We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Spatiotemporal Patterns, Characteristics, and Ecological Risk of Microplastics in the Surface Waters of Shijiu Lake (Nanjing, China)
Summary
Researchers surveyed surface waters of Shijiu Lake and its tributaries in Nanjing, China, during dry and rainy seasons, finding microplastic abundances of 17–31 items/L, with higher concentrations during the rainy season and small particles (38–75 μm) as the dominant fraction.
Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive in freshwater and may threaten aquatic ecosystem health. We surveyed surface waters of Shijiu Lake and its inflowing tributaries during the dry (January–March) and rainy (May–July) seasons of 2024. MP abundance ranged within 17.54–30.93 items/L, with higher values in the rainy than in the dry season (28.18 ± 6.03 vs. 24.53 ± 5.68 items/L; one-way ANOVA, p < 0.05). Abundance correlated positively with turbidity (r = 0.44; R2 = 0.20; p < 0.05), whereas associations with total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and suspended solids were not significant (p > 0.05). Small particles (38–75 μm) dominated and were slightly more prevalent in the dry season, while the fraction of larger particles (>150 μm) was relatively higher in the rainy season. Granules predominated across sites, but their share decreased in the rainy season, accompanied by a notable increase in fibers. The Pollution Load Index (PLI) indicated slight but spatially uneven pollution (PLI = 1.00–1.43), generally higher during the rainy season and consistently elevated at the lake center; the Nongkan River exhibited the lowest levels. Ecologically, the patterns indicate rainfall-driven inputs and hydrodynamic controls (runoff, resuspension, residence time), identifying the lake center and tributary interfaces as priority zones for monitoring and mitigation. These results provide lake-scale evidence to refine seasonal monitoring and inform source-reduction strategies in similar inland waters.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Spatial–Temporal and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in the Surface Water of the Qinhuai River during Different Rainfall Seasons in Nanjing City, China
Researchers conducted a spatial-temporal analysis of microplastic contamination and risk in a river system across multiple seasons and sites, finding that concentrations varied significantly with location and time of year. Urban and industrial zones showed the highest microplastic loads and associated ecological risk.
Occurrence, stability and source identification of small size microplastics in the Jiayan reservoir, China
Microplastics across a full size range were found in a Chinese reservoir, with small-sized particles (less than 300 micrometers) dominating and showing seasonal variation linked to rainfall and runoff, highlighting reservoirs as underappreciated sinks and sources of fine microplastic pollution.
Spatiotemporal dynamics of microplastics in an urban river network area
Researchers investigated microplastic dynamics in an urban river network in eastern China, finding abundances of 2.3 to 104.6 particles per liter that were significantly higher during wet seasons and concentrated near commercial, industrial, and wastewater discharge areas.
Spatiotemporal and vertical distribution characteristics and ecological risks of microplastics in typical shallow lakes in northern China
Researchers studied how microplastics are distributed across water, the viscous sublayer, and sediment layers in Baiyangdian, a shallow lake in northern China, during both wet and dry seasons. They found that microplastic abundance was highest in residential areas and that the vertical distribution pattern reversed between seasons. The study highlights that seasonal water level changes significantly affect where microplastics accumulate in shallow lake ecosystems.
Impacts of rainfall and lakeshore soil properties on microplastics in inland freshwater: A case study in Donghu Lake, China
Microplastic pollution in Donghu Lake, the largest urban freshwater lake in China, was investigated to examine how rainfall and lakeshore soil properties influence microplastic occurrence independent of direct human activities. Baseline microplastic abundance was 5.84 items per liter, with rainfall events significantly increasing concentrations by washing particles from surrounding soils.