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Significant microplastic accumulation and burial in the intertidal sedimentary environments of the Yellow River Delta
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Researchers investigated microplastic distribution in the intertidal sediments of the Yellow River Delta across different elevation and depth gradients. They found that the intertidal zone had the highest microplastic abundance compared to subtidal and supratidal areas, with peak concentrations buried at specific sediment depths. The study reveals that estuarine intertidal environments serve as significant accumulation and burial zones for microplastic pollution.
Estuarine intertidal habitats provide a dynamic and distinctive environment for the transport of microplastics, yet their migration and accumulation in these areas remain poorly understood. Herein, the spatial distribution patterns of microplastics in the estuarine sedimentary environment of the Yellow River Delta were investigated across elevation and depth gradients. Compared to the subtidal and supratidal zones, the estuarine intertidal zone exhibited the highest microplastic abundance in sediment (1027 ± 29 items/kg). Sediment cores revealed that the highest microplastic abundance occurred at a depth of 5-10 cm. The evolution of microplastic size and morphology characteristics with sediment depth indicates vertical transport of microplastics in estuarine sediments. The strong correlations between organic matter, silt content, and microplastics abundance in estuarine sediments suggested significant impacts of tidal hydrodynamics and sediment characteristics on microplastic migration processes. Estimates indicated that microplastic burial in the deeper sediments (638.7 tons in the 5-30 cm layer) was 1.96 times greater than that in the upper layers. Distinct variations in the carbonyl index across habitats suggested that tidal-induced dynamic redox conditions in the intertidal zone promoted both biotic and abiotic aging processes of microplastics. This study provides new insights into the environmental behavior and long-term fate of microplastics in estuarine intertidal sedimentary environments.
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Researchers assessed microplastic pollution across water, sediment, and soil samples in the Yellow River Delta of China. The study found microplastic concentrations ranging from 0.5 to nearly 8 particles per liter in water and up to 4,200 particles per kilogram in sediments, with polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common polymer types, indicating widespread plastic contamination in this coastal environment.
[Microplastics pollution in the Yellow River basin: current status and control strategy].
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This review summarizes microplastic contamination in the Yellow River basin, finding that pollution increases from upstream to downstream with the highest concentrations in the Yellow River Delta wetland, and that both sediment and surface water are impacted at levels posing risks to aquaculture and human health.
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Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in the mudflats of the South Yellow Sea and found plastic particles in both the water and sediment at all sampling locations. Areas near estuaries and ports had higher levels of microplastics in the water, while purely coastal mudflats accumulated more in their sediments. Although overall pollution levels were rated as low, the types of plastic polymers present indicated the potential for significant ecological risk.
The relation of sediment texture to macro- and microplastic abundance in intertidal zone
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Researchers analyzed the relationship between sediment grain size and microplastic accumulation in an intertidal zone, finding that finer-grained sediments tend to accumulate more plastic particles. Understanding this relationship helps identify which coastal areas are at greatest risk from microplastic contamination.
Characteristics, influencing factors, and ecological risks of microplastics in the north branch tidal marshes of the Yangtze River estuary
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Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in tidal marshes at the Yangtze River estuary and found an average of about 507 particles per kilogram of sediment. The distribution was strongly influenced by salinity and vegetation type, with freshwater areas dominated by reeds containing more microplastics than saltwater zones. The study highlights how seawater intrusion and plant communities shape where microplastics accumulate in these ecologically sensitive coastal wetlands.
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