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Microplastics in Asian freshwater ecosystems: Current knowledge and perspectives
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This review of microplastic research in Asian freshwater ecosystems from 2014 to 2021 found that Asia is a global hotspot for freshwater microplastic pollution, driven by rapid urbanization and economic growth, with fibers from textile washing and fragments from plastic debris degradation as dominant types.
Plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems, including microplastics (MPs) smaller than 5 mm, has become an emerging global concern. Asia is considered a "hot spot" for plastic pollution due to rapid economic and demographic growth, together with rapid urbanization. Here, we provide an overview of the current knowledge on MP abundance, sources, fate, and transfer in Asian freshwater ecosystems based on publications from January 2014 to May 2021. MP contamination in freshwater compartments, including water, sediment, and biota, was found to vary strongly. In water, it ranged from 0.004 items m in a moderately urbanized region to more than 500,000 items m in a dumping river in a highly populated watershed. In the sediment, MP abundance ranged from 1 to more than 30,000 items kg dry weight. Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) were predominant in both water and sediment compartments. MP was detected in biota samples from all the studied species, but their abundance depended on the locations and species studied. Overall, MP characteristics (form, size, color, and polymer type) depended on sources and natural constraints (mainly hydrodynamics). This study also revealed that MP in Asian freshwater ecosystems mainly originated from domestic wastewater/runoff, followed by industrial emissions, fisheries and aquaculture wastewater. Plastic waste is not efficiently recycled or incinerated in Asia, leading to MP transfer and accumulation in the aquatic environment, and, more importantly, to ingestion by low to high trophic level organisms. This work highlights several knowledge gaps to guides future research to improve MP pollution management for the sustainable development of highly populated regions such as Asia.
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Researchers systematically reviewed the literature on microplastic sources and transport pathways in freshwater systems across Asia, finding that plastic pollution in rivers and lakes is a rapidly growing concern across the region with increasing published evidence.
Microplastics in Freshwater Environment in Asia: A Systematic Scientific Review
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This systematic review summarizes existing research on microplastic contamination in Asian freshwater environments, including rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. The study found that microplastics are widespread in Asian freshwater systems, with research concentrated in China and Southeast Asia, and identified potential risks to both aquatic life and human health. Since billions of people in Asia rely on freshwater for drinking and food production, this contamination is a significant public health concern.
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This review synthesized research on microplastic pollution in inland waters across Asia, documenting that rivers, lakes, and reservoirs are heavily contaminated and identifying key knowledge gaps in monitoring and ecological impact assessment.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.