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Homogenization of microplastics in alpine rivers: Analysis of microplastic abundance and characteristics in rivers of Qilian Mountain, China

Journal of Environmental Management 2023 45 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 60 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Xiong Xiong, Xiong Xiong, Hui Wang, Xiong Xiong, Xiong Xiong, Xiong Xiong, Xiong Xiong, Xiong Xiong, Chenxi Wu Qian Liu, Chenxi Wu Qian Liu, Xiong Xiong, Chenxi Wu Hui Wang, Qian Liu, Chenxi Wu Xiong Xiong, Chenxi Wu Xiong Xiong, Qian Liu, Xiong Xiong, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Qian Liu, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Xiong Xiong, Xiong Xiong, Qian Liu, Qian Liu, Chenxi Wu Xiong Xiong, Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Xiong Xiong, Xiong Xiong, Xiong Xiong, Xiong Xiong, Xiong Xiong, Xiong Xiong, Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Kehuan Wang, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Qian Liu, Qian Liu, Qian Liu, Qian Liu, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Xiong Xiong, Xiong Xiong, Xiong Xiong, Xiong Xiong, Hui Wang, Chenxi Wu Xiong Xiong, Chenxi Wu Xiong Xiong, Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Qian Liu, Hui Wang, Chenxi Wu Xiong Xiong, Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Chenxi Wu Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Hui Wang, Xiong Xiong, Hui Wang, Kehuan Wang, Hui Wang, Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Xiong Xiong, Xiong Xiong, Xiong Xiong, Xiong Xiong, Xiong Xiong, Xiong Xiong, Xiong Xiong, Xiong Xiong, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Kehuan Wang, Yiqin Ling, Yiqin Ling, Hui Wang, Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Hui Wang, Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Quanliang Li, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Xiong Xiong, Hui Wang, Chenxi Wu Xiong Xiong, Chenxi Wu Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Chenxi Wu Quanliang Li, Hui Wang, Hui Wang, Fengyi Xu, Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Hui Wang, Chenxi Wu Qian Liu, Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Fengyi Xu, Xiong Xiong, Chenxi Wu Qian Liu, Qian Liu, Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Chenxi Wu Qian Liu, Chenxi Wu Hui Wang, Qian Liu, Chenxi Wu

Summary

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in five alpine rivers in China's Qilian Mountains and found plastic particles present in all water samples. The microplastics showed similar characteristics across different rivers, suggesting a homogenization effect during transport. The findings demonstrate that microplastic pollution has reached even remote mountain river systems far from major population centers.

Polymers

Body Systems

Immune

Microplastics in remote areas has received increasing concern in recent years. However, studies on microplastics in alpine rivers and their affecting factors are still limited. In this study, we investigate the abundance and characteristics of microplastic in the surface water of five alpine rivers in Qilian Mountain, China. Utilizing sieve collection, digestion and density separation, along with microscopy and Raman spectroscopy analyses, microplastics were observed in all the water samples and the average abundance of microplastics was 0.48 ± 0.28 items/L, which was lower than in other freshwaters. Transparent (37.3%) and fibrous (72.1%) microplastics were predominant. Polypropylene (53.8%) was the most frequently identified polymer type. Analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) based on microplastic shape, color, and polymer type showed that there was no significant difference in the microplastic characteristics among rivers of Qilian Mountain. The distance decay models revealed that the similarity in microplastics characteristics was not affected by changes in watershed characteristics, such as geographical distance, elevation, water quality, and land use. This finding suggests that the primary source of microplastics in Qilian Mountain rivers could be from dispersed origins. The results of this study indicated that despite remote alpine rivers suffering limited anthropogenic impacts, they were not immune to microplastics. However, in watersheds with lower intensity of human activity, the abundance and characteristics of microplastics in water bodies may be more uniformly distributed and controlled by diffusion conditions such as atmospheric transport or riverine transport. Our investigation unveils novel understanding of microplastic dispersion in secluded alpine territories, emphasizing the crucial need for managing atmospheric transport of microplastics within conservation areas.

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