A graphic review of studies on microplastic in water
A graphic review of studies on microplastic in water

Summary/Abstract: There are thousands of scientific studies that deal directly or indirectly with the microplastic in water, from tap water to seawater. The aim of this study is to find the main research interests in the specific scientific literature, based on its most frequent words and by using graphical representations to better understand their linkage. Of interest for most studies are some details or processes around which similar groups of articles are written: the identification of the microplastic type (based on various criteria such as shapes, size, color or chemical composition (e.g.: polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyester), the microplastic removal mechanisms (under natural conditions, through deposition, or at wastewater treatment plants), the degree of microplastic contamination in the aquatic environment (e.g.: in oceans or in rivers), the effects of microplastic pollution on various organisms, especially marine life and humans, after microplastic ingestion or food chain alteration. There are already hundreds of reviews that analyze articles dealing directly or indirectly with the problem of microplastics in water; these reviews are interested mostly in defining microplastic categories, abundance, sources and impact. Also, the reviews highlight the need to standardize the sampling and pretreatment methods used when measuring the concentration of microplastics in order to obtain comparable results.

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