We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastic transport and ecological impacts on the Yangtze River Estuary: a coupled modeling approach
No summary available — this paper's abstract is not included in the open metadata provided by the publisher. Learn why →
More Papers Like This
Hydrodynamic Controls on Microplastic Transport in the Pearl River Estuary: Insights from Seasonal Field Observations and Modeling
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists tracked tiny plastic particles (microplastics) flowing through a major river system in China and found that heavy rain seasons wash far more plastic into coastal waters, with certain river outlets acting as "highways" for spreading it long distances out to sea. This matters because these waterways often connect to seafood harvesting areas and drinking water sources, meaning understanding when and where plastic pollution spreads worst can help communities time monitoring and cleanup efforts to reduce human exposure through the food and water we consume.
How the Yangtze River transports microplastic to the east China sea
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers used interpolation and input-output modeling to estimate how the Yangtze River transports microplastics seasonally from land to the East China Sea, finding that MP loads varied substantially by month with peak transport during high-flow periods. Tributary contributions and agricultural runoff were identified as major factors controlling MP flux to the estuary.
Microplastic abundance, distribution, and composition in the surface water and sediments of the Yangtze River along Chongqing City, China
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics were found throughout surface water and sediments of the Yangtze River in Chongqing, with abundances up to 204 particles per liter in water and 583 per kilogram in sediment, dominated by small fibers under 0.7 mm. The prevalence of fine fiber microplastics in one of China's most important waterways signals widespread contamination with implications for drinking water quality and aquatic ecosystem health.
The fate of microplastics in estuary: A quantitative simulation approach
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers applied quantitative numerical simulation to model microplastic transport and concentration distribution in the Yangtze Estuary, one of the world's largest plastic export pathways. The model used a mass-number method to estimate spatial distribution and risk levels of microplastics in February and May, revealing seasonal variation in transport patterns.
Microplastic transport from a wastewater treatment plant into Qiantang River, an estuarine river
AI summary Read the abstract
Sampling and numerical modeling of a wastewater treatment plant in Hangzhou, China revealed that 7.6 x 10^8 microplastic particles are discharged daily into the Qiantang River, with polypropylene fibers and fragments dominating and a high-abundance zone forming in Hangzhou Bay after 45 days of simulated transport. The massive daily discharge from a single WWTP illustrates how municipal wastewater infrastructure is a primary conduit for plastic pollution entering estuarine and coastal marine ecosystems downstream.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.