Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in the Yangtze River Basin: Heterogeneity of abundances and characteristics in different environments

Researchers compiled microplastic data from 624 sampling sites across the Yangtze River Basin covering water, sediment, soil, and biota, revealing heterogeneous contamination patterns driven by local land use, population density, and wastewater infrastructure.

2021 Environmental Pollution 112 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics and Distribution of Microplastics in Shoreline Sediments of the Yangtze River, Main Tributaries and Lakes in China—From Upper Reaches to the Estuary

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.

2021 Research Square (Research Square) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution, abundance, and risks posed by microplastics in surface waters of the Yangtze River Basin, China

Researchers compiled data on microplastic pollution across the entire Yangtze River Basin in China and found that contamination levels vary significantly by region, with urban and industrial areas showing the highest concentrations. The ecological risk assessment revealed that microplastics in certain stretches of the basin pose a notable threat to aquatic organisms. This basin-wide view helps identify pollution hotspots where intervention could most benefit both ecosystems and the communities that rely on the river.

2023 Environmental Pollution 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Interventions of river network structures on urban aquatic microplastic footprint from a connectivity perspective

Researchers analyzed microplastic distribution across a Nanjing, China urban river network using multiple detection methods, finding ubiquitous and abundant microplastics with distinct hotspots and heterogeneous characteristics linked to how river infrastructure structures such as weirs and gates interrupt microplastic connectivity and flow.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics pollution in the Yangtze River: Distinct characteristics of spatial distribution and basin-wide ecological risk assessment

Researchers analyzed microplastic pollution across the entire Yangtze River basin, compiling data from the headwaters to the estuary to create a comprehensive picture of contamination. They found distinct spatial distribution patterns, with higher concentrations in urban and industrialized stretches of the river. The study also conducted a basin-wide ecological risk assessment, finding moderate to high risk levels in several sections.

2022 Water Research 94 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 in sophisticated urban river systems: Combined influence of land-use types and physicochemical characteristics

This study assessed microplastic pollution across an urban river network in China, finding that land-use type and water physicochemical properties jointly influence microplastic distribution, with industrial and residential areas contributing highest loads.

2021 Environmental Pollution 50 citations
Article Tier 2

Are we underestimating the driving factors and potential risks of freshwater microplastics from in situ and in silico perspective?

Researchers combined field sampling with machine learning predictions to assess microplastic contamination in rivers of China's Yangtze River Delta, incorporating land use, hydrology, and particle properties. The study found that conventional assessments may underestimate risk by overlooking smaller particle sizes and high-density polymers, and that textile manufacturing effluents are a major underrecognized source.

2025 Water Research 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Interventions of river network structures on urban aquatic microplastic footprint from a connectivity perspective

Researchers analyzed how urban river network structures influence microplastic distribution in Nanjing, China, finding that river connectivity patterns significantly affect the spatial variability of microplastic footprints in urban waterways.

2023 Water Research 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Suspended microplastics in the surface water of the Yangtze Estuary System, China: First observations on occurrence, distribution

Researchers measured suspended microplastic concentrations in surface water across the Yangtze Estuary system in China, finding spatial gradients that reflected inputs from the Yangtze River and local coastal sources.

2014 Marine Pollution Bulletin 1035 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental fate of microplastics in the world's third-largest river: Basin-wide investigation and microplastic community analysis

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.

2021 Water Research 254 citations
Article Tier 2

The pollution of microplastics in sediments of the Yangtze River Basin: Occurrence, distribution characteristics, and basin-scale multilevel ecological risk assessment

This study mapped microplastic pollution throughout the Yangtze River Basin in China and found an average of 611 particles per kilogram of sediment, with wide variation across locations. Smaller microplastics under 1 millimeter and fibrous shapes were most common, and contamination was closely linked to population density and human activities. The findings are concerning because the Yangtze River system provides drinking water and food resources to hundreds of millions of people.

2023 Water Research 65 citations
Article Tier 2

[Distribution, Risk, and Influencing Factors of Microplastics in Surface Water of Huangshui River Basin].

Researchers collected 63 surface water samples across the Huangshui River Basin on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during the wet season, using metallographic microscopy and Fourier infrared spectroscopy to characterize microplastic distribution, and applied risk index and pollution load index models to evaluate ecological risks.

2022 PubMed 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Surface Water in the Yangtze River, China: Basin-Wide Observation, Multiple Ecological Risk Assessment and Sustainability

Researchers conducted a three-year survey of microplastic pollution across the entire Yangtze River Basin in China and found an average of nearly 8,800 microplastic particles per cubic meter of surface water. Tiny particles smaller than 0.3 millimeters made up over 92% of what was found and drove the variation in pollution levels between locations. The study highlights that previous research may have significantly underestimated microplastic contamination by not capturing these smallest particles.

2025 Sustainability 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic risk assessment in surface waters: A case study in the Changjiang Estuary, China

Researchers assessed microplastic risk in surface waters of the Changjiang Estuary, finding measurable contamination and identifying this major river delta as a significant source and pathway for microplastic transport into coastal marine environments.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 676 citations
Article Tier 2

[Temporal and Spatial Distribution and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Multiple Media of an Urban River].

Researchers collected water and sediment samples from the Guanzhong section of the Weihe River Basin during wet and dry seasons to characterize the temporal and spatial distribution and risk of microplastics in an urban river system. Using density flotation and multiple analytical methods, they systematically documented microplastic abundance, morphology, and polymer composition across multiple environmental media.

2025 PubMed
Article Tier 2

[Basin Distribution and Ecological Risk of Microplastics in Surface Water Bodies in China].

A comprehensive analysis of data from China's ten major river basins (2014–2023) found microplastic contamination in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries across the country, with microplastic abundance strongly correlating with population density and economic output. Polypropylene and polyethylene were the dominant polymers, and the Haihe River Basin near Beijing was classified as high ecological risk. The study also highlighted a major data gap: far less is known about microplastics in China's less-populated northwestern regions. These findings provide a national-scale picture of where microplastic pollution is most severe and what types of plastics are driving the ecological risk.

2025 PubMed 1 citations
Review Tier 2

Distribution, characteristics, and research status of microplastics in the trunk stream and main lakes of the Yangtze River: A review

This review synthesizes research on microplastic distribution, characteristics, and sources in the Yangtze River trunk stream and its major lakes, identifying industrial discharges, urban runoff, and agricultural films as dominant pollution sources affecting one of the world's most populated river basins.

2022 China Geology 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in the Yangtze River: Characterization, influencing factors, and scenario-based predictions using machine learning method

Microplastic pollution in the Yangtze River was characterized across multiple sampling sites, documenting spatial patterns in particle abundance, polymer types, and size distributions. As one of the world's largest rivers, the Yangtze's microplastic burden has major implications for plastic delivery to the Pacific Ocean.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 citations
Article Tier 2

[Pollution Characteristics and Ecological Risk Assessment of Microplastics in the Yangtze River Basin].

A comprehensive survey of the Yangtze River basin — the longest river in China — found microplastics at abundances ranging from 21 to over 44,000 particles per cubic meter, with the highest concentrations in urban tributary areas like Chengdu. Fibers and fragments under 1 mm were most common, and statistical analysis linked microplastic abundance strongly to vehicle ownership and tourism activity. The study found that roughly 69% of sampled areas fall within elevated ecological risk categories, with Taihu Lake identified as a particular hotspot.

2024 PubMed 3 citations
Article Tier 2

A catchment-wide microplastic pollution investigation of the Yangtze River: The pollution and ecological risk of tributaries are non-negligible

Researchers conducted a large-scale survey of microplastic pollution across the entire Yangtze River catchment, including both the main river and its tributaries. They found that tributaries contributed significantly to the overall microplastic load and posed ecological risks that had been previously overlooked. The study emphasizes that effective pollution management for major river systems must account for contamination flowing in from smaller waterways.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics and distribution of microplastics in shoreline sediments of the Yangtze River, main tributaries and lakes in China—From upper reaches to the estuary

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.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 17 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

Seasonal dynamics, tidal influences, and anthropogenic impacts on microplastic distribution in the Yangtze River estuary: A comprehensive characterization and comparative analysis

Researchers studied microplastic pollution in the Yangtze River estuary and found average concentrations of about 1 particle per cubic meter of surface water, mostly polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene. Microplastic levels were nearly twice as high during flood season compared to dry season and decreased with distance from urban centers. These findings highlight how population density and seasonal water flow influence microplastic distribution in major waterways.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 24 citations