PANAJI
Goa’s most famous beaches, celebrated globally for their beauty and tourism appeal, are increasingly becoming repositories of plastic pollution.
A recent scientific study has revealed widespread microplastic contamination in the surface waters of northern beaches including Baga, Anjuna and Vagator pointing to the environmental cost of intense tourism and urban activity along the coast.
A study by Goa University’s School of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, published earlier this month has examined the surface waters along the northern coast of Goa. “This study indicates the presence of microplastic contamination along the northern beaches of Goa, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and the implementation of preventive measures to mitigate potential environmental impacts,” the researchers Niyati Kalangutkar, Shritesh Mhapsekar and Divya Fulari said.
The researchers recorded an average microplastic abundance of 0.47 particles per litre (MP/L) across the surveyed beaches. Among them, Baga Beach showed the highest concentration at 0.6 MP/L, followed by Anjuna at 0.5 MP/L and Vagator at 0.3 MP/L, indicating that beaches with intense tourism and commercial activity are facing greater pollution stress.
Importantly, ecological risk assessments painted a troubling picture as the Pollution Load Index (PLI) exceeded the safety threshold at all surveyed beaches, confirming that the waters are polluted. “Risk assessment indices, including the Pollution Load Index (PLI), Polymer Hazard Index (PHI), and Coefficient of Microplastic Impact (CMPI), highlighted varying levels of ecological risk,” it said.
The PHI placed the sites in risk level V, the highest category, due to the presence of hazardous polymers like polyamide and polystyrene, which are known to pose serious risks to marine life. The CMPI further highlighted the extreme impact of fibrous microplastics on coastal waters.
Researchers found that microplastic fibres -- commonly associated with synthetic clothing, fishing gear and domestic wastewater -- were the most dominant form across all locations. More than 56 per cent of the particles were colourless, making them difficult to detect visually, while nearly 69 per cent measured between 0.3 and 1 mm, a size range that is easily ingested by marine organisms.
Laboratory analysis identified commonly used polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) in the water samples. Many of these plastics are associated with food packaging, bottles, textiles and disposable consumer products widely used along Goa’s coastline.
Using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), the researchers observed clear signs of surface degradation and weathering on the microplastic particles, indicating prolonged exposure in the marine environment and their potential to act as carriers for toxic chemicals and pathogens.
The study warns that continued accumulation of microplastics along Goa’s northern beaches could threaten marine biodiversity, fisheries and coastal livelihoods.
Researchers have called for continuous monitoring, improved and stricter regulation of plastic use in coastal zones. “These findings provide a critical baseline for future research and contribute to the formulation of strategies to manage and mitigate plastic pollution in coastal environments,” they said.
