Papers

3 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in vulnerable karst environments: case study from the Slovenian classical karst region

Researchers sampled karst springs, caves, and other habitats in Slovenia's classical karst region and detected microplastics across multiple sites, including springs used for drinking water, raising concerns about plastic contamination of these ecologically sensitive and hydrologically connected underground environments.

2022 Acta Carsologica 31 citations
Article Tier 2

ATP luminescence assay as a bioburden estimator of biomass accumulation in caves

Researchers used an ATP luminescence assay to estimate microbial biomass on surfaces in cave environments, finding a strong correlation with traditional culture-based bacterial counts. This is a methods paper focused on cave microbiology with no direct connection to microplastics research.

2016 International Journal of Speleology 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Does Microplastic Pollution in the Epikarst Environment Coincide with Rainfall Flushes and Copepod Population Dynamics?

Researchers examined whether microplastic pollution in epikarst environments coincides with rainfall flush events and copepod population dynamics, sampling water from karst springs over time to correlate plastic particle concentrations with hydrological and ecological variables. The study found that rainfall-driven infiltration pulses influenced microplastic transport through the karst system, with potential implications for epikarst invertebrate communities.

2024 Sustainability