforts. This study assesses coastal litter along Visakhapatnam, a smart city on India's eastern coast, using the NOAA shoreline debris protocol. Litter assessments at 12 sites before and after the monsoon season revealed high mean litter densities (2.66 ± 0.31 items m-2 before monsoon, 2.03 ± 0.29 items m-2 after monsoon), exceeding the global average by twofold and the national average by five-fold. The tourist beaches saw a 63 % litter reduction after monsoon due to the implementation of better waste management practices, while non-tourist beaches saw a 16 % increase, highlighting disparities in waste management practices. Plastic comprised 86 % of litter, exceeding the global mean proportion (85 %) in marine litter. Alarmingly, 50 % of tourist beaches and all non-tourist beaches were classified as "extremely dirty" by the Clean Coast Index. Land-based influx through stormwater drains was identified as the primary source of litter. This study provides critical baseline data for India's eastern coast, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted interventions, including improved stormwater management and community engagement, to mitigate the escalating marine litter crisis. Further, the findings and recommendations provide valuable insights for managing plastic pollution in coastal cities with similar characteristics, particularly those influenced by monsoons and tourism.

How much does marine litter weigh? A literature review to improve monitoring, support modelling and optimize clean-up activities

The weight of marine litter has been marginally considered in comparison to counting and categorizing items. However, weight determines litter dynamics on water and coasts, and it is an essential parameter for planning and optimizing clean-up activities. This work reviewed 80 publications that reported both the number and weight of beached macro-litter worldwide. On average, a litter item weighed 19.5 ± 20.3 g, with a median weight of 13.4 g. Plastics composed 80% by number and 51% by weight of the global litter bulk. A plastic item weighed 12.9 ± 13.8 g on average, with a median weight of 9 g. The analysis based on continents and on water bodies returned similar values, which can be used to estimate litter weight on beaches from past and future visual census surveys, and from remote sensing imagery. Overall, this work can improve litter monitoring reports and support dynamics modelling, thereby contributing for environmental protection and mitigation efforts.

Marine macrolitter and cigarette butts hazard multiple-use marine protected area and fishing community at Brazil

Wide marine litter (ML) contamination impacts human health and economic sectors including fishing, navigation, and tourism. Perequê beach, Brazil, is an authentic fishing community within a touristic multiple-use marine protected area. However, no ML contamination monitoring were so far performed in the region. This study evaluated the spatiotemporal abundance, composition, sources, and associated ML hazards at Perequê beach using a multi-index approach. The 2579 items (0.64 ± 0.72 items.m-2) yielded a high contamination level (CCI = 12.6 ± 14.4) with plastic (44.6-50.9 %) and cigarette butts (20.6-28.4 %) prevalence, while primary sources were smoking (cigarette butts, lighters, others-21.2-30.1 %) and packaging (17.8-22.8 %). Levels of pollutants leaked from cigarette butts (CBPI = 30.5 ± 47.5) and hazardous items (HALI = 3.06 ± 2.64) were among the highest globally. Heightened levels occurred in summer, at dry sand strip, where short-term buoyant items prevailed. Multi-indexing approaches offer valuable insights for local authorities to implement mitigation programs, while contributing to global discussions, promoting awareness, and facilitating replicability.

Marine litter along the Peruvian coast: spatiotemporal composition, sources, hazard, and human modification relations

Marine litter (ML) represents an escalating environmental issue, particularly in Latin America, where comprehensive studies are scarce despite critical solid waste management challenges and continuous human modification occurring on the coasts. To contribute to the knowledge of ML in the southeast Pacific, this study examined contamination across 10 beaches on Peru's extensive coast. Overall, ML contamination was categorized as moderate (with an ML concentration of 0.49 ± 0.64 items∙m-2), while significantly differing between summer (dirty with an ML concentration of 0.56 ± 0.66 items∙m-2) and winter (moderate with an ML concentration of 0.47 ± 0.60 items∙m-2). Three beaches were extremely dirty (concentrations of ML exceeded 1.0 items∙m-2). Predominant materials, items, and sources were plastic, cigarette butts (CBs), and mixed packaging. The Peruvian coast faced CB leachate impact (CBPI = 3.5 ± 3.5), reaching severe levels on two beaches, with considerable hazardous litter (HALI = 3.0 ± 2.9). Additionally, a higher degree of human modification was associated with higher ML levels along the coast.

Plastic pollution on Moroccan beaches: Toward baselines for large-scale assessment

In Africa, Morocco is the 10th largest producer of plastic. The severity of this plastic has attracted increasing amounts of attention in the Moroccan Atlantic and Mediterranean in recent years. However, at the national level, there is limited knowledge of plastic pollution. To obtain an exhaustive and comprehensive evaluation of plastic pollution levels in Morocco, large-scale monitoring is needed on all the coasts of the country. In this context, this paper examined the composition, abundance, distribution, source and quality of beaches on two Moroccan coasts using four beach quality indices along 29 beaches. During two seasons, a total of 72,105 items were counted. The mean litter abundance was 0.31 items/m2, and the Mediterranean beaches were more dense than the Atlantic beaches. In particular, litter density was greater in spring (0.35 items/m2) than in summer (0.29 items/m2). The data indicate considerable differences in the density of marine debris according to the seasonality, beach typology and presence of rivers. Hazardous litter items were collected along both Moroccan coasts, constituting 8.41 % of the total collected items, with a mean of 0.026 items/m2. The use of environmental indices allowed us to classify Moroccan beaches as "moderate cleanliness", "moderate abundance" of plastics, "moderately safe" presence of hazardous litter and "mediocre" environmental status. The findings of the present study indicate that the sources of litter on both Moroccan coasts come mainly from recreational activities and dumping. The waste management practices recommended for Moroccan beaches include reducing sources, mitigating mitigation measures and changing littering behavior.

High levels of anthropogenic litter trapped in a mangrove area under the influence of different uses

The contamination of mangroves by anthropogenic litter has increased in recent decades. Notably, Brazil occupies a prominent status within Latin America, boasting the second-largest mangrove areas globally. In Santos-São Vicente Estuarine System (SESS), mangroves coexist with a preeminent port complex and substantial urbanization rates. Nevertheless, the anthropogenic litter occurrence and distribution in this ecosystem remains unknown. This study aimed to comprehensively assess anthropogenic litter across 13 strategically positioned sites in the SESS. The total litter density (Mean ± SD) was 22.84 ± 36.47 (0.00-142.00) items·m-2, putting the SESS among the top four most contaminated mangrove ecosystems worldwide. Residential zones accumulated more litter than uninhabited areas and significant correlation was seen with human modification index. Plastic was the prevalent material (70.4 %), measuring mostly between 2.5 and 30 cm (41.1 %). It is imperative that local authorities adopt comprehensive strategies to mitigate contamination, while also curtailing the litter inputs to the SSES mangrove ecosystem.

The first assessment of marine litter on somalian coast: The case of Liido Beach, mogadishu

This paper presents the first assessment of marine litter in the Mogadishu coastal area of Somalia. Samples were collected monthly using 100 m × 40 m transect and classified following OSPAR Marine Litter Survey Guide while litter sources were identified using Ocean Conservancy Marine Debris Index. The results showed a total of 119873 items consisting of plastics (89.47%), clothing items (7.53%), and others (3.00%) recovered from Liido Beach. Litter density ranged from 2.19 items/m2 to 14.18 items/m2 with a mean of 6.25 items/m2 and Clean Coast Index (CCI) suggesting that Liido Beach is extremely dirty (>20 items/m2). In addition, the primary sources of marine litter at the beach are local recreational and shoreline activities (54.12%), and dumping (36.61%). The dominance of plastic litter on the beach poses potential threats to marine biodiversity in the Somalia coastal area and the West Indian Ocean. It is recommended that effective strategies and solutions to mitigate litter on the beach and other coastal areas in Somalia should be developed and compensated with public education and awareness campaigns across the country.

Microplastics in oral healthcare products (OHPs) and their environmental health risks and mitigation measures

The environmental input of microplastics from personal care products has received significant attention; however, less focus has been paid to oral healthcare products. The present study assessed the occurrence of microplastics in commercially available oral healthcare products such as toothbrushes, toothpastes, toothpowder, mouthwash, dental floss, and mouth freshener spray that have a pan-India distribution. The extracted microplastics were quantified and characterised using a microscope and ATR-FTIR. All products showed microplastic contamination, where toothbrushes showed the maximum particles (30-120 particles/brush) and mouth freshener sprays (0.2-3.5 particles/ml) had the least abundance. Fragments, fibres, beads, and films were the various shapes of microplastics observed, where fragments (60%) were dominant. Various colours such as pink, green, blue, yellow, black, and colourless were observed, where colourless (40%) particles were dominant. Microplastics were categorized into three sizes: <0.1 mm (63%), 0.1-0.3 mm (35%), and >0.3 mm (2%). Four major types of polymers, such as polyethylene (52%), polyamide (30%), polyethylene terephthalate (15%), and polybutylene terephthalate (3%), were identified. Risk assessment studies such as Daily Microplastics Emission (DME), Annual Microplastics Exposure (AME), and Polymer Hazard Index (PHI) were carried out. The DME projection for India was the highest for mouthwash (74 billion particles/day) and the least for mouth freshener sprays (0.36 billion particles/day). The AME projection for an individual was the highest in toothbrushes (48,910 particles ind.-1 yr.-1) and the least in mouth freshener sprays (111 particles ind.-1 yr.-1). PHI shows that the identified polymers fall under the low-to high-risk categories. This study forecasts the community health risks linked to microplastics in oral healthcare products and suggests mitigation strategies. It has the potential to shape environmental policy development in response.

Interaction of climate change and marine pollution in Southern India: Implications for coastal zone management practices and policies

Climate change and marine litter are inextricably linked, and their interaction manifests differently depending on the specific environmental and biological characteristics, and other human activities taking place. The negative impacts resulting from those synergistic interactions are threatening coastal and marine ecosystems and the many goods and services they provide. This is particularly pervasive in the coastal zone of the Indian subcontinent. India is already experiencing severe climate change impacts, which are projected to worsen in the future. At the same time, the country is gripped by a litter crisis that is overwhelming authorities and communities and hindering the country's sustainable development goals. The coastal environment and communities of the southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. While these state governments and authorities are stepping up efforts to improve the management of their coastal zones, the scale and severity of these issues are mounting. Here we review the combined effects of climate change and marine litter pollution in Southern India, focusing on the Gulf of Mannar Reserve in Tamil Nadu and the Malabar Coast in Kerala. Finally, we discuss effective management options that could help improve resilience and sustainability.

Assessment of beach macrolitter using unmanned aerial systems: A study along the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast

Over the years, the Black Sea has been impacted by the issue of marine litter, which poses ecological and health threats. A mid-term monitoring program initiated in 2018 assessed the abundance, density, and composition of beach litter (BL) on 40 frequently visited beaches. From 2018 to 2022, there was a significant increase in average abundance, rising by 261 %. Artificial polymer materials accounted for the majority (84 %) of the litter. Land-based sources dominated 77 % of the litter. The Clean Coast Index (CCI) categorized the beaches as "moderate" with an average value of 8.9 for the period between 2018 and 2022. However, the years 2021 and 2022, during the COVID-19 epidemic, were identified as the "dirtiest period" with 11 beaches classified as "extremely dirty" due to high domestic tourist pressure. The study demonstrates a successful combination of standard in situ visual assessment supported by unmanned aerial systems for beach litter surveys.

Chromium (IV) transfer to Amusium pleuronectes by LDPE microplastics: An experimental study

An experiment was carried out to investigate the potential of virgin LDPE microplastics to transfer heavy metals. Desired shapes (fibres, fragments, and films) and sizes (< 5 mm) of virgin LDPE microplastics were immersed in a known concentration (30 µg/l) of chromium (IV). These Cr-coated microplastics were introduced into a culture tank containing edible scallops (Amusium pleuronectes). After the completion of the experiment (5 days), the sediments in the culture tank and edible tissues of A. pleuronectes were tested for the presence of Cr. In the sediments, a maximum concentration of 1.934 µg/g of Cr was accumulated at a rate of R2 = 0.979, while in the tissues, the maximum accumulation concentration was 0.733 µg/g of Cr at a rate of R2 = 0.807. Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy analysis also confirmed the presence of Cr (2.61 ± 0.44 mass % and 1.80 ± 0.30 atom%) in the tissues of A. pleuronectes, which was absent in the control tissues. The study showed that when exposed to contaminants such as heavy metals, LDPE microplastics can adhere and transfer them to biotic tissues. LDPE showed the potential to transfer adhered contaminants; however, the effects caused by these transferred contaminants on biota must be studied further. Risk assessment study showed that potential ecological risk of Cr is < 40 indicating low risk however, the combined effect of Cr and LDPE can compound its toxicity which needs to be studied further.

Risk assessments of microplastics accumulated in estuarine sediments at Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, southeast coast of India

In this study, the abundance of microplastics (MPs) in the Uppanar and Gadilam estuaries in Cuddalore, on the southeast coast of India, is reported. In the estuarine sediments, MP abundance ranged from 36.3 ± 3.39 to 51.6 ± 2.05 particles/Kg dw. Different types of MP shapes, such as fibers (41.7-47.9%), films (21.2-27.2%), and fragments (18.3-25.5%) were observed in the size range of 100-1000 µm. Diverse colours of MPs were observed, among which red (30.1-34.5%) was predominantly noticed in the estuarine sediments. Six polymers were identified by µ-FTIR, among which LDPE (39%) and PP (35%) were dominant. MPs pollution in these estuaries is composed of domestic, industrial, and fishing wastes. Risk assessments show that the area falls under hazard categories I to III, indicating low to high risk. This study improves knowledge on MPs contamination in Uppanar and Gadilam estuaries and provides impetus for further research to identify the actual sources and impacts of MPs on aquatic systems along the east coast of India.