We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Terrestrial microplastics as emerging aquatic pollutants: A systematic review
Summary
This systematic review traces how microplastics from everyday land-based sources — laundry, tire wear, landfills, and farming — make their way into rivers and coastal waters. It highlights that what we do on land is the primary driver of microplastic pollution in the water we drink and the seafood we eat.
Microplastics (MPs), predominantly derived from terrestrial activities such as household effluents, tire wear, landfills, agricultural runoff, and e-waste, are now pervasive in freshwater and coastal environments. This review combines a systematic bibliometric search of Scopus records (2016–2025; initial search, n = 2,243) with a focused narrative synthesis of the 137 studies that met the inclusion criteria after eligibility screening. Quantitative evidence from these studies shows wide variation in environmental loads (e.g., 6,600–8,800 items·kg⁻¹ in landfill soils; 27–609 MPs·L⁻¹ in agricultural runoff) and strong sorption of co-contaminants (lead adsorption reported up to 2,810 mg·kg⁻¹, median values substantially lower depending on polymer and ageing). MPs have been detected in human tissues (blood, lung, placenta) and are associated in the literature with oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and endocrine-disrupting pathways. Advances in FTIR/Raman spectroscopy and AI-assisted image analysis have improved detection, but heterogeneous sampling and analytical protocols limit cross-study comparability. Priority research needs identified from the 2016–2025 evidence base include: quantitative apportionment of under-reported sources (notably e-waste and informal recycling), mechanistic phytotoxicity and trophic-transfer studies under field conditions, and freshwater fate & transport modeling that incorporates dynamic land-use and sediment–water exchange. Standardized analytical frameworks, inter-laboratory calibration, and open data repositories are recommended to translate science into policy and targeted mitigation within the polymer environment health nexus.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Are we underestimating the sources of microplastic pollution in terrestrial environment?
This review argues that land-based sources of microplastic pollution are significantly underestimated, even though most marine microplastics originate from terrestrial sources. Researchers found that textile washing accounts for roughly 35% of microplastics in water, with additional contributions from tire wear, agricultural plastic films, cosmetics, and construction materials. The study highlights atmospheric deposition as a newly recognized pathway for microplastic dispersal that requires urgent investigation.
Microplastics in Terrestrial and Freshwater Environments
This review synthesized emerging research on microplastic contamination in terrestrial and freshwater environments, highlighting that land-based sources dominate plastic inputs to the ocean and that soil and freshwater ecosystems may harbor higher microplastic loads than marine environments.
Microplastics in the freshwater and terrestrial environments: Prevalence, fates, impacts and sustainable solutions
This review analyzed over 100 studies on microplastic pollution in freshwater and terrestrial environments, which have received less research attention than marine settings. Researchers found that wastewater treatment plants are the most significant source of environmental microplastics through both sludge application and effluent discharge. The study highlights how microplastics move between land and water systems, enter food chains, and interact with both living organisms and soil chemistry.
Microplastics: Classification, Sources, Characterisation, Fate, and Control Measures
This review examines the classification, sources, characterisation, fate, and control measures for microplastics, synthesising recent literature on their detection in marine water, freshwater, wastewater, food, air, and drinking water, and identifying terrestrial runoff and wastewater effluent as key pollution pathways.
A Review of Processes and Models for the Export of Microplastics From Terrestrial to Aquatic Systems
This review examines models and processes that control how microplastics move from land into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Understanding these transport pathways is essential for predicting where microplastics accumulate and developing strategies to stop them from reaching water sources. The research could help protect human health by informing better land management and waste reduction policies.