Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Sampling and identification of microplastics in groundwater

Researchers presented a comprehensive protocol for sampling microplastics from groundwater boreholes, including a purpose-built filtration system and detailed laboratory procedures using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy to characterize particles by size, shape, color, and polymer type. This record is a duplicate entry for the same groundwater microplastics sampling and identification methodology as paper 5527.

2025 DiRROS repository (University of Maribor)
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in different water samples (seawater, freshwater, and wastewater): Methodology approach for characterization using micro-FTIR spectroscopy

Researchers developed a standardized methodology for detecting and characterizing small microplastics (10-500 micrometers) in different water types using micro-FTIR spectroscopy. The study tested various sample preparation approaches for seawater, freshwater, and wastewater, establishing reliable protocols for rinsing, digestion, and microplastic collection that can be used to assess treatment plant removal efficiency.

2023 Water Research 67 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

Assessment of Groundwater Contamination by Microplastic Particles: A Case Study in Selected Areas of Mosul District, Iraq

A study of twelve groundwater wells across urban and rural areas of Mosul, Iraq, found microplastic contamination in all samples, ranging from 18 to 103 particles per liter. Most particles were small (under 1 mm), with fibers and fragments both present, and polymer types including polyethylene and polypropylene identified by infrared spectroscopy. Groundwater is a primary drinking water source for millions of people in arid regions, and finding widespread microplastic contamination at these levels underscores the need for water treatment systems capable of removing plastic particles before consumption.

2026 Journal of Rafidain Environment
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in groundwater: a global analysis

Researchers conducted a global groundwater sampling study — collecting approximately 300 litres per site from caves, boreholes, monitoring wells, and surface springs worldwide using a standardised filtration protocol — to characterise microplastic contamination in these poorly studied anoxic systems. The study presented first results aimed at closing a major knowledge gap about microplastic transport and fate in global groundwater resources.

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

Development and validation of a low-cost modular in-line filtration apparatus for high-volume microplastic sampling in groundwater wells

Researchers designed a low-cost (~$120) all-metal filtration system to collect microplastics from groundwater wells, capable of filtering over 500 liters per well with up to 96% particle recovery. The device addresses a major gap in monitoring — most microplastic sampling tools are too expensive or plastic-contaminated to work reliably in groundwater.

2026 Microplastics and Nanoplastics
Article Tier 2

Assessing microplastic (>25μm) presence in groundwater systems in England

This study — the first to systematically assess microplastics in groundwater across England — found microplastic particles present in aquifer samples and developed a standardized sampling protocol comparing different aquifer types and borehole environments. Groundwater contamination is particularly concerning because it serves as a major drinking water source, and this work lays the groundwork for national-level monitoring and regulation.

2026
Article Tier 2

The development of an analytical procedure for the determination of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems

Researchers developed an improved analytical procedure for detecting and identifying microplastics in freshwater environments. The method combines careful sample preparation with advanced instrumental techniques like infrared and Raman spectroscopy. The study highlights the importance of standardized methods to ensure that microplastic measurements across different studies are reliable and comparable.

2024 Analytical Methods 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Validation of an FT-IR microscopy method for the determination of microplastic particles in surface waters

Researchers validated an FT-IR microscopy method for reliably detecting and quantifying microplastic particles in aquatic and solid samples. Validated, standardized analytical methods are essential for producing comparable data across laboratories and building a reliable global picture of microplastic contamination.

2020 MethodsX 34 citations
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

Identifying microplastic contamination in drinking water: analysis and evaluation using spectroscopic methods

Researchers developed analytical methods to identify and quantify microplastic contamination in drinking water, evaluating extraction efficiency and detection accuracy across different water types and plastic particle sizes. The study assessed health implications based on measured plastic loads in treated water.

2024 Interdisciplinary Environmental Review
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastics in tap water by optical photothermal infrared

Researchers characterized microplastics in tap water using optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy, a technique that can identify particles smaller than 10 micrometers with high chemical specificity. The method detected a broader range of particle sizes than conventional FTIR microscopy, revealing higher microplastic concentrations in tap water than previously reported.

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

Physical Characterization of Microplastic Pollutants in Groundwater

This study physically characterized microplastic pollutants recovered from groundwater samples, identifying dominant shapes, sizes, and polymer types and providing baseline data on subsurface plastic contamination in the study region.

2024 PaperAsia 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics monitoring in different environments: separation, physicochemical characterization, and quantification

Researchers systematically monitored microplastic contamination across multiple environments including a wastewater treatment plant, surrounding water bodies, and soils near plastic factories, characterizing shape, size, color, and polymer composition via microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy. They found fragments and fibers to be the most common microplastic shapes in water environments and documented simultaneous contamination across all sampled matrices.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Article Tier 2

Analysis, Occurrence, and Degradation of Microplastics in the Aqueous Environment

This book chapter reviews the major analytical techniques used to detect and quantify microplastics in freshwater environments, covering sampling strategies, sample preparation, and identification methods such as FT-IR spectroscopy. It also discusses the wide diversity of polymer types found in aquatic systems and how they influence degradation and environmental risk.

2017 ˜The œhandbook of environmental chemistry 293 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Standardization of FTIR-Based Methodologies for Microplastics Detection in Drinking Water: A Meta-Analysis Indeed and Practical Approach

This meta-analysis works toward standardizing the methods scientists use to detect microplastics in drinking water using infrared spectroscopy. Consistent detection methods are essential because without them, we cannot accurately compare contamination levels across studies or reliably assess how much microplastic people are actually consuming in their tap and bottled water.

2024 Water 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of microplastic particles in Danish drinking water

Researchers investigated microplastic presence in drinking water from 17 sites across Denmark, using stainless steel filters and advanced µFT-IR spectroscopy on 50-litre samples to identify and chemically characterise particles larger than 100 µm.

2018 Research Portal (King's College London) 35 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Water 20 citations
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

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

Fate and Transport of Microplastics from Water Sources

Researchers analysed microplastics in surface water, groundwater, and bottled drinking water near Chennai, India, detecting 66 particles of fibrous and fragmented shapes across all sample types. SEM-EDX analysis confirmed the presence of heavy metals including chromium, titanium, and barium adhered to microplastic surfaces, while FTIR identified polyethylene terephthalate and polyamide as the dominant polymer types.

2019 Current Science 72 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

Recent perspectives of microplastic analysis from sampling to characterization

Researchers reviewed the full workflow for detecting and identifying microplastics across different environments — water, sediment, wildlife, and wastewater — comparing sample preparation methods and analytical tools like infrared and Raman spectroscopy. They found that inconsistent methods across studies make it hard to compare results, and call for more standardized protocols to improve the reliability of microplastic monitoring.

2025 Sustainable Chemistry for the Environment 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Tracking microplastics at the source: a comparative study of fluorescent and FTIR microscopy at a drinking water intake in the Perak River, Malaysia

Researchers measured microplastic contamination at a drinking water intake point on the Perak River in Malaysia, finding 12 different polymer types with most particles smaller than 10 micrometers. The study compared two detection methods and found that specialized infrared microscopy was more accurate at identifying microplastic types than fluorescence microscopy. Since this river water goes directly to a treatment plant for drinking water, the findings highlight the need to understand and filter out microplastics before they reach the tap.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 6 citations