Papers

61,005 results
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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

[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

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

[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

Characteristics and retention of microplastics in the digestive tracts of fish from the Yellow Sea

Researchers systematically characterized microplastics in 19 fish species from the Yellow Sea coast of China, finding plastic retention in 34% of individual fish sampled, with fibers dominating and significant variation in microplastic load by species and habitat.

2019 Environmental Pollution 138 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

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

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

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

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

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

Occurrence and characterization of microplastic content in the digestive system of riverine fishes

Researchers found microplastics in 93.8% of riverine fish examined, with polystyrene, polyethylene, and nylon being the most common polymer types concentrated near urban and industrial areas, and small particles (0.025-1 mm) predominating across species.

2021 Journal of Environmental Management 32 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

Microplastics in water, sediment and fish from the Fengshan River system: Relationship to aquatic factors and accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by fish

Microplastics were found throughout the Fengshan River system in Taiwan in water, sediment, and fish, with demersal fish at higher trophic levels accumulating more particles, and high concentrations of harmful PAH compounds also found in fish muscle. The study connects microplastic distribution to river pollution indicators and fish feeding ecology.

2020 Environmental Pollution 245 citations
Article Tier 2

[Microplastic Pollution Characteristics and Ecological Environmental Risk Assessment in Water and Sediments of the Yiluo River Basin].

Microplastic pollution characteristics and associated ecological environmental risks were assessed in a specific aquatic or sediment environment, providing concentration data and risk indices. The study establishes a contamination baseline and identifies priority pollutant risks for the area studied.

2025 PubMed 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-occurrence of microplastics and heavy metals in sediments of the Lanzhou section of the Yellow River: Distribution characterizations and comprehensive ecological risk assessment

Researchers assessed the co-occurrence of microplastics and heavy metals in sediments from the Yellow River's Lanzhou section, finding microplastic abundance ranging from 243 to 4,289 items per kilogram, predominantly small fragments under 100 micrometers. The study developed an optimized two-dimensional index for evaluating combined pollutant risks and found severe composite pollution, with copper and cadmium showing the highest contamination levels. The findings highlight the need for integrated risk assessment frameworks in urban river systems.

2026 Marine Pollution Bulletin
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in surface sediments of a typical river with a highly eroded catchment, a case of the Yan River, a tributary of the Yellow River

Microplastic contamination was characterized in riverbed sediments of rivers on the Loess Plateau in northwest China, an area subject to heavy erosion, finding widespread contamination dominated by polyethylene and polypropylene fragments. The study fills a gap in knowledge on microplastic pollution in inland arid and semi-arid river systems.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 51 citations
Article Tier 2

[Occurrence Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Microplastics in Surface Water, Sediments, and Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Huangbai River].

This Chinese study examined microplastic contamination across water, sediment, and bottom-dwelling invertebrates in the Huangbai River, finding widespread pollution at all levels. On average, each invertebrate contained roughly 2 microplastic particles, mostly fiber-shaped and under 500 micrometers. The feeding behavior of different invertebrate groups — whether they filter water, shred debris, or scrape surfaces — influenced how many microplastics they accumulated, showing that diet and ecology shape exposure. The findings demonstrate that microplastics are moving through freshwater food webs, not just sitting in the water or sediment.

2025 PubMed 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Yellow River Delta wetland: Occurrence, characteristics, human influences, and marker

Microplastics were surveyed across different zones of the Yellow River Delta wetland with varying levels of human activity, finding widespread contamination even in protected areas with minimal human presence, with MP abundances ranging from 136 to 2060 items/kg. The study identifies direct human activities as a stronger driver of wetland microplastic contamination than tourism.

2019 Environmental Pollution 86 citations
Article Tier 2

Baseline biomonitoring of microplastic pollution in freshwater fish from the Chishui River, China: Insights into accumulation patterns and influencing factors

This first-ever biomonitoring study of the Chishui River in China found microplastics in all 31 fish species examined, with an average of about 240 particles per gram in both gills and intestines. Bottom-dwelling fish accumulated significantly more microplastics than those swimming near the surface, and the fish contained twice as many plastic polymer types as were found in the surrounding water and sediment. The widespread contamination of freshwater fish with microplastics raises concerns about human exposure through fish consumption.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 7 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

Seasonal and spatial variation, and land-use influences on riverine microplastics and their ecological risks in the Yanshui River Basin

Researchers conducted year-round, basin-wide monitoring of microplastics in the Yanshui River Basin across 14 sites spanning agricultural, industrial, and urban land uses, finding average concentrations of 235.1 items/L in surface water and 20,370 items/kg in sediment. Microplastic abundance peaked at upstream agricultural and downstream drainage sites, with sediment functioning as a major accumulation sink.

2025 Journal of environmental chemical engineering
Article Tier 2

First Evidence of Microplastic Ingestion by Riverine Fish From the Freshwater of Northwest Peninsular Malaysia

Researchers found microplastics in the guts of multiple fish species from two rivers in northwest Malaysia, with some species averaging nearly 50 microplastic particles per gram of body weight. The dominant particles were fibers and fragments of polyethylene and polypropylene — findings that signal widespread contamination of freshwater food sources and raise concerns about human exposure through fish consumption.

2024 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2 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