: It provides a comprehensive assessment of microplastic abundance and pollution risks in leachate from both controlled and uncontrolled landfills.

: Findings suggest that while waste management facilities are significant sources of contamination, specific treatment technologies can be optimized to minimize environmental discharge.

Lead-authored by and Sudha Goel , the study addresses a critical knowledge gap regarding how microplastics (MPs) are distributed across different landfill types and the effectiveness of treatment systems in removing them.

: The study highlights the current lack of standardized protocols for extracting microplastics from leachate, which can lead to reporting variations across different studies.