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Microplastic Pollution in Fresh Water
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This review summarizes current knowledge on microplastic pollution in freshwater systems, covering sources such as atmospheric deposition, stormwater runoff, and wastewater, as well as the diverse shapes, sizes, and polymer types found in rivers and lakes. The authors highlight that freshwater microplastic contamination is comparable in scale to marine contamination and that the pathways to human health via drinking water and food supply demand urgent policy attention.
Water bodies are being slowly but inevitably suffocated by microplastics. Different routes, such as atmospheric deposition, runoff from contaminated soil, or municipal wastewater, allow microplastics to reach water bodies. The movement of plastic debris was significantly aided by storm-water runoff. Microplastics comprise fibres, shreds, particles, flakes, sheets, or foams and occur in a wide range of shapes, colours, and chemical compositions. Environmentalists, organisations, and governments are now aware of the contamination caused by microplastics in both the marine and terrestrial environments. The available literature on microplastic pollution in water systems was obtained for this review. It was noted that freshwater ecosystems and oceans might be comparable. The existence of microplastics as a stressor in freshwater habitats around the world, given that research on microplastics has just recently begun, our knowledge of their appearance, dispersion, and methods for reliable identification and quantification is still limited. Furthermore, it is unclear how microplastics could affect human health. Considering that extensively human populations rely on water supplies for food and drinking water, raising awareness in these areas is critical if we are to develop appropriate policies and management tools to address this emerging issue. Keywords: Water bodies, microplastics, storm-water runoff, plastic debris, human health
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