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Microplastics in nearshore groundwater of Taihu Lake: occurrence and potential fluxes to the lake via groundwater discharge
AI summary
Researchers detected microplastics in all nearshore groundwater samples around Taihu Lake — at concentrations up to 1,526 particles per liter — and modeled that lacustrine groundwater discharge could deliver up to 3,560 trillion microplastic particles per year into the lake, identifying subsurface groundwater flow as a previously overlooked pathway for plastic pollution.
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Distribution and Characteristics of Microplastics in Agricultural Soils around Gehu Lake, China
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Soil sampling around Gehu Lake, China found microplastic abundance ranging from 373 to 7,888 items/kg across different farming practices, with plastic mulching and greenhouse agriculture producing significantly higher contamination and smaller particles migrating deeper into soil profiles. The high microplastic loads in Chinese farmland — a major food production region — highlight the risk of plastic particles entering crops and the food supply through intensive agricultural practices.
Occurrence and Driving Mechanism of Microplastics in River-connected Lake of the Mid-lower Yangtze River Basin
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Researchers analyzed 19 studies on microplastic pollution in river-connected lakes of China's Yangtze River Basin and found average concentrations of 11,854 items/m³ in water and 649 items/kg in sediment, with human activities such as wastewater discharge and economic development identified as primary drivers through GeoDetector modeling.
Occurrence and Distribution Characteristics of Microplastics in Surface Water of China: a Review
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Researchers synthesized the literature on microplastic occurrence and distribution in Chinese surface waters, finding mean river concentrations ranging from 0.57 to 930 particles per liter, with fibers and sub-millimeter particles predominating and polypropylene and polyethylene as the most common polymers. As Chinese cities increasingly rely on surface water as drinking water sources, the high and variable microplastic loads documented across river and lake systems represent a direct human exposure pathway demanding stronger pollution monitoring and control.
Microplastic characteristics, transport, risks, and remediation in groundwater: a review
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Researchers reviewed microplastic contamination in groundwater, finding concentrations up to 6,832 particles per liter from sources including landfills, agriculture, and atmospheric deposition, and reporting that membrane filtration technologies such as reverse osmosis can achieve 93–99% microplastic removal.
Release of Microplastics by Terrestrial Sources into Freshwater Environments
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This chapter examines how terrestrial sources—including stormwater runoff, agricultural activities, and wastewater treatment plants—release microplastics into freshwater systems. Identifying and controlling these land-based inputs is critical because rivers and lakes are not just reservoirs of plastic pollution but also sources of drinking water and irrigation for human populations.
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