Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in lakes and lake shoreline sediments – A case study on Lake Bolsena and Lake Chiusi (central Italy)

Researchers surveyed a lake and its shoreline sediments for microplastic pollution, documenting contamination levels and particle characteristics and finding that shoreline sediments accumulated higher concentrations than open water.

2016 Environmental Pollution 586 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastics in Paradise: Quantifying Microplastics in Lake Champlain Beaches

Researchers quantified and characterized microplastics on Lake Champlain beaches, finding contamination at all sampled sites with fragments and fibers as the dominant particle types. The study documents that even inland freshwater shorelines accumulate significant microplastic loads over time.

2025 SUNY Digital Repository Support (State University of New York System)
Article Tier 2

[Characterization of Microplastic Pollution of Sediments from Urban Lakes].

Sediments from urban lakes in Maanshan City, China contained microplastics in both spring and summer, with fragments and fibers as the most common types. Local industrial and domestic activities were identified as the likely sources, adding to evidence of widespread microplastic contamination in freshwater sediments.

2020 PubMed 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in Surface Waters and Sediments of Urban Lake

This book chapter reviews microplastic pollution in urban lake surface waters and sediments, describing sources, distribution patterns, and the ecological consequences of MP accumulation in these widely used but understudied freshwater habitats.

2025
Article Tier 2

Lake sediments as microplastic sink: The case of three lakes from Northern and Central Poland

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in bottom sediments from three lakes in northern and central Poland with low surrounding human activity, finding between 4 and 21 microplastic particles per kilogram of wet sediment. These values were low compared to lakes in urbanized areas, suggesting anthropogenic pressure significantly drives sediment microplastic accumulation.

2024 Quaestiones Geographicae 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in lakeshore and lakebed sediments – External influences and temporal and spatial variabilities of concentrations

This study examined spatial and temporal variation in microplastic concentrations in lakeshore and lakebed sediments, finding that external inputs, lake hydrodynamics, and seasonal factors all contributed to heterogeneous distribution patterns.

2021 Environmental Research 69 citations
Article Tier 2

Variation in plastic abundance at different lake beach zones - A case study

Researchers sampled five beaches on Lake Garda using transects and sediment cores to determine optimal microplastic sampling zones, finding that the drift line consistently accumulates plastic particles across all beaches and provides the most comparable and representative sampling location for lake microplastic assessments.

2017 The Science of The Total Environment 60 citations
Article Tier 2

Sources and sinks of microplastics in Canadian Lake Ontario nearshore, tributary and beach sediments

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in Lake Ontario sediments from nearshore areas, tributaries, and beaches to map pollution patterns. They found the highest concentrations near urban and industrial zones, particularly in Toronto Harbour, where levels exceeded 500 particles per kilogram of sediment. The study identifies wastewater outflows and urban runoff as key sources of microplastic pollution in the Great Lakes region.

2016 Marine Pollution Bulletin 682 citations
Article Tier 2

Global microplastic contamination in freshwater lakes: Spatial patterns, environmental drivers, and methodological challenges

This review systematically analyzed 84 studies covering more than 300 lakes worldwide to assess global microplastic contamination in freshwater lake systems. Surface water MP concentrations ranged from below 0.001 to over 200 MP/L, with fibers and fragments dominating, polyethylene and polypropylene most common, and highest levels found in shallow, lowland, and eutrophic systems near urbanized shorelines.

2025 Environmental Research
Article Tier 2

Research status and prospects of microplastic pollution in lakes

This review systematically covers microplastic pollution research in lakes, including sampling and identification methods, distribution patterns, ecological effects, and knowledge gaps, identifying lakes as important but understudied sinks for microplastic contamination.

2023 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in lakes and rivers: an issue of emerging significance to limnology

Researchers found that microplastic concentrations in freshwater lakes and rivers can exceed those of living organisms like zooplankton, with sediment levels matching the most contaminated marine sites, establishing microplastics as a significant issue for limnology.

2021 Environmental Reviews 141 citations
Article Tier 2

Source-specific categorization of microplastics in nearshore surface waters of the Great Lakes

A source-specific characterization study of microplastics in nearshore surface waters of the Great Lakes found the highest abundances near urban centers, with distinct polymer and color signatures linking particles to packaging, fibers, and industrial sources.

2023 Journal of Great Lakes Research 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic distribution in large shallow lake sediments: Variations with offshore distance and implications for microbial communities

Researchers analyzed microplastic distribution in sediments of Taihu Lake at varying distances from shore and examined the effects on microbial communities. They found that microplastic abundance decreased with increasing distance from the shoreline, ranging from 240 to 1,120 items per kilogram. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in lake sediments can significantly alter the composition and diversity of local microbial communities.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Litter per liter – Lakes' morphology and shoreline urbanization index as factors of microplastic pollution: Study of 30 lakes in NE Poland

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination across 30 lakes in northeastern Poland during summer stagnation, examining how lake morphology and shoreline urbanization influence pollution levels. The study found microplastics in every lake sampled, with concentrations ranging from 0.27 to 1.57 particles per liter, and observed gradual accumulation patterns linked to human activity and lake characteristics.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 20 citations
Article Tier 2

An analysis of microlitter and microplastics from Lake Superior beach sand and surface-water

Researchers sampled beach sand and surface water in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore of Lake Superior, finding microlitter particles including microplastics even in this relatively pristine Great Lakes environment, with samples collected in May and July 2018.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Anthropogenic particles in natural sediment sinks: Microplastics accumulation in tributary, beach and lake bottom sediments of Lake Ontario, North America

Researchers found microplastics in tributary, beach, and lake bottom sediments across Lake Ontario and the upper St. Lawrence River, with highest concentrations near urban and industrial areas—reaching up to 28,000 particles per kilogram of sediment near Toronto. The study establishes baseline contamination levels for this major North American freshwater system and warns of risks to bottom-dwelling organisms.

2016 Scholarship@Western (Western University) 3 citations
Article Tier 2

A comparative review of microplastics in lake systems from different countries and regions

Researchers reviewed microplastic contamination data from lake systems across multiple countries, finding that abundance, size, and polymer type varied widely by region and identifying land use, population density, and hydrological connectivity as key drivers of lake microplastic levels.

2021 Chemosphere 206 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Pollution in Surface Waters and Sediments of Urban Lakes

This book chapter reviews microplastic pollution in surface waters and sediments of urban lakes, examining sources including stormwater runoff and atmospheric deposition, and discussing ecological effects on lake-dwelling organisms.

2025
Article Tier 2

Review of microplastics in lakes: sources, distribution characteristics, and environmental effects

This review analyzes microplastic pollution in lakes worldwide and finds that contamination levels are higher in shallower lakes near populated areas with more human activity. Microplastics accumulate heavily in lake sediments and can also be trapped in seasonal ice, only to be released during warming periods. Since many communities rely on lakes for drinking water and fishing, understanding how microplastics concentrate in these freshwater systems is critical for protecting public health.

2023 Carbon Research 77 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in lakes: Sources, impact, and solutions

This review comprehensively covers the sources, pathways, ecological impacts, and remediation strategies for microplastic pollution in freshwater lakes, highlighting how particles from urban runoff, wastewater, and atmospheric deposition accumulate in lake ecosystems and transfer into food webs.

2025 World Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology and Sciences
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in coastal sediments of Ełckie Lake (Poland)

Scientists sampled sediments around a Polish lake and found microplastics across all areas, with the highest concentrations near urban and tourist zones. Lake sediments are increasingly recognized as microplastic sinks, accumulating plastic that enters from surrounding land use activities.

2021 Studia Quaternaria 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Variability of microplastic loading and retention in four inland lakes in Minnesota, USA

Researchers measured microplastic levels in four small lakes in Minnesota and found that watershed size and urban development were the biggest factors driving contamination. Surface water concentrations varied widely, and sediment levels did not directly correlate with what was found in the water above. The study highlights how local land use patterns influence where microplastics end up in freshwater ecosystems.

2023 Environmental Pollution 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Factors driving the spatial distribution of microplastics in nearshore and offshore sediment of Lake Huron, North America

Researchers found microplastic abundances in Lake Huron sediments ranging from 59 to 335,714 particles per kg dry weight, with the North Channel showing the highest concentrations averaging 47,398 particles per kg. Results indicated that hydrodynamic processes such as waves and currents drive offshore distribution more than proximity to pollution sources.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in 132 Iowa lakes and variability in relation to abiotic, biotic, and anthropogenic factors

Researchers surveyed microplastic concentrations across 132 lakes in Iowa, finding that microplastics were nearly ubiquitous even in rural, minimally developed lakes — though concentrations were higher in lakes near urban areas, agricultural land, and higher human population density. Fiber-type microplastics were most common, consistent with patterns seen globally. The broad survey across diverse lake types provides compelling evidence that microplastic contamination of freshwater lakes is widespread across the American Midwest, not limited to industrial or highly urbanized regions.

2025 Environmental Pollution 1 citations