Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Method development and optimization for assessing microplastic distribution in a drinking water treatment plant: insights into seasonal variation and spatial dissemination from an Italian study.

This study developed and optimized methods for assessing microplastic distribution in a specific environmental matrix, addressing analytical challenges related to particle extraction, identification, and quantification. Optimized protocols improved recovery efficiency and reduced contamination artifacts, supporting more reliable monitoring of microplastic pollution.

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

Assessment of microplastic contamination in drinking water from an italian plant: An analytical study

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination at multiple treatment stages in a drinking water plant in northern Italy that processes turbid river water supplemented with groundwater, quantifying particles through sedimentation, flocculation, sand filtration, activated carbon adsorption, and disinfection stages.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

Tracking microplastics in a drinking water supply system proximity to industrial facilities: Occurrence, source identification, and risk assessment

Researchers comprehensively investigated microplastic occurrence, sources, and health risks in a drinking water supply system near industrial facilities, finding that a granular activated carbon filter removed 93.39% of microplastics at the treatment plant. However, microplastic abundance increased during distribution, highlighting post-treatment contamination as a critical but underappreciated exposure pathway.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

From Aquifer to Tap: Comprehensive Quali-Quantitative Evaluation of Plastic Particles Along a Drinking Water Supply Chain of Milan (Northern Italy)

Researchers conducted the first evaluation of plastic particle contamination along a complete drinking water supply chain in Milan, Italy, from groundwater extraction to household taps. The study found low concentrations of plastic particles, ranging from about 0.3 to 1.9 particles per liter, with cellulose dominating at 76% and no significant increase observed along the distribution chain.

2026 Journal of Xenobiotics
Systematic Review Tier 1

A Systematic Review of Microplastic Detection in Water

This systematic review summarizes current methods for detecting microplastics in water sources. The research highlights significant challenges in accurately measuring these tiny plastic particles, with different techniques yielding very different results. Better detection methods are essential for understanding how much microplastic is present in the water people drink and use daily.

2024 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Monitoring microplastics in drinking water: An interlaboratory study to inform effective methods for quantifying and characterizing microplastics

Researchers conducted an interlaboratory study with 22 labs from six countries to evaluate methods for quantifying microplastics in drinking water, finding significant variability between labs and identifying key areas for method standardization.

2022 Chemosphere 113 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 9 citations
Article Tier 2

A Critical Review of Extraction and Identification Methods of Microplastics in Wastewater and Drinking Water

This critical review of methods for detecting microplastics in wastewater and drinking water identifies major inconsistencies in sample collection, processing, and characterization across studies, making it difficult to compare reported concentrations. A five-criteria ranking system is proposed to evaluate the quality and completeness of microplastics studies.

2020 Environmental Science & Technology 224 citations
Article Tier 2

Wastewater treatment plants as a pathway for microplastics: Development of a new approach to sample wastewater-based microplastics

Researchers developed a new sampling and monitoring protocol for microplastics at wastewater treatment plants, enabling more consistent tracking of microplastic loads through treatment stages and discharged effluent.

2017 Water Research 1317 citations
Article Tier 2

Differences in the occurrence of microplastic at two technically diverse drinking water treatment plants within the same river catchment

Researchers compared microplastic occurrence in drinking water produced by two treatment plants using different technologies, finding that treatment design significantly affected which and how many microplastics remained in finished water. The results highlight the importance of treatment technology in determining consumer exposure to microplastics in tap water.

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

Developing a Methodology for the Testing of Microplastics in Drinking Water Treatment Plants

Researchers developed a standardized methodology for testing microplastic removal efficiency at drinking water treatment plants, including sampling, analysis, and reporting protocols. Having consistent methods is critical for comparing microplastic contamination across different water treatment facilities and establishing regulatory benchmarks.

2021 Research Portal (Queen's University Belfast)
Article Tier 2

Understanding and Improving Microplastic Removal during Water Treatment: Impact of Coagulation and Flocculation

Researchers systematically tested coagulation and flocculation for removing microplastics from drinking water, finding that removal efficiency depended strongly on plastic particle size and whether particles had been weathered, with smaller pristine particles being the hardest to remove.

2020 Environmental Science & Technology 424 citations
Article Tier 2

Validation of Sample Preparation Methods for Microplastic Analysis in Wastewater Matrices—Reproducibility and Standardization

Sample preparation methods for microplastic analysis in wastewater were validated against reference standards to assess recovery rates and reproducibility. The validation study identified methods that reliably extract microplastics from complex wastewater matrices, supporting more consistent environmental monitoring of microplastic discharge from treatment plants.

2020 Water 180 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastic contamination in drinking water from an italian plant: An analytical study

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in drinking water from an Italian treatment plant that processes turbid surface river water through sedimentation, flocculation, sand filtration, activated carbon adsorption, and disinfection, collecting 1-2.5 liter samples in dark glass bottles for analysis. The study characterized particle types, sizes, and polymer composition at the plant outlet to assess treatment efficacy and residual microplastic levels in finished drinking water.

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

Optimized ExtractionMethods for Pristine and AgedMicroplastics from Complex Water Samples

Researchers optimized extraction protocols for recovering both pristine and UV-aged microplastics from complex water matrices including seawater, wastewater, and drinking water, finding that aged MPs require different treatment conditions than pristine particles to achieve reliable recovery.

2025 Figshare