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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to The invisible problem of microplastics and microfibres in karst systems and aquifers: a multidisciplinary approach
ClearMicroplastic particles in karst and alluvial aquifers
Researchers studied microplastic particle occurrence and distribution in karst and alluvial aquifer systems, investigating how these subsurface environments serve as sinks or conduits for plastic pollution. The study contributed data on groundwater microplastic contamination in geologically distinct aquifer types.
An Overall Perspective for the Study of Emerging Contaminants in Karst Aquifers
This review examines emerging contaminant threats to karst aquifers, which supply about 25% of global drinking water, highlighting their high vulnerability to rapid surface-to-groundwater transport of microplastics, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and other pollutants due to the open, fissured nature of carbonate rock systems.
Microplastics in karst ecosystems and its impact on drinking water quality
This doctoral dissertation investigated microplastic contamination in karst ecosystems — including springs, lakes, air, rainwater, and sediment — in Slovenia, with a focus on drinking water sources that serve over 20,000 residents. The research found microplastics present across all sampled environments and aimed to identify pollution sources and transport pathways to help protect vulnerable karst groundwater supplies.
The problem of anthropogenic microfibres in karst systems: Assessment of water and submerged sediments
Researchers assessed anthropogenic microfiber contamination in karst cave systems by analyzing water and submerged sediment samples. They found that both synthetic and natural microfibres were widespread throughout the karst environments, with sediments accumulating higher concentrations than water samples. The study raises concerns about microfiber pollution reaching underground water systems that serve as important drinking water reserves.
Microplastics in karstic systems: a review of sources, transport paths and storage
This repository contains geospatial data and bibliographic records supporting a review of microplastic pollution in karst (limestone cave and sinkhole) systems, mapping where microplastics have been detected across these ecologically important groundwater environments. Karst systems supply drinking water to roughly a quarter of the world's population, making microplastic contamination there a significant but understudied human health concern.
Microplastic particles in karst and alluvial aquifers
Researchers investigated the occurrence and characteristics of microplastic particles in both karst and alluvial aquifer systems, examining how plastic particles migrate through these distinct subsurface geological environments. The study addressed a significant knowledge gap regarding groundwater contamination by microplastics in aquifers that differ in their hydrogeological properties and filtration capacity.
Microplastic Contamination in Karst Groundwater Systems
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.
Preliminary investigations of microplastic pollution in karst systems, from surface watercourses to cave waters
This study collected water samples from surface streams and connected cave waters in a karst system in Italy to document microplastic pollution in groundwater-linked environments. Microplastics including fibers and fragments were detected throughout the karst system, demonstrating that plastics infiltrate even protected underground aquifers.
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.
Spatial distribution characteristics and migration of microplastics in surface water, groundwater and sediment in karst areas: The case of Yulong River in Guilin, Southwest China
Researchers investigated microplastic distribution in surface water, sediment, and groundwater in the karst landscape of the Yulong River in Guilin, China. They found microplastic pollution across all water compartments, with living areas showing the highest contamination and tourism-related disposable plastics identified as a primary source. The study suggests that microplastics reach groundwater through hydraulic exchange with surface water in karst areas rather than through soil infiltration.
Understanding the impacts of human wastewater effluent pollution on karst springs using chemical contamination fingerprinting techniques
Researchers used multi-tracer chemical fingerprinting to trace human wastewater contamination into karst spring systems, finding that these highly permeable aquifers rapidly transmit pollutants including pharmaceuticals and potentially microplastics from surface sources to drinking water springs.
Storage-Release Dynamics of Microplastics during rainfall events in Conduit-Fissure Coupled Karst Aquifers
Researchers used high-frequency monitoring in a karst groundwater system in southern China to track how rainfall events mobilize, transport, and store microplastics through conduit-fissure networks, revealing four distinct hydrological stages that sequentially release pre-deposited and newly infiltrated PET and PE fibers into spring water.
Floods enhance the abundance and diversity of anthropogenic microparticles (including microplastics and treated cellulose) transported through karst systems
This study examined how flood events affect microplastic transport through karst (limestone cave) water systems. Researchers found that floods dramatically increased both the amount and variety of microplastic particles moving through underground waterways. The findings matter because karst systems supply drinking water to about 25% of the global population, and flood-driven pulses of microplastics could contaminate these water sources.
Subterranean transport of microplastics as evidenced in karst springs and their characterization using Raman spectroscopy
Raman micro-spectroscopy confirmed the presence of microplastics in karst spring water from rural Romania, with concentrations of 0.034-0.06 fragments or fibres per liter, demonstrating subterranean transport of microplastics through karst aquifer systems.
Adherence of Polystyrene Microspheres on Cave Sediment: Implications for Organic Contaminants and Microplastics in Karst Systems
This study found that polystyrene microspheres adhere readily to cave sediment particles in karst aquifer systems, with implications for how microplastics and organic contaminants are transported through karst groundwater. Karst systems may act as pathways for microplastics to reach groundwater supplies used for drinking water.
A comparison of emerging contaminant fingerprinting techniques to assess the impact of human wastewater on karst groundwater quality
This study compared different methods for detecting human wastewater contamination in vulnerable Irish groundwater aquifers, including microplastics as a potential pollution tracer. Karst aquifers are especially vulnerable because direct connections between surface and groundwater make them easy to contaminate.
The impact of on-site wastewater effluent on rural karstified aquifers
This conference abstract examines how on-site wastewater treatment systems in rural karst regions can contaminate groundwater used for drinking. While focused on nutrient and pathogen pollution, the study is relevant because these same systems also release microplastics into vulnerable karst aquifers.
Shedding light on the invisible: addressing the potential for groundwater contamination by plastic microfibers
Researchers examined the potential for synthetic microplastic fibers shed from textiles during washing to contaminate groundwater systems, finding that current understanding of microfiber behavior in aquifers is very limited and calling for targeted research on this largely overlooked contamination pathway.
Seasonal dynamics and typology of microplastic pollution in Huixian karst wetland groundwater: Implications for ecosystem health
Researchers tracked microplastic levels in groundwater beneath a karst wetland in China across seasons, finding contamination ranging from about 1 to 49 particles per liter. The unique cave-and-underground-river geology of karst regions allows microplastics to migrate from the surface into groundwater more easily than in other terrains, with agricultural runoff and domestic wastewater identified as the main pollution sources.
Microplastic particles investigation in karst aquifer (Zvenigorod, Russia)
Researchers investigated microplastic particle presence and distribution in a karst aquifer near Zvenigorod, Russia, finding that single-use plastics and inadequate waste management are contributing to groundwater MP contamination even in this relatively protected geological setting.
Review of Current Issues and Management Strategies of Microplastics in Groundwater Environments
This review synthesizes current knowledge on microplastic contamination in groundwater, identifying it as a substantially understudied environment compared to surface water and marine systems. The authors describe pathways by which microplastics enter aquifers and discuss management strategies for this largely invisible contamination route.
Microplastics pollution in groundwater: Case study - Slovenia
Researchers investigated microplastic pollution in Slovenian groundwater, which supplies drinking water to 98% of the population, characterizing MP occurrence, transport, and risk across multiple aquifer systems affected by urban, industrial, and agricultural activities.
Extensive abundances and characteristics of microplastic pollution in the karst hyporheic zones of urban rivers
Researchers found high microplastic abundances — averaging 2,273 items per kilogram — in river sediments across ten karst cities in southwest China, with polyamide the dominant polymer, highlighting the elevated pollution risk in karst ecosystems where contaminants travel long distances underground.
Assessing the Napo Karst Formation vulnerability in the Western Amazon River Basin
This study mapped the vulnerability of a karst aquifer in the western Amazon basin to contamination from surface activities. Karst aquifers are highly susceptible to contamination including from microplastics, which can rapidly enter groundwater through sinkholes and fractures.