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Occurrence and fate of microplastic debris in middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River – From inland to the sea
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A large-scale survey along the middle and lower Yangtze River found microplastics throughout the water column and sediments, with concentrations increasing toward the river mouth and a clear trend of microplastics moving from inland sources toward the sea. The study provides field evidence for rivers as major pathways for microplastic transport from land to ocean.
Based on field investigations and modeling estimates, rivers are considered an important route taken by microplastics to reach the sea. However, only a few studies have directly assessed occurrence and fate of microplastics in rivers. In this study, we surveyed the occurrence and fate of microplastic debris in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, which was estimated to be the largest riverine source of plastic debris to the sea. The abundance of microplastics at 15 sites along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River ranged from 1.95 × 10 to 9.00 × 10 items/km with an average of 4.92 × 10 items/km. The abundance of microplastics was positively correlated with the abundance of mesoplastics. Megacities, large riparian lakes, and seawater encroachment appeared to be main factors affecting the distribution of microplastics in the Yangtze River, while the deposition to benthic and riparian sediments likely led to observed decreases in microplastics in some sections of the river. The results of this study indicate that a considerable amount of microplastics generated in large river catchments are not transported to the sea and past modeling estimates of microplastic flux may contain biases. The flux of microplastics reaching the sea should be calculated based on long-term monitoring at the tidal limit of rivers. More importantly, the fate and effects of microplastics retained in the river system should receive more attention.
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Annual field monitoring of microplastic fluxes in the Yangtze River estuary found that small particles dominated the plastic load and that abundance was spatially and temporally heterogeneous, providing the first systematic estimate of the river's annual plastic contribution to the ocean.
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Researchers conducted a basin-wide investigation of microplastics throughout the entire Yangtze River system, sampling water, sediment, and soil. The study found microplastics in all samples with abundance increasing from upstream to downstream, driven by both geographical and human factors, with major cities at the middle and lower reaches identified as key pollution nodes.
Characteristics and distribution of microplastics in shoreline sediments of the Yangtze River, main tributaries and lakes in China—From upper reaches to the estuary
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Microplastic concentrations were measured in shoreline sediments from 54 sites along the Yangtze River, its tributaries, and adjoining lakes from the upper reaches to the estuary, revealing widespread contamination that generally increased toward the more urbanized lower river. The study provides one of the most spatially comprehensive surveys of Yangtze River microplastic pollution to date.
Characteristics and Distribution of Microplastics in Shoreline Sediments of the Yangtze River, Main Tributaries and Lakes in China—From Upper Reaches to the Estuary
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Scientists measured microplastic concentrations in sediments along 54 sites spanning the Yangtze River system in China, from the upper reaches to the estuary. Microplastics were found throughout, with higher concentrations near urban and industrial areas, showing how large rivers distribute plastic pollution across vast distances.
Analysis of suspended microplastics in the Changjiang Estuary: Implications for riverine plastic load to the ocean
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Suspended microplastics were measured in the Changjiang (Yangtze) River Estuary, one of the world's largest rivers, to estimate its total plastic load delivered to the East China Sea. The study found substantial and highly variable microplastic concentrations that, when scaled to river discharge, suggest the Yangtze contributes a significant fraction of total global riverine plastic input to the ocean.
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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.