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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Plastic pollution in Swiss surface waters: nature and concentrations, interaction with pollutants
ClearMicroplastics in Swiss surface waters and going upstream: nature, concentrations, interaction with pollutants
Researchers sampled six major Swiss lakes and several rivers for microplastics using manta net trawls and beach sediment analysis, finding plastics present across all sites and also in fish and water birds. The study characterized plastic types including fragments, pellets, cosmetic beads, fibers, and films, and found associated chemical contaminants, suggesting Swiss freshwaters contribute to downstream marine plastic pollution.
Microplastics in Swiss surface waters and upstream
This research found that microplastic pollution is present throughout Switzerland in rivers, lakes, and other freshwater matrices, adding to evidence that freshwater systems are significant pathways carrying plastics toward the ocean. Aquatic organisms in Swiss waters are exposed to microplastics and their associated chemical contaminants.
Pollution due to plastics and microplastics in Lake Geneva and in the Mediterranean Sea
Researchers synthesized available data on plastic and microplastic pollution in Lake Geneva and the Mediterranean Sea, finding that both systems are significantly contaminated and that lake environments have received far less scientific attention than marine systems. The study calls for standardized sampling protocols to enable meaningful comparisons between freshwater and marine microplastic contamination levels.
First evidence of microplastics in a freshwater river and their relationship to water quality
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in a freshwater river used for recreational purposes and found a significant relationship between microplastic abundance and water physicochemical quality parameters, along with the presence of three organic compounds, providing evidence that microplastic pollution and water quality are closely linked.
Microplastics in lakes and rivers: an issue of emerging significance to limnology
Researchers found that microplastic concentrations in freshwater lakes and rivers can exceed those of living organisms like zooplankton, with sediment levels matching the most contaminated marine sites, establishing microplastics as a significant issue for limnology.
Microplastics Are Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Freshwater Environments: An Overview
This overview examines the emerging problem of microplastic contamination in freshwater environments, covering sources, occurrence, and potential effects on aquatic ecosystems. The authors discuss how microplastics enter lakes and rivers through wastewater treatment plants, runoff, and degradation of larger plastic debris. The review highlights that freshwater microplastic pollution deserves the same research attention as marine contamination, given that rivers serve as major transport pathways for plastics reaching the ocean.
Plastic and Microplastic in the Environment
This review summarizes the sources, pathways, analytical methods, and distribution of microplastics in freshwater environments, emphasizing that rivers and lakes are major conduits transferring plastic pollution from terrestrial sources to the oceans.
Microplastics as contaminants in freshwater environments: A multidisciplinary review
This multidisciplinary review covers microplastic sources, abundance, composition, transport, and biological effects in freshwater systems globally, arguing that freshwater environments are both major conduits and sinks for microplastic pollution.
Sources, Occurrence, and Analysis of Microplastics in Freshwater Environments
This review summarizes current knowledge on microplastic sources and occurrence in freshwater environments, noting that freshwater systems are major conduits delivering microplastics to the ocean. The review highlights that freshwater microplastic research lags far behind marine studies despite rivers and lakes being primary pollution pathways.
Prevalence, Fate and Effects of Plastic in Freshwater Environments
This review summarizes the prevalence, environmental fate, and biological effects of plastics in freshwater ecosystems, an area that has received less attention than marine plastic pollution. Freshwater bodies are major pathways for microplastics to reach marine environments and are themselves affected by plastic contamination.
Microplastic contamination, an emerging threat to the freshwater environment: a systematic review
Researchers systematically reviewed the spread of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems — rivers, lakes, and streams — documenting their sources, how they move through water, the damage they cause to aquatic organisms, and the methods used to detect them. Their review serves as a baseline reference for future research and calls for improved waste management to protect freshwater environments from ongoing microplastic contamination.
Microplastic and Fibre Contamination in a Remote Mountain Lake in Switzerland
Researchers investigated microplastic and fiber contamination in a remote, uninhabited alpine lake in Switzerland (Sassolo), finding that even this isolated high-altitude environment contained microplastics, indicating long-range atmospheric transport.
Predicting microplastic masses in river networks with high spatial resolution at country level
Scientists built a computer model to predict microplastic levels in every section of Switzerland's rivers and lakes for seven different plastic types. They found that the amount of microplastics in any given spot depends heavily on local features like nearby lakes, land use, and river connections, not just population density. This kind of detailed mapping helps identify pollution hotspots and assess where human exposure through drinking water might be highest.
Microplastic Pollution in Surface Waters and Sediments of Urban Lake
This book chapter reviews microplastic pollution in urban lake surface waters and sediments, describing sources, distribution patterns, and the ecological consequences of MP accumulation in these widely used but understudied freshwater habitats.
Beyond the ocean: contamination of freshwater ecosystems with (micro-)plastic particles
This review examined the available data on microplastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems — rivers, lakes, and urban water systems — and found it to be widespread globally, though often underreported compared to marine environments. The authors highlight the need for reliable concentration data and chemical characterization of freshwater plastics to properly assess ecological risk.
The emerging issue of microplastics: ongoing investigation in water and sediments of subalpine lakes
This Italian study identified microplastics in subalpine lakes and characterized their polymer types and abundance, adding to evidence that microplastics have reached even remote freshwater ecosystems far from industrial centers. The findings underscore the ubiquity of plastic contamination across diverse freshwater environments.
Microplastics in river water: occurrence, weathering, and adsorption behaviour
Researchers examined microplastics in river water, characterizing their occurrence, degree of weathering, and capacity to adsorb co-contaminants. The study highlights microplastics as vectors that can transport and re-release other pollutants in freshwater systems.
Microplastic Contamination, an Emerging Threat to the Freshwater Environment and Human Health: A Systematic Review
This systematic review summarizes existing research on microplastic contamination in freshwater environments and its implications for human health. The evidence shows that microplastics are widespread in rivers, lakes, and drinking water sources, and they can absorb toxic chemicals, making freshwater plastic pollution a direct concern for the safety of our water supply.
Plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems: macro-, meso-, and microplastic debris in a floodplain lake
Researchers surveyed macro-, meso-, and microplastic debris in a South American floodplain lake and found an average of 704 microplastic particles per square meter in sediments, with plastic contamination comparable to marine beaches — demonstrating that freshwater lakes can be major plastic pollution reservoirs.
Microplastics Pollution: A Brief Review of Its Source and Abundance in Different Aquatic Ecosystems
This review summarizes what is known about microplastic sources and abundance across different aquatic ecosystems including rivers, lakes, and oceans. Researchers found that microplastics are pervasive across all water environments, with concentrations influenced by nearby human activities and pollution sources. The study identifies key pathways through which microplastics enter aquatic habitats and calls for standardized monitoring methods to better track contamination levels.
Microplastics as vectors of chemical contaminants and biological agents in freshwater ecosystems: Current knowledge status and future perspectives
This review examines how microplastics in freshwater ecosystems act as carriers for chemical pollutants and harmful microorganisms. Researchers found that pollutant concentrations on microplastic surfaces can be up to six times higher than in surrounding water, amplifying exposure risks for aquatic life and potentially humans. The findings highlight that microplastics are not just a pollution problem themselves but also a vehicle that spreads other contaminants through the food web.
Revealing the role of land-use features on macrolitter distribution in Swiss freshwaters.
Analysis of macrolitter on Swiss riverbanks and lake shores showed that land-use patterns — particularly urban areas and agricultural land — were key predictors of litter abundance. The findings highlight the importance of land management and waste infrastructure in preventing plastic and other litter from entering freshwater systems and ultimately reaching the ocean.
First study on microplastic contamination in French lacustrine environments, in the alpine and subalpine zones
This French-language study reports the first assessment of microplastic contamination in Alpine and sub-Alpine lakes in France. The findings show that even remote mountain lakes have detectable microplastic pollution, suggesting that atmospheric deposition carries plastics to areas far from urban sources.
Microplastic Pollution in Fresh Water
This review summarizes current knowledge on microplastic pollution in freshwater systems, covering sources such as atmospheric deposition, stormwater runoff, and wastewater, as well as the diverse shapes, sizes, and polymer types found in rivers and lakes. The authors highlight that freshwater microplastic contamination is comparable in scale to marine contamination and that the pathways to human health via drinking water and food supply demand urgent policy attention.