Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Occurrence, sources, and risks of microplastics in agricultural soils of Weishan Irrigation District in the lower reaches of the Yellow River, China

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in agricultural soils across the Weishan Irrigation District in China's Yellow River region, finding an average of 500 to 900 particles per kilogram of soil depending on land use type. Most particles were small films, fibers, and fragments, primarily made of polyethylene, likely originating from irrigation water, organic fertilizers, and plastic agricultural materials. The study found that assessing ecological risk based on specific microplastic characteristics revealed higher danger levels than looking at total particle counts alone.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 12 citations
Article Tier 2

[Occurrence Characteristics and Ecological Risk Assessment of Microplastic Pollution in the Yellow River Basin].

Researchers examined the spatial distribution, composition characteristics, and ecological risks of microplastic pollution across the Yellow River Basin in China, assessing contamination levels in the nation's historically significant waterway system.

2025 PubMed
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution characteristics and ecological risk assessment in the Wuding River Basin, China

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in the Wuding River, a tributary of China's Yellow River, collecting samples from 19 sites across water and sediment. They found that microplastic abundance varied significantly across locations, with fibers being the dominant shape, and identified population density and land use as key factors influencing contamination levels. The ecological risk assessment indicated that certain areas of the basin face moderate to high risk from microplastic pollution.

2024 Environmental Pollution 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution of microplastics in Lanzhou section of the Yellow River: Characteristics, ecological risk assessment, and factors analysis

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in surface water and sediments along the Lanzhou section of China's Yellow River. They found that most particles were small fibrous fragments of PET and polypropylene, with higher abundances during the dry season, and that human activity and weather patterns influenced microplastic distribution. Ecological risk assessments indicated the overall pollution level in this stretch of the river was relatively low.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and ecological risk of microplastics in soils and sediments in the Inner Mongolian Yellow River Basin: An analysis based on functional zoning

Researchers analyzed microplastic pollution across 34 soil and sediment samples from the Inner Mongolian Yellow River Basin, finding widespread contamination with a mean abundance of 5,503 items/kg in soils and 2,059 items/kg in sediments, dominated by transparent polypropylene and polyethylene fibers. Sewage outlets and industrial areas were identified as major microplastic sinks in soil, with the highest sediment contamination near Hohhot.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in the adjacent environment of Yellow River Delta, China

Researchers assessed microplastic pollution across water, sediment, and soil samples in the Yellow River Delta of China. The study found microplastic concentrations ranging from 0.5 to nearly 8 particles per liter in water and up to 4,200 particles per kilogram in sediments, with polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common polymer types, indicating widespread plastic contamination in this coastal environment.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial distributions of macronutrients, heavy metals and microplastics in surface sediments of the mainstem and lakes in the middle part of the Yellow River Basin

Researchers mapped the distribution of macronutrients, heavy metals, and microplastics in sediments along the middle section of the Yellow River and adjacent lakes in China. They found that microplastic concentrations ranged from 233 to 3,333 items per kilogram in river sediments, with nylon as the dominant polymer type. Contamination levels increased significantly after the river flowed through intensive agricultural areas, with urban lakes showing the highest heavy metal concentrations.

2025 Geoscience Frontiers 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Pollution characteristics and prospective risk of microplastics in the Zhengzhou section of Yellow River, China

Researchers analyzed microplastic pollution across fourteen sampling sites in the Zhengzhou section of the Yellow River in China. The study found microplastic concentrations ranging from 2.33 to 15.50 particles per liter, higher than other inland Chinese rivers, with fibers and fragments being the dominant types and polyethylene the most common polymer.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Vertical distribution and multi-source pathways of microplastics in agricultural soils: A study of typical irrigation areas in the upper Yellow River basin

Researchers found that farmland soil in the upper Yellow River region contained significantly more microplastics than nearby forest or grassland, with plastics detected in all soil layers down to one meter deep. Flood-style irrigation pushed microplastics much deeper into the ground than drip irrigation, doubling contamination levels. This is concerning because microplastics migrating deep into agricultural soil could eventually reach groundwater that people depend on for drinking water.

2025 Environmental Pollution 5 citations
Article Tier 2

[Distribution, Sources, and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Surface Sediments of Yellow River Delta Wetland].

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in surface sediments of the Yellow River Delta wetland and found concentrations ranging from 20 to 520 particles per kilogram, primarily consisting of fibers. The dominant polymer types included rayon, polyethylene, polyester, and PET, with most particles larger than 1 mm. Pollution index assessments indicated the wetland was at a slightly polluted level with relatively low ecological risk overall.

2023 PubMed 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution of microplastic contamination in the major tributaries of the Yellow River on the Loess Plateau

Researchers investigated microplastic distribution across 96 sampling sites in three major tributaries of the Yellow River on the Loess Plateau, finding that microplastic abundance and characteristics differed among tributaries based on land use and human activity. The study identified environmental factors driving microplastic contamination patterns in these river systems.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in water and sediment in the Henan section of the Yellow River based on the MultiMP comprehensive evaluation method

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in the Henan section of the Yellow River, analyzing both surface water and sediment samples using the MultiMP risk assessment method. The study found microplastics throughout the river system, with fiber-shaped particles in the 25-150 micrometer range being most common, and the findings suggest moderate ecological risk that warrants continued monitoring.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in Yellow River: Current status and research progress of biotoxicological effects

A comprehensive assessment of microplastic pollution in China's Yellow River found average abundances of 5,358–654,000 items/m³ in water and 43.57–615 items/kg in sediment, with fibers dominant in water samples, and reviewed evidence of biotoxicity in fish, invertebrates, and microorganisms.

2021 China Geology 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in Chinese Rivers: A detailed analysis of distribution, risk factors, and ecological impact

Researchers aggregated data from 2,474 microplastic samples across 165 publications to assess ecological risk in Chinese rivers, finding widespread contamination with average abundance varying substantially by watershed characteristics. A revised risk assessment accounting for particle morphology and polymer toxicity raised concern levels beyond previous estimates.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 3 citations
Article Tier 2

[Microplastics pollution in the Yellow River basin: current status and control strategy].

This review summarizes microplastic contamination in the Yellow River basin, finding that pollution increases from upstream to downstream with the highest concentrations in the Yellow River Delta wetland, and that both sediment and surface water are impacted at levels posing risks to aquaculture and human health.

2023 PubMed
Article Tier 2

Temporal and spatial variation of microplastics in Baotou section of Yellow River, China

This study tracked microplastic contamination in the Yellow River near Baotou, China, across different seasons and locations, sampling surface water, sediment, and nearby soil. Researchers found microplastics everywhere they looked, with fibers being the dominant type and concentrations varying by season and proximity to urban areas. The findings highlight that major rivers can serve as pathways carrying land-based microplastic pollution toward the ocean.

2023 Journal of Environmental Management 61 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization and risk assessment of microplastics in shoreline sediments of the Yellow River Delta

Microplastics were characterized in shoreline sediments from the Yellow River Delta in northern China, with polyethylene and polypropylene fibres and fragments predominating. Source analysis linked MPs to agricultural activities, riverine transport, and fishing, while ecological risk assessment indicated moderate-to-high risk for the delta ecosystem.

2024 Marine Environmental Research 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Driving factors and sources of microplastics in soils in the Yellow River source area

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in soils across the remote Yellow River source region on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. They found that even in this sparsely populated area, microplastics were present at an average of about 75 particles per kilogram of soil, primarily from tourism, traffic, and grazing activities. The study reveals that human activities introduce microplastics to even the most remote plateau environments, with roadside dust and atmospheric transport being major pathways.

2025 Environmental Pollution 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution, Sources, and Ecological Risk Assessment of Microplastics in the Lower Minjiang River

Researchers characterized microplastic abundance, morphology, and polymer composition in surface water and sediments from the lower Minjiang River in China, then used pollution load indices and ecological risk assessments alongside socioeconomic data to identify likely pollution sources and ecological impacts.

2025 Toxics
Article Tier 2

Spatial Distribution and Ecological Risk of Microplastic Contamination in River Water Near a Landfill Leachate Disposal Area: A Case Study of Supit Urang Landfill, Malang City, Indonesia

Researchers mapped the spatial distribution and ecological risk of microplastic contamination across river sediments in a Chinese river system, finding risk levels varied with proximity to urban centers and industrial zones, and that certain polymer types posed elevated ecological hazard.

2025 Jurnal Pengelolaan Sumberdaya Alam dan Lingkungan (Journal of Natural Resources and Environmental Management)
Article Tier 2

Effects of irrigation on the fate of microplastics in typical agricultural soil and freshwater environments in the upper irrigation area of the Yellow River

Researchers investigated how irrigation affects microplastic distribution in agricultural soil and nearby waterways along the Yellow River. They found that irrigation increased microplastic concentrations in surface water and sediment while pushing smaller particles deeper into soil, suggesting that river water irrigation causes secondary microplastic pollution in agricultural environments.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 84 citations
Article Tier 2

[Occurrence Characteristic and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Sishui River (Xingyang Section)].

Researchers characterized microplastics in water samples from sewage outlet sites along the Sishui River (Xingyang section), a Yellow River tributary, finding predominantly transparent fibers and fragments under 500 micrometers composed mainly of PET and PE polymers and conducting ecological risk assessment.

2024 PubMed 1 citations
Article Tier 2

[Microplastic Pollution Status and Ecological Risk Evaluation in Weihe River].

This Chinese study characterized microplastic abundance, shapes, sizes, colors, and polymer types in the Weihe River in northwest China. The findings document significant microplastic contamination in a major regional river that drains one of China's most densely populated agricultural areas, raising concerns about both ecosystem and human health.

2023 PubMed 1 citations
Article Tier 2

[Characteristics, Risk Assessment of Microplastics, and Heavy Metal Pollution in Farmland Soils in the Upper Hanjiang River].

Researchers characterized microplastic and heavy metal pollution in farmland soils of the upper Hanjiang River, finding microplastic abundances of 360-6,300 particles/kg dominated by film-shaped PP and PE fragments under 0.5 mm, with Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb exceeding background values and moderate overall compound pollution risk.

2025 PubMed