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Occurrence, distribution, and ecological risk of microplastics in Chinese surface waters: a systematic review and multi-model assessment
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This review of 40 studies found tiny plastic particles (mostly fibers from textiles and packaging materials) scattered throughout China's rivers and lakes, with pollution hotspots in specific industrial and coastal areas. While most locations showed low overall risk to health, a small percentage of sites had extremely high ecological risk due to toxic PVC plastic, and the calculated cancer risk from drinking this water was very low but not zero. The takeaway: microplastic pollution is uneven and mostly manageable right now, but certain hotspots need closer monitoring to prevent future health and environmental problems.
Microplastics are widely detected in Chinese surface waters, posing potential threats to ecosystems and human health. We conducted a systematic review of literature published from January 2014 to March 2026 based on predefined search and eligibility criteria, and integrated data from 40 eligible studies.Using the Pollution Load Index (PLI), the Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI), the Species Sensitivity Distribution (SSD), and health risk models (Target Hazard Quotient, THQ; Cancer Risk, CR), we analyzed the spatial distribution, morphology, and multi-dimensional risks of microplastics. Results showed pronounced spatial heterogeneity, with hotspots in northwestern inland rivers, northern industrialized basins, and the southeastern coast. Fibers dominated (47.6-59.5%), particles < 1 mm accounted for 62.8%, and polyethylene (PE, 25.5%) and polypropylene (PP, 23.4%) were predominant. PLI indicated 62.5% of basins had low pollution and 5% heavy pollution; PERI showed low ecological risk in 67.6% of basins, but 5.9% exhibited extremely high risk due to PVC toxicity. The SSD-derived PNEC was 129.1 n L. Human health risk assessment estimated THQ = 0.019 and CR = 1.32×10 under the assumed exposure scenarios. Overall, microplastic contamination and associated risks varied among regions, with hotspots requiring further monitoring. These findings provide useful information for ecological risk assessment and future management strategies.
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[Ecological Risk Assessment of Microplastics Occurring in Surface Water of Terrestrial Water Systems across China].
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This Chinese-language study performed an ecological risk assessment of microplastics in surface waters across terrestrial water systems in China, synthesizing data from published literature. Using a risk characterization ratio approach adapted from chemical hazard assessment, the authors found that microplastic concentrations in many Chinese rivers exceeded risk thresholds. The study provides a systematic framework for prioritizing freshwater microplastic monitoring and management across China.
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A comprehensive analysis of data from China's ten major river basins (2014–2023) found microplastic contamination in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries across the country, with microplastic abundance strongly correlating with population density and economic output. Polypropylene and polyethylene were the dominant polymers, and the Haihe River Basin near Beijing was classified as high ecological risk. The study also highlighted a major data gap: far less is known about microplastics in China's less-populated northwestern regions. These findings provide a national-scale picture of where microplastic pollution is most severe and what types of plastics are driving the ecological risk.
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This review summarized microplastic contamination across marine environments, freshwater systems, and wastewater treatment plants in China, one of the world's top plastic-producing countries. The study highlights that research on how microplastics transfer between connected water environments remains lacking, and the microscale toxicity of microplastics is still poorly understood.
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