Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in groundwater of rural area, eastern part of Korea

Researchers found microplastic contamination penetrating deep bedrock aquifers in rural Korea, with higher concentrations during dry seasons due to reduced dilution, and particle abundance increasing as size decreased across all sampling depths from 3 to 120 meters.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Current status of researches on microplastics in groundwater and perspectives

This review examines the current status of microplastic research in groundwater systems internationally, identifying that despite growing attention to microplastics in surface and marine waters, groundwater investigations remain sparse both in South Korea and globally. Researchers diagnosed gaps in monitoring methodology and management frameworks, proposing directions for more effective groundwater microplastic assessment.

2022 Journal of the geological society of Korea 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and transport of microplastics in groundwater (Shiraz aquifer, southwest Iran)

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in groundwater from an alluvial aquifer in a semi-arid region of Iran. They identified microplastics in all sampled wells, with fibers and fragments being the most common shapes and polyethylene the dominant polymer type. The study demonstrates that groundwater, an important source of drinking water, is not immune to microplastic contamination and calls for more research on transport mechanisms in subsurface environments.

2022 Water Research 84 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics contamination and characteristics of agricultural groundwater in Haean Basin of Korea

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in agricultural groundwater in Korea's Haean Basin, an area without nearby landfills or obvious pollution sources. They found microplastics present in groundwater samples, suggesting that agricultural activities alone can introduce these particles into underground water supplies. The study raises concerns about drinking water quality in farming regions and highlights the need for more research on how microplastics move through soil into groundwater.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 84 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in groundwater: a global analysis

Researchers conducted a global groundwater sampling study to characterize microplastic contamination in aquifer systems worldwide, investigating transport mechanisms and fate of particles in anoxic subsurface environments where knowledge gaps remain despite extensive research on surface water systems.

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

Microplastics contamination in groundwater of a drinking-water source area, northern China

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in shallow groundwater from a major drinking-water source area in northern China. The study found microplastics present in groundwater samples, with their abundance, morphology, and chemical composition varying across the study area and correlating with nearby human activities.

2022 Environmental Research 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Emerging Concerns about Microplastic Pollution on Groundwater in South Korea

This editorial raises concerns about microplastic contamination in groundwater in South Korea, framing modern times as the "Plastic Age" due to the pervasive presence of synthetic polymers in all environmental compartments including underground water sources.

2020 Sustainability 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination in Groundwater Aquifers along the Ganga River Basin: A Comprehensive study from Devprayag to Gangasagar, India

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in groundwater aquifers along the Ganga River basin from Devprayag to Gangasagar, India, detecting microplastics at all sampling sites and linking contamination levels to population density and river proximity.

2024
Article Tier 2

Global distribution, drivers, and potential hazards of microplastics in groundwater: A review

This review maps the global distribution of microplastics in groundwater and finds that contamination is widespread, with fiber-shaped particles and polyethylene being the most common types detected. The study highlights that climate change and local geology play underappreciated roles in how microplastics move through soil into groundwater, which is a drinking water source for billions of people worldwide.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Pollution in the Groundwater of Three Land Use Types, Southeastern Hungary

Researchers investigated microplastic pollution in groundwater across three land use types in southeastern Hungary, providing data on the rate and distribution of microplastic contamination in a freshwater resource that has received far less study than surface water bodies.

2025 Sokoto Journal of Geographical Studies
Article Tier 2

Microplastic accumulation in groundwater: Data-scaled insights and future research

This data-driven review of nearly 400 groundwater samples worldwide found that microplastics are present in both shallow and deep groundwater, with open groundwater sources showing higher contamination than enclosed aquifers. The findings are relevant to human health because groundwater supplies drinking water for billions of people, and the study identifies key gaps in our understanding of how microplastics accumulate underground.

2024 Water Research 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Contamination, morphological and chemical characterization, and hazard risk analyses of microplastics in drinking water sourced from groundwater in a developing nation

Researchers analyzed groundwater from six coastal districts in a developing nation and found widespread microplastic contamination, with fibers and fragments of polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common types. Since groundwater is the primary drinking water source in many developing countries, this contamination represents a direct pathway for microplastic ingestion by millions of people.

2024 Frontiers in Environmental Science 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of groundwater sample volume on identified microplastics in groundwater of an agricultural area in Korea

Scientists tested how much groundwater needs to be sampled to get an accurate picture of microplastic contamination in agricultural areas of South Korea. They found that sampling at least 100 liters of groundwater was necessary to reliably detect microplastics, and smaller samples often missed particles entirely. The study highlights that inconsistent sampling methods may be leading to underestimates of groundwater microplastic pollution.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in groundwater of two rural communities in Mexico

Researchers detected microplastics in drinking water from ten rural wells in two Mexican communities, finding diverse polymer types and morphologies at concentrations that suggest widespread groundwater MP contamination even in areas distant from major urban pollution sources.

2025 Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in groundwater on a volcanic Jeju Island of Korea

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in groundwater on Jeju Island, a volcanic island in South Korea, sampling 21 groundwater wells and springs. The study, reported as the first to identify microplastics in groundwater from a volcanic island, found contamination present across sampling sites, raising concerns about microplastic infiltration into subsurface water resources.

2023 Environmental Research 77 citations
Article Tier 2

First insight into microplastic groundwater pollution in Latin America: the case of a coastal aquifer in Northwest Mexico

Researchers conducted the first investigation of microplastic pollution in groundwater in Latin America, analyzing six capped boreholes in a coastal aquifer in northwest Mexico for microplastic abundance, concentration, and characteristics. The study detected microplastics in groundwater samples, establishing baseline contamination data for this understudied environmental compartment and raising concerns about drinking water quality in the region.

2022 Research Square (Research Square) 3 citations
Article Tier 2

A Study on Distribution of Characteristics of Microplastic in the Han-River Watershed

Scientists mapped the distribution and characteristics of microplastics throughout the Han River watershed in South Korea, including tributaries and sections that serve as drinking water sources, and found widespread contamination varying by location and flow conditions. The findings underscore the need for better monitoring and management of microplastics in freshwater systems that supply drinking water to millions of people.

2024 Journal of Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

First insight into microplastic groundwater pollution in Latin America: the case of a coastal aquifer in Northwest Mexico

This is the first study to investigate microplastic contamination in groundwater in Latin America, examining a coastal aquifer in Northwest Mexico. Researchers found microplastics at all six sampled locations and at multiple depths, confirming that groundwater is not immune to this type of pollution. Since millions of people depend on groundwater for drinking water, these findings raise important questions about microplastic exposure through water supplies.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 59 citations
Article Tier 2

Global status, risk assessment, and knowledge gaps of microplastics in groundwater: A bibliometric analysis

This review analyzed 215 published studies on microplastics in groundwater and found that this area of research is still in its early stages compared to surface water studies. Evidence indicates that microplastic contamination is present in groundwater worldwide, but sampling methods and reported results vary widely. The authors identified significant knowledge gaps in understanding how microplastics move through underground water systems and what risks they may pose to drinking water sources.

2024 Groundwater for Sustainable Development 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Horizontal and Vertical Distribution of Microplastics in Korean Coastal Waters

The first study to examine vertical distribution of microplastics in South Korean coastal waters found that particles were present throughout the water column from the surface to depths of 58 meters, with concentrations varying by size and location. The results indicate that microplastic contamination is not confined to the surface and affects organisms at all depths in semi-enclosed bays.

2018 Environmental Science & Technology 320 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic 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.

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

Microplastics contamination of groundwater: Current evidence and future perspectives. A review

This review examines the current evidence on microplastic contamination of groundwater, which supplies drinking water to over 2 billion people worldwide. Researchers found that microplastics can reach groundwater through atmospheric deposition, surface water interaction, urban infrastructure, and agricultural soils, though detection remains challenging. The study proposes a new "Hydrogeoplastic Model" framework and calls for improved detection methods to better characterize microplastic fate in aquifer systems.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 225 citations
Article Tier 2

A bibliometric analysis on microplastic pollution in groundwater

Researchers conducted a bibliometric analysis of publications on microplastic contamination in groundwater, identifying 695 relevant studies published between 2011 and 2022. They found that while microplastic research has surged overall, groundwater as a specific focus area remains significantly understudied compared to ocean and surface water environments. The study highlights critical knowledge gaps in understanding how microplastics transport through and contaminate subsurface water sources.

2024 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Groundwater in the age of plastic

This review examines microplastic contamination of groundwater globally, synthesizing studies on occurrence, transport pathways through soil and aquifer matrices, and the emerging implications for drinking water safety and groundwater ecosystem health.

2024