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Microplastic Pollution in the Urban Water Cycle: A Comprehensive Review
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This review of existing research found that tiny plastic particles called microplastics are widespread in urban water systems, including drinking water and bottled water, even after treatment at water facilities. While water treatment removes some microplastics, many still remain and could pose health risks to people who drink the water. The biggest problem is that scientists don't yet have consistent ways to measure these plastics or fully understand their long-term effects on human health.
Microplastic contamination in aquatic systems in urban areas is a cause for concern due to its ability to move from one location to another. This review investigates microplastic levels across different aquatic environments and its potential transport through the urban water cycle. This study explores current research on the presence and pathways of microplastics movement within the water cycle. It includes a comprehensive bibliometric analysis that identifies publication trends, dominant research themes, influential journals, and leading contributing countries. It covers microplastic occurrence across various natural environments, including marine, river, lake, and groundwater systems, and extends into the built environment such as water treatment facilities, wastewater systems, bottled water, and drinking water distribution networks. Results indicate that microplastic levels vary within the urban water cycle, with concentrations differing widely depending on geography, type of infrastructure, and sampling methodology. Despite some removal efficiency during treatment processes, residual microplastics remain prevalent in effluents and drinking water, posing potential ecological and health risks. This study identifies that some of the major challenges in determining the fate and transport of microplastics are inconsistent sampling methods, lack of standardization, and limited understanding of long-term impacts. This paper also identifies the necessity of coordinated global strategies that integrate policy, technology, and public awareness to mitigate microplastic contamination in urban water systems.
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Microplastics in water, from treatment process to drinking water: analytical methods and potential health effects
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This systematic review examines how microplastics travel through the water treatment process from raw water sources to your tap and bottled water. The researchers present methods for detecting these particles and assess potential health impacts of drinking microplastic-contaminated water. The findings suggest that current water treatment may not fully remove microplastics, meaning ongoing low-level exposure through drinking water is likely.
Ubiquity of Microplastics in Drinking Water: An Update on Its Assessment and Impact
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This review documents the widespread presence of microplastics in drinking water worldwide — including both tap and bottled water — and examines the potential health impacts of ingesting these particles. Current evidence shows microplastics are present in essentially all drinking water supplies at levels that cause concern, though the long-term health effects remain under investigation. The review calls for improved water treatment and reduced plastic use as parallel strategies to address the problem.
Quantifying the Invisible - Micro- and Nanoplastics in the Urban Water Cycle
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This review examines the presence and behavior of micro- and nanoplastics throughout the urban water cycle, from surface runoff to drinking water treatment. Urban water systems are both a source and a pathway for microplastic transport, making city-level water management critical for reducing human exposure.
Microplastic Contamination in Drinking Water: A Review
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This review summarized current research on microplastic contamination in drinking water, covering detection methods, occurrence data, and health implications. The authors found microplastics widely present in tap and bottled water worldwide and noted that conventional treatment processes remove them incompletely, raising ongoing concerns about chronic low-level human ingestion.
Microplastic Pollution in Urban Water Systems, Environmental and Public Health Implications: A Narrative Review
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This review found that microplastics are widespread in urban water systems including rivers, lakes, and water treatment plants, with single-use plastics and urban runoff as major sources. Current treatment methods do not fully remove these particles, meaning urban residents are exposed to microplastics through drinking water and food, with potential links to gut inflammation and hormonal disruption.
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.