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

IF 12.4 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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地下水中微塑料的发生、来源和生态风险：农业活动和大气沉降的影响

尽管地下水微塑料污染是一个严重的问题，但人们对其潜在来源和环境风险知之甚少。本研究确定了中国某特大城市地下水中MPs的来源。结合污染负荷指数（PLI）、聚合物危害指数（PHI）和潜在生态风险指数（PERI），对MPs的环境风险进行了评估。上海市地下水MP丰度较高，在3±3 ~ 99±19颗粒/L之间。共检测到43种聚合物类型，其中聚丙烯（PP）和聚乙烯（PE）为主要聚合物类型。农业地区的地下水中多聚物污染水平最高，超过50%的多聚物被确定为PP。农业活动中使用的塑料编织袋是主要来源。露天井地下水中MPs与大气沉降样品的相似特征表明，大气沉降是露天井地下水中MPs的重要来源。垃圾填埋场和建筑活动也被认为是地下水中潜在的MP污染源。基于PLI、PHI和PERI分析，上海市地下水分别表现为高MP污染负荷、中等聚合物危害和高潜在生态风险水平。与PLI和PHI分析相比，PERI分析表明，农业地下水中MPs总体上具有较高的生态风险。本研究提高了对地下水中多聚物来源及其生态风险的认识，有助于在多聚物丰度高、风险水平高的地区更好地控制多聚物污染。

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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.