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Characterization of Microplastic Contamination and Risk Assessment in the Surface Waters of Rural Rivers in South China
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Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in a rural Chinese river across wet and dry seasons, finding higher concentrations during the wet season and identifying agricultural plastic films as the primary source; despite lower overall abundance than urban rivers, the presence of hazardous PVC raised significant ecological risk concerns.
Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in the environment and may threaten the ecosystem. Currently, research on MP pollution in China has focused on urban and coastal areas. To better understand the extent of MP pollution in the surface water of rural areas, we investigated the abundance, particle size, color, shape, and polymer chemical characteristics of MPs in the Longjiang River in China during the wet season (August) and dry season (December). The results showed that MPs were detected at all 12 sampling sites in August and December, with higher mean abundances observed in August (112.60 ± 5.63 items/m3) than in December (49.34 ± 2.47 items/m3). The predominant particle sizes of the MPs ranged from 100–500 µm, transparent was the most common appearance, and debris was the most common shape. Chemical characterization revealed that polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were the major polymer types. Correlation analysis indicated that agricultural film usage was the primary source of MP pollution in the Longjiang River basin. Risk assessments were conducted based on the chemical characteristics and abundances of MPs, revealing a high risk level due to the presence of hazardous PVC. However, the overall potential ecological level of MP pollution in the Longjiang River basin was lower than that observed in urban areas due to the lower abundances and pollution loads. This study provides valuable baseline data to assess the environmental risks associated with MPs and serves as a basis to formulate effective environmental policies.
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Microplastics Pollution and Risk Assessment in Selected Surface Waters of the Wei River Plain, China
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Surface water sampling across the Wei River Plain in northwest China found microplastic concentrations of 4.67 to 12.3 particles per liter, with PE fibers under 0.5 mm dominating, and risk index analysis classifying contamination levels as high throughout the study area. These findings extend evidence of widespread inland microplastic pollution into a relatively understudied region of China, emphasizing the need for regulatory controls on plastic waste in agricultural and semi-arid watersheds.
Microplastics’ Pollution and Risk Assessment in an Urban River: A Case Study in the Yongjiang River, Nanning City, South China
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Researchers detected microplastics throughout the Yongjiang River in southern China — a key drinking water source for millions — finding that pollution levels posed measurable ecological risks, highlighting how urban waterways used for drinking water can carry plastic particles directly into human exposure pathways.
Occurrence and Distribution Characteristics of Microplastics in Surface Water of China: a Review
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Researchers synthesized the literature on microplastic occurrence and distribution in Chinese surface waters, finding mean river concentrations ranging from 0.57 to 930 particles per liter, with fibers and sub-millimeter particles predominating and polypropylene and polyethylene as the most common polymers. As Chinese cities increasingly rely on surface water as drinking water sources, the high and variable microplastic loads documented across river and lake systems represent a direct human exposure pathway demanding stronger pollution monitoring and control.
Distribution and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in the Basin of the Pearl River, China
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Sampling along the entire length of China's Pearl River revealed microplastics throughout, with concentrations highest near the river's origin and estuary and the toxic polymer PMMA dominant in upstream sections. Rivers act as highways carrying land-based plastic pollution to the ocean, and the presence of highly toxic PMMA raises ecological risk concerns even where overall particle counts appear relatively low.
Microplastics in Sediments of the Urban River Jinjiang: Sources, Distribution, and Risk Assessment
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Researchers mapped microplastic contamination in sediments of the Jinjiang River in China, finding concentrations ranging from 21 to 924 particles per kilogram of dry sediment, with domestic waste and laundry effluents as the dominant sources and moderate ecological risk levels across most of the river stretch.
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