We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastic Pollution in Urban Water Systems, Environmental and Public Health Implications: A Narrative Review
ClearMicroplastic Pollution in the Urban Water Cycle: A Comprehensive Review
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.
Quantifying the Invisible - Micro- and Nanoplastics in the Urban Water Cycle
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.
Assessment of Micro-Plastic Contamination in Urban River Systems: A Case Study Using UK Catchment Data
This systematic review examines microplastic contamination in urban rivers across the UK, finding that wastewater treatment plants, stormwater runoff, and industrial discharge are the main sources. The research matters for human health because urban rivers supply drinking water and recreational areas, and microplastic pollution in these waterways increases the risk of human exposure.
Microplastics in water: occurrence, detection, and impacts – a comprehensive review of multiple studies
This comprehensive review synthesized current knowledge on microplastic occurrence, detection methods, and impacts across marine, freshwater, and remote aquatic ecosystems. Researchers highlighted that microplastic concentrations are particularly high in urban rivers, transported through runoff, atmospheric deposition, and river input. The review identifies critical research gaps including the need for standardized detection methods and more studies on chronic human exposure through contaminated seafood and drinking water.
Microplastics in Urban Runoff and Wastewater: Sources, Transport, and Advanced Removal Technologies
This research review found that tiny plastic particles called microplastics are getting into our water systems through city runoff and sewage, coming from sources like car tire wear, synthetic clothing, and construction materials. While current water treatment plants can remove many of these plastic particles, a significant amount still escapes into rivers, lakes, and other water bodies that could eventually reach our drinking water. The study highlights that we need better water treatment technology and monitoring to protect our water supply from this growing plastic pollution problem.
Microplastics in Urban Runoff and Wastewater: Sources, Transport, and Advanced Removal Technologies
This research review found that tiny plastic particles called microplastics are getting into our water systems through city runoff and sewage, coming from sources like car tire wear, synthetic clothing, and construction materials. While water treatment plants can remove many of these plastic particles, large amounts still escape into rivers, lakes, and oceans where they can eventually make their way back to us through drinking water and food. Better treatment technology and coordinated city planning are needed to protect our water supply from this growing plastic pollution problem.
Microplastics in urban water cycles: Looking for a more scientific approach for sampling and characterization in wastewater and drinking water treatment plants
Researchers monitored microplastics in urban water cycles across three drinking water plants and two wastewater treatment plants using a self-designed large-volume sampler that collected up to 1,000 liters per sample. Raw drinking water and wastewater contained 2 or more microplastic particles per liter, highlighting contamination across the urban water system.
Microplastic removal efficiency in a megacity water treatment plant and dynamics in the distribution system
This study tracked microplastics through a megacity drinking water treatment plant and urban distribution network, finding significant MP removal through treatment but detecting residual contamination in distributed water, raising public health concerns in rapidly growing urban areas.
Microplastics in Aquatic Environments: Sources, Environmental Impacts, Detection Methods, Mitigation Strategies, and Policy Development — A Systematic Review
This systematic review summarizes what we know about microplastics in water — where they come from, how they spread, and the risks they pose to ecosystems and human health. It highlights that wastewater, urban runoff, and air are the main ways microplastics travel, and calls for better global policies and monitoring standards.
Microplastics in urban runoff: Global occurrence and fate
This review examines global microplastic occurrence in urban runoff, finding concentrations up to 8,580 particles per liter, and highlights critical gaps in understanding microplastic mobilization, transport, and flux from urban environments to waterways.
Microplastic Pollution in Aquatic Ecosystems: Environmental Behaviour, Biological Impacts, and Public Health Implications- A Comprehensive Review
This review paper summarizes existing research showing that tiny plastic particles called microplastics are now found throughout our water systems and food chain, including in seafood and drinking water that people consume. The research shows these particles can cause inflammation and disrupt hormones in the body, but scientists still need better methods to study long-term health effects. Understanding microplastic pollution is important because it affects the safety of our food and water supply.
Microplastics in Water: Occurrence, Human Health Impact and Methods of Analysis
This review covers the occurrence of microplastics in water sources globally, summarizing human health impacts from ingestion and inhalation, and evaluating available treatment technologies for removing microplastics from drinking water. The authors conclude that conventional water treatment is insufficient for complete microplastic removal.
A critical review on recent research progress on microplastic pollutants in drinking water
This critical review synthesizes research on microplastic contamination in drinking water sources and treatment systems. The study highlights that microplastics have been found in rivers, lakes, and treatment facilities worldwide, and that bioaccumulation of these persistent particles through drinking water represents a potential concern that requires further investigation into health effects and improved removal technologies.
Microplastic Contamination, an Emerging Threat to the Freshwater Environment and Human Health: A Systematic Review
This systematic review summarizes existing research on microplastic contamination in freshwater environments and its implications for human health. The evidence shows that microplastics are widespread in rivers, lakes, and drinking water sources, and they can absorb toxic chemicals, making freshwater plastic pollution a direct concern for the safety of our water supply.
A Review of Microplastic Pollution Characteristics in Global Urban Freshwater Catchments
This review synthesizes evidence on microplastic pollution characteristics in urban freshwater catchments worldwide, examining sources, concentrations, and transport pathways from terrestrial to marine environments. Researchers found that human activities are the fundamental driver of microplastic pollution and that freshwater catchments serve as critical conduits for microplastic transfer to oceans.
Microplastics pollution in water is a threat for human health and the environment (literature review)
This literature review examines the growing problem of microplastic contamination in water bodies and drinking water worldwide. Evidence indicates that microplastics pose concerns for human health both through their physical effects and through the chemicals and microorganisms they can carry, with studies confirming their presence in marine and freshwater environments across multiple countries.
Microplastics in urban stormwater sediments and runoff: An essential component in the microplastic cycle
This review systematically analyzed microplastic contamination in urban stormwater runoff and sediments, finding concentrations that varied enormously across global studies. Researchers found that stormwater is a major but underappreciated pathway for delivering microplastics to rivers, lakes, and oceans. The study highlights that better stormwater management practices are needed to reduce this significant source of aquatic microplastic pollution.
A comprehensive review of urban microplastic pollution sources, environment and human health impacts, and regulatory efforts
This review pulls together research from 2010 to 2024 on how microplastics spread through cities via stormwater runoff, wastewater, and air, contaminating both water and soil. The authors highlight that people in urban areas are exposed to microplastics through ingestion, breathing, and skin contact, and call for stronger regulations and better waste management to protect public health.
Microplastics in urban water systems, Tehran Metropolitan, Iran
Researchers investigated microplastic contamination across Tehran's urban water systems, including runoff, drinking water, groundwater, rivers, and wastewater effluent. They found microplastics present in all parts of the system, with residential and commercial runoff showing the highest concentrations. The study revealed that different land use types influenced the amount and characteristics of microplastic pollution, suggesting that urbanization patterns play a significant role in water contamination.
Beyond the ocean: contamination of freshwater ecosystems with (micro-)plastic particles
This review examined the available data on microplastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems — rivers, lakes, and urban water systems — and found it to be widespread globally, though often underreported compared to marine environments. The authors highlight the need for reliable concentration data and chemical characterization of freshwater plastics to properly assess ecological risk.
Microplastics in aquatic environment: Challenges and perspectives
This review provides a comprehensive overview of microplastic pollution in water environments, covering sources, transport, health effects, detection methods, and control strategies. Microplastics enter waterways from everyday plastic products, industrial discharge, and wastewater treatment plants, where aquatic organisms ingest them and pass them up the food chain. The review highlights the urgent need for better analytical techniques and global policies to reduce microplastic contamination that ultimately reaches human food and drinking water.
Microplastics in freshwater ecosystems: what we know and what we need to know
This review examines the state of knowledge on microplastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems, which have received far less scientific attention than marine environments despite being major pathways for plastic transport. Researchers found that freshwater microplastic concentrations can be extremely high near urban areas and that organisms from insects to fish readily ingest these particles. The study identifies key research gaps including the need for standardized detection methods and better understanding of how microplastics move through and affect freshwater food webs.
Microplastics in freshwater: Unveiling sources, fate, and removal strategies
This review of 167 studies examines the sources, distribution, and fate of microplastics in freshwater systems worldwide. Key sources include improperly disposed plastic waste, synthetic fabrics, and personal care products, and these particles act as carriers for heavy metals, pesticides, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria -- collectively posing potential cancer and other health risks through contaminated drinking water and food.
Microplastic contamination in urban aquatic environments: Occurrence characteristics in urban streams and stormwater runoff from urban surfaces
Researchers examined microplastic contamination in urban streams and stormwater runoff across different seasons and found that wastewater treatment plant discharges were a major source during dry weather. During rainy periods, stormwater runoff from roads and rooftops contributed additional microplastics, predominantly fibers and fragments. The study highlights that urban water systems receive microplastic pollution from multiple pathways year-round.