Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in North Yellow Sea, China: Observations on occurrence, distribution and identification

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution across the North Yellow Sea, documenting their occurrence, distribution, and characteristics, and finding widespread contamination with higher concentrations in coastal areas and near river inputs.

2018 The Science of The Total Environment 412 citations
Article Tier 2

An evaluation of microplastic contamination in the marine waters and species in the coastal region of the South Yellow Sea, China

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination across water, sediment, fish, and shellfish in the South Yellow Sea, China, finding plastics at every level of the food chain. Contamination was highest near river mouths that drain industrialized areas and decreased further offshore. Fish and bivalves showed significant microplastic uptake in their guts and gills, confirming that microplastics move from polluted rivers into coastal seafood that humans consume.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Phthalate esters in the Largest River of Asia: An exploration as indicators of microplastics

Researchers conducted the first investigation of phthalate ester (PAE) pollution throughout Yangtze River sediments, finding 14 of 16 PAE types at all sites with concentrations related to urbanization and industrial activity, and explored their potential as chemical proxy indicators for microplastic pollution patterns. Strong correlations between PAEs and microplastic distribution suggest that PAEs could serve as soluble chemical tracers for microplastic contamination in large river systems.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution of microplastics in surface water of the lower Yellow River near estuary

Researchers characterized microplastics in surface water of the lower Yellow River near its estuary, finding that 93.12% were fibers, 87.94% were under 200 μm, and the main polymers were polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. The study provides baseline data on the types and distribution of microplastics entering the Bohai Sea from one of China's major rivers.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 468 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparison of microplastic pollution in different water bodies from urban creeks to coastal waters

Microplastics were surveyed across a gradient of water body types in the Yangtze Delta area—from city creeks to rivers, estuary, and coastal sea—finding higher concentrations in freshwater (1.8–2.4 items/L) than estuarine/coastal water (0.9 items/L) and a dilution gradient from urban to marine environments. The study provides systematic data on how microplastic concentrations change along the freshwater-to-ocean continuum in a densely urbanized region.

2018 Environmental Pollution 474 citations
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

Occurrence and fate of microplastic debris in middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River – From inland to the sea

A large-scale survey along the middle and lower Yangtze River found microplastics throughout the water column and sediments, with concentrations increasing toward the river mouth and a clear trend of microplastics moving from inland sources toward the sea. The study provides field evidence for rivers as major pathways for microplastic transport from land to ocean.

2018 The Science of The Total Environment 320 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrences of organophosphorus esters and phthalates in the microplastics from the coastal beaches in north China

Researchers investigated organophosphorus esters and phthalates associated with microplastics collected from 28 coastal beaches across the Bohai and Yellow Sea in northern China, finding that these plastic-associated chemical pollutants may transfer to organisms via plastic ingestion.

2017 The Science of The Total Environment 176 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in China’s Aquatic Systems: Spatial Distribution, Transport Pathways, and Controlling Strategies

This review synthesizes recent findings on microplastic pollution across China's rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and coastal waters. Researchers found that contamination levels vary dramatically by location, with urban waterways showing the highest concentrations and polypropylene and polyethylene being the most common polymer types. The study identifies rivers as major transport pathways carrying microplastics from inland areas to the sea and evaluates strategies for reducing this pollution.

2025 Microplastics 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in sediments from the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea, China

Researchers sampled sediments from the Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea and found widespread microplastic contamination, with fibers and fragments as the dominant forms, and higher concentrations near river mouths and urban coastlines.

2018 The Science of The Total Environment 531 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

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

[Pollution Status and Pollution Behavior of Microplastic in Surface Water and Sediment of Urban Rivers].

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in surface water and sediments of eight rivers across urban and suburban areas of Shanghai, finding widespread contamination that varied by location and urbanization level. The study provides a detailed picture of how urban rivers act as pathways for microplastics moving from land to sea.

2020 PubMed 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial Distribution, Key Influencing Factors, and Ecological Risk of Microplastics in Pearl River Estuary Water and Sediments

Researchers mapped the distribution of microplastics in the water and sediments of the Pearl River Estuary in China and identified the key factors driving contamination levels. Fibers were the most common microplastic type found, and human activity along the coast strongly influenced pollution patterns. The study also assessed ecological risks and provides a framework for understanding how microplastics accumulate in heavily populated estuarine environments.

2025 Water 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Hydrophobic organic contaminants affiliated with polymer-specific microplastics in urban river tributaries and estuaries

Researchers measured hydrophobic organic contaminants affiliated with different types of floating microplastics collected from tributaries and estuaries in the Pearl River Delta, South China. The study found that contaminants were highly concentrated in microplastics, with polyethylene carrying the largest share of pollutant outflow to coastal waters, suggesting that microplastics serve as significant transport vectors for toxic chemicals in aquatic environments.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatio-temporal distribution of microplastics in surface water of typical urban rivers in North China, risk assessment and influencing factors

Researchers measured microplastic levels in two urban rivers in North China across wet and dry seasons and found that concentrations generally increased from upstream to downstream. The most common plastics were polyethylene and polypropylene fibers, with natural factors dominating upstream and human activities driving pollution downstream. The study provides a reference for understanding how urbanization contributes to microplastic contamination in river systems.

2025 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

High levels of microplastic pollution in the sediments and benthic organisms of the South Yellow Sea, China

High concentrations of microplastics were found in both sediments and benthic organisms from the South Yellow Sea, with fibers as the dominant type and polymer compositions reflecting regional land-based and marine sources. The study identifies benthic ecosystems of the South Yellow Sea as significantly impacted by microplastic pollution, with potential risks to bottom-dwelling communities.

2018 The Science of The Total Environment 397 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

[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

Tracing Land-Based Microplastic Sources in Coastal Waters of Zhanjiang Bay, China: Spatiotemporal Pattern, Composition, and Flux

Researchers measured the spatiotemporal pattern, polymer composition, and flux of land-based microplastics entering Zhanjiang Bay, China through estuaries and sewage outlets across three seasons, finding an overall mean of 18 MPs per liter with highest concentrations during normal-flow seasons. Fiber-dominated MP assemblages from textile sources comprised the largest fraction transported to coastal waters.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 14 citations
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

Abundance, characteristics and ecological risks of microplastics from South Yellow Sea Mudflat

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in the mudflats of the South Yellow Sea and found plastic particles in both the water and sediment at all sampling locations. Areas near estuaries and ports had higher levels of microplastics in the water, while purely coastal mudflats accumulated more in their sediments. Although overall pollution levels were rated as low, the types of plastic polymers present indicated the potential for significant ecological risk.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and spatial distribution of phthalate esters in sediments of the Bohai and Yellow seas

Six phthalate esters were measured in sediments of the Bohai and Yellow seas, with sum concentrations averaging 9.1 ng/g and DEHP as the dominant compound (median 3.77 ng/g), with highest concentrations in coastal areas near industrial activity. The study provides baseline data on phthalate distribution in two important semi-enclosed Chinese seas and identifies associated risks to marine organisms.

2018 The Science of The Total Environment 95 citations
Article Tier 2

Navigating the difference of riverine microplastic movement footprint into the sea: Particle properties influence

Researchers mapped how different types of microplastic particles move from the Yangtze River into the sea based on their size, shape, and polymer type. They found that particle properties strongly influence transport patterns, with lighter and smaller particles traveling farther into the ocean while heavier ones settle near the estuary. The study provides a framework for predicting where different microplastics end up after leaving river systems.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 4 citations