We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastic pollution in Yellow River: Current status and research progress of biotoxicological effects
Summary
A comprehensive assessment of microplastic pollution in China's Yellow River found average abundances of 5,358–654,000 items/m³ in water and 43.57–615 items/kg in sediment, with fibers dominant in water samples, and reviewed evidence of biotoxicity in fish, invertebrates, and microorganisms.
This study aims to comprehensively assess the environmental risks of microplastics in the Yellow River, achieving the following results through comprehensive research. The average microplastic abundance in the river water and sediments are 5358–654000 n/m3 and 43.57–615 items/kg, respectively, and there are fewer microplastics in water samples than in sediments. Microplastics in the study area can be divided into five types according to their occurrence morphologies, namely fragments, foams, films, fibers, and particles. The most widely distributed pollution types in sediments include debris, fibers, and particles. In contrast, fibers are the dominant type in water samples, accounting for 68.18%‒98.93%. The chemical components of the microplastics include polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyvinyl chloride. The microplastics are in four colors, with white accounting for a higher proportion. The grain size of the microplastics in tributaries or lakes of the Yellow River is less than 2 mm, which makes them liable to enter organisms for enrichment. Furthermore, the sources of the microplastics are closely related to agricultural and industrial production and biological activities in habitats and exhibit seasonal and hydrological characteristics. The microplastics in the study area show the adsorption of metals and nonmetals to different degrees, which increases the pollution risks of heavy metals combined with microplastics. In addition, microplastics can accumulate in organisms in the Yellow River and cause physical, biochemical, and other damage to aquatic organisms, thus further posing carcinogenic risks to human beings. Therefore, it is necessary to study, monitor, and control the pollution and effects of microplastics in the Yellow River, in order to provide theoretical references for the control of pollution and ecological risk of microplastics in the river.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
[Microplastics pollution in the Yellow River basin: current status and control strategy].
This review summarizes microplastic contamination in the Yellow River basin, finding that pollution increases from upstream to downstream with the highest concentrations in the Yellow River Delta wetland, and that both sediment and surface water are impacted at levels posing risks to aquaculture and human health.
Pollution characteristics and prospective risk of microplastics in the Zhengzhou section of Yellow River, China
Researchers analyzed microplastic pollution across fourteen sampling sites in the Zhengzhou section of the Yellow River in China. The study found microplastic concentrations ranging from 2.33 to 15.50 particles per liter, higher than other inland Chinese rivers, with fibers and fragments being the dominant types and polyethylene the most common polymer.
[Occurrence Characteristics and Ecological Risk Assessment of Microplastic Pollution in the Yellow River Basin].
Researchers examined the spatial distribution, composition characteristics, and ecological risks of microplastic pollution across the Yellow River Basin in China, assessing contamination levels in the nation's historically significant waterway system.
Microplastic pollution characteristics and ecological risk assessment in the Wuding River Basin, China
Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in the Wuding River, a tributary of China's Yellow River, collecting samples from 19 sites across water and sediment. They found that microplastic abundance varied significantly across locations, with fibers being the dominant shape, and identified population density and land use as key factors influencing contamination levels. The ecological risk assessment indicated that certain areas of the basin face moderate to high risk from microplastic pollution.
Distribution of microplastics in surface water of the lower Yellow River near estuary
Researchers characterized microplastics in surface water of the lower Yellow River near its estuary, finding that 93.12% were fibers, 87.94% were under 200 μm, and the main polymers were polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. The study provides baseline data on the types and distribution of microplastics entering the Bohai Sea from one of China's major rivers.