Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastics- A not so Micro Problem: Prevalence in A North Caroline Freshwater System

Researchers investigated microplastic prevalence in the Catawba River Basin of North Carolina by collecting 80 water samples across five sites varying in recreation intensity and upstream/downstream position, finding microplastics present in every sample collected and documenting higher concentrations at downstream and recreated sites.

2022 International journal of high school research 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Temporal and Spatial Variations in Microplastic Concentrations in Small Headwater Basins in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina, USA

Microplastic concentrations in two Southern Appalachian headwater basins reached up to 65.1 MPs/L — in the upper quartile globally — with approximately 90% being fibers and concentrations increasing with land development intensity over a year of sampling.

2024 Environments 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Temporal and Spatial Variations in Microplastic Concentrations in Small Headwater Basins in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina, USA

Researchers examined spatial and temporal variations in microplastic concentrations and characteristics within two headwater basins in the Southern Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina over approximately one year, also collecting atmospheric samples to assess the contribution of atmospheric deposition, finding MP concentrations in the upper quartile of globally reported values with maximums reaching 65.1 MPs/L and approximately 90% of MPs linked to atmospheric sources.

2024 UNC Libraries
Article Tier 2

Microplastic distribution and characteristics across a large river basin: Insights from the Neuse River in North Carolina, USA

Researchers characterized microplastic distribution across the Neuse River Basin in North Carolina, finding microplastics in both water and sediment at all sampling locations, with concentrations influenced by land use and proximity to urban areas.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Insights into the in-situ degradation and fragmentation of macroplastics in a low-order riverine system

Researchers studied the in-situ degradation and fragmentation of larger plastic debris into microplastics within a low-order stream system. The study found that these small, often overlooked waterways are active sites where plastic materials break down, serving as important conduits for microplastic generation and transport to downstream coastal environments.

2025 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Fluvial Concentrations of Microplastics in a Suburban Micro-Watershed: Sampling Methodology and Analysis

Researchers designed a low-cost sampling station to collect and quantify microplastics in a shallow suburban stream in South Carolina. They found that microplastic abundance increased from the top of the watershed to the bottom, rising from about 269 to 715 particles per 10 cubic meters of surface water. Fibers were the dominant type, and the study highlights the need for standardized sampling methods for small freshwater streams.

2024 Environmental Engineering Science 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution differences in freshwater river according to stream order: Insights from spatial distribution, annual load, and ecological assessment

Researchers compared microplastic pollution levels in a freshwater river across different land-use zones, finding higher concentrations near urban and agricultural areas than in forested regions. Fiber-type microplastics were predominant across all sampling locations.

2024 Journal of Environmental Management 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Conceptual framework for exploring riverine macroplastic fragmentation

This paper presents a conceptual framework for studying how macroplastic debris fragments into smaller particles in rivers, identifying key physical and chemical processes and calling for field-based fragmentation rate data to improve plastic pollution models.

2024 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of land cover on microplastics accumulation in freshwater sediments

Researchers collected sediment cores from four Pennsylvania watersheds with different land uses to examine how land cover influences microplastic accumulation in freshwater sediments over time. Urban and agricultural watersheds showed higher microplastic concentrations than forested watersheds, with fibers being the most common morphotype.

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

Quantifying and classifying microplastics and microparticles across aquatic heterotrophs from headwater streams in central Pennsylvania

Researchers found microparticle contamination across multiple trophic levels in remote forested headwater streams in central Pennsylvania, with secondary consumers showing the highest contamination rates and µFTIR confirming true microplastics at two of five sampling sites.

2025 Journal of Freshwater Ecology
Article Tier 2

Widespread Microplastic Pollution in Central Appalachian Streams: Implications for Freshwater Ecosystem Sustainability

Researchers evaluated microplastic pollution in freshwater streams across central Appalachia by examining the gut contents of 55 northern hogsucker fish from seven streams. They found an average of nearly 40 microplastic particles per fish, with the highest contamination in watersheds affected by mining, agriculture, and urban development. The study fills an important gap in understanding microplastic contamination in Appalachian freshwater systems and its potential consequences for ecosystem health.

2025 Sustainability 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance of Microplastics in Freshwater Streams of Rural Areas

This study surveyed microplastic concentrations in freshwater streams in rural areas, finding plastic particles including microbeads from personal care products and synthetic fibers in most samples. The results indicate that microplastic contamination extends well beyond urban settings into rural waterways.

2018 ISU Red - Research and eData (Illinois State University) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Relative contributions of different local sources to riverborne microplastic in a mixed landuse area within a tropical catchment

Researchers quantified the relative contributions of different land-use sources to riverborne microplastics in a tropical catchment, providing data to help prioritize pollution reduction measures for protecting human and ecological health.

2022 Environmental Research 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification and Characterization of Microplastics in Freshwater Systems: a Close Look at the Poquessing Creek- a Delaware River Tributary

Scientists sampled a Pennsylvania creek tributary to the Delaware River and found microplastics at all sampling locations, with fibers and fragments being the most common types. Urban freshwater systems routinely carry microplastics that can accumulate in drinking water sources downstream.

2021 ScholarlyCommons (University of Pennsylvania) 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Marine Debris in River Margins: Wet and Dry Weathering Effects on the Fragmentation and Degradation of Discarded Plastic

Researchers evaluated the effects of extended wet and dry weathering on the fragmentation and degradation of common land-based debris items found in riparian zones, including cigarette filters, tents, medical masks, plastic bags, water bottles, and Styrofoam food containers. The study identified land-based debris weathering as a major pathway generating marine microplastics from everyday discarded items.

2025