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Microplastics in multiple environmental media along a land-sea continuum: Distribution, critical source areas, and management priorities from sources to sinks
Summary
This comprehensive study tracked microplastic distribution across surface water, groundwater, and sediments throughout the Jiulong River basin in China, identifying distinct polymer patterns by media and spatial hotspots in the lower reaches. Mapping microplastic flow from terrestrial sources through river corridors to estuaries is critical for identifying intervention points where pollution control can most effectively reduce the quantity of microplastics reaching coastal marine environments and seafood.
Microplastics (MPs) pose a huge threat as emerging contaminants, with rivers acting as critical pathways for their transport from terrestrial to marine environments. To comprehensively characterize the MP pollution from sources to estuaries, this study investigated the distribution, abundance, and other characteristics of MPs across multiple environmental media (e.g., surface water, groundwater, and sediments) within the Jiulong River basin, southeastern China. The results reveal the presence of MPs in all samples. Generally, the surface water and groundwater exhibited moderate-to-low MP abundance, while the sediments showed moderate-to-high MP abundance. Distinct distribution patterns of polymers were identified. Specifically, polyethylene (PE) predominated in the water samples, with mean contents of 47.32% in surface water and 50.35% in groundwater, while polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was primarily observed in sediments, with a mean content of 42.82%. MPs primarily appeared as fragments, fibers, and pellets in morphology. White MPs prevailed across varying media. MPs differed significantly in water bodies and sediments. In contrast, they resembled each other in surface water and groundwater, suggesting common pollution sources. A spatial analysis indicates the presence of three types of areas: general source areas in the upper reaches, critical source areas in the lower reaches, and dilution areas near the estuary. The findings provide a critical scientific basis for prioritizing MP pollution mitigation in pollution management. To protect the marine ecosystem, targeted source control measures are required for the critical source areas.