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A review of the influence mechanisms of climate-induced events on groundwater microplastic contamination: A focus on aquifer vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies
Summary
This narrative review examines how climate change events — floods, droughts, sea level rise, and heat waves — are influencing the transport and accumulation of microplastics in groundwater and freshwater aquifers. Flooding emerged as the most significant driver, flushing surface microplastics into subsurface environments, which is alarming because groundwater is a primary drinking water source for billions of people globally.
Climate change and plastic pollution are two main issues that our world is currently facing, and they are mainly linked through various processes, mechanisms, and chemical blueprint. Emerging issues related to microplastic (MP) contamination in freshwater are expanding and diverse research is being carried out globally. Factors causing climate change are increasing the frequency of extreme weather phenomena such as floods, drought, sea level rise, and heat waves, which can directly or indirectly influence the plastic/MP contamination in various ecosystems including groundwater environments. Here, we review the impacts of extreme weather events on MP contamination in freshwater with a specific focus on groundwater environments. This narrative review shows that flooding can have the most adverse effect on the MP pollution in groundwater environments through recharge events. Drought can also have major effects on MP pollution. Karst, alluvial, and coastal aquifers exhibit the highest levels of MP contamination among various aquifer types. Climate change's impact on different types of aquifers can vary depending on hydrogeological conditions and other factors in the groundwater environment. Prevention and comprehensive solutions are crucial for addressing MPs in the environment, with downstream measures being supplementary to upstream ones.
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