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New developments in Anthropocene Science in China
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This review covers advances in Anthropocene science in China, examining how artificial radionuclides, microplastics, stable isotopes, black carbon, and biological proxies recorded in geological and environmental archives document human impacts since the mid-20th century. Chinese research has identified the Great Acceleration as a clear signal in multiple proxy records across the country.
Currently, research on the Anthropocene is advancing rapidly in China. Chinese scholars have investigated various indicators of human activity, such as artificial radionuclides (239,240Pu and 129I), microplastics, δ13C, δ15N, black carbon, soot, diatoms, and DNA, as recorded in different geological and biological archives. The variations in these indicators reveal environmental changes in China since the Great Acceleration, providing evidence for global comparative studies of the Anthropocene. The sediment profile of the Sihailongwan Maar Lake, located far from urban areas and human activity, is highly sensitive to global signals, making it an ideal site for Anthropocene research. The Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with other institutions, has conducted integrated analyses of multiple indicators in sediment cores collected from Sihailongwan. The concentration of 239,240Pu increased rapidly in 1953, and systematic changes were observed in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, 129I, soot 14C, carbon spherules, DNA, δ13C, heavy metals, and other indicators, all supporting the Anthropocene Working Group (AWG)’s proposal that the mid-20th century marks the onset of the Anthropocene. China has rich and diverse geological and biological records, a large population, and substantial human impact on the environment. Anthropocene research in China holds great potential, offering important insights into the effects of human activities on climate, the environment, and the Earth system. Furthermore, it provides scientific support for policymakers in formulating strategies to protect ecological environment.
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Beppu Bay, Japan, as a candidate Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point for the Anthropocene series
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Researchers evaluated Beppu Bay sediments as a candidate Global boundary Stratotype Section for the Anthropocene, finding unprecedented increases in 99 anthropogenic proxies above a 1953 flood layer, including microplastics, radionuclides, and industrial pollutants.
Candidate sites and other reference sections for the Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point of the Anthropocene series
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This paper reviews 12 proposed sites around the world that could serve as the official geological marker for the start of the Anthropocene, the proposed new epoch defined by human impact on the planet. Among the key markers of human influence found at these sites are microplastics, which appear in sediment layers starting around the mid-20th century. The widespread presence of microplastics in geological records underscores just how profoundly plastic pollution has altered the planet.
The rapid increases in microplastics in urban lake sediments
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Researchers used sediment cores from an urban lake in Wuhan, China, combined with high-resolution dating techniques, to track microplastic accumulation over the past 60 years. They found that microplastic abundance increased more than tenfold, from 741 to 7,707 items per kilogram, with fibers from textiles being the dominant type. The study suggests that microplastics could serve as geological markers of the Anthropocene era, similar to fossils in the sediment record.
Tracing the Anthropocene through microplastic sedimentary records: Drivers and spatiotemporal heterogeneity in Baiyangdian Lake, North China
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Scientists found that tiny plastic pieces in lake sediment can track how human activities have changed over the past 80 years, with plastic pollution spiking after dam construction in 1963 and again around 2000 due to increased development. The study shows that microplastics are now everywhere in our environment, even in protected nature areas, though at lower levels than in more developed zones. This matters because these tiny plastics can enter our food and water supply, and understanding where they accumulate most helps us better protect both ecosystems and human health.
Anthropocene microplastic stratigraphy of Xiamen Bay, China: A history of plastic production and waste management
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Researchers used a sediment core from Xiamen Bay, China to reconstruct the history of microplastic accumulation since 1952, finding that plastic pollution reflects historical events including the Cultural Revolution and rapid economic growth, with microplastic concentrations reaching 189,200 items/kg at their peak.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.