High Microplastic Levels Found in Yamuna Near Taj Mahal
A recent environmental study has raised alarm over severe microplastic pollution in the Yamuna near the Taj Mahal. The 12-kilometre river stretch contains the highest levels of microplastic particles among the surveyed locations. Experts warn the findings carry major public health and ecological risks, especially considering the region’s reliance on the river for drinking water and fishing activities.
Researchers found up to 800 microplastic particles per kilogram of sediment near the Taj Mahal’s riverbed — the highest among four points examined. The tiny plastics originate largely from textile fibres, plastic packaging, and tyres. These particles, invisible to the naked eye, pose long-term environmental and human health risks, as they can infiltrate food chains, water sources, and even human organs through prolonged exposure and bioaccumulation.
Microplastic pollution was also found in the Yamuna’s surface water. The site near the Taj Mahal recorded 17 particles per cubic metre, second only to a heavily polluted ghat known for cloth washing and open drains. Studies revealed black-coloured particles, mostly from tyres, were the most common, followed by fragments of yellow plastic. With no legal limits on microplastic levels in India, the rising contamination remains largely unregulated.
Experts highlighted that microplastics are capable of carrying toxins and pathogens into the human body. They can penetrate deep into organs, including crossing into the brain and placenta, leading to inflammation and chronic diseases. The findings are particularly worrying for local communities that depend on the Yamuna for drinking water and fishing. These pollutants are not just environmental concerns — they are direct threats to public health.
Despite the growing evidence, pollution control boards have yet to formally assess or regulate microplastics in Indian rivers. Previous studies have found similar contamination in the Ganga, but current monitoring remains minimal. Experts call for urgent, nationwide river assessments and pollution control strategies targeting textile runoff, tyre particles, and plastic packaging waste — the primary contributors to this unseen but toxic threat now plaguing India’s water bodies.
The discovery of severe microplastic pollution near the Taj Mahal underscores a silent but escalating environmental crisis. With harmful particles invading riverbeds and water systems, the implications extend far beyond ecology — into food safety, public health, and water security. Without stronger regulation, surveillance, and cleanup efforts.
