Article
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Tier 2
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Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence.
Food & Water
Marine & Wildlife
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Microplastic Contamination in Karst Groundwater Systems
Ground Water2019
479 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 50
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
John W. Scott,
Samuel V. Panno,
Samuel V. Panno,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Rachel E. McNeish
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
John W. Scott,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
John W. Scott,
John W. Scott,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
John W. Scott,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Walton R. Kelly,
Walton R. Kelly,
Walton R. Kelly,
Walton R. Kelly,
John W. Scott,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
John W. Scott,
John W. Scott,
Rachel E. McNeish
John W. Scott,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
John W. Scott,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Rachel E. McNeish
John W. Scott,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Wei Zheng,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
John W. Scott,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
John W. Scott,
John W. Scott,
Rachel E. McNeish
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
John W. Scott,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
John W. Scott,
Nancy Holm,
Nancy Holm,
Nancy Holm,
Nancy Holm,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Elizabeth L. Baranski,
Wei Zheng,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Elizabeth L. Baranski,
Elizabeth L. Baranski,
Elizabeth L. Baranski,
Rachel E. McNeish
John W. Scott,
John W. Scott,
Timothy J. Hoellein,
Rachel E. McNeish
Summary
Springs and wells from two karst aquifers in Illinois were found to contain microplastics exclusively as fibers (up to 15.2 particles/L), with their presence correlated with phosphate, chloride, and triclosan, suggesting septic effluent as the source. The study demonstrates that karst groundwater systems used for drinking water are vulnerable to microplastic contamination infiltrating through their open, conduit-dominated architecture.
Study Type
Environmental
Groundwater in karst aquifers constitutes about 25% of drinking water sources globally. Karst aquifers are open systems, susceptible to contamination by surface-borne pollutants. In this study, springs and wells from two karst aquifers in Illinois, USA, were found to contain microplastics and other anthropogenic contaminants. All microplastics were fibers, with a maximum concentration of 15.2 particles/L. The presence of microplastic was consistent with other parameters, including phosphate, chloride and triclosan, suggesting septic effluent as a source. More studies are needed on microplastic sources, abundance, and impacts on karst ecosystems.