Papers

61,005 results
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Review Tier 2

Microplastics as contaminants in freshwater environments: A multidisciplinary review

This multidisciplinary review covers microplastic sources, abundance, composition, transport, and biological effects in freshwater systems globally, arguing that freshwater environments are both major conduits and sinks for microplastic pollution.

2020 Ecohydrology & Hydrobiology 85 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect assessment of nano- and microplastics in freshwater ecosystems

This doctoral thesis assessed the effects of nano- and microplastics on freshwater ecosystems, from individual species to community-level impacts. Freshwater sediments are known to accumulate these particles, and the research addresses critical gaps in understanding how long-term exposure at realistic concentrations affects aquatic communities.

2020 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on freshwater organisms: A laboratory approach

This thesis systematically examined how microplastics harm freshwater organisms both physically and by acting as carriers for chemical pollutants. The research found that both the physical presence of microplastics and the chemicals associated with them can negatively affect freshwater species.

2019 Universitätsbibliothek Tübingen
Article Tier 2

From Origins to Impacts: A Comprehensive Review of Microplastics in Freshwater Environments

This comprehensive review covers microplastics in freshwater ecosystems from sources and transport to biological uptake and food web effects, synthesizing current evidence on ecological risks and identifying research priorities.

2024 International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research
Article Tier 2

Impacts of microplastics in freshwater systems

This review summarized scientific knowledge about microplastic impacts in freshwater systems, covering sources, distribution, ingestion by organisms, and potential ecological effects. It identifies freshwater ecosystems as both reservoirs and pathways for microplastic transport to the oceans, with impacts on freshwater biodiversity and potentially on drinking water quality.

2017 Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT)
Article Tier 2

Distribution, biological effects and biofilms of microplastics in freshwater systems - A review

This review examines microplastic distribution, biological effects, and biofilm formation in freshwater systems, highlighting knowledge gaps compared to marine studies and the ecological risks posed by microplastics as vectors for pathogens and pollutants.

2022 Chemosphere 108 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic: A Silent Contaminant in Aquatic Ecosystems and Its Ecological Consequences

This review examines microplastics as a pervasive but underappreciated contaminant in aquatic ecosystems, synthesizing evidence on their sources, distribution, uptake pathways in aquatic organisms, and broader ecological consequences for freshwater and marine food webs.

2025 International Journal of Science Architecture Technology and Environment
Article Tier 2

Environmental Impact of Microplastics in Aquatic Ecosystems: A Review of Current Research and Future Directions

This review examines microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems, covering chemical, biological, and ecological processes beyond simple physical contamination and identifying priority areas for future research directions.

2025 Indus journal of bioscience research.
Article Tier 2

Prevalence, Fate and Effects of Plastic in Freshwater Environments

This review summarizes the prevalence, environmental fate, and biological effects of plastics in freshwater ecosystems, an area that has received less attention than marine plastic pollution. Freshwater bodies are major pathways for microplastics to reach marine environments and are themselves affected by plastic contamination.

2021
Article Tier 2

Investigations into the Roles of Organisms on Environmental Plastic Pollution

This thesis investigated the roles of organisms in environmental plastic pollution, examining how marine and freshwater animals ingest microplastics and how they may transfer them through food webs. The work contributes to understanding the ecological consequences of plastic contamination in aquatic ecosystems.

2021 Maryland Shared Open Access Repository (USMAI Consortium)
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in freshwater ecosystems: what we know and what we need to know

This review examines the state of knowledge on microplastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems, which have received far less scientific attention than marine environments despite being major pathways for plastic transport. Researchers found that freshwater microplastic concentrations can be extremely high near urban areas and that organisms from insects to fish readily ingest these particles. The study identifies key research gaps including the need for standardized detection methods and better understanding of how microplastics move through and affect freshwater food webs.

2014 Environmental Sciences Europe 1468 citations
Article Tier 2

The organism fate of inland freshwater system under micro-/nano-plastic pollution: A review of past decade.

This review synthesized a decade of research on how micro- and nano-plastics affect freshwater organisms including microalgae, macrophytes, zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, and fish, finding that impacts range from impaired photosynthesis and oxidative stress to reproductive disruption and behavioral changes across multiple biological levels.

2023 Aquatic toxicology (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Article Tier 2

A Comprehensive Review on Microplastic Pollution in Aquatic Ecosystems and Their Effects on Aquatic Biota

This comprehensive review examines microplastic pollution across freshwater and marine ecosystems and its effects on aquatic organisms. Researchers found that microplastics are abundant in both environments and that nearly all studies reviewed documented uptake by organisms along with alterations in biochemical parameters. The evidence indicates that microplastic contamination is becoming an increasingly serious environmental and health concern for aquatic life.

2023 AQUATIC SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Sources, Occurrence, and Analysis of Microplastics in Freshwater Environments

This review summarizes current knowledge on microplastic sources and occurrence in freshwater environments, noting that freshwater systems are major conduits delivering microplastics to the ocean. The review highlights that freshwater microplastic research lags far behind marine studies despite rivers and lakes being primary pollution pathways.

2022 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts of Microplastics as Contaminants in Freshwater Ecosystems and Human Food Chain

This review examines the impacts of microplastics on freshwater ecosystems and human food chains, tracing how plastic particles enter rivers and lakes, accumulate in fish and invertebrates, and transfer to humans through consumption of contaminated freshwater species.

2025
Article Tier 2

The Invisible Threat: A Review of Microplastics in Freshwater Systems, Including Their Presence in Water, Sediment, and Aquatic Insects

This review examines the sources, spatial distributions, and ecological effects of microplastics in freshwater systems — including water, sediments, and aquatic insects — synthesizing evidence on their pervasive contamination and biological impacts across freshwater environments globally.

2025 Annals of Environmental Science and Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination in Freshwater Environments: A Review, Focusing on Interactions with Sediments and Benthic Organisms

This review focuses on microplastic contamination in freshwater sediments and the interactions between microplastics, sediment particles, and benthic organisms, synthesizing evidence on how sediment properties influence microplastic accumulation and how benthic fauna are exposed and affected.

2020 Environments 412 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

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.

2024 ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH 98 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Microplastic Pollution on Freshwater Ecosystems and Effective Mitigation Measures in Canada

A desktop research review of microplastic impacts on Canadian freshwater ecosystems found that microplastics accumulate in water, biota, and sediments, disrupting food webs and habitat structure, with mitigation strategies including source reduction, improved wastewater treatment, and ecosystem-based approaches identified as effective.

2023 European Journal of Physical Sciences 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecotoxicity of microplastics to freshwater biota: Considering exposure and hazard across trophic levels

This review examines the toxic effects of microplastics on freshwater organisms across multiple levels of the food web, from biofilms and plankton to fish and amphibians. Researchers found evidence of harm in several species, though effects varied widely depending on particle size, type, and concentration. The study highlights that freshwater microplastic toxicity is still poorly understood compared to marine environments and calls for more standardized research.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 150 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastics in freshwater systems: A review on occurrence, environmental effects, and methods for microplastics detection

This review summarizes the current understanding of microplastic contamination in freshwater systems, from sources like wastewater treatment plants to their effects on aquatic life. Researchers note that microplastics can carry toxic chemicals and have been shown to cause intestinal damage and metabolic changes in fish. The paper highlights that freshwater microplastic pollution is a significant and growing concern that warrants more research attention.

2017 Water Research 2136 citations
Review Tier 2

Pollution of Freshwater Ecosystems by Microplastics: A Short Review on Degradation, Distribution, and Interaction with Aquatic Biota

This review synthesizes published literature on the distribution, degradation, and ecological interactions of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems globally. The paper covers MP distribution patterns, interactions with heavy metals in freshwater, and documented uptake by aquatic organisms along with associated biological impacts.

2023 Sohag Journal of Sciences 5 citations