Abstract
The processes of microplastic fiber pollution in groundwater are unknown. The recent research on this contaminant threat is generally focused on surface waters (mainly oceans and rivers), while aquifer contamination is only marginally mentioned as an issue needing further investigation. Synthetic microfibers can be introduced into soils in different ways (e.g. wastewater treatment plants or greywater discharge, septic tank outflows, direct injection of contaminated water in cases of managed aquifer recharge, losing streams, etc.), and can thus reach aquifer systems due to leaching or infiltration in soil pores. Microfibers can then adsorb persistent bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals, which include persistent organic pollutants and metals, and become a carrier of harmful substances in the aquifer system, hence contributing to the overall contamination in both urban and rural areas. For this reason, it is of paramount importance, not only to assess the occurrence and fate of microplastic fibers in groundwater, but also to study the role of microplastics as carriers of contaminants within the aquifer and to advance standardization and organization of monitoring campaigns. Only by addressing these key challenges can hydrogeologists contribute to the state of the art on microplastic pollution and ensure that groundwater is not neglected in the environmental assessments tackling this contaminant of emerging concern.
Highlights
It is the age of plastics and the debate over microplastics pollution has never been more relevant, a full understanding of its impacts on the natural environment is still far from being reached
Hydrogeol J (2019) 27:2719–2727 microplastics, as those typically generated by degradation and fragmentation of larger pieces of plastics, the ones referred to when talking about marine litter (Avio et al 2016)
Their abundance in the marine environment, and associated increasing interest from both the scientific community and civil society, has meant that microplastics are gradually passing from being considered a contaminant of emerging concern to being recognized as an emerged threat (Avio et al 2016)
Summary
It is the age of plastics and the debate over microplastics pollution has never been more relevant, a full understanding of its impacts on the natural environment is still far from being reached. As the study of microplastics is a relatively new area of investigation, several challenging open questions still need to be addressed (Eerkes-Medrano et al 2015; Geissen et al 2015; Avio et al 2016; Henry et al 2019), including: (1) assessing microplastics occurrence and distribution in the natural environment, and, in groundwater (as most of the studies focus on seawater, and only recently on surface waters); (2) understanding their transport pathways and factors that affect their distribution; (3) defining the methods for their accurate detection and quantification, including specifics on measurements and the standardization of analytical procedures; and (4) evaluating the extent and relevance of their impacts on both aquatic life and human health.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
