Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution of microplastic concentration around landfill sites and its potential risk on groundwater

Researchers found microplastic contamination in groundwater near two municipal waste dump sites in South India, with levels ranging from 2 to 80 particles per liter. Nylon was the most common type found, making up 70% of particles, and the contamination was traced back to degrading buried plastic waste. This is concerning because many communities rely on groundwater for drinking, and these findings show landfills can be a direct source of microplastics in drinking water.

2021 Chemosphere 252 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution unveiled: the consequences of small unregulated dumping in villages, spanning from soil to water

Researchers studied microplastic pollution at unregulated village dumpsites in India and found widespread contamination in the surrounding soil and water. The study identified a variety of plastic types and shapes, including fibers, fragments, and films, moving from dump sites into nearby aquatic environments. This matters because informal waste disposal in rural areas is a largely overlooked source of microplastic pollution that can affect local water quality.

2024 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Waste dumps as microplastic hotspots: a comparative investigation at urban, suburban, and rural areas of Eastern India and associated risk assessment

This study measured microplastic contamination at waste dump sites across urban, suburban, and rural areas in Eastern India and found concentrations as high as 3,457 particles per kilogram. High-hazard plastics like PVC and polyurethane were present, and riverside dumps showed especially high ecological risk scores. The findings suggest that waste dumps are significant sources of microplastic pollution that can contaminate nearby water and soil used by local communities.

2025 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the abundance of microplastics in Indian landfill leachate: An analytical study

Researchers analyzed microplastics in leachate from two major landfills in India and found concentrations of 1,473 to 2,067 particles per liter, with most particles smaller than 100 micrometers. Polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, cellulose acetate, and PVC were the most common plastic types identified. Since landfill leachate can seep into groundwater and nearby water bodies, these findings raise concerns about microplastic contamination of drinking water sources near dump sites.

2024 Journal of Environmental Management 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification, characterization, and implications of microplastics in soil – A case study of Bhopal, central India

Researchers identified and characterized microplastics in soils from Bhopal, central India, documenting their occurrence, distribution, and polymer composition to assess the extent of soil contamination from poor plastic waste management practices.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 97 citations
Article Tier 2

A study on microplastics pollution and contamination from leachate and soil in open dumpsite in Pathum Thani province, Thailand

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in leachate (liquid that drains through waste) and soil at an open dumpsite in Thailand, finding high levels of plastic particles along with toxic heavy metals and harmful chemicals like BPA and phthalates. The results show that open dumpsites are major sources of microplastic and chemical contamination that can enter groundwater and food chains.

2026 Journal of Ecological Engineering
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

Implications of solid waste dumps on the microplastic abundance in groundwater in Kollam, India

Groundwater wells near waste dump sites in Kollam, India contained an average of 12 microplastic particles per liter, with fibers being the most common type. Larger dump sites were associated with higher microplastic levels, and the groundwater near heavy dumping sites was also more acidic, suggesting leachate from waste dumps is contaminating the water supply. This is a direct human health concern because many communities depend on well water for drinking, and microplastics in groundwater are difficult to remove.

2023 Journal of Environmental Management 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in India-Evidence of major health concern

This review documents evidence for major microplastic health concerns in India, covering contamination of food, water, and air in urban and rural contexts, and calling for nationally coordinated monitoring and regulatory responses to plastic pollution.

2025 World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews
Article Tier 2

Biofilm-associated microplastic contamination in rural soil and water: emerging hazards to ecosystems

Researchers found significant microplastic contamination in soil and water near rural dumpsites in areas with poor waste management, with polystyrene and PET being the most common plastic types. The microplastic surfaces were colonized by bacteria that showed resistance to the antibiotic streptomycin, highlighting a dual threat of chemical pollution and drug resistance. These findings show that unregulated rural waste disposal creates hotspots where microplastics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria can enter local water supplies.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in terrestrial environment: Identification, characterization, and risk assessment in Indore, Central India

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in soil from agricultural and recreational areas in Indore, India. Recreational sites had about six times more microplastic particles than farmland, with most particles made of common plastics like PET and polypropylene. While the ecological risk was rated low for now, the long-term buildup of these particles in soil could eventually pose threats to crops and the food chain.

2024 Soil Use and Management 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in landfill soil: Emerging threats the environmental and public health

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in soil at a landfill near residential areas in Indonesia and found extremely high levels of over 60,000 particles per kilogram. The most common types were fragments of polyethylene, PVC, polystyrene, and polypropylene. The study raises public health concerns because landfills near populated areas can release microplastics into surrounding soil and water, creating exposure pathways for nearby communities.

2024 Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatiotemporal distribution and ecological hazards of microplastic pollution in soil water resources around a wastewater treatment plant and municipal solid waste site

Researchers mapped the spatial and seasonal distribution of microplastics in soil, water, and sediment near a wastewater treatment plant and municipal landfill in northern India. They found elevated microplastic concentrations in leachate and areas immediately surrounding both facilities, with seasonal variations in contamination levels. The study highlights that both wastewater treatment plants and solid waste sites serve as significant local sources of microplastic pollution to surrounding environments.

2025 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution and ecological risks of microplastics in agricultural soils near a solid waste dumpsite in southwest Bangladesh

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in agricultural soils surrounding a municipal solid waste dumpsite in southwest Bangladesh, characterizing the types, spatial distribution, and ecological risks. They found significant microplastic accumulation in soils near the dump, with contamination levels decreasing at greater distances. The study highlights that waste dumpsites are important point sources of microplastic pollution that can affect the fertility and ecological health of surrounding agricultural lands.

2026 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Article Tier 2

Distribution pattern and risk assessment of microplastics contamination in different agricultural systems

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in agricultural soils across six sites in Coimbatore, India with distinct farming practices, finding microplastics in 81% of organic matter-removed samples. The study revealed that different agronomic inputs and land management practices produce distinct microplastic contamination profiles.

2024 International Journal of Environmental & Analytical Chemistry 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in groundwater of two rural communities in Mexico

Researchers detected microplastics in drinking water from ten rural wells in two Mexican communities, finding diverse polymer types and morphologies at concentrations that suggest widespread groundwater MP contamination even in areas distant from major urban pollution sources.

2025 Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua
Article Tier 2

Microplastics contamination in the soil from Urban Landfill site, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in soil samples from an urban landfill site in Dhaka, Bangladesh. They found microplastics in all samples, predominantly fibers and fragments made of polyethylene and polypropylene, with concentrations varying across the landfill. The study provides some of the first evidence of terrestrial microplastic pollution in Bangladesh and identifies urban landfills as significant reservoirs of soil microplastic contamination.

2020 Heliyon 142 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics, their abundance, and distribution in water and sediments in North Chennai, India: An assessment of pollution risk and human health impacts

Researchers analyzed microplastic pollution in water and sediment samples from North Chennai, India, finding contamination at all sampling sites. Landfills, densely populated areas, and tourist spots had the highest concentrations, with pollution risk levels ranging from low to extremely high. The presence of microplastics in lake water used for drinking purposes is a concern for human health in the region.

2024 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Open dumping and burning: A source of terrestrial microplastics in underserved communities

Researchers extracted and characterized microplastics from soil surrounding sites where solid waste is openly dumped and burned — a waste management practice common in rural and Indigenous communities globally. The study found significant microplastic contamination even at depth, showing that open dumping is a major but overlooked source of terrestrial microplastic pollution.

2023 SHAREOK (University of Oklahoma; Oklahoma State University; Central Oklahoma University)
Article Tier 2

Open dumping site as a point source of microplastics and plastic additives: A case study in Thailand

Researchers characterized an open dumping site in Thailand as a significant point source of both microplastics and plastic additive chemicals in the surrounding environment. They found elevated levels of microplastics and associated contaminants in soil and water samples collected near the dump site. The study highlights that unmanaged waste disposal in developing countries is a major contributor to localized microplastic and chemical pollution.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Human health risk perspective study on characterization, quantification and spatial distribution of microplastics in surface water, groundwater and coastal sediments of thickly populated Chennai coast of South India

Researchers characterized microplastics in surface water, groundwater, and coastal sediments along Chennai's densely populated coast in South India, finding widespread contamination with fibers as the dominant shape and identifying urban proximity as a key factor in microplastic abundance.

2022 Human and Ecological Risk Assessment An International Journal 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro-plastics in the Vicinity of an Urban Solid Waste Management Facility in India: Assessment and Policy Implications

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination near an open waste dumping site in Kochi, India, finding an average of 100 microplastic pieces per 100 g of river sediment and 178 pieces per 100 g of topsoil, with polyethylene the dominant polymer type identified via ATR-FTIR analysis, confirming that unscientific solid waste disposal significantly elevates riverine microplastic pollution.

2022 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of microplastics from urban informal solid waste landfill soil; MP associations with COD and chloride

Researchers identified microplastic concentrations of 180–1,120 particles per kilogram of soil in an urban informal landfill in India, with fragments and fibers as the dominant shapes, and found that microplastic presence altered key soil properties including conductivity and moisture content.

2022 Water Science & Technology 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Emerging contaminants in rural water: microplastic pollution and its association with agricultural, livestock, and industrial activities in Ecuador

Researchers surveyed 169 samples from 29 rural drinking water systems in southern Ecuador, finding microplastics in 61.5% of samples, with PET as the most frequent polymer and contamination levels correlating with proximity to agricultural, livestock, and industrial activities.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment