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Microplastic occurrence, source tracking and integrated risk assessment in a linked lake-river system of the Yangtze River Delta.
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Researchers found tiny plastic fibers—mostly from textiles and construction waste—contaminating not just lake and river water but also soil and groundwater in a Chinese watershed, meaning the well water some communities rely on isn't immune to plastic pollution. While overall risk levels were low-to-moderate, the findings suggest that microplastics can travel further into the water sources we depend on for drinking than previously well-documented, reinforcing the need to track pollution at its source—like local industry and farming practices—before it spreads.
Microplastics (< 5 mm) pose a growing threat to freshwater ecosystems, yet systematic assessments in inland lake-river networks remain scarce. This study addresses this gap by investigating microplastic contamination across four environmental compartments (surface water, lakeshore soil, borehole groundwater, and well water) in China's Wujiang District and its Yuandang Lake-a system with limited self-purification capacity. The relationship between Wujiang District and Yuandang Lake exemplifies the 'jurisdiction-watershed' dynamic and epitomizes the 'development-conservation' interplay. Key findings reveal: (1) Surface water exhibited the highest microplastic concentration (3.70 ± 0.58 items/L), followed by topsoil (average 214 n/kg). Groundwater showed lower but pervasive contamination. (2) Fibers (50-100 μm, transparent) dominated (> 60%), with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as the predominant polymer. (3) Textile industries were the primary source of groundwater microplastics, while topsoil contamination correlated with construction waste and agricultural practices. (4) Although the Pollution Load Index (PLI) indicated low risk, the Polymer Hazard Index (PHI) and Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI) revealed moderate-to-mild risks, highlighting the need for compartment-specific management. Notably, topsoil microplastic levels (up to 1233 n/kg) exceeded those in less disturbed basins and aligned with industrialized systems like Taihu Lake. The multi-compartment assessment underscores the importance of localized industrial and land-use practices, providing a framework for targeted pollution control and ecological risk management. The results offer key data to support collaborative governance in the Yangtze River Delta, especially across the Wujiang-Qingpu boundary, advancing regional sustainability.
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Occurrence, characteristics, and multiple ecological risks of microplastics in surface water-sediment system of the Yangtze River basin, China
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Scientists studying China's Yangtze River—a major water source for millions of people—found tiny plastic particles (mostly from packaging and textiles) throughout both the water and the sediment at the bottom of rivers and lakes. While the overall risk level appears low right now, certain hotspot areas showed heavy contamination, and some of the plastic types found are considered more hazardous, suggesting that ongoing monitoring and pollution control are still important for protecting water quality that eventually affects the food and water people consume.
Distribution, sources and multi-dimensional environmental risk assessment of microplastics in soils and groundwater along the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow river
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Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in both soil and groundwater along the middle and lower reaches of China's Yellow River. They found soil concentrations ranging from 426 to over 3,000 particles per kilogram, with fibers being the dominant shape in both soil and groundwater. A novel risk assessment approach revealed that while soil contamination was mostly moderate, nearly a quarter of groundwater samples reached high-risk levels.
The pollution of microplastics in sediments of the Yangtze River Basin: Occurrence, distribution characteristics, and basin-scale multilevel ecological risk assessment
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This study mapped microplastic pollution throughout the Yangtze River Basin in China and found an average of 611 particles per kilogram of sediment, with wide variation across locations. Smaller microplastics under 1 millimeter and fibrous shapes were most common, and contamination was closely linked to population density and human activities. The findings are concerning because the Yangtze River system provides drinking water and food resources to hundreds of millions of people.
Occurrence, distribution and affecting factors of microplastics in agricultural soils along the lower reaches of Yangtze River, China
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Researchers conducted a large-scale field survey of microplastics in agricultural soils along the lower Yangtze River, finding widespread contamination that correlated with proximity to plastic-mulching farmland and irrigation with treated wastewater.
Microplastics in Surface Water in the Yangtze River, China: Basin-Wide Observation, Multiple Ecological Risk Assessment and Sustainability
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Researchers conducted a three-year survey of microplastic pollution across the entire Yangtze River Basin in China and found an average of nearly 8,800 microplastic particles per cubic meter of surface water. Tiny particles smaller than 0.3 millimeters made up over 92% of what was found and drove the variation in pollution levels between locations. The study highlights that previous research may have significantly underestimated microplastic contamination by not capturing these smallest particles.
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