Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Detecting the invisible: a conceptual proposal for accessible, at-home microplastic testing for tap and drinking water

This study presents a conceptual product specification and design for a low-cost, at-home microplastic detection kit for tap and drinking water, intended to bridge the gap between laboratory-based methods and accessible consumer tools. Researchers developed technical requirements for an accessible device that would enable household users to detect microplastic contamination without specialized equipment.

2025 UPCommons institutional repository (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya)
Article Tier 2

Visualization and characterisation of microplastics in aquatic environment using a home-built micro-Raman spectroscopic set up

Researchers built an affordable micro-Raman spectroscopy system capable of identifying microplastics in water samples, offering a low-cost alternative to expensive commercial equipment. The system could visualize, measure, and chemically identify different types of microplastic particles. This kind of accessible detection technology is important, especially for developing countries, because widespread monitoring of microplastic pollution in water sources is essential for protecting public health.

2024 Journal of Environmental Management 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Rapid analytical method for characterization and quantification of microplastics in tap water using a Fourier-transform infrared microscope

Researchers developed a faster FTIR microscope method for analyzing microplastics across the whole filtration area and applied it to 42 tap water samples from five countries, finding mean concentrations of 39 particles per liter with polyester fibers and PVC fragments among the most common types.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 99 citations
Article Tier 2

Identifying microplastic contamination in drinking water: analysis and evaluation using spectroscopic methods

Researchers developed analytical methods to identify and quantify microplastic contamination in drinking water, evaluating extraction efficiency and detection accuracy across different water types and plastic particle sizes. The study assessed health implications based on measured plastic loads in treated water.

2024 Interdisciplinary Environmental Review
Article Tier 2

Validation of an FT-IR microscopy method for the monitorization of microplastics in water for human consumption in Portugal: Lisbon case study

Researchers validated a method using infrared microscopy to monitor microplastics in drinking water and applied it to 60 tap water samples from Lisbon, Portugal. They detected microplastics in most samples, with an average of 309 particles per liter, predominantly polyethylene fragments averaging 76 micrometers in length. The study provides one of the first standardized approaches for routine microplastic monitoring in public water supplies, an important step for assessing human exposure.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 7 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Standardization of FTIR-Based Methodologies for Microplastics Detection in Drinking Water: A Meta-Analysis Indeed and Practical Approach

This meta-analysis works toward standardizing the methods scientists use to detect microplastics in drinking water using infrared spectroscopy. Consistent detection methods are essential because without them, we cannot accurately compare contamination levels across studies or reliably assess how much microplastic people are actually consuming in their tap and bottled water.

2024 Water 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Optical detection of microplastics in water

Researchers developed a low-cost portable Raman spectrometer prototype costing less than $370 for detecting microplastics in water. The device successfully detected microplastics at concentrations below 0.015% w/v, suggesting it could serve as an accessible monitoring tool for microplastic contamination in drinking water and environmental samples worldwide.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Validation of an FT-IR microscopy method for the determination of microplastic particles in surface waters

Researchers validated an FT-IR microscopy method for reliably detecting and quantifying microplastic particles in aquatic and solid samples. Validated, standardized analytical methods are essential for producing comparable data across laboratories and building a reliable global picture of microplastic contamination.

2020 MethodsX 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in different water samples (seawater, freshwater, and wastewater): Methodology approach for characterization using micro-FTIR spectroscopy

Researchers developed a standardized methodology for detecting and characterizing small microplastics (10-500 micrometers) in different water types using micro-FTIR spectroscopy. The study tested various sample preparation approaches for seawater, freshwater, and wastewater, establishing reliable protocols for rinsing, digestion, and microplastic collection that can be used to assess treatment plant removal efficiency.

2023 Water Research 67 citations
Article Tier 2

A straightforward Py-GC/MS methodology for quantification of microplastics in tap water

Researchers developed a simpler, more affordable method for detecting and measuring microplastics in tap water using pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry without needing expensive custom databases. The method successfully identified seven common polymer types in drinking water samples, making it easier for labs to monitor microplastic contamination in the water supply.

2025 MethodsX 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Hygienic approaches to the safety levels identification of microplastics in water

Researchers developed a program of analytical and toxicological studies to establish safety levels for microplastics in water, addressing the international classification of microplastics as a new health hazard. The study combined literature analysis with sanitary-chemical and sanitary-microbiological experiments to propose indicators and criteria for assessing microplastic danger in water. The findings aim to support the development of regulatory standards for microplastic contamination in drinking water.

2026 Hygiene and Sanitation
Article Tier 2

An Efficient Method for Testing the Quality of Drinking-Water Filters Used for Home Necessities

This paper presents a straightforward method for testing the efficiency of home drinking water filters using optical microscopy and particle counting. The results are relevant to understanding whether common household filters can reduce microplastic concentrations in tap water.

2022 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 4 citations
Article Tier 2

A Study on The Abundance of Microplastic Pollutant in Residential Tap Water

Researchers found microplastics in residential tap water samples across four sampling sites, identifying three polymer types — cellulose, cellophane, and poly(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl vinyl ether) — using light microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy, confirming direct human exposure through drinking water.

2023 BIO Web of Conferences 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Zavádění analytické metody pro kvalitativní stanovení mikroplastů ve vodách

This Czech-language study developed a cost-effective analytical method for qualitatively detecting microplastics in water samples, addressing the current lack of affordable monitoring protocols. Since microplastics from personal care products and polymer degradation are not adequately removed by water treatment, reliable detection methods are needed to monitor their presence in drinking water.

2020 Entecho
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastics in tap water by optical photothermal infrared

Researchers used optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy to characterize microplastics in tap water, identifying particles as small as a few micrometers that conventional FTIR techniques cannot resolve. The higher detection sensitivity revealed that microplastic concentrations in drinking water are likely underestimated by standard methods.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Standardization of FTIR-Based Methodologies for Microplastics Detection in Drinking Water: A Meta-Analysis Indeed and Practical Approach

This meta-analysis pooled data from multiple studies to develop standardized methods for detecting microplastics in drinking water using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The research found that inconsistent testing methods across studies have made it difficult to accurately compare microplastic levels in tap water. Standardizing detection is an important step toward understanding how much microplastic people may be consuming through their drinking water.

2024 Preprints.org 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of Micro-plastics (MPs) in Conventional Tap Water Sourced from Thailand

Tap water samples collected at a Thai university contained an average of 56 microplastic particles per liter in the smallest size fraction (6.5 to 53 micrometers), with fibers making up 58% of all particles and polyethylene, PVC, PET, and polypropylene among the polymers confirmed by spectroscopy. The study identifies tap water microplastic contamination as a potential direct health exposure pathway in Thailand.

2020 Journal of Engineering and Technological Sciences 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Economical and Novel Microplastic Detection Using a Arduino-Based Turbidity Sensor: A Comprehensive Investigation

Researchers developed a low-cost Arduino-based turbidity sensor system for microplastic detection as an accessible alternative to expensive FTIR and Raman spectroscopy methods. The sensor demonstrated the ability to detect microplastic-induced changes in water clarity, offering a practical monitoring tool for low-resource settings and smaller waterways that are typically undersampled.

2025
Article Tier 2

Identifying microplastic contamination in drinking water: analysis and evaluation using spectroscopic methods

This review examines spectroscopic methods for identifying microplastics in drinking water, exploring how factors like particle size, shape, and environmental exposure affect detection accuracy using techniques such as FTIR and Raman spectroscopy.

2025 Interdisciplinary Environmental Review
Article Tier 2

Rapid and reliable detection of microplastics in drinking water using fluorescence microscopy

Researchers developed a fluorescence-based method for rapid detection and quantification of microplastics in drinking water, addressing the need for faster and more practical monitoring tools. The method achieved high sensitivity and allowed polymer discrimination without requiring expensive spectroscopic instrumentation.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastics in tap water by optical photothermal infrared

Researchers characterized microplastics in tap water using optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy, a technique that can identify particles smaller than 10 micrometers with high chemical specificity. The method detected a broader range of particle sizes than conventional FTIR microscopy, revealing higher microplastic concentrations in tap water than previously reported.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Detection in Streaming Tap Water with Raman Spectroscopy

Researchers demonstrated that Raman spectroscopy can detect and identify microplastic particles in streaming tap water in real time, offering a rapid non-destructive method for monitoring plastic contamination in drinking water.

2019 Sensors 156 citations
Article Tier 2

Presence and Quantification of Microplastic in Urban Tap Water: A Pre-Screening in Brasilia, Brazil

Researchers sampled tap water from Brasilia, Brazil and detected microplastics in all samples, with fibers as the dominant type and concentrations higher than many previous studies from other cities, highlighting the need for treatment infrastructure improvements and standardized monitoring.

2021 Sustainability 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic and nanoplastic concentration in tap water in the US

Researchers analyzed microplastic and nanoplastic concentrations in tap water samples across the United States, detecting particles in the majority of samples and characterizing their size distribution, polymer type, and geographic variation.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)