0
Systematic Review Tier 1 Environmental Sources Marine & Wildlife Sign in to save

Spatial distribution of microplastics in Chinese freshwater ecosystem and impacts on food webs

Environmental Pollution 2021 45 citations

AI summary Read the abstract

Microplastics in Chinese freshwater ecosystems were dominated by white/transparent polypropylene and polyethylene fibers smaller than 1 mm, with evidence of uptake and trophic transfer across freshwater food webs causing physiological, biological, and chemical impacts.

Polymers
Study Type Review

Over the past two decades, there has been a lot of discussion about the rapid increase of microplastics (MPs) due to their persistence, ubiquity, and toxicity. The widespread distribution of MPs in various freshwater ecosystems makes them available for different trophic levels biota. The ingestion and trophic transfer of MPs may induce potential impacts on freshwater food webs. Therefore, this systematic review is an in-depth review of 51 recent studies to confirm the spatial distribution of MPs in the Chinese freshwater ecosystem including water, sediment and biota, exposure pathways, and impacts on freshwater food webs. The result suggested the white, transparent and colored, Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene (PE) of <1 mm fibers were dominant in Chinese freshwaters. The uptake of MPs by various freshwater organisms as well as physiological, biological and chemical impacts on food webs were also elucidated. At last, some limitations were discussed for future studies to better understand the effects of MPs on food webs.

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Characterization and spatial distribution of microplastics in two wild captured economic freshwater fish from north and west rivers of Guangdong province

AI summary Read the abstract

Microplastics were found in two economically important freshwater fish species sampled across Guangdong Province, China, with fibers being the most common type and polypropylene and polyester the dominant polymers. The widespread contamination of commercial freshwater fish in China indicates a significant pathway for human exposure through fish consumption.

Article Tier 2

Status and characteristics of microplastic pollution in Chinese freshwater environment

AI summary Read the abstract

This review summarizes research on microplastic distribution, toxic effects on organisms, and interactions with other pollutants in Chinese freshwater environments. The paper calls for strengthened regulation and monitoring of microplastics in China's lakes, rivers, and water supplies.

Article Tier 2

Pollution status of microplastics in the freshwater environment of China: a mini review

AI summary Read the abstract

This review assessed microplastic pollution in China's freshwater environments including rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, finding widespread contamination in surface waters, sediments, and biota with variations linked to population density and industrial activity.

Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Different Tissues of Five Common Fishes from Yuehai Lake: Accumulation, Characterization, and Contamination Assessment

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in the gills and digestive tracts of five fish species from a Chinese lake, finding that fish eating a wider variety of foods accumulated more particles. Different plastic polymer types dominated in different tissues, confirming that microplastics move through freshwater food webs and reach fish that humans consume.

Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in China’s Aquatic Systems: Spatial Distribution, Transport Pathways, and Controlling Strategies

AI summary Read the abstract

This review synthesizes recent findings on microplastic pollution across China's rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and coastal waters. Researchers found that contamination levels vary dramatically by location, with urban waterways showing the highest concentrations and polypropylene and polyethylene being the most common polymer types. The study identifies rivers as major transport pathways carrying microplastics from inland areas to the sea and evaluates strategies for reducing this 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.

Email me about

Share this paper