Microplastics in Our Waters: Insights from a Configurative Systematic Review of Water Bodies and Drinking Water Sources

Bhowmik, A; Saha, G

Microplastics in Our Waters: Insights from a Configurative Systematic Review of Water Bodies and Drinking Water Sources

Bhowmik, A Saha, G

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Publisher:: MDPI
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Microplastics, 2025, 4, (2)
Issue Date:: 2025-06-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Bhowmik, A
dc.contributor.author	Saha, G https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6467-298X
dc.date.accessioned	2025-10-02T00:45:40Z
dc.date.available	2025-10-02T00:45:40Z
dc.date.issued	2025-06-01
dc.identifier.citation	Microplastics, 2025, 4, (2)
dc.identifier.issn	2673-8929
dc.identifier.issn	2673-8929
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/190279
dc.description.abstract	Microplastics (MPs), defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, are an emerging global environmental and health concern due to their pervasive presence in aquatic ecosystems. This systematic review synthesizes data on the distribution, shapes, materials, and sizes of MPs in various water sources, including lakes, rivers, seas, tap water, and bottled water, between 2014 and 2024. Results reveal that river water constitutes the largest share of studies on MP pollution (30%), followed by lake water (24%), sea water (19%), bottled water (17%), and tap water (11%), reflecting their critical roles in MP transport and accumulation. Seasonal analysis indicates that MP concentrations peak in the wet season (38%), followed by the dry (32%) and transitional (30%) seasons. Spatially, China leads MP research globally (19%), followed by the USA (7.8%) and India (5.9%). MPs are predominantly composed of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), with fibers and fragments being the most common shapes. Sub-millimeter MPs (<1 mm) dominate globally, with significant variations driven by anthropogenic activities, industrial discharge, and environmental factors such as rainfall and temperature. The study highlights critical gaps in understanding the long-term ecological and health impacts of MPs, emphasizing the need for standardized methodologies, improved waste management, and innovative mitigation strategies. This review underscores the urgency of addressing microplastic pollution through global collaboration and stricter regulatory measures.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	MDPI
dc.relation.ispartof	Microplastics
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.3390/microplastics4020024
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title	Microplastics in Our Waters: Insights from a Configurative Systematic Review of Water Bodies and Drinking Water Sources
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	4
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2025-10-02T00:45:38Z
pubs.issue	2
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	4
utslib.citation.issue	2

Abstract:

Microplastics (MPs), defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, are an emerging global environmental and health concern due to their pervasive presence in aquatic ecosystems. This systematic review synthesizes data on the distribution, shapes, materials, and sizes of MPs in various water sources, including lakes, rivers, seas, tap water, and bottled water, between 2014 and 2024. Results reveal that river water constitutes the largest share of studies on MP pollution (30%), followed by lake water (24%), sea water (19%), bottled water (17%), and tap water (11%), reflecting their critical roles in MP transport and accumulation. Seasonal analysis indicates that MP concentrations peak in the wet season (38%), followed by the dry (32%) and transitional (30%) seasons. Spatially, China leads MP research globally (19%), followed by the USA (7.8%) and India (5.9%). MPs are predominantly composed of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), with fibers and fragments being the most common shapes. Sub-millimeter MPs (<1 mm) dominate globally, with significant variations driven by anthropogenic activities, industrial discharge, and environmental factors such as rainfall and temperature. The study highlights critical gaps in understanding the long-term ecological and health impacts of MPs, emphasizing the need for standardized methodologies, improved waste management, and innovative mitigation strategies. This review underscores the urgency of addressing microplastic pollution through global collaboration and stricter regulatory measures.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/190279