Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

The significant impacts of laundry wastewater on microplastics: a case study in a residential area

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in laundry wastewater from a residential area and tracked their contribution to urban drainage, finding that laundry effluent is a significant and underestimated source of microfibers entering municipal sewer systems and subsequently rivers.

2024 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Synthetic microfibers: Pollution toxicity and remediation

Researchers reviewed the sources, transport pathways, ecological impacts, and remediation approaches for synthetic microfiber pollution originating from domestic washing machines. The study highlights that urban laundry wastewater is a major contributor to microfiber pollution entering aquatic and terrestrial environments, with potential effects on the food chain and human health.

2020 Chemosphere 284 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics in three types of household cleaning products and their estimated emissions into the aquatic environment

Researchers detected microplastics in three types of household cleaning products (laundry detergents, toilet bowl cleaners, and dishwashing detergents) and estimated that global use of these products represents a significant and largely overlooked pathway for primary microplastic emissions into aquatic environments.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Unravelling the microplastic contamination: A comprehensive analysis of microplastics in indoor house dust

This study provides a detailed analysis of microplastics found in indoor house dust, where people spend most of their time. Fibers were the most common type found, originating from textiles, carpets, and clothing, with plastic sizes and types varying across different household areas. The findings highlight that everyday indoor environments are a significant source of microplastic exposure through inhalation and ingestion of dust.

2024 Indoor and Built Environment 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Are we underestimating the sources of microplastic pollution in terrestrial environment?

This review argues that land-based sources of microplastic pollution are significantly underestimated, even though most marine microplastics originate from terrestrial sources. Researchers found that textile washing accounts for roughly 35% of microplastics in water, with additional contributions from tire wear, agricultural plastic films, cosmetics, and construction materials. The study highlights atmospheric deposition as a newly recognized pathway for microplastic dispersal that requires urgent investigation.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 497 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics influencing aquatic environment and human health: A review of source, determination, distribution, removal, degradation, management strategy and future perspective

This review paper provides a broad summary of microplastic pollution in water environments, covering where they come from, how to detect them, how they spread, and how to remove them. The authors emphasize that microplastics persist for extremely long periods in water and can harm both aquatic life and human health, calling for better management strategies worldwide.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 17 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Terrestrial microplastics as emerging aquatic pollutants: A systematic review

This systematic review traces how microplastics from everyday land-based sources — laundry, tire wear, landfills, and farming — make their way into rivers and coastal waters. It highlights that what we do on land is the primary driver of microplastic pollution in the water we drink and the seafood we eat.

2026 Journal of Hazardous Materials Plastics
Article Tier 2

Exploring microplastic pollution from origin to environmental impact and remediation approaches

This review provides a comprehensive assessment of microplastic pollution, covering their sources from synthetic textiles, cosmetics, and packaging to their fate in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The study critically examines detection techniques, structural and chemical classification methods, and the health risks microplastics pose to organisms including humans.

2025 Discover Environment 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring microplastics sources in indoor environments, an emerging pollutant

This study explores microplastics as an emerging indoor air and surface pollutant, examining the diverse sources that contribute to microplastic presence within indoor environments and characterizing the pathways by which people may be exposed.

2025 SPIRE - Sciences Po Institutional REpository
Article Tier 2

Contribution of household dishwashing to microplastic pollution

This study quantified microplastics released during household dishwashing and found that dishwashers emit measurable quantities of synthetic particles, predominantly from plastic dishes and containers, identifying household dishwashing as a previously overlooked source of microplastic emissions.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in wastewater: Sources, distribution, detection and remediation through physical and chemical-biological methods

This review covers how microplastics end up in wastewater from sources like textile fibers, personal care microbeads, and broken-down plastic debris, and how they often survive the treatment process. Current removal methods like filtration and chemical degradation are costly and not fully effective. The lack of standardized ways to measure microplastics in wastewater makes it difficult to assess the full scope of human exposure through water systems.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 118 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as an emerging contaminant of concern to our environment: a brief overview of the sources and implications

This overview describes how microplastics have become a widespread environmental contaminant found in water, soil, air, and living organisms. Beyond being pollutants themselves, microplastics can carry other toxic substances and even antibiotic-resistant bacteria, amplifying their health risks. The authors emphasize that microplastic exposure through food, water, and air poses a significant and underappreciated threat to human health.

2023 Bioengineered 60 citations