Microplastic contamination in the yangtze river: Evaluating pollution levels and the need for standardized research methods

The Yangtze River, recognized as the longest river in Asia and the third globally, faces significant challenges due to microplastic pollution that jeopardizes both its biodiversity and water quality. This research provides a comprehensive review and risk assessment of microplastic pollution throughout the Yangtze River Basin, adhering to strict quality assurance and control (QA/QC) protocols. By analyzing data from 21 distinct studies, we characterized microplastics by their abundance, size, shapes, and polymer types. Although improvements in QA/QC scores suggest better data reliability, the absence of full compliance across all studies underscores an urgent need for the standardization of research methodologies. Furthermore, the study carried out a predictive ecological risk assessment, adjusting and normalizing microplastic concentration data, which demonstrated that concentrations in certain areas exceed ecological thresholds. Regarding risks linked to the 'food dilution' effect, 90.5 Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/559188/document