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Spatial variation of floatable plastic debris and microplastics in the Pearl River Estuary, South China
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Researchers quantified and characterized microplastics and large plastic debris in surface water from the Inner Lingding Bay of the Pearl River Estuary, finding both types present at all sites with mean abundances of 2.376 and 0.110 items per square meter respectively, predominantly as fibers from multiple sources.
The estuaries of populated catchments have been documented as hotspots of plastic pollution. In this study, microplastics (0.355-5.0 mm) and large plastic debris (>5.0 mm) of surface water collected from the Inner Lingding Bay of the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) were quantified and categorized according to their size, shape, colour and composition. Both microplastics and large plastic debris were detected at all sampling sites with mean abundances of 2.376 ± 0.700 n/m and 0.110 ± 0.039 n/m, respectively. Microplastics constitute 95.4% of the total abundance by number. The average microplastic concentration in the inner PRE was almost 3.5 times higher than that in the central PRE, indicating a positive correlation between plastic concentration and proximity to the river mouth. This result reveals the important role of rivers in transporting plastic debris from land to the oceans.
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Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Microplastics in a Coastal Region of the Pearl River Estuary, China
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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.
Microplastic abundance, distribution and composition in the Pearl River along Guangzhou city and Pearl River estuary, China
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Microplastic abundance and distribution were surveyed in the Pearl River urban section through Guangzhou and the Pearl River estuary, finding average concentrations of 19,860 items/m³ in the urban section and 8,902 items/m³ in the estuary, with over 80% of particles smaller than 0.5 mm. The study documents exceptionally high microplastic concentrations in an urban Chinese river and identifies wastewater effluent and urban tributaries as major sources.
Hydro-sedimentary conditions shape the microplastic occurrence in sediments of the Pearl River Estuary (China)
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A field study of the Pearl River Estuary in southern China found microplastic concentrations in sediments ranging from 4 to 220 particles/kg, with higher abundance in nearshore zones, and identified hydrodynamic conditions and proximity to urban areas as the main drivers of spatial variation.
Measurement, quantification, and potential risk of microplastics in the mainstream of the Pearl River (Xijiang River) and its estuary, Southern China
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Microplastic distribution was surveyed across the mainstream and estuary of China's Pearl River, finding higher concentrations near urban centers and establishing a detailed inventory of microplastic abundance, polymer types, and potential sources in this major waterway.
Microplastic occurrence and ecological risk assessment in the eight outlets of the Pearl River Estuary, a new insight into the riverine microplastic input to the northern South China Sea
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Researchers estimated that the Pearl River Estuary delivers approximately 304 trillion microplastic particles (1,102 tons) annually into the northern South China Sea, finding that tidal effects significantly influence microplastic abundance and that rural areas on the western side pose underestimated environmental threats.
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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.