Abstract
Groundwater in karst aquifers constitutes about 25% of drinking water sources globally. Karst aquifers are open systems, susceptible to contamination by surface-borne pollutants. In this study, springs and wells from two karst aquifers in Illinois, USA, were found to contain microplastics and other anthropogenic contaminants. All microplastics were fibers, with a maximum concentration of 15.2 particles/L. The presence of microplastic was consistent with other parameters, including phosphate, chloride and triclosan, suggesting septic effluent as a source. More studies are needed on microplastic sources, abundance, and impacts on karst ecosystems.
| Original language | American English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Ground Water |
| Volume | 57 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 1 2019 |
Disciplines
- Geology
- Biology