Occurrence, sources, and ecological risk of microplastics in groundwater: Impacts by agricultural activities and atmospheric deposition

IF 11.4 1区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL

Water Research Pub Date : 2025-04-01 DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2025.123585

Lei Zhang , Wentao Zhao , Ruiqi Yan , Shuguang Lyu , Qian Sui

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Abstract

Although microplastic (MP) pollution in groundwater is a serious issue, its potential sources and environmental risks are poorly understood. This study identified the sources of MPs in groundwater from a megacity in China. It estimated the environmental risks of MPs using a combination of the pollution load index (PLI), the polymer hazard index (PHI), and the potential ecological risk index (PERI). The groundwater in Shanghai showed high MP abundances, ranging from 3 ± 3 particles/L to 99 ± 19 particles/L. A total of 43 polymer types were detected, of which polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) were the main polymer types. Groundwater in agricultural areas has the highest level of MP pollution, with >50 % of MPs being identified as PP. Plastic woven bags used in agricultural activities were the primary sources. Similar characteristics of MPs in groundwater from open wells and atmospheric deposition samples suggested that atmospheric deposition was a significant source of MPs in groundwater from open wells. Landfills and construction activities were also recognized as potential MP pollution sources in groundwater. Based on PLI, PHI and PERI analysis, the groundwater in Shanghai exhibited a high MP pollution load, a middle polymer hazard, and a high potential ecological risk level, respectively. The PERI analysis, a comprehensive assessment compared to the PLI and PHI analyses, indicated an overall high ecological risk of MPs in agricultural groundwater. This study advances the knowledge of MP sources and their ecological risks in groundwater, allowing for better MP pollution control in areas with high MP abundance and high risk levels.

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来源期刊

Water Research 环境科学-工程：环境

CiteScore

20.80

自引率

9.40%

发文量

1307

审稿时长

38 days

期刊介绍： Water Research, along with its open access companion journal Water Research X, serves as a platform for publishing original research papers covering various aspects of the science and technology related to the anthropogenic water cycle, water quality, and its management worldwide. The audience targeted by the journal comprises biologists, chemical engineers, chemists, civil engineers, environmental engineers, limnologists, and microbiologists. The scope of the journal include: •Treatment processes for water and wastewaters (municipal, agricultural, industrial, and on-site treatment), including resource recovery and residuals management; •Urban hydrology including sewer systems, stormwater management, and green infrastructure; •Drinking water treatment and distribution; •Potable and non-potable water reuse; •Sanitation, public health, and risk assessment; •Anaerobic digestion, solid and hazardous waste management, including source characterization and the effects and control of leachates and gaseous emissions; •Contaminants (chemical, microbial, anthropogenic particles such as nanoparticles or microplastics) and related water quality sensing, monitoring, fate, and assessment; •Anthropogenic impacts on inland, tidal, coastal and urban waters, focusing on surface and ground waters, and point and non-point sources of pollution; •Environmental restoration, linked to surface water, groundwater and groundwater remediation; •Analysis of the interfaces between sediments and water, and between water and atmosphere, focusing specifically on anthropogenic impacts; •Mathematical modelling, systems analysis, machine learning, and beneficial use of big data related to the anthropogenic water cycle; •Socio-economic, policy, and regulations studies.