Papers

61,005 results
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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

Manuscript prepared for submission to environmental toxicology and pharmacology pollution in drinking water source areas: Microplastics in the Danjiangkou Reservoir, China

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in surface water and sediments of the Danjiangkou Reservoir, the source area for China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project, finding microplastics in all samples at abundances ranging from 467 to 15,017 particles/m3 in water and 15 to 40 particles/kg in sediment. Fibrous particles smaller than 2 mm dominated, with micro-Raman spectroscopy identifying polypropylene as the primary polymer type.

2018 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 113 citations
Article Tier 2

[Composition and Distribution Characteristics of Microplastics in Danjiangkou Reservoir and Its Tributaries].

Researchers analyzed the types, abundance, and distribution of microplastics in Danjiangkou Reservoir, a first-class drinking water source protection area in China. Finding microplastics in a protected drinking water source underscores the need for improved upstream plastic waste management and water treatment to protect public health.

2021 PubMed 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and identification of microplastics in tap water from China

Researchers analyzed 38 tap water samples from cities across China and found microplastics in all of them, with concentrations averaging around 440 particles per liter. Most particles were smaller than 50 micrometers, and the dominant types were polyethylene and polypropylene fragments. The findings highlight that drinking water treatment plants face a significant challenge in addressing microplastic contamination in the water supply.

2020 Chemosphere 416 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics contamination in groundwater of a drinking-water source area, northern China

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in shallow groundwater from a major drinking-water source area in northern China. The study found microplastics present in groundwater samples, with their abundance, morphology, and chemical composition varying across the study area and correlating with nearby human activities.

2022 Environmental Research 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in a Source Water Reservoir in Middle Reaches of Yellow River

Researchers assessed microplastic occurrence and associated risk in a source water reservoir in Malaysia, detecting particles across multiple sampling sites and identifying dominant polymer types and size fractions relevant to drinking water safety.

2024 Water 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecological Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Luoma Lake and its Connecting Rivers

Researchers systematically investigated microplastic contamination in Luoma Lake and its connecting rivers in China, finding microplastics in all water samples at concentrations ranging from 3.2 to 12.2 particles per liter. The most common microplastics were small particles under 100 micrometers, primarily PET and polyethylene debris and granules. Ecological risk assessments indicated low overall pollution levels but moderate polymer hazard, providing baseline data for drinking water source protection.

2026 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Microplastics in Urban Tap Water and Water Sources in Qingdao, China

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in tap water and two reservoir water sources in Qingdao, China, finding 0.3–1.6 items/L in tap water and 0.2–0.7 items/L in source water, with rayon fibers dominating (99.2% fibers, 48.9% rayon). Water treatment was found to reduce the polymer-based risk of microplastics before reaching consumers.

2019 Analytical Letters 94 citations
Article Tier 2

The Detection and Analysis of Microplastics in a Typical Mountainous Drinking Water System in China

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in a mountainous drinking water system in rural China and found that microplastic concentrations increased along the pipeline length, with simple filtration facilities failing to effectively remove most particles. Polyethylene, polyurethane, and PET were the dominant polymers, with most particles smaller than 100 micrometers. The estimated daily intake was highest for infants, highlighting the particular vulnerability of young children in remote communities with limited water treatment infrastructure.

2024 Toxics 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in surface waters and sediments of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

Researchers sampled surface waters and sediments of the Three Gorges Reservoir in China and found microplastic contamination throughout, with concentrations influenced by water flow dynamics and proximity to human settlements.

2017 The Science of The Total Environment 896 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and source of microplastics in China's second largest reservoir - Danjiangkou Reservoir

Microplastic distribution and sources were investigated in Danjiangkou Reservoir, the second largest reservoir in China and the source for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. The study found microplastics throughout both the Han and Dan sections of the reservoir, identifying agricultural runoff and upstream river inputs as key contamination sources.

2020 Journal of Environmental Sciences 148 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution Characteristics and Risk Assessment in Groundwater of Chengdu, China

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in groundwater monitoring wells across the city of Chengdu in western China, finding between 7 and 24 particles per liter — with all sites showing detectable contamination. The dominant plastic types were engineering-grade polymers including polyphenylene sulfide and PET, and risk assessments ranged from low to high depending on the toxic potential of the polymer types present. The study provides a rare look at microplastics in urban groundwater, raising concerns about contamination of a drinking water source used by millions.

2025 Ground Water 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Pollution status of microplastics in the freshwater environment of China: a mini review

This review assessed microplastic pollution in China's freshwater environments including rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, finding widespread contamination in surface waters, sediments, and biota with variations linked to population density and industrial activity.

2022 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Horizontal and vertical distribution of microplastics in Gehu Lake, China

Researchers analyzed the horizontal and vertical distribution of microplastics at different water depths across Gehu Lake in China, finding microplastics present throughout all depth layers with surface water showing the highest abundance (3.13 plus or minus 0.32 items/L) and bottom water the lowest (1.03 plus or minus 0.14 items/L). They found that most microplastic particles ranged from 100 to 500 micrometers in size with fibrous shapes predominating, and identified polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene as the main polymer types in the lake.

2022 Water Science & Technology Water Supply 11 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
Systematic Review Tier 1

Occurrence, Characteristics, and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Tap Water and Bottled Water, China

This systematic review found microplastic contamination in both tap water and bottled water across China, with bottled water showing especially high levels — up to nearly 9,000 particles per liter for the smallest sizes. Fibers and fragments were the most common forms, and packaging degradation was a major contributor in bottled water. The findings raise practical concerns about microplastic exposure from the water we drink every day.

2025 Environmental Quality Management 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics and ecological risks of microplastic pollution in a tropical drinking water source reservoir in Hainan province, China

Microplastic pollution was investigated in surface water and sediment of the Chitian Reservoir, a drinking water source in Hainan province, China. Microplastic abundance averaged 3.05 items per liter in surface water and 0.15 items per gram dry weight in sediment, with ecological risk assessed and potential drinking water contamination implications noted.

2024 Environmental Science Processes & Impacts 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of Microplastic Content in Surface Water of the Gajah Mungkur Reservoir in Indonesia

Researchers analyzed surface water from Indonesia's Gajah Mungkur Reservoir, a drinking water source, and found microplastics at every sampling location, with concentrations ranging from 340 to 820 particles per cubic meter. The dominant shapes were filaments and fibers, and the plastics identified included polypropylene and polystyrene. The highest contamination was found at an upstream river inlet, suggesting that rivers are a key delivery route for microplastics into the reservoir. The findings raise concerns about microplastic exposure through drinking water drawn from Indonesian surface water sources.

2025 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 1 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

[Distribution Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Soil in Danjiangkou Reservoir Area of South-to-North Water Diversion Project].

This study characterized microplastic occurrence in four types of agricultural soil in the Danjiangkou Reservoir area of China — a critical water source for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. Orchard soils had higher microplastic concentrations than paddy or dryland soils, driven by plastic mulch use and irrigation. Microplastic contamination of this major water supply raises concerns about downstream drinking water quality for millions of people.

2023 PubMed 1 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

Microplastics in Stratified Reservoirs of the Ceyhan River Basin: Vertical Distribution, Environmental Correlates, and the Role of Dams in Contamination

Scientists found tiny plastic particles called microplastics in all four major reservoirs that supply drinking water in Turkey's Ceyhan River Basin, with concentrations ranging from about 10-15 particles per liter of water. Surprisingly, these plastic particles were most concentrated at the bottom of the reservoirs rather than floating on the surface, meaning current monitoring methods that only check surface water may be missing the full extent of contamination. This matters because these reservoirs provide drinking water to communities, and we're still learning about the long-term health effects of consuming microplastics.

2026 Environmental Research Communications
Article Tier 2

[Spatial and Temporal Variation Characterization and Variability of Microplastics in Water-borne River and Reservoir].

A study comparing microplastic levels in a river and a reservoir used as drinking water sources in Guangdong, China found meaningful differences in contamination patterns across seasons and locations. The findings underscore that drinking water source protection strategies need to account for microplastic pollution, as these particles can enter the water supply before treatment.

2026 PubMed
Article Tier 2

Revealing Microplastic risks in stratified water columns of the East China Sea offshore

This study mapped microplastic distribution across different depth layers in the East China Sea and assessed their potential toxicity to marine organisms. Significant differences in microplastic characteristics were found between water layers, with certain depths posing higher ecological risks. Since the East China Sea is an important fishing ground, understanding how microplastics distribute through the water column helps assess risks to seafood safety and human health.

2024 Water Research 18 citations