We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Protection of Underground Aquifers from Micro- and Nanoplastics Contamination
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed the pathways through which micro- and nanoplastics infiltrate underground aquifers and evaluated current and proposed strategies to protect these critical freshwater reserves, finding that soil filtration provides partial protection but that nanoplastics can bypass conventional barriers and persist in groundwater for extended periods.
Despite the unquestionable benefits of plastics to human activitiesHuman activities, their intense use has generated huge quantities of waste worldwide. The inappropriate handling of plastic residues is currently one of the main environmental and societal issues....
More Papers Like This
Protection of Underground Aquifers from Micro- and Nanoplastics Contamination
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed the mechanisms by which micro- and nanoplastics infiltrate underground aquifers through soil transport, adsorption, and leaching, and assessed strategies to protect groundwater sources from this emerging and poorly regulated contaminant class.
Micro and Nanoplastics: Contamination of Air, Water, and Soil
AI summary Read the abstract
This review characterized the contamination of air, water, and soil by micro- and nanoplastics, documenting sources, transport mechanisms across environmental compartments, and the growing diversity of polymer types detected globally. The ubiquitous, multi-media spread of MNPs means human exposure occurs simultaneously through inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact, underscoring the need for cross-sector pollution control.
Micro and Nanoplastics: Contamination of Soil
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed how micro- and nanoplastics accumulate in soil through agricultural mulch films, sewage irrigation, and landfill leaching, disrupting soil ecosystems and potentially entering the food chain. Because these particles are so small, they can travel into groundwater and be absorbed by crops, raising concerns about human dietary exposure.
The Plastiverse Extends to Hydrogeologic Systems: Microplastics Are an Important Emerging Groundwater Contaminant Class
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists are finding tiny plastic particles, called microplastics, in groundwater, the water stored underground that many communities rely on for drinking water. This matters because groundwater has long been considered relatively protected from surface pollution, so this research suggests we need to start paying closer attention to how these plastics get into our water supplies and what that could mean for our health down the road. More research is still needed to fully understand the risks, but this is an important first step in recognizing groundwater as another place where microplastic contamination shows up.
Microplastic characteristics, transport, risks, and remediation in groundwater: a review
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed microplastic contamination in groundwater, finding concentrations up to 6,832 particles per liter from sources including landfills, agriculture, and atmospheric deposition, and reporting that membrane filtration technologies such as reverse osmosis can achieve 93–99% microplastic removal.
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.