Papers

61,005 results
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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

Occurrence and Sources of Microplastics in groundwater divided by well depth and Hydrogeology in South Korea

Researchers investigated microplastic occurrence in South Korean groundwater stratified by well depth and hydrogeological setting, finding microplastics in wells across all depths and identifying surface connectivity as a key factor controlling contamination levels.

2024
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

Good field practice and hydrogeological knowledge are essential to determine reliable concentrations of microplastics in groundwater

This commentary identifies methodological weaknesses in a published study on microplastic contamination from an informal landfill, arguing that inadequate descriptions of sampling wells, missing groundwater level and flow direction data, and incomplete sampling procedures make the reported microplastic concentrations in groundwater unreliable.

2022 Environmental Pollution 14 citations
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

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

Ensuring representative sample volume predictions in microplastic monitoring

Researchers analyzed over 1,800 global microplastic measurements and found that smaller sample volumes tend to report falsely higher concentrations, a flaw affecting nearly half of reviewed studies. They developed the RSVP tool to calculate the minimum water volume needed to reliably detect microplastics, helping future studies avoid missing contamination that is actually present.

2025 Microplastics and Nanoplastics 15 citations
Clinical Trial Tier 1

Investigating microplastic dynamics in soils: Orientation for sampling strategies and sample pre‐procession

This study develops improved methods for sampling and detecting microplastics in soil, addressing a major gap in current research. Standardized sampling strategies are essential because microplastic distribution in soil is highly variable, making it easy to miss contamination with inconsistent methods. Better detection protocols will help scientists accurately measure how much microplastic is accumulating in agricultural and natural soils.

2020 Land Degradation and Development 55 citations
Article Tier 2

The importance of ensuring representative sample volumes in microplastic monitoring - A predictive methodology

Analysis of a global database of 1,603 marine and 208 freshwater microplastic observations found that sample volume strongly influences reported concentrations, and a predictive methodology was developed to ensure representative sampling and enable meaningful cross-study comparisons.

2024
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

Microplastics in groundwater: evaluation of sampling methods

Researchers evaluated three groundwater sampling methods — peristaltic pump, bladder pump, and stainless-steel bailer — for their potential to introduce microplastic contamination into samples, using laboratory controls with MP-free deionized water and 63 micron sieve concentration to assess each technique's suitability for standardized aquifer monitoring.

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

Microplastics in groundwater: evaluation of sampling methods

Researchers evaluated three groundwater sampling techniques — peristaltic pump, bladder pump, and stainless-steel bailer — for their potential to contaminate samples with microplastics, conducting laboratory controls by passing MP-free deionized water through each device and filtering through 63 micron stainless-steel sieves to assess method-specific contamination.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

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

A Global Review of Microplastic Contamination in Groundwater: Empirical Evidence and Latin American Perspectives

Scientists reviewed 129 studies and found that tiny pieces of plastic (called microplastics) are contaminating groundwater around the world, which is concerning because groundwater provides drinking water to billions of people. The research shows we don't know enough about this problem, especially in Latin America where only two studies have actually tested groundwater for plastic contamination. This matters because we need better monitoring and policies to protect our underground water sources from plastic pollution that could affect human health.

2026 Water and Environment Journal
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
Meta Analysis Tier 1

What You Net Depends on if You Grab: A Meta-analysis of Sampling Method’s Impact on Measured Aquatic Microplastic Concentration

This meta-analysis of 121 studies finds that the method used to collect water samples significantly affects how much microplastic pollution is measured. Net, pump, and grab sampling methods produce systematically different concentration readings, meaning past estimates of microplastic levels in drinking water sources may be inaccurate depending on how they were collected.

2021 Environmental Science & Technology 36 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

Identification of methodological biases to assess global levels of microplastic pollution in rivers

Scientists analyzed over 7,500 water samples from rivers worldwide and found that different testing methods were giving misleading results about microplastic pollution levels. After correcting for these testing flaws, they discovered some areas have much higher plastic contamination than previously thought, while others have less. This matters because microplastics in rivers can end up in our drinking water and food supply, so getting accurate pollution measurements is crucial for protecting human health.

2026
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of vertical distribution characteristics of microplastics under 20 μm in lake and river waters in South Korea

Researchers developed a method for measuring very small microplastics (under 20 µm) in lake and river waters in South Korea and found they were widely distributed across different depths. Smaller microplastics are harder to sample and are largely missed by standard net-based methods. The study emphasizes that conventional monitoring approaches likely undercount microplastic contamination in freshwater systems.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Research advances of micro/nanoplastics in groundwater: occurrence, environmental impacts and control strategies

This review examines the emerging issue of microplastic and nanoplastic contamination in groundwater systems, covering their sources, distribution patterns, potential environmental risks, and removal strategies. Researchers highlight that the strong heterogeneity and complexity of underground environments make studying microplastic migration particularly challenging. The study identifies significant knowledge gaps in sampling methods and calls for more research into how microplastics move through groundwater aquifers.

2025 Environmental Pollution 5 citations
Article Tier 2

How soil moisture and flow regime drive microplastic transport in the vadose zone: insight from modelling and column experiments

Scientists studied how tiny plastic particles move through soil toward underground water sources that we use for drinking water. They found that plastic particles travel very differently depending on how wet or dry the soil is - sometimes getting trapped, other times moving quickly through the ground. This research helps us better understand how microplastics might contaminate our groundwater supplies, which is important for protecting drinking water quality.

2026
Article Tier 2

High abundance of microplastics in groundwater in Jiaodong Peninsula, China

Researchers detected microplastics in groundwater at all five sampling sites in the Jiaodong Peninsula of China, with concentrations ranging from 87 to 6,832 particles per liter and averaging 2,103 particles per liter. Particles smaller than 100 micrometers accounted for over 90% of the total, and concentrations correlated with proximity to industrial and agricultural activities above ground.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 74 citations
Article Tier 2

The determination of microplastic contamination in freshwater environments using sampling methods – A case study

Polish researchers compared different net sizes and sampling volumes for collecting microplastics from freshwater lakes and found that fine nets (20 micrometer mesh) are essential for capturing the smallest plastic fibers, and that sampling larger volumes risks clogging in nutrient-rich water, leading to underestimates of contamination. The study is the first in Poland to demonstrate these methodological effects on microplastic abundance estimates and provides practical guidance for designing more accurate freshwater monitoring programs.

2023 Journal of Water and Land Development 9 citations