ClimateDISCOVERCompleted
Soil tests found up to 2,520 microplastic particles/kg near Periyar riverbank in Edayar
Edayar, Kerala1 Jul 2026
Soil samples collected near the Periyar riverbank at the site of the now-defunct Sreesakthi Paper Mills in the Edayar industrial area tested positive for microplastics, with concentrations of 2,520 and 1,520 particles per kg. The tests were carried out in July 2026 at the School of Environmental Studies, Mahatma Gandhi University, after the Kerala State Pollution Control Board initiated sampling under a National Green Tribunal directive linked to remediation of the site.
Why it matters
This establishes measured microplastic contamination at a specific riverside industrial site, informing remediation actions intended to prevent plastic waste migrating into the Periyar River.
Kerala State Pollution Control BoardMahatma Gandhi University (School of Environmental Studies)National Green Tribunal