Background and Purpose:
Microplastics (MPs) pose growing risks to water quality and both environmental and public health due to their ability to transport hazardous chemicals. Identifying the sources of MP contamination in this field is essential for effective monitoring and risk management in aquatic systems. This study aimed to systematically review and integrate multivariate statistical approaches used for source identification and associated ecological and human health risk assessment.
Materials and Methods: Following preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) ۲۰۲۰ guidelines, we systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect for English-language studies published between ۲۰۱۵ and ۲۰۲۵. Eligible studies focused on MP source identification in aquatic environments and evaluated ecological or human health risks. We synthesized analytical approaches using principal component analysis, cluster analysis, multidimensional scaling, and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). This study integrates these multivariate techniques with quantitative risk indices across diverse global aquatic settings.
Results: This review indicates that industrial discharge, urban wastewater, agricultural runoff, and atmospheric deposition are consistently identified as dominant MP sources worldwide. Among risk indicators, bioaccumulation potential, ingestion-based indices, and polymer-specific toxicity metrics were the most sensitive measures of ecological and human exposure. Integrating statistical source identification with risk indices enabled clearer detection of regional patterns and improved interpretation of heterogeneous datasets.
Conclusion: This systematic synthesis provides a robust foundation for environmental and public health decision-making, demonstrating that integrated multivariate approaches enhance the accuracy of MP source identification and risk characterization. These findings offer practical insights for policymakers and support the development of targeted mitigation strategies for managing microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.