Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Presence of microplastics in the groundwater of volcanic islands, El Hierro and La Palma (Canary Islands)

For the first time, researchers detected microplastics in the groundwater of volcanic islands El Hierro and La Palma in the Canary Islands, finding six different plastic types at concentrations up to 23 particles per liter. Polypropylene and polyethylene from packaging and water pipes were the most common, likely entering groundwater through leaky sewage systems. This finding is alarming because groundwater is often considered a clean water source, and its contamination with microplastics means even remote island communities face exposure through their drinking water.

2024 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 10 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

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

Microplastic pollution in the groundwater under a bedrock island in the South China sea

This is the first study to examine microplastic pollution in groundwater beneath a small island in the South China Sea, finding 34 to 64 particles per liter despite minimal industrial activity. Over 80% of the microplastics were polyester fibers originating from the island's own plastic waste rather than from the surrounding ocean. The findings are significant because they show that even remote island groundwater, often the only drinking water source for island communities, is contaminated with microplastics.

2023 Environmental Research 40 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

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

Emerging Concerns about Microplastic Pollution on Groundwater in South Korea

This editorial raises concerns about microplastic contamination in groundwater in South Korea, framing modern times as the "Plastic Age" due to the pervasive presence of synthetic polymers in all environmental compartments including underground water sources.

2020 Sustainability 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics contamination in groundwater of a drinking-water source area, northern China

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in shallow groundwater from a major drinking-water source area in northern China. The study found microplastics present in groundwater samples, with their abundance, morphology, and chemical composition varying across the study area and correlating with nearby human activities.

2022 Environmental Research 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in Slovenia's groundwater.

Researchers investigated microplastic pollution in Slovenia's groundwater, examining how microplastics from urban, agricultural, and industrial activities enter and distribute through subsurface water systems in a country where groundwater supplies approximately 98% of drinking water.

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

Distribution and transport of microplastics in groundwater (Shiraz aquifer, southwest Iran)

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in groundwater from an alluvial aquifer in a semi-arid region of Iran. They identified microplastics in all sampled wells, with fibers and fragments being the most common shapes and polyethylene the dominant polymer type. The study demonstrates that groundwater, an important source of drinking water, is not immune to microplastic contamination and calls for more research on transport mechanisms in subsurface environments.

2022 Water Research 84 citations
Article Tier 2

Contamination, morphological and chemical characterization, and hazard risk analyses of microplastics in drinking water sourced from groundwater in a developing nation

Researchers analyzed groundwater from six coastal districts in a developing nation and found widespread microplastic contamination, with fibers and fragments of polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common types. Since groundwater is the primary drinking water source in many developing countries, this contamination represents a direct pathway for microplastic ingestion by millions of people.

2024 Frontiers in Environmental Science 20 citations
Article Tier 2

First insight into microplastic groundwater pollution in Latin America: the case of a coastal aquifer in Northwest Mexico

This is the first study to investigate microplastic contamination in groundwater in Latin America, examining a coastal aquifer in Northwest Mexico. Researchers found microplastics at all six sampled locations and at multiple depths, confirming that groundwater is not immune to this type of pollution. Since millions of people depend on groundwater for drinking water, these findings raise important questions about microplastic exposure through water supplies.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 59 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in Slovenia's groundwater.

Researchers investigated microplastic pollution in Slovenia's groundwater, documenting contamination pathways from urban, agricultural, and industrial activities and assessing the extent to which synthetic particles have infiltrated subsurface drinking water sources in a country where groundwater supplies approximately 98% of drinking water.

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

Distribution and Abundance of Microplastics in Underground Rivers in the South Malang Karst Area: First Evidence in Indonesia

Researchers documented microplastic contamination in underground rivers within a karst limestone region of South Malang, Indonesia, providing the first evidence of such pollution in the country's groundwater systems. They detected microplastics in all water samples, with fibers being the dominant type. The findings challenge the assumption that karst rock formations act as natural filters, suggesting that surface plastic pollution can penetrate into underground water sources.

2024 JURNAL KESEHATAN LINGKUNGAN 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Measurement and daily consumption of microplastics in drinking water from a Small Island Developing State—Fiji: from freshwater to groundwater sources

Researchers conducted the first baseline study of microplastics in drinking water sources across Fiji, including raw, treated, tap, rain, ground, and bottled water. They found microplastics present in all water types, with fibers being the most common form, and estimated daily ingestion rates for different age groups. The study highlights that small island developing states face significant microplastic exposure through their drinking water supply.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 4 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

Existence of microplastics in soil and groundwater in Jiaodong Peninsula

Researchers found microplastics in both soil and groundwater samples from a Chinese coastal region, with fibers dominant in groundwater and fragments dominant in soils. The discovery of microplastics in groundwater raises concerns about plastic contamination of drinking water aquifers in agricultural areas.

2021 E3S Web of Conferences 16 citations
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

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
Article Tier 2

Effects of groundwater sample volume on identified microplastics in groundwater of an agricultural area in Korea

Scientists tested how much groundwater needs to be sampled to get an accurate picture of microplastic contamination in agricultural areas of South Korea. They found that sampling at least 100 liters of groundwater was necessary to reliably detect microplastics, and smaller samples often missed particles entirely. The study highlights that inconsistent sampling methods may be leading to underestimates of groundwater microplastic pollution.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics pollution in groundwater: Case study - Slovenia

Researchers investigated microplastic pollution in Slovenian groundwater, which supplies drinking water to 98% of the population, characterizing MP occurrence, transport, and risk across multiple aquifer systems affected by urban, industrial, and agricultural activities.

2024
Article Tier 2

Study of the occurrence of microplastics in soils and underground water of the anaga biosphere reserve (tenerife, canary islands, spain)

Researchers surveyed microplastic occurrence in soils and groundwater in an agricultural zone, finding contamination in both surface and subsurface environments. The study identified plastic mulch film use as a primary local source and documented downward migration of particles from soil into groundwater.

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

Microplastic distribution in monitoring well water in the final landfill area Putri Cempo Surakarta Indonesia

Researchers sampled groundwater from seven monitoring wells around a landfill in Surakarta, Indonesia, finding microplastic concentrations ranging from 320 to 1,960 particles per liter. Polystyrene, polycarbonate, and polypropylene fragments dominated the samples, confirming that landfills are a significant source of microplastic contamination in groundwater that communities depend on for drinking water.

2026 Journal of Ecological Engineering
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)