Global microplastic contamination in freshwater lakes: Spatial patterns, environmental drivers, and methodological challenges
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61989100%3A27710%2F25%3A10259379" target="_blank" >RIV/61989100:27710/25:10259379 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935125028385" target="_blank" >https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935125028385</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.123585" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.envres.2025.123585</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Global microplastic contamination in freshwater lakes: Spatial patterns, environmental drivers, and methodological challenges
Original language description
Microplastic (MP) pollution in freshwater lakes is an emerging global concern, yet comprehensive assessments remain limited. This review systematically analyzes 84 studies comprising 1268 individual sampling points across over 300 lakes worldwide, selecting only data based on FTIR and Raman spectroscopy to ensure identification reliability. MP concentrations in surface waters ranged from below 0.001 to over 200 MP/L, with the highest levels observed in shallow, lowland, and eutrophic systems. Fibers and fragments dominated MP shapes in both water and sediments, and polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate were the most commonly detected polymers, mirroring global plastic production trends. Environmental parameters such as trophic state, shoreline urbanization index and lake morphology were identified as key drivers of MP abundance and characteristics. A clear horizontal gradient was observed, with MP concentrations decreasing from shorelines toward lake centers. However, methodological inconsistencies remain a major obstacle to accurate assessments, including the dominance of surface-only sampling (96.5 % of lakes), limited spatial replication (over 70 % single-point sampling), and the frequent omission of MPs <300 μm. These shortcomings highlight the urgent need for standardized, multi-depth, and year-round sampling strategies, as well as harmonized size fractionation and validation protocols, to ensure robust and comparable future assessments of MP pollution in freshwater ecosystems. © 2025 The Authors
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
20800 - Environmental biotechnology
Result continuities
Project
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Continuities
R - Projekt Ramcoveho programu EK
Others
Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Environmental Research
ISSN
0013-9351
e-ISSN
1096-0953
Volume of the periodical
2026
Issue of the periodical within the volume
291
Country of publishing house
US - UNITED STATES
Number of pages
19
Pages from-to
123585
UT code for WoS article
001654571100001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-105025396676