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Microplastics in surface waters of Dongting Lake and Hong Lake, China
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Researchers sampled surface waters of Dongting Lake and Hong Lake in China and found microplastic contamination at both sites, with fibers as the dominant type and concentrations reflecting nearby human population density and land use.
Microplastics pollution is an environmental issue of increasing concern. Much work has been done on the microplastics pollution in the marine environments. Although freshwaters are potential sources and transport pathways of plastic debris to the oceans, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the presence of microplastics in freshwater systems, especially in China, the world's largest producer of plastics. This study investigated the occurrence and properties of microplastics in surface waters of two important lakes in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. The concentration ranges of microplastics in Dongting Lake and Hong Lake were 900-2800 and 1250-4650n/m, respectively. Fiber was the dominant shape. Colored items occupied the majority. Particles with a size of <330μm comprised >20% of total microplastics collected in both lakes. Most of the selected particles were identified as plastics, with polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) being the major components. This study can provide valuable reference for better understanding the microplastics pollution in inland freshwater ecosystems.
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Microplastics in Sediment and Surface Water of West Dongting Lake and South Dongting Lake: Abundance, Source and Composition
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Microplastics were found in both surface water and sediments of West Dongting Lake and South Dongting Lake in China, with fibers and fragments as the dominant types and concentrations influenced by proximity to urban and agricultural land use. The study provides the first data on microplastic contamination in China's second-largest freshwater lake system.
Investigation on microplastic pollution of Dongting Lake and its affiliated rivers
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Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in Dongting Lake and its affiliated rivers in China, collecting 15 surface water and 15 sediment samples from across the lake district and finding microplastic abundances of 0.62-4.31 items/m3 in water and 21-52 items/100 g dry weight in sediments. Fibers dominated and the results indicate the lake system is a significant microplastic sink fed by surrounding river networks.
Distribution and sedimentation of microplastics in Taihu Lake
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Researchers surveyed microplastic abundance in water, sediment, and inflowing rivers of Taihu Lake, China's third-largest freshwater lake, finding widespread contamination with fibers as the dominant type and higher concentrations near urban and agricultural shorelines.
Abundance and distribution of microplastics in water and sediment of Baiyangdian Lake, Northern China
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Researchers surveyed Baiyangdian Lake in northern China and found microplastics at concentrations of 1,000 to 20,000 particles per liter across water depths and sediments. Fibers were the dominant type, highlighting widespread contamination in a major freshwater lake system.
Comparison of the abundance of microplastics between rural and urban areas: A case study from East Dongting Lake
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Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in the lakeshore sediment of East Dongting Lake in China, comparing urban and rural areas. They found moderate levels of contamination dominated by small, transparent fibers, with eight different polymer types identified. Surprisingly, the study found that rural areas had higher microplastic abundance than urban areas, potentially due to differences in environmental protection measures between the two settings.
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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.