Microplastics Research

I conducted research regarding microplastics in the Mithi river in Mumbai, India for my extended essay, a requirement in the IB program. My research question was ‘Which of the four plant species (Lemna minor, Pistia stratiotes, Salvinia molesta, and Eichhornia crassipes) is the most effective at removing microplastics from the Mithi River in Mumbai, India through phytoremediation?’.

Mumbai, the financial capital of India is one of the most polluted cities in the world. Due to rapid urbanization and industrial growth, there has been a rise in significant pollution problems. Water pollution is one of the main types of pollution that’s widespread in Mumbai as untreated sewage and industrial waste is incorrectly released into Mumbai’s water bodies which includes the Mithi River, leaving marine life and water resources to be contaminated. The Mithi River has been subjected to severe pollution which has resulted in the depreciation of the river’s ecosystem and the health of the people living in its vicinity. I pass Mithi river everyday to go to my school and seeing the condition of the river is quite disheartening and I wanted to make a positive change. Several underprivileged people reside on both sides of the river and they are facing health issues due to this pollution.

By understanding how phytoremediation can be used to reduce microplastics, I aimed to hopefully identify a method which can improve the state of Mithi river. Through this research, I found a natural and eco-friendly solution to reduce the level of microplastics in Mumbai’s Mithi river, which was planting Lemna minor in polluted water bodies.