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Riverine microplastics in the Mount Everest region affected by glacier meltwater

Journal of Hazardous Materials 2025 6 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 53 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Meiling Chen, Shichang Kang, Yulan Zhang, Shichang Kang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Zhaoqing Wang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Tanguang Gao Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Tanguang Gao Tanguang Gao Tanguang Gao Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Tanguang Gao Tanguang Gao Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Tanguang Gao Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Tanguang Gao Yulan Zhang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Shichang Kang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Yulan Zhang, Tanguang Gao Tanguang Gao Tanguang Gao Zhaoqing Wang, Shichang Kang, Tanguang Gao Tanguang Gao Yulan Zhang, Tanguang Gao Shichang Kang, Tanguang Gao Shichang Kang, Zhaoqing Wang, Zhaoqing Wang, Tanguang Gao Zhaoqing Wang, Tanguang Gao Tanguang Gao Tanguang Gao Yulan Zhang, Tanguang Gao Tanguang Gao Tanguang Gao

Summary

Researchers studied microplastic distribution in streams and sediments around Mount Everest, finding that pollution levels were two to four times higher during the non-monsoon season compared to the monsoon season. Particles were mostly fragments made of nylon and PET in the 10 to 30 micrometer size range. Streams fed by non-glacial sources had higher microplastic concentrations than glacier-fed streams, suggesting human activity and surface runoff are key drivers even in remote high-altitude areas.

Polymers

PET

Understanding the distribution and drivers of microplastics (MPs) in remote and sensitive environments is essential for assessing their ecological impacts and devising mitigation strategies. This study investigates the distribution and characteristics of MPs in streams and sediments of the Mt. Everest region. Results show that microplastic (MP) abundance during the non-monsoon season was 2-4 times higher than in the monsoon season. MPs were predominantly fragments, composed of specific polymer types (PA, PET), and fell within the 10-30 µm size range. An ecological risk assessment was conducted to better evaluate MP pollution in the Mt. Everest region. The study found that recharge sources of streams influenced MP distribution, with streams receiving non-glacial recharge exhibiting higher MP concentrations during the monsoon season, likely due to the dilution effect of glacier meltwater. Principal component analysis highlighted correlations between MP abundance and environmental factors such as wind speed, dissolved oxygen, stream order, and elevation. These findings advance our understanding of MP pollution dynamics in high-altitude streams, establish a foundation for evaluating their ecological impacts, and offer valuable insights for developing mitigation strategies. This study provides a critical reference for further exploring MP contamination in high-elevation ecosystems and addressing its challenges.

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