Abstract
Emerging chemical pollutants in Indian aquatic systems pose a growing and poorly regulated threat to waterbird populations. India generates approximately 72,368 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage, of which only 28% receives adequate treatment before discharge. Pharmaceuticals, personal care products, surfactant metabolites—including nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE; detected at 0.8–22.3 µg/L) and linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS; detected at 0.4–22.5 mg/L) in major Indian rivers —organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides, heavy metals, and microplastics are contaminating river basins, estuaries, and wetlands of national significance. Waterbirds occupy the apex of aquatic food webs and are consequently susceptible to bioaccumulation and biomagnification of lipophilic contaminants. Across resident and migratory species in India, chemical exposure has been associated with eggshell thinning, immunosuppression, hepatotoxicity, behavioural disruption, and population decline. Among 12 threatened or near-threatened waterbird species reviewed, all show documented or inferred chemical exposure risks at key Indian wetlands. This review covers pollutant sources, environmental distribution and fate, and ecotoxicological effects on waterbird health and diversity. It also compares Indian regulatory standards with those of the EU and USA, identifies monitoring gaps, and presents prioritized, actionable recommendations for policy and conservation.
Keywords
References
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