Abstract:  In recent years, more and more studies have been focused on the microplastic pollution status of inland water bodies. Lakes, due to their unique hydrodynamic characteristics, could be important sinks for microplastics in watersheds, and therefore lakes are the areas of focusing for microplastic pollution studies in inland water bodies. Currently, related studies have found microplastic pollution in high abundance in large and medium-sized lakes in North America, Asia, Europe, Africa and South America. Plastic wastes from human activities in the watershed are the main source of microplastic pollution in lakes and have an important impact on the distribution of microplastics in lakes. The abundance of microplastics is also higher in lakes and reservoir areas with intensive human activities. Microplastics in lakes can be transported horizontally within the lake by wind and lake currents, while the relatively hydrostatic and hydrodynamic conditions of the lake, the synergistic effects of biofilm and particulate matter, and the feeding of aquatic organisms also allow the vertical transport of microplastics from the water surface to the sediment surface in lakes. In the future, lake microplastic pollution needs to be further resolved in terms of sources of microplastic pollution with standardized investigation methods and to assess the toxic effects of lake microplastic pollution from an ecosystem perspective.