Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Ecological and health risk assessment of heavy metals bioaccumulation in Ganges fish near Varanasi, India

Not relevant to microplastics — this study measured heavy metal (lead, manganese, chromium, cadmium) contamination in the Ganges River at Varanasi and in fish caught there for human consumption, finding metal levels well above safe drinking water standards and significant bioaccumulation in fish tissue.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and heavy metals in the sediment of Songkhla Lagoon: distribution and risk assessment

Researchers surveyed microplastic and heavy metal contamination in the sediments of Songkhla Lagoon, the largest lagoon in Thailand. They found microplastic fibers and fragments at every sampling site, with concentrations highest near the lagoon mouth, alongside elevated levels of metals like zinc, copper, and lead. Since local communities rely on the lagoon for fishing and food, the combined presence of microplastics and heavy metals in sediments raises direct concerns about contamination entering the human food chain.

2024 Frontiers in Marine Science 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-occurrence of microplastics and heavy metals in a freshwater lake system in Indian Himalaya: Distribution and influencing factors

Researchers found widespread microplastic contamination in both the water and sediments of Manasbal Lake in the Indian Himalayas, with concentrations up to 4,020 particles per kilogram of sediment. Domestic sewage was identified as the primary source, and the microplastics were found alongside elevated levels of heavy metals like lead. This co-contamination is concerning because microplastics can absorb and transport heavy metals, potentially increasing toxic exposure for communities that depend on the lake.

2024 Emerging contaminants 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution, Sources, and Heavy Metal Interactions of Microplastics in Groundwater and Sediment of Semi‐Arid Regions of Northwest India

Researchers found microplastics at every sampling location in groundwater and sediment in a semi-arid region of northwest India, with concentrations reaching up to 122 particles per liter in well water. The groundwater also contained dangerously high levels of arsenic and manganese, and while a direct link between microplastics and heavy metals was not confirmed in water samples, electron microscopy showed heavy metal particles attached to microplastic surfaces in sediment.

2025 Land Degradation and Development 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Heavy Metals and Arsenic in Sediments of Xinfengjiang Reservoir in South China: Levels, Source Identification and Health Risk Assessment

Sediments in China's largest drinking water reservoir contained elevated levels of heavy metals including cadmium and arsenic, primarily from upstream agricultural and mining activities. This finding is concerning because microplastics in the same sediment can adsorb and concentrate these toxic metals, compounding contamination risks.

2020 Applied Environmental Biotechnology 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of micro-plastics in water and sediments in Batticaloa lagoon at Kattankudy

Researchers characterized microplastics in water and sediments of Batticaloa Lagoon in Sri Lanka, near a municipal dumping site. The study found measurable microplastic concentrations, linking land-based plastic waste disposal directly to aquatic contamination in this coastal lagoon.

2023 Journal of Science
Article Tier 2

Assessment of seasonal variation of heavy metal pollution and health risk in surface sediments at the Karnaphuli River confluences of Chattogram, Bangladesh

This paper is not directly about microplastics; it assesses seasonal heavy metal pollution in river sediments at Chattogram, Bangladesh, focusing on contamination indices and health risks from dermal exposure to metals like cadmium, lead, and arsenic.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Quantifying Microplastics Abundance and Their Implications as Vectors for Heavy Metal Adsorption in Freshwater Aquatic System of Kashmir Himalaya

Researchers measured microplastic abundance in both water and sediment of Manasbal Lake in the Kashmir Himalaya and examined how the particles interact with heavy metals. Microplastics were found throughout the lake and showed capacity to adsorb heavy metals, raising dual concerns about plastic particles and metal contamination in a sensitive Himalayan freshwater system.

2023
Article Tier 2

Distribution, Characteristics, and Ecological Risk Assessment of Microplastics and Heavy Metals in Surface Water at Hoa Binh Reservoir

Researchers sampled surface water in Hoa Binh Reservoir, Vietnam, during rainy and dry seasons, finding microplastics at all sites with fiber-dominated assemblages, and documenting co-occurrence with heavy metals including chromium, manganese, and lead.

2025 VNU Journal of Science Earth and Environmental Sciences
Article Tier 2

Assessing the impacts of land use and land cover on occurrence, spatial distribution of microplastics and heavy metals in an agricultural watershed, Tadepalligudem, Andhra Pradesh, India

Researchers mapped the occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastics and heavy metals in agricultural runoff from a watershed in Andhra Pradesh, India. They found an average of 41.7 microplastic items per liter, dominated by polypropylene and polyethylene fibers, with heavy metal concentrations of cadmium, arsenic, chromium, and lead posing varying levels of health risk. The study highlights that land use patterns significantly influence both microplastic and heavy metal contamination in agricultural water systems.

2026 Environmental Research
Article Tier 2

Assessment of soil heavy metal pollution and associated ecological risk of agriculture dominated mid-channel bars in a subtropical river basin

This study assessed heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils on river islands in India's Damodar River basin. While current contamination levels were generally low to moderate, the analysis showed these soils have high potential for future heavy metal buildup. Although focused on heavy metals rather than microplastics, this research is relevant because agricultural soils are increasingly recognized as reservoirs for multiple pollutants, including both metals and microplastics, that can enter the food chain.

2023 Scientific Reports 64 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as an emerging anthropogenic vector of trace metals in freshwater: Significance of biofilms and comparison with natural substrates

Scientists placed virgin polystyrene microplastics in a eutrophic urban lake and a drinking water reservoir for four weeks to allow biofilm development, then measured trace metal accumulation, finding that biofilm-coated microplastics accumulated significantly more metals than virgin plastics or natural substrates.

2020 Water Research 301 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution of Stream Water and Sediment in a Tributary of a Major Drinking Water Supplying River in Sri Lanka

Researchers monitored microplastic pollution in stream water and sediment of a tributary feeding a major drainage system, documenting spatial patterns of contamination and identifying land use practices as key predictors of microplastic abundance in this freshwater system.

2025 ACS ES&T Water 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Sedimentary History of Trace Metals Over the Past Half-Century in Songkhla Lake, Western Coast of the Gulf of Thailand: Anthropogenic Impacts and Contamination Assessment

This study analyzed trace metal accumulation in sediment cores from Songkhla Lake in Thailand over the past 50 years, finding increasing anthropogenic contamination linked to industrial and urban development. Heavy metals often co-occur with microplastics in sediments, and both accumulate in similar environments.

2021 Frontiers in Earth Science 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics, their abundance, and distribution in water and sediments in North Chennai, India: An assessment of pollution risk and human health impacts

Researchers analyzed microplastic pollution in water and sediment samples from North Chennai, India, finding contamination at all sampling sites. Landfills, densely populated areas, and tourist spots had the highest concentrations, with pollution risk levels ranging from low to extremely high. The presence of microplastics in lake water used for drinking purposes is a concern for human health in the region.

2024 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as a vehicle of heavy metals in aquatic environments: A review of adsorption factors, mechanisms, and biological effects

This review summarizes how microplastics in water can absorb and carry toxic heavy metals like lead and cadmium, making them more dangerous to aquatic life than either pollutant alone. Environmental factors such as water acidity, salinity, and organic matter influence how much metal sticks to microplastic surfaces. Since contaminated seafood is a major source of human exposure, understanding these interactions is important for assessing health risks.

2021 Journal of Environmental Management 385 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in the coral reef, sea grass and near shore habitats of Rameswaram Island, India

Researchers compared microplastic occurrence and characteristics alongside heavy metal contaminants in water and sediment across coral reef, seagrass, and nearshore habitats of Rameswaram Island, India, finding mean concentrations ranging from 24 to 96 items/L and identifying habitat-specific differences in contamination profiles.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 71 citations
Article Tier 2

Relationship between microplastics and heavy metals in Tam Giang-Cau Hai lagoon sediments

Researchers investigated the distribution and interactions of microplastics and ten heavy metals in sediments of the Tam Giang-Cau Hai Lagoon in Vietnam, finding moderate microplastic contamination and using Spearman correlation and PCA to assess relationships between sediment properties, metal concentrations, and plastic abundance. The study provides baseline data for understanding co-pollution dynamics in this coastal lagoon ecosystem.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin
Article Tier 2

Impact Imposed by Urbanization on Soil Heavy Metal Content of Lake Wetland and Evaluation of Ecological Risks in East Dongting Lake in China

This Chinese study measured heavy metal contamination in wetland soils of East Dongting Lake, finding elevated concentrations of several metals linked to nearby industrial and agricultural activities. Wetland contamination with heavy metals often co-occurs with microplastic pollution, and these combined stressors can have synergistic harmful effects on wetland ecosystems.

2021 Research Square (Research Square) 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and characterization of microplastics and ecological risks in Vellayani Lake, Kerala, India

Researchers surveyed Vellayani Lake in Kerala, India, for microplastic contamination and found particles in both water and sediment samples across the lake. The most common types were fibers and fragments, primarily from polyethylene and polypropylene, likely originating from household waste, fishing activities, and agricultural runoff. The ecological risk assessment indicated moderate contamination levels, raising concerns for this freshwater lake that serves local communities.

2023 Total Environment Research Themes 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Kontaminasi Logam Cr dan Fe pada Organisme Benthik Laut yang Ditangkap di Perairan Jawa Tengah

This Indonesian study measured chromium and iron contamination in benthic marine organisms from coastal waters near industrial areas in Central Java. While focused on heavy metals, industrial coastal areas are also significant sources of microplastic pollution, and benthic organisms accumulate both types of contaminants.

2023 Jurnal Kelautan Tropis
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of Microplastics and Heavy Metals in Aquatic and Agroecosystem: A Case Study

Researchers investigated microplastic and heavy metal co-contamination in Pakistani farmland, collecting wastewater, soil, and vegetable samples from four sites in Faisalabad irrigated with raw effluents. They found average soil microplastic abundance of 2790.75 items/kg and identified chromium as the dominant metal with the highest transfer factor, establishing baseline contamination benchmarks for this agroecosystem.

2022 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization and risk assessment of microplastic contamination in a tropical man-made Lake and adjacent water using multi-approach analysis

This study investigated microplastic contamination in Kaptai Lake, the largest artificial lake in South Asia, and found concentrations ranging from 650 to 2,450 items per cubic meter in water and 135 to 607.5 items per kilogram in sediment. The majority of identified microplastics were small fibers less than 0.5 mm, with spatial variation influenced by polymer properties, local geography, and pollution sources.

2025 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Features of Heavy Metals Sorption by Microplastics in Environmentally Relevant Conditions

Experiments using aged PET microplastics in natural lake water showed that the particles sorb heavy metals (cobalt, nickel, copper, cadmium, lead) in environmentally relevant concentrations, but the sorption isotherms differed from those measured in synthetic laboratory solutions. This matters because microplastics acting as vectors for heavy metals in real freshwater conditions could increase metal bioavailability and toxicity to aquatic life and potentially to humans who drink the water.

2023 Water Resources 8 citations