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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Terrestrial microplastics as emerging aquatic pollutants: A systematic review
ClearAre we underestimating the sources of microplastic pollution in terrestrial environment?
This review argues that land-based sources of microplastic pollution are significantly underestimated, even though most marine microplastics originate from terrestrial sources. Researchers found that textile washing accounts for roughly 35% of microplastics in water, with additional contributions from tire wear, agricultural plastic films, cosmetics, and construction materials. The study highlights atmospheric deposition as a newly recognized pathway for microplastic dispersal that requires urgent investigation.
Microplastics in Terrestrial and Freshwater Environments
This review synthesized emerging research on microplastic contamination in terrestrial and freshwater environments, highlighting that land-based sources dominate plastic inputs to the ocean and that soil and freshwater ecosystems may harbor higher microplastic loads than marine environments.
Microplastics in the freshwater and terrestrial environments: Prevalence, fates, impacts and sustainable solutions
This review analyzed over 100 studies on microplastic pollution in freshwater and terrestrial environments, which have received less research attention than marine settings. Researchers found that wastewater treatment plants are the most significant source of environmental microplastics through both sludge application and effluent discharge. The study highlights how microplastics move between land and water systems, enter food chains, and interact with both living organisms and soil chemistry.
Microplastics: Classification, Sources, Characterisation, Fate, and Control Measures
This review examines the classification, sources, characterisation, fate, and control measures for microplastics, synthesising recent literature on their detection in marine water, freshwater, wastewater, food, air, and drinking water, and identifying terrestrial runoff and wastewater effluent as key pollution pathways.
A Review of Processes and Models for the Export of Microplastics From Terrestrial to Aquatic Systems
This review examines models and processes that control how microplastics move from land into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Understanding these transport pathways is essential for predicting where microplastics accumulate and developing strategies to stop them from reaching water sources. The research could help protect human health by informing better land management and waste reduction policies.
Microplastics in freshwater and terrestrial environments: Evaluating the current understanding to identify the knowledge gaps and future research priorities
This review evaluates the current understanding of microplastic pollution in freshwater and terrestrial environments, which have received far less research attention than marine systems despite being major sources and accumulation zones. Researchers highlight that agricultural areas, urban centers, and wastewater treatment processes are key pathways for microplastic contamination on land. The paper identifies critical knowledge gaps and calls for more research into how microplastics behave and persist in soils and freshwater systems.
Microplastics in the aquatic and terrestrial environment: sources (with a specific focus on personal care products), fate and effects
This review catalogued sources of microplastics in aquatic and terrestrial environments — with special focus on agricultural plastics — and summarized pathways through which they enter food chains and affect ecosystems.
Runoff and discharge pathways of microplastics into freshwater ecosystems: A systematic review and meta-analysis
This meta-analysis examines how microplastics enter freshwater systems through wastewater, stormwater runoff, industrial discharge, and agricultural runoff. Understanding these pathways is essential because freshwater sources provide drinking water, and knowing where microplastics come from helps target efforts to reduce human exposure.
Residential houses — a major point source of microplastic pollution: insights on the various sources, their transport, transformation, and toxicity behaviour
This review highlights residential homes as a major but overlooked source of microplastic pollution, identifying personal care products, laundry, cooking, and household dust as key generators. These microplastics enter municipal wastewater and eventually reach rivers, lakes, and oceans. The authors emphasize that reducing microplastic pollution requires addressing household sources, not just industrial and wastewater treatment plant emissions.
Microplastic contamination, an emerging threat to the freshwater environment: a systematic review
Researchers systematically reviewed the spread of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems — rivers, lakes, and streams — documenting their sources, how they move through water, the damage they cause to aquatic organisms, and the methods used to detect them. Their review serves as a baseline reference for future research and calls for improved waste management to protect freshwater environments from ongoing microplastic contamination.
How to protect water sources from microplastic contamination?
This research review summarizes studies showing that tiny plastic particles called microplastics are getting into our water sources from clothing, cars, cosmetics, and household wastewater. These plastic bits can carry harmful chemicals and germs that build up in fish and other sea life, which then affects humans when we eat seafood or drink contaminated water. The authors say we need global action to reduce plastic pollution to protect both the environment and human health.
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.
Tire wear particles in aquatic environments: A systematic review of sources, detection, distribution, and toxicological impacts
This systematic review examined tire wear particles — a type of microplastic created as tires wear down on roads — as an emerging water pollutant. These particles wash into rivers and oceans through stormwater runoff and contain toxic chemicals that harm aquatic organisms. Since tire wear is one of the largest sources of microplastic pollution, this is relevant to anyone living near roads or consuming seafood.
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 in Aquatic Ecosystems: A Critical Review of Sources, Transport Mechanisms and Ecotoxicological Risks
This review provides a broad overview of microplastic pollution in rivers, oceans, and other aquatic environments, covering where these particles come from, how they move through water systems, and the harm they can cause. Evidence indicates that microplastics accumulate toxins and disrupt growth, feeding, and reproduction in aquatic species, with potential consequences for human health through seafood and drinking water. The authors stress the need for better global monitoring, stronger waste management systems, and development of eco-friendly plastic alternatives.
Modelling land use influence on polymer-specific microplastics abundance and transportation from terrestrial to aquatic environments
Researchers developed a model to understand how land use patterns influence the abundance and transport of specific microplastic polymers from land into waterways. The study found that different land uses contribute distinct polymer types to the environment, providing evidence that targeted land management strategies could help reduce microplastic pollution in aquatic systems.
Are we underestimating stormwater? Stormwater as a significant source of microplastics in surface waters
This review highlights stormwater runoff as a major but underestimated source of microplastic pollution in rivers and lakes. Tire and road wear particles, litter, and road dust are the primary sources, with concentrations varying widely depending on rainfall and land use. The findings matter because stormwater often receives less treatment than sewage, meaning large amounts of microplastics flow directly into the waterways that communities use for drinking water and recreation.
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.
Plastic and Microplastic in the Environment
This review summarizes the sources, pathways, analytical methods, and distribution of microplastics in freshwater environments, emphasizing that rivers and lakes are major conduits transferring plastic pollution from terrestrial sources to the oceans.
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.
The processes and transport fluxes of land-based macroplastics and microplastics entering the ocean via rivers
This review traces the full journey of plastic waste from land to ocean via rivers, covering how plastics enter waterways and the methods scientists use to estimate how much reaches the sea. About 80% of marine plastic pollution comes from land-based sources, and better monitoring and modeling are needed to improve estimates. Understanding these transport pathways is essential for reducing the microplastic contamination that ultimately enters the seafood supply and affects human health.
Export of microplastics from land to sea. A modelling approach
Researchers developed a model to estimate how much microplastic flows from European rivers into the sea, accounting for different sources and sewage treatment effectiveness. They found that tire and road wear particles and textile fibers from laundry are the two largest sources, together making up over 70% of river-borne microplastics. About two-thirds of the modeled microplastic emissions flow into the Mediterranean and Black Sea, largely due to less effective wastewater treatment in those regions.
Microplastic pollution: Sources, fate, impacts and research gaps
This review summarizes the sources, environmental fate, and health impacts of microplastics across oceans, rivers, soils, and polar regions. It highlights that microplastics carry toxic chemicals into ecosystems and can enter the human body through food, water, and air.
Effects of Agricultural and Urban Land on Microplastic Concentrations in Rivers
This review synthesizes literature on how agricultural and urban land uses influence microplastic concentrations in rivers, examining pathways including stormwater runoff, wastewater discharge, and tire wear from roads. Urban areas consistently contributed higher microplastic loads than agricultural areas, with runoff events being a major transport mechanism.