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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to The Urgent Need to Investigate Microplastic Contamination in Groundwater: Soil and Groundwater Interactions as Key Drivers
ClearGroundwater 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.
The Plastic Underground: Are Microplastics in the Subsurface a Ticking Time Bomb for Soil and Groundwater Ecosystems?
Researchers reviewed and investigated how microplastics enter subsurface environments through agricultural practices, irrigation, and streambed infiltration, finding critical knowledge gaps about plastic residence times and impacts on groundwater ecosystems and calling for urgent study of soils as long-term plastic sinks.
[Transformation Behavior and Environmental Effects of Microplastics in Soil-groundwater].
This review synthesizes current knowledge on the transformation behavior and environmental effects of microplastics in soil-groundwater systems, covering their sources, transport pathways, physicochemical transformations, and ecological impacts in this understudied environmental compartment that has emerged as a significant sink for microplastic pollution.
An Overview of Microplastic Contamination in Groundwater: Sources, Transport Pathways, and Environmental Implications
This review examined microplastic contamination in groundwater systems, an area that has received less research attention compared to surface water. Researchers identified key sources and transport pathways for microplastics entering groundwater, including infiltration through soil and fractured rock, and highlighted the environmental implications for drinking water supplies.
The plastic underground – Exploring the mechanisms controlling the fate and transport of microplastics in the subsurface
Researchers combined field sampling, laboratory experiments, and mathematical modelling to explore the mechanisms controlling microplastic entry, fate, and transport in the subsurface — including soils, riverbeds, sediments, and groundwater aquifers — identifying hotspots and activation mechanisms for subsurface MP contamination.
State of knowledge and future research needs on microplastics in groundwater
This study used text-mining analysis of the scientific literature to summarize the state of knowledge on microplastics in groundwater, identifying research gaps around sources, transport through soil, and human exposure through drinking water. The review found that groundwater microplastic research lags behind surface water studies and that uniform detection methods are lacking.
Control strategies for microplastic pollution in groundwater
This review summarizes how microplastics migrate from soil into groundwater and the strategies available to control this contamination. Researchers found that microplastic concentrations in groundwater vary by region, with factors like soil type and land use influencing how particles travel underground. The study highlights the urgency of developing effective control measures since groundwater is a primary drinking water source for much of the world's population.
Need of groundwater microplastics study: insights from India
This perspective reviews groundwater microplastic research in India, noting that studies only began in 2019 and remain largely confined to Tamil Nadu, and identifying key research gaps including comprehensive monitoring, hotspot mapping, subsurface migration mechanisms, and soil-groundwater interface behavior of primarily polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics.
Understanding Microplastic Pollution in Groundwater: Pathways, Health Implications and Solutions
This review examines how microplastics infiltrate groundwater systems through pathways including landfills, agricultural runoff, water treatment facilities, and aging plastic pipes. Researchers found that once in groundwater, microplastics can persist for long periods and degrade water quality while interacting with other subsurface contaminants. The study highlights that groundwater microplastic contamination is an underappreciated threat to one of humanity's most important freshwater sources.
Soil microplastics: we need to pay more attention
This perspective piece argues that soil microplastics deserve greater research attention, noting that soils may act as major reservoirs for microplastic accumulation with significant but understudied consequences for terrestrial ecosystems and human health.
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.
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.
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.
The Effect of Polymer Type and Particle Concentration on Microplastic Transport Mechanisms in Saturated Porous Media
Scientists studied how tiny plastic particles move through soil and groundwater by testing different types of plastics at various concentrations. They found that the amount and type of plastic affects how far these particles travel underground, and that bacteria growing on the plastic surfaces can change how they move through soil. This research helps us better understand how microplastics might contaminate our drinking water sources and food supply.
Microplastics in the soil-groundwater environment: Aging, migration, and co-transport of contaminants – A critical review
This review examines how microplastics behave in the soil-groundwater environment, including how they age through weathering and oxidation, migrate through soil layers, and carry other contaminants along with them. The study suggests that aging increases the ability of microplastics to adsorb pollutants like heavy metals and pesticides, potentially facilitating their transport into groundwater supplies.
Microplastics and nanoplastics in agriculture—A potential source of soil and groundwater contamination?
Researchers reviewed how microplastics and nanoplastics (tiny plastic fragments) contaminate agricultural soils and can migrate through the soil into groundwater, potentially carrying pesticides and other chemicals with them. They conclude that current analytical tools are inadequate and that plastic fragmentation in soils is a poorly understood but serious threat to drinking water supplies.
Review of Current Issues and Management Strategies of Microplastics in Groundwater Environments
This review synthesizes current knowledge on microplastic contamination in groundwater, identifying it as a substantially understudied environment compared to surface water and marine systems. The authors describe pathways by which microplastics enter aquifers and discuss management strategies for this largely invisible contamination route.
Propensity and repercussion of microplastics in the soil-water-urban continuum
This review examines microplastic sources, transport pathways, and accumulation in soil-water-urban systems, with specific attention to how urbanization and agricultural practices drive microplastic migration into groundwater and the implications for ecosystem services and the 'one health' framework.
Groundwater systems under siege: The silent invasion of microplastics and cock-tails worldwide
This review reveals that groundwater, a critical drinking water source for billions of people, is increasingly contaminated with microplastics from surface pollution seeping downward through soil. Unlike ocean and river pollution, groundwater microplastic contamination has received far less research attention, leaving major gaps in understanding how plastics migrate underground. The findings are alarming because contaminated groundwater directly enters drinking water supplies with little to no treatment in many regions.
Microplastics in soil and freshwater: Understanding sources, distribution, potential impacts, and regulations for management
This review synthesizes knowledge on microplastics in soil and freshwater systems, covering their sources, transport mechanisms, ecological and health impacts, and current regulatory frameworks for managing plastic pollution in terrestrial and aquatic environments.
Towards an ecology of soil microplastics
This perspective paper calls for greater research attention on microplastic pollution in soils, arguing that terrestrial ecosystems may be even more contaminated than aquatic ones but have received far less scientific scrutiny. The authors outline research priorities for understanding microplastic behavior, ecological effects, and food web implications in soil environments.
Effects of co-present mineral colloids on the transport of microplastics in porous media: The key role of hydrochemical and hydrodynamic conditions
Scientists studied how tiny plastic particles (microplastics) move through soil and sand when mixed with natural clay particles. They found that the combination of different clay types and water conditions can either help microplastics travel further underground or trap them in place. This research helps us better understand how microplastics might contaminate groundwater sources that provide our drinking water.
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.
Microplastics in Groundwater: Pathways, Occurrence, and Monitoring Challenges
This review provides a comprehensive look at how microplastics make their way into groundwater from surface water, seawater, and soil, and examines the challenges researchers face in detecting and monitoring them. The study found that a lack of standardized sampling and analysis methods makes it difficult to compare findings across different studies. Researchers emphasize the importance of understanding local geological conditions and preventing sample contamination to improve the reliability of groundwater microplastic monitoring.