We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Global distribution, drivers, and potential hazards of microplastics in groundwater: A review
Summary
This review maps the global distribution of microplastics in groundwater and finds that contamination is widespread, with fiber-shaped particles and polyethylene being the most common types detected. The study highlights that climate change and local geology play underappreciated roles in how microplastics move through soil into groundwater, which is a drinking water source for billions of people worldwide.
Since microplastics (MPs) were first detected in groundwater, an increasing number of studies have focused on groundwater pollution by MPs. However, knowledge of the global properties of groundwater MPs: distribution, concentration, composition, and morphology remains limited, while potential factors regulating their transport and distribution in groundwater, especially the hydrogeological background and climate warming conditions, have been omitted from most analyses. Furthermore, previous field investigations did not assess the risks posed by groundwater MPs to the environment and to human health, a necessary preliminary to remediation. In this work, to promote future MP pollution studies and remediation policies, we assimilated and synthesized the current knowledge on this topic. We reviewed current data on global groundwater pollution by MPs, analyzed the driving factors of their transport and distribution, and summarized the ecological and health hazards posed by MPs, before discussing current knowledge limits and suggesting perspectives for future work.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Contamination, morphological and chemical characterization, and hazard risk analyses of microplastics in drinking water sourced from groundwater in a developing nation
Researchers analyzed groundwater from six coastal districts in a developing nation and found widespread microplastic contamination, with fibers and fragments of polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common types. Since groundwater is the primary drinking water source in many developing countries, this contamination represents a direct pathway for microplastic ingestion by millions of people.
Groundwater in the age of plastic
This review examines microplastic contamination of groundwater globally, synthesizing studies on occurrence, transport pathways through soil and aquifer matrices, and the emerging implications for drinking water safety and groundwater ecosystem health.
Distribution and transport of microplastics in groundwater (Shiraz aquifer, southwest Iran)
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in groundwater from an alluvial aquifer in a semi-arid region of Iran. They identified microplastics in all sampled wells, with fibers and fragments being the most common shapes and polyethylene the dominant polymer type. The study demonstrates that groundwater, an important source of drinking water, is not immune to microplastic contamination and calls for more research on transport mechanisms in subsurface environments.
Microplastic pollution in soil and groundwater: a review
This review examines microplastic contamination in soil and groundwater, which has received less attention than ocean pollution. Littering is the main source of soil microplastics globally, and fibers and pellets are the most common shapes found. The contamination is harmful to soil organisms like earthworms and nematodes, can alter soil properties, and poses potential risks to human health through groundwater used for drinking.
Microplastics in groundwater: a global analysis
Researchers conducted a global groundwater sampling study to characterize microplastic contamination in aquifer systems worldwide, investigating transport mechanisms and fate of particles in anoxic subsurface environments where knowledge gaps remain despite extensive research on surface water systems.