We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Monitoring and decontamination technologies for removing waterborne micro- and nanoplastic contaminants
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic particles too small to see are showing up in our drinking water, and scientists are still working out the best ways to detect and remove them. This paper reviews existing tools for spotting these microplastics in water and the technologies being developed to filter them out, highlighting where current methods fall short and what improvements are needed. Since research increasingly links microplastic exposure to potential health concerns, better detection and cleanup tools could be an important step toward safer drinking water in the future.
Published in Device 3, 100725 (2025), Cell Press/Elsevier. Open access (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). This record is a deposited copy of the version of record (DOI: 10.1016/j.device.2025.100725) for open-access compliance under the Horizon Europe EIC Pathfinder Open project BMRex (Grant Agreement No. 101099528). Review of monitoring and decontamination technologies for waterborne micro- and nanoplastic contaminants.
More Papers Like This
Occurrence, Fate, and Treatment of Micro/Nano Plastics in Drinking Water Sources
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the occurrence, fate, and treatment of micro- and nanoplastics in drinking water sources, covering how these particles enter water supplies and what treatment technologies exist to remove them. The authors note significant gaps in both detection methods and removal efficiency.
Problems, Challenges, and Removing Methods of Micro Plastics from Water
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the presence of microplastics in drinking water — both tap and bottled — and the technologies available to remove them. Microplastics have been detected in drinking water worldwide, and while conventional treatment removes some particles, smaller nanoplastics largely pass through. The authors assess filtration, coagulation, and advanced treatment options for improving microplastic removal in drinking water systems.
The hidden hazard in every sip: tackling microplastics in drinking water through detection and mitigation
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic particles are showing up in tap water, bottled water, and groundwater worldwide, and this review pulls together what scientists currently know about detecting and removing them. While methods like filtration and boiling can help reduce these particles, researchers still don't have standardized testing methods or clear answers on long-term health risks, so more research is needed.
Removal of nanoplastics in water treatment processes: A review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines technologies for removing nanoplastics from water, noting that conventional treatment processes effective for larger plastics often fail to capture these tiny particles. Researchers evaluated emerging methods including microbial degradation, membrane filtration, and photocatalysis, finding that combined approaches offer the best removal rates. The study highlights that more research is needed to develop practical, large-scale solutions for nanoplastic contamination in drinking water and wastewater.
Micro- and Nanoplastic Water Contamination: Comparative Review of Classical Analytical Methods and Advanced Sensors
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic particles in our water, small enough to carry other harmful chemicals and even drug-resistant germs, are hard to detect, and this review of 53 studies shows that testing methods are still catching up, especially for the smallest "nanoplastic" particles. Most research so far has used lab-created samples rather than real tap or river water, meaning we still don't have a clear, reliable picture of how much of this contamination is actually in the water we drink every day. Until testing methods improve and become standardized, regulators can't set firm safety limits, which matters because these particles may be more common in our water supply than current science can confirm.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.