We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Prevalence of microplastic fibers in the marginal sea water column off southeast China
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted intensive sampling of the marginal sea water column off southeast China and found that microplastic fibers — predominantly polyethylene — were widely distributed, with hydrological dynamics rather than direct terrestrial input driving their spatial patterns during the summer monsoon. The study provides rare data on microplastic fiber distribution in the vertical water column of marginal seas.
Microplastic (MP) fibers are present in all environmental media, yet little is known about their distribution, sources, and transport in the water column of marginal seas. In this study, we conducted an intensive sampling campaign in the marginal sea water column off southeast China, which is an area that is greatly influenced by high MP emissions. We found that hydrological effects largely regulated the spatial variations of MP fiber distribution and that MP fibers likely were not entering the South China Sea through terrestrial input from southeast China during the summer monsoon. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers were pervasive in the surface water (SW) (89.47%), subsurface chlorophyll maximum layer (SCML) (92.65%), and bottom water (BW) (94.29%) of the water column during the sampling period. Approximately 32% of MP fibers in the samples were smaller than 330 μm. The abundance of MP fibers in SW was significantly lower than that in the SCML and BW. Based on this observation, we estimated the inventory of MP fibers in the SW, SCML, and BW of the sampling area to be 1.377-1.378, 2.820-2.825, and 2.627-2.629 metric tons, respectively. These results improved our understanding of the source-to-sink process of MP fiber contamination in the water column of marginal seas.
More Papers Like This
Distribution and environmental risk assessment of microplastics in continental shelf sediments in the southern East China Sea: A high-spatial-resolution survey
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted a high-spatial-resolution survey of microplastics in surface sediments across the southern East China Sea continental shelf, finding omnipresent contamination dominated by polyethylene fibers and fragments, with concentrations elevated near urban coastal areas.
Seasonal distribution of microplastics in surface waters of the Northern Indian Ocean
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers documented seasonal distribution of microplastics in Northern Indian Ocean surface waters across three monsoon periods, finding polyethylene and polypropylene dominated at 83%, with fibers accounting for 86% of all particles.
Vertical distribution of microplastics in sediment columns along the coastline of China
AI summary Read the abstract
Sediment column samples collected from 11 provinces along China's coastline revealed that microplastic pollution decreases with depth and is more diverse in vertical profiles than in surface sediments, with fibers dominating. Estuarine and coastal areas showed higher contamination than mangrove reserves.
Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Microplastics in a Coastal Region of the Pearl River Estuary, China
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that microplastic abundance in the Pearl River Estuary coastal region was 1.85-fold higher during the rainy season than the dry season, with concentrations decreasing from river to estuary to open sea. Fibers and fragments dominated, with gray, white, and green particles most common across sampling sites.
Temporal and Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Microplastics and Their Influencing Factors in the Lincheng River, Zhoushan City, China
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed temporal and spatial distribution patterns of microplastics in the Lincheng River in Zhoushan, China, finding that microplastic abundance is influenced by seasonal runoff, land use, and proximity to urban and industrial sources before entering the ocean.
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.