We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics pollution in the rivers of a metropolitan city and its estimated dependency on surrounding developed land
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in four rivers across Hong Kong and found that rivers in urbanized areas had significantly higher concentrations of plastic particles than the rural river. The most polluted river contained over 53 plastic particles per liter of water, and contamination levels correlated with the proportion of developed land in surrounding areas. The study suggests that urban development and population density are key drivers of microplastic pollution in city waterways.
The spatial distribution and abundance of suspected microplastics (SMPs) in the surface water of a metropolitan city, as represented by four Hong Kong rivers, was studied during the dry season. Shing Mun River (SM), Lam Tsuen River (LT), and Tuen Mun River (TM) are located in urbanized areas, and SM and TM are tidal rivers. The fourth river, Silver River (SR) is situated in a rural area. TM had a significantly higher SMP abundance (53.80 ± 20.67 n/L) than the other rivers. The SMP abundance increased from upstream to downstream in non-tidal rivers (LT and SR), but not in tidal rivers (TM and SM), probably due to the tidal influence and a more homogeneous urban development along the tidal rivers. Inter-site differences in the SMP abundance were strongly correlated with the built area ratio (defined as the percentage of surrounding developed land area), human activities, and the nature of the river. About half (48.72 %) of the SMPs were <250 μm. Fibers and fragments were most abundant (>98 %), with most of them being transparent (58.54 %), black (14.68 %), or blue (12.12 %). Polyethylene terephthalate (26.96 %) and polyethylene (20.70 %) were the most common polymers. However, the MP abundance could be overestimated due to the presence of natural fibers. By contrast, an underestimation of the MP abundance could result from a smaller volume of water samples collected, due to a low filtration efficiency caused by high organic content and particle concentrations in the water. A more effective solid waste management strategy and upgrading of the sewage treatment facilities for removing microplastics are recommended to ameliorate the microplastic pollution in local rivers.
More Papers Like This
Disentangling the anthropogenic and environmental correlates of microplastic pollution in the coastal waters of a metropolis in Southern China
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers surveyed 31 sites across Hong Kong's coastal waters and found microplastics at every location, with concentrations ranging widely depending on local conditions. They analyzed both human activity patterns and environmental factors to identify the main drivers of contamination. The study found that population density and proximity to urban discharge points were strongly associated with higher microplastic levels in surface waters.
Microplastics Determination in the Rivers with Different Urbanisation Variances: A Case Study in Kuching City, Sarawak, Malaysia
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured microplastic abundance in rivers across three areas of Kuching city, Sarawak, Malaysia, with different levels of urbanization. They found that microplastic concentrations increased with urbanization, confirming that human activity is the primary driver of freshwater microplastic pollution.
Occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastic contaminated with heavy metals in a tropical river: Effect of land use and population density
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied microplastic pollution in Thailand's Chao Phraya River and found that population density and land use strongly influence contamination levels. Urban areas had the highest microplastic concentrations, and many particles were contaminated with heavy metals. The findings suggest that microplastics in rivers can serve as carriers of toxic metals, compounding the pollution risk for downstream communities.
The effects of riverside cities on microplastics in river water: A case study on the Southern Jiangsu Canal, China
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied microplastic contamination in the Southern Jiangsu Canal in China and found that riverside cities significantly increase microplastic levels in river water, with abundance rising by 26% to 211% after flowing through urban areas. The study found that microplastic concentrations correlated with regional GDP and population density, with PET, polycarbonate, and polyethylene being the most common polymer types detected.
Microplastic pollution in a tropical river impacted by a developing megacity. The Saigon River - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
AI summary Read the abstract
This study documented microplastic pollution in the Saigon River flowing through Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, finding elevated concentrations in a rapidly urbanizing megacity that lacks adequate plastic waste management — highlighting the role of developing cities in contributing to ocean plastic pollution.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.