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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Comment on the paper “Microplastic contamination of an unconfined groundwater aquifer in Victoria, Australia”
ClearGood field practice and hydrogeological knowledge are essential to determine reliable concentrations of microplastics in groundwater
This commentary identifies methodological weaknesses in a published study on microplastic contamination from an informal landfill, arguing that inadequate descriptions of sampling wells, missing groundwater level and flow direction data, and incomplete sampling procedures make the reported microplastic concentrations in groundwater unreliable.
Microplastic contamination of an unconfined groundwater aquifer in Victoria, Australia
Researchers found microplastic contamination in an unconfined groundwater aquifer in Victoria, Australia, providing the first evidence that microplastics can penetrate capped alluvial sedimentary aquifers and contaminate subsurface water systems.
Comment on “Spatial distribution of microplastic concentration around landfill sites and its potential risk on groundwater”
This commentary critiques methodological weaknesses in a study of microplastic contamination around landfills, particularly the absence of field blanks and unclear sampling protocols. Rigorous quality assurance is essential for producing reliable microplastic contamination data, especially in environmental monitoring near waste sites.
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.
Methods for Studying Microplastic Pollution in Natural Waters: Current State and Recommendations
This methodological review addresses the lack of standardization in how scientists sample, process, and report microplastic contamination in natural waters, which makes it nearly impossible to compare results across studies. It details quality assurance and quality control steps — especially important given how easily tiny plastic particles contaminate samples from the lab environment itself — and provides concrete recommendations for sampling protocols and data reporting. Harmonizing these methods is a critical step toward building a reliable global database of microplastic pollution.
Comment on the paper ‘Soil microplastic pollution under different land uses in tropics, southwestern China’
This commentary examines methodological weaknesses in a published study on soil microplastic pollution in tropical China, identifying failures to report sampling equipment, use field blanks, correctly name soil layers, and apply mandatory normality tests before ANOVA analysis. The authors argue these combined errors undermine the reliability of the original findings and highlight the need for standardized protocols in the still-developing field of soil microplastics research.
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.
Errors and recommended practices that should be identified to reduce suspected concentrations of microplastics in soil and groundwater: A review
This review analyzed over 185 studies on microplastics in soil and groundwater, identifying widespread methodological errors in sample quantity, quality assurance, identification, and classification, and providing recommendations to improve the reliability of future research in these environments.
Limits, challenges, and opportunities of sampling groundwater wells with plastic casings for microplastic investigations
Researchers examined the challenges of sampling groundwater for microplastics when monitoring wells are constructed with PVC plastic casings. They found that PVC well casings can introduce contamination artifacts that complicate microplastic detection, since the casing material itself may shed particles into samples. The study highlights the need for careful reporting of well construction details and development of protocols that account for this potential source of sample contamination.
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.
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.
The importance of ensuring representative sample volumes in microplastic monitoring - A predictive methodology
Analysis of a global database of 1,603 marine and 208 freshwater microplastic observations found that sample volume strongly influences reported concentrations, and a predictive methodology was developed to ensure representative sampling and enable meaningful cross-study comparisons.
Assessment of microplastic content in natural waters and sediments: sampling and sample preparation
Researchers reviewed and evaluated sampling and analytical methods for measuring microplastic content in natural waters and sediments, assessing sources of error and variability in current approaches. The review recommended a standardized protocol to improve cross-study comparability.
Microplastics in freshwater sediment: A review on methods, occurrence, and sources
This review synthesizes methods, occurrence data, and sources of microplastics in freshwater sediments, comparing approaches and providing recommendations for standardized sampling and analysis to fill knowledge gaps relative to marine research.
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.
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.
Micro-Nano Plastic in the Aquatic Environment: Methodological Problems and Challenges
This critical review examines methodological inconsistencies in microplastic research, arguing that many studies conflate correlation with causation and that contamination controls and size detection limits are often inadequate. The authors call for more rigorous experimental design before concluding that microplastics are definitively harmful vectors for co-occurring contaminants.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A Critical Review of Extraction and Identification Methods of Microplastics in Wastewater and Drinking Water
This critical review of methods for detecting microplastics in wastewater and drinking water identifies major inconsistencies in sample collection, processing, and characterization across studies, making it difficult to compare reported concentrations. A five-criteria ranking system is proposed to evaluate the quality and completeness of microplastics studies.
Comment on “Comparison of Detection Methods of Microplastics in Landfill Mineralized Refuse and Selection of Degradation Degree Indexes”
This correspondence comments on a previous paper about detecting microplastics in landfill sediments, raising methodological concerns about how degradation degree is measured. Scientific discourse on detection methods is important for improving the reliability of microplastic research.
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 analysis using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy to characterize particles by size, shape, color, transparency, and polymer chemistry. The protocol addresses a significant gap in the literature, as microplastic contamination in groundwater remains far less studied than in surface water environments.