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Microplastics in Environment & Freshwater Ecosystems: Sources, Distribution, Types, Characteristics and Ecological Impacts
Summary
This review pulls together over 20 years of research on tiny plastic particles (microplastics) polluting our rivers, lakes, and other freshwater sources, tracing them back to things like cosmetics, synthetic clothing fibers, and larger plastic trash breaking down over time. The concerning part: these particles can harm aquatic life by disrupting digestion and hormones, and they can also soak up toxic chemicals and harmful microbes—meaning they don't just stay in the water, but can work their way up the food chain toward us. Since our drinking water often comes from these same freshwater sources, the researchers call for better water treatment syst
Microplastics are now becoming an environmental pollutant of freshwater bodies around the globe. Microplastics are plastic particles, generally less than 5 mm, which are either primary plastic particles of microbeads used in cosmetics and industrial pellets, or synthetic fibres from clothing or other textiles. Similarly, they can be small plastic pieces formed from the fragmentation of large plastic debris. Contamination of freshwater ecosystems by microplastics is increasing due to growing urbanisation, industrialisation, agricultural practices and inefficient waste management. Freshwater sources like rivers, lakes, wetlands, and reservoirs are impacted. This study analyses the sources, distributional characteristics, ecological effects, and management perspectives of freshwater microplastics. The data for the study was collected from published scientific articles, and review papers from the year 2004 up to 2025, and environmental reports. The databases were Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect. According to the study, fibers and fragments are the most abundant microplastics, while polyethene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl-chloride (PVC) and polyethene-terephthalate (PET) are the most detected polymers. Microplastics can impede the digestion of freshwater organisms, cause oxidative stress and inflammation, disrupt hormones, and transfer through the food chain. Microplastics absorb toxic pollutants and microbe colonization which further increases environmental and human health risks. This is according to future study. The techniques for monitoring microplastics should be standardised, the study states. We need to enhance wastewater treatment systems. Next, prepare a comprehensive program for plastics management. The public should be educated about microplastics.