We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Presence of microplastics in the groundwater of volcanic islands, El Hierro and La Palma (Canary Islands)
AI summary Read the abstract
For the first time, researchers detected microplastics in the groundwater of volcanic islands El Hierro and La Palma in the Canary Islands, finding six different plastic types at concentrations up to 23 particles per liter. Polypropylene and polyethylene from packaging and water pipes were the most common, likely entering groundwater through leaky sewage systems. This finding is alarming because groundwater is often considered a clean water source, and its contamination with microplastics means even remote island communities face exposure through their drinking water.
The increasing amount of plastic litter worldwide is a serious problem for the environment and its biodiversity, ecosystems, animal and human welfare and the economy. The degradation of these plastics leads to microplastics (MPs), which have been reported for the first time in groundwater in the Canary archipelago. This research investigates the presence of MPs at nine different points on La Palma and El Hierro, where samples were collected in galleries, wells and springs during the month of December 2022. Six different polymers were found with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) - polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), cellulose (CEL), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The particle concentrations found ranged from 1 to 23 n/L, with a maximum particle size of 1900 μm, the smallest being 35 μm. PP and PE were the most common polymers found in the analysis, associated with the use of packaging, disposable products, textiles and water pipes, related to poorly maintained sewerage networks where leaks occur, allowing these MPs to escape into the environment and end up in groundwater. The detection of microplastic pollution in groundwater emphasises environmental hazards, including biodiversity disruption and water source contamination. Additionally, it presents potential risks to human health by transferring contaminants into the food chain and through respiratory exposure.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic contamination in groundwater on a volcanic Jeju Island of Korea
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in groundwater on Jeju Island, a volcanic island in South Korea, sampling 21 groundwater wells and springs. The study, reported as the first to identify microplastics in groundwater from a volcanic island, found contamination present across sampling sites, raising concerns about microplastic infiltration into subsurface water resources.
Microplastic pollution in the groundwater under a bedrock island in the South China sea
AI summary Read the abstract
This is the first study to examine microplastic pollution in groundwater beneath a small island in the South China Sea, finding 34 to 64 particles per liter despite minimal industrial activity. Over 80% of the microplastics were polyester fibers originating from the island's own plastic waste rather than from the surrounding ocean. The findings are significant because they show that even remote island groundwater, often the only drinking water source for island communities, is contaminated with microplastics.
Contamination, morphological and chemical characterization, and hazard risk analyses of microplastics in drinking water sourced from groundwater in a developing nation
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
First insight into microplastic groundwater pollution in Latin America: the case of a coastal aquifer in Northwest Mexico
AI summary Read the abstract
This is the first study to investigate microplastic contamination in groundwater in Latin America, examining a coastal aquifer in Northwest Mexico. Researchers found microplastics at all six sampled locations and at multiple depths, confirming that groundwater is not immune to this type of pollution. Since millions of people depend on groundwater for drinking water, these findings raise important questions about microplastic exposure through water supplies.
Beneath the water column: Uncovering microplastic pollution in the sublittoral coastal sediments of the Canary Islands, Spain
AI summary Read the abstract
This study examined microplastic prevalence and distribution in sublittoral coastal sediments around the Canary Islands, Spain, sampling 26 locations to characterize both synthetic and cellulosic particle contamination. The results establish a baseline for microplastic pollution in this Atlantic archipelago.
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.