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Occurrence, potential sources, and ecological risk assessment of microplastics in the inland river basins in Northern China
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Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in a typical urban river system in Northern China, examining both surface water and sediment samples. They found that river sediments contained dramatically more microplastics than surface water, acting as a sink for this pollution, with polypropylene and polyethylene being the most common types. The study suggests that small fiber and fragment-shaped particles under 0.5 mm dominate these environments, likely originating from everyday plastic products and wastewater discharge.
Microplastics (MPs) are the pollutants, found widely across various environmental media. However, studies on the MP pollution in urban rivers and the necessary risk assessments remain limited. In this study, the abundance and characteristics of microplastics in a typical urban river were examined to evaluate their distribution, sources, and ecological risks. It was observed that the abundance of MPs in sediments (220-2840 items·kg dry weight (DW)) was much higher than that in surface water (2.9-10.3 items·L), indicating that the sediment is the "sink" of river MPs. Surface water and sediment were dominated by small particle size MPs (< 0.5 mm). Fiber and debris were common shapes of MPs in rivers and sediments. The microplastics in river water and sediments were primarily white and transparent, respectively. Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) were the major polymers found.
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[Composition and Distribution of Microplastics in the Water and Sediments of Urban Rivers in Beijing].
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Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in water and sediments from eight sampling points along urban rivers in Beijing. Microplastics were widespread, with fibers being the most common type, likely from laundry and textile sources. Urban rivers are important conduits that transport microplastics from cities into larger water bodies and ultimately the ocean.
Spatio-temporal distribution of microplastics in surface water of typical urban rivers in North China, risk assessment and influencing factors
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Researchers measured microplastic levels in two urban rivers in North China across wet and dry seasons and found that concentrations generally increased from upstream to downstream. The most common plastics were polyethylene and polypropylene fibers, with natural factors dominating upstream and human activities driving pollution downstream. The study provides a reference for understanding how urbanization contributes to microplastic contamination in river systems.
Research Progress of Microplastic Pollution Status and Risk Assessment of Typical Rivers in China
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Rivers across China carry substantial microplastic loads, and this review finds that abundance is closely tied to population density, with urban rivers showing higher concentrations than rural ones. More than 60% of microplastics detected in most rivers were smaller than 1 mm — the size range most readily ingested by aquatic organisms and most difficult to remove by conventional treatment. The authors identify sewage plants, surface runoff, and atmospheric deposition as the main sources, and flag gaps in current risk assessment frameworks for river microplastics.
Temporal and spatial variation of microplastics in the urban rivers of Harbin
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Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in two urban rivers in Harbin, China, across both dry and wet seasons. The study found that polypropylene and polyethylene were the dominant polymers in surface water, while PVC and PET were most common in sediment, with domestic wastewater and rainfall runoff as the main sources. Evidence indicates that riparian vegetation along the riverbanks helped reduce microplastic migration through natural filtration processes.
The occurrence and abundance of microplastics in surface water and sediment of the West River downstream, in the south of China
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Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in surface water and sediment of the West River downstream in southern China. They found microplastics in all samples, with concentrations ranging widely and fibers being the dominant shape. The study suggests that the downstream section of the West River serves as both a conduit and accumulation zone for microplastic pollution heading toward coastal waters.
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