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Riverine emission of small plastic particles from Yangtze River into the ocean
Summary
Researchers measured microplastic particle flows in the Yangtze River over a full year, estimating that roughly 5.2 quadrillion plastic particles enter the ocean annually from this single river, with nearly three-quarters being tiny particles that are the most likely to be swallowed by marine life. Microplastic levels were highest near the surface and dropped with water depth, while river flow rate controlled how many particles were present at any given time.
Rivers are major pathways for terrigenous plastics to the ocean, yet the spatio-temporal variability of plastic flux remains poorly quantified. Here, we conducted annual field monitoring of plastic particle fluxes in the Yangtze River, accounting for both vertical and horizontal variations in plastic distribution within the estuary. Microplastics were ubiquitous but exhibited spatial and temporal heterogeneity. Microplastics abundance declined with increasing depth, and the central channel exhibited lower microplastic abundance compared to the left and right channels. Monthly trends were consistent across channels within the same water layer. Hydrological patterns primarily regulated microplastic occurrence, with microplastic abundance decreasing at higher flow rates, while particle size correlated positively with flow. We estimated an annual flux of 5.20×1015 microplastic particles, of which 74.6% were small particles, posing substantial ecological risks due to their high toxicity and ingestion potential. In the Yangtze River, microplastic abundance decreased with increasing water depth, and the central channel exhibited lower microplastic abundance compared to the left and right channels, according to field monitoring of plastic particle fluxes.
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