Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Levels And Distribution Characteristics of Microplastics In Water And Sediment of A Typical Shallow Lake In Northern China

Scientists measured microplastic levels in the water and sediment of Baiyangdian Lake, a shallow lake in northern China. They found between 1,000 and 20,000 microplastic particles per cubic meter of water and up to 2,200 particles per kilogram of sediment. Despite pollution control efforts, microplastics remain widespread in this lake ecosystem.

2021 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Horizontal and vertical distribution of microplastics in the Wuliangsuhai Lake sediment, northern China

Horizontal and vertical distribution of microplastics in sediments of Wuliangsuhai Lake in Inner Mongolia, China was investigated to understand accumulation patterns in a shallow lake ecosystem. Microplastics were found throughout the lake sediments with depth-dependent vertical profiles, revealing the lake as a substantial reservoir for plastic particle accumulation.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 128 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic distribution and migration in soil, water and sediments in Caohai Lake under the different hydrological periods, Southwest China

Researchers investigated microplastic distribution in soil, water, and sediments of Caohai Lake in southwest China during dry and wet seasons. They found that all environmental compartments were contaminated with microplastics, with particle types and abundance varying between hydrological periods. The study suggests that seasonal water level changes influence how microplastics migrate and distribute across lake ecosystems.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Seasonal disparities in vertical distributions of microplastics and driving factors in a deep reservoir

Researchers studied microplastic distribution at different depths in a deep reservoir in southwest China and found that concentrations generally increased from the water surface to the bottom. The study revealed seasonal differences in vertical transport patterns, with low-density polymers like polyethylene dominating surface waters while denser particles accumulated in deeper layers.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Water Level Fluctuation on Microplastic Transportation and Redistribution in a Floodplain Lake System

This study examined how seasonal water level fluctuations in a Chinese floodplain lake affect microplastic transportation and redistribution, finding that flood pulses redistribute MPs across the floodplain and that rising and falling water levels create distinct accumulation patterns.

2023 Water 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in Taihu Lake: Spatial distribution from the lake inlet to the lake centre and vertical stratification in the water column

Researchers mapped microplastic distribution in Taihu Lake from the inlet to the center and at different water depths. They found that concentrations were highest near the inlet and decreased toward the lake center, while vertical distribution showed accumulation patterns influenced by water movement and particle density. The study improves understanding of how microplastics move and settle within large freshwater lake systems.

2024 Environmental Pollution 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Vertical microplastic distribution in sediments of Fuhe River estuary to Baiyangdian Wetland in Northern China

Researchers studied how microplastics are distributed at different depths in river sediments near a major wetland in northern China, where treated wastewater is a primary water source. They found that microplastic concentrations were highest in the top layer of sediment and decreased with depth, with polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common types. The spatial distribution was closely linked to nearby human activities, with more contaminated areas found near population centers.

2021 Chemosphere 129 citations
Article Tier 2

Horizontal and vertical distribution of microplastics in dam reservoir after impoundment

Microplastic distribution was mapped both horizontally and vertically in a Chinese reservoir after impoundment, revealing that plastics were not uniformly distributed but concentrated in specific depth layers and spatial zones influenced by water flow and stratification. The study provides insight into how dam reservoirs trap and accumulate microplastics from river inputs.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Species-specific bioindicators of microplastic pollution in a shallow lake: Hydrological period drives benthic macroinvertebrate exposure in Baiyangdian Lake, China

Researchers studied microplastic accumulation in three benthic invertebrate species across seasons in Baiyangdian Lake, China, and found that biological factors like feeding behavior were more important than ambient microplastic levels in determining uptake. The study suggests that seasonal hydrology strongly influences microplastic exposure and recommends specific shrimp and crayfish species as sensitive bioindicators for monitoring microplastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems.

2026 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Spatiotemporal Patterns, Characteristics, and Ecological Risk of Microplastics in the Surface Waters of Shijiu Lake (Nanjing, China)

Researchers surveyed surface waters of Shijiu Lake and its tributaries in Nanjing, China, during dry and rainy seasons, finding microplastic abundances of 17–31 items/L, with higher concentrations during the rainy season and small particles (38–75 μm) as the dominant fraction.

2025 Water
Article Tier 2

Vertical distribution of microplastics in the sediment profiles of the Lake Taihu, eastern China

Researchers analyzed vertical microplastic distribution in sediment cores from Lake Taihu, China, finding microplastics at all depths down to 50 cm with total abundances of up to 8,100 particles/kg dry weight, suggesting that surface sediment sampling significantly underestimates total microplastic storage.

2022 Sustainable Environment Research 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Factors Influencing the Spatial Distribution of Microplastics in Lakes with the Example of Dianchi Lake

Scientists studied how underwater slope, water depth, and distance from pollution sources affect where microplastics accumulate within Dianchi Lake in China. Counterintuitively, they found that microplastics were most concentrated at the lake's center rather than near its shores, and that underwater slope — not depth or proximity to pollution sources — was the strongest predictor of distribution. Understanding within-lake distribution patterns helps identify ecological hotspots and informs smarter placement of monitoring stations.

2025 Water 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Review of microplastics in lakes: sources, distribution characteristics, and environmental effects

This review analyzes microplastic pollution in lakes worldwide and finds that contamination levels are higher in shallower lakes near populated areas with more human activity. Microplastics accumulate heavily in lake sediments and can also be trapped in seasonal ice, only to be released during warming periods. Since many communities rely on lakes for drinking water and fishing, understanding how microplastics concentrate in these freshwater systems is critical for protecting public health.

2023 Carbon Research 77 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts of underwater topography on the distribution of microplastics in lakes: A case from Dianchi Lake, China

Researchers investigated how underwater topography affects microplastic distribution in Dianchi Lake, China, finding that water depth, slope gradient, roughness, and surface curvature significantly influenced distribution in the northern lake section where currents are weaker. Roughness was the only topographic factor consistently associated with microplastic distribution across both northern and southern lake sections.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 28 citations
Article Tier 2

[Vertical Distribution Characteristics of Microplastics in Miyun Reservoir].

Researchers measured microplastic levels at different water depths in Beijing's Miyun Reservoir, an important drinking water source, finding concentrations ranging from 0.4 to 7.6 particles per liter. The study found that microplastic abundance was significantly higher during flood season, with fibers being the dominant type across all water layers and polyethylene and polypropylene the most common polymer types.

2026 PubMed
Article Tier 2

Seasonal variation and ecological risk assessment of microplastics ingested by economic fishes in Lake Chaohu, China

Researchers examined seasonal variation in microplastic concentrations in economic fish species from Lake Chaohu, China, finding differences between wet and dry seasons and assessing the ecological risk of microplastic contamination in freshwater fisheries.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 26 citations
Article Tier 2

The spatial distribution and abundance of microplastics in lake waters and ice during ice-free and ice-covered periods

Researchers investigated how lake ice affects microplastic distribution in Lake Ulansuhai, finding that ice formation traps and concentrates microplastics, altering their spatial distribution and abundance between ice-covered and ice-free periods.

2023 Environmental Pollution 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic distribution in large shallow lake sediments: Variations with offshore distance and implications for microbial communities

Researchers analyzed microplastic distribution in sediments of Taihu Lake at varying distances from shore and examined the effects on microbial communities. They found that microplastic abundance decreased with increasing distance from the shoreline, ranging from 240 to 1,120 items per kilogram. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in lake sediments can significantly alter the composition and diversity of local microbial communities.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial and temporal distributions of microplastics and their macroscopic relationship with algal blooms in Chaohu Lake, China

Researchers examined the spatial and temporal distribution of microplastics in Chaohu Lake, China during wet and dry seasons, finding average concentrations of 2,133 particles per cubic meter in the dry season and 1,679 in the wet season. At a macroscopic level, microplastic distribution patterns correlated with algal bloom density, nutrient levels, and population distribution.

2022 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 63 citations
Article Tier 2

[Occurrence Characteristics of Microplastics in Baiyangdian Lake Water and Sediments].

This study measured microplastic abundance and characteristics in both the water and bottom sediments of Baiyangdian Lake in China, finding average concentrations of about 6,255 particles per cubic meter in surface water and 11,088 particles per kilogram in sediments. The dominant polymer in water was PET, while sediments were dominated by chlorinated polyethylene, and larger particles settled faster according to Stokes' law calculations. The results suggest textile washing wastewater and wear from boats and buildings are key local pollution sources, with important implications for understanding contamination of this important freshwater ecosystem.

2023 PubMed 7 citations