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Tier 2
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Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence.
Environmental Sources
Policy & Risk
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The Plastic Age: River Pollution in China from Crop Production and Urbanization
Environmental Science & Technology2023
37 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 50
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Nicolas Bériot,
Jikke van Wijnen,
Nicolas Bériot,
Maryna Strokal,
Maryna Strokal,
Nicolas Bériot,
Yanan Li,
Qi Zhang,
Mengru Wang,
Mengru Wang,
Kai Wang,
Kai Wang,
Nicolas Bériot,
Maryna Strokal,
Maryna Strokal,
Maryna Strokal,
Maryna Strokal,
Kai Wang,
Kai Wang,
Nicolas Bériot,
Kai Wang,
Nicolas Bériot,
Nicolas Bériot,
Jikke van Wijnen,
Nicolas Bériot,
Jikke van Wijnen,
Nicolas Bériot,
Nicolas Bériot,
Jikke van Wijnen,
Jikke van Wijnen,
Jikke van Wijnen,
Jikke van Wijnen,
Kai Wang,
Kai Wang,
Carolien Kroeze,
Carolien Kroeze,
Carolien Kroeze,
Carolien Kroeze,
Mengru Wang,
Mengru Wang,
Mengru Wang,
Qi Zhang,
Qi Zhang,
Jantiene Baartman,
Qi Zhang,
Maryna Strokal,
Jantiene Baartman,
Carolien Kroeze,
Carolien Kroeze,
Jikke van Wijnen,
Maryna Strokal,
Nicolas Bériot,
Nicolas Bériot,
Maryna Strokal,
Kai Wang,
Carolien Kroeze,
Carolien Kroeze,
Carolien Kroeze,
Carolien Kroeze,
Lin Ma,
Maryna Strokal,
Maryna Strokal,
Maryna Strokal,
Maryna Strokal,
Maryna Strokal,
Nicolas Bériot,
Jikke van Wijnen,
Maryna Strokal,
Maryna Strokal,
Nicolas Bériot,
Carolien Kroeze,
Carolien Kroeze,
Carolien Kroeze,
Carolien Kroeze,
Nicolas Bériot,
Kai Wang,
Lin Ma,
Jikke van Wijnen,
Mengru Wang,
Maryna Strokal,
Nicolas Bériot,
Carolien Kroeze,
Kai Wang,
Jikke van Wijnen,
Maryna Strokal,
Kai Wang,
Maryna Strokal,
Jantiene Baartman,
Carolien Kroeze,
Lin Ma,
Lin Ma,
Maryna Strokal,
Mengru Wang,
Fusuo Zhang
Lin Ma,
Fusuo Zhang
Kai Wang,
Mengru Wang,
Maryna Strokal,
Maryna Strokal,
Wen Xu,
Lin Ma,
Kai Wang,
Jikke van Wijnen,
Fusuo Zhang
Kai Wang,
Wen Xu,
Qi Zhang,
Maryna Strokal,
Fusuo Zhang
Fusuo Zhang
Maryna Strokal,
Maryna Strokal,
Fusuo Zhang
Fusuo Zhang
Maryna Strokal,
Mengru Wang,
Kai Wang,
Maryna Strokal,
Jikke van Wijnen,
Jikke van Wijnen,
Carolien Kroeze,
Kai Wang,
Fusuo Zhang
Summary
Researchers developed an integrated model estimating that 716 kilotons of plastics entered Chinese rivers annually from crop production mulching, sewage systems, and mismanaged solid waste, with agricultural plastic films being a major but often overlooked source.
Study Type
Environmental
Many rivers are polluted with macro (>5 mm)- and microplastics (<5 mm). We assess plastic pollution in rivers from crop production and urbanization in 395 Chinese sub-basins. We develop and evaluate an integrated model (MARINA-Plastics model, China-1.0) that considers plastics in crop production (plastic films from mulching and greenhouses, diffuse sources), sewage systems (point sources), and mismanaged solid waste (diffuse source). Model results indicated that 716 kton of plastics entered Chinese rivers in 2015. Macroplastics in rivers account for 85% of the total amount of plastics (in mass). Around 71% of this total plastic is from about one-fifth of the basin area. These sub-basins are located in central and eastern China, and they are densely populated with intensive agricultural activities. Agricultural plastic films contribute 20% to plastics in Chinese rivers. Moreover, 65% of plastics are from mismanaged waste in urban and rural areas. Sewage is responsible for the majority of microplastics in rivers. Our study could support the design of plastic pollution control policies and thus contribute to green development in China and elsewhere.