Realizing the global presence of microplastics in urban lakes

• Published in: Limnology Vol. 26; no. 3; pp. 533 - 547
• Main Authors: Fedorov, Yuri A., Mikhailenko, Anna V., Ruban, Dmitry A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Nature Singapore 01.08.2025; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Bottom sediments; Cities; Ecology; Environment; Fish; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Lakes; Life Sciences; Megacities; Microplastic pollution; Microplastics; Plastic debris; Plastic pollution; Pollution sources; Review Article; Sediment; Sustainable development; Lacustrine ecosystems; Environmental impacts; Cities; Bibliography; Plastic pollution
• ISSN: 1439-8621; 1439-863X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10201-025-00790-z

Lakes contribute to sustainable development of cities, but they also experience anthropogenic stress. Microplastic pollution of urban lakes has been studied actively in the past decade, and this knowledge needs systematization. A major bibliographical database “Scopus” was used to find the relevant literature. The location of lakes, sampled objects (water, bottom sediment, ice and snow, fish) and concentrations (also abundances) of microplastics, and supposed sources of pollution were established in the considered works. The urban lakes, where microplastics were studied, concentrate in Asia (Middle East, South and East Asia). Particularly, the published knowledge from such mega-cities as Chennai (India) and Wuhan (China) is abundant. Microplastics were studied chiefly in water and bottom sediment of lakes. Although their concentrations vary significantly, a wide presence of microplastics in urban lakes is evident. A challenge of this review was a selection of the sources where true urban lakes are mentioned. Open-access international databases summarizing raw data on microplastics in lakes from as much cities and countries as possible will be demanded in the future.