We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics in Surface Waters and Floodplain Sediments of the Dagu River in the Jiaodong Peninsula, China
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastic abundance in the Dagu River increased progressively downstream and correlated with population density, sewage treatment plant effluent, and tributary inflows, with concentrations ranging from 0.68 to 3.96 particles per liter in surface water and up to 495 particles per kilogram in floodplain sediments. The strong correlation between water and sediment polymer types confirms shared pollution sources and points to urban wastewater and agricultural runoff as priority targets for intervention.
To understand the pollution characteristics and distributions of microplastics in the Dagu River, an important inland river that flows to Jiaozhou Bay, the abundance, particle size, shape, color, and polymer type of microplastics in the surface waters and floodplain sediments were investigated. The results showed that the abundance of microplastics in the surface waters varied between 0.68 and 3.96 items L−1. The abundance of microplastics in the floodplain sediments varied between 115.5 and 495 items kg−1. The distribution of microplastics in the river has obvious characteristics: 1) The abundance of microplastics downstream was significantly higher than that upstream. 2) The abundance of microplastics decreased significantly in the estuary. 3) The abundance of microplastics was higher in densely populated areas. 4) Factors such as effluent discharge from sewage treatment plants and inflow of tributaries affect the abundance of microplastics in rivers. The main polymer types of microplastics were polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Both the abundance and polymer types of microplastics show a positive correlation between the surface waters and floodplain sediment samples, indicating that the microplastics in surface waters and floodplain sediments come from the same source. The present study demonstrates that the abundance, distribution, and sources of microplastics might be affected by geology, hydrogeology, land use types, and anthropogenic activities. This study provides basic data for the study of microplastics in rivers and provides a reference for the establishment of microplastic control measures.
More Papers Like This
Spatio-temporal distribution and ecological risks of microplastics in surface water and sediments of Bangshi River
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers characterized microplastics in water and sediments of Bangladesh's Bangshi River across two monsoon seasons, finding that fibers dominated (up to 87% in sediments), concentrations spiked near urban and industrial sites during monsoon, and sediment risk indices reached extreme-danger levels—providing baseline data for pollution management in a heavily impacted South Asian river.
Microplastics in Sediments of the Urban River Jinjiang: Sources, Distribution, and Risk Assessment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers mapped microplastic contamination in sediments of the Jinjiang River in China, finding concentrations ranging from 21 to 924 particles per kilogram of dry sediment, with domestic waste and laundry effluents as the dominant sources and moderate ecological risk levels across most of the river stretch.
Characterization of Microplastic Contamination and Risk Assessment in the Surface Waters of Rural Rivers in South China
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in a rural Chinese river across wet and dry seasons, finding higher concentrations during the wet season and identifying agricultural plastic films as the primary source; despite lower overall abundance than urban rivers, the presence of hazardous PVC raised significant ecological risk concerns.
Spatial-temporal distribution and fluxes of microplastics in Jiulong River basin
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tracked microplastic distribution across surface water, groundwater, and soil in China's Jiulong River basin, finding seasonal variation with higher concentrations during dry season, PET fibers as the dominant type, and estimating that mangrove forests intercept roughly 15 billion microplastic particles per year before they reach the sea.
Microplastics Pollution and Risk Assessment in Selected Surface Waters of the Wei River Plain, China
AI summary Read the abstract
Surface water sampling across the Wei River Plain in northwest China found microplastic concentrations of 4.67 to 12.3 particles per liter, with PE fibers under 0.5 mm dominating, and risk index analysis classifying contamination levels as high throughout the study area. These findings extend evidence of widespread inland microplastic pollution into a relatively understudied region of China, emphasizing the need for regulatory controls on plastic waste in agricultural and semi-arid watersheds.
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.