Papers

61,005 results
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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

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

Researchers analyzed microplastic distribution in a typical urban river network in Nanjing, China, using multiple detection methods and the Renkonen similarity index to assess how river infrastructure structures such as dams and sluices influence microplastic spatial variability and footprint from a connectivity perspective.

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

Abundance, Distribution and Drivers of Microplastic Contaminant in Urban River Environments

Researchers surveyed microplastic distribution in urban river environments and identified key drivers of accumulation hotspots, finding that land use, hydrology, and infrastructure factors concentrated microplastics at predictable locations that could inform targeted management interventions.

2018 Preprints.org 38 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

Distribution and characteristics of microplastics in an urban river: The response to urban waste management

Microplastics were detected throughout surface water and sediments of an urban Chinese river (Nanming River) in both dry and wet seasons, with 25 different polymer types identified and the highest concentrations near sewage discharge points and plastic waste dump sites. The study shows that urban river management practices — particularly wastewater handling — are critical in controlling how much plastic reaches downstream ecosystems.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatiotemporal dynamics of microplastics in an urban river network area

Researchers investigated microplastic dynamics in an urban river network in eastern China, finding abundances of 2.3 to 104.6 particles per liter that were significantly higher during wet seasons and concentrated near commercial, industrial, and wastewater discharge areas.

2022 Water Research 161 citations
Article Tier 2

Prevailing impacts of river management on microplastic transport in contrasting US streams: Rethinking global microplastic flux estimations

Researchers compared microplastic transport in managed versus unmanaged US streams, finding that river management practices like channelization and damming significantly alter MP distribution patterns, suggesting global microplastic budgets need to account for river infrastructure.

2023 Water Research 50 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution Patterns of Microplastics Pollution in Urban Fresh Waters: A Case Study of Rivers in Chengdu, China

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in urban rivers of Chengdu, China, finding concentrations of 5 to 10.5 items per liter, predominantly transparent fragments and fibers, with spatial distribution influenced by urbanization and wastewater discharge.

2022 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 26 citations
Article Tier 2

The urban microplastic footprint: investigating the distribution and transport

Researchers investigated the distribution and transport of microplastics within an urban environment, mapping the 'urban microplastic footprint' to understand how city infrastructure and land use patterns drive the spatial distribution and downstream export of plastic particles to receiving water bodies.

2025
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution and vertical characteristics of microplastics in the urban river: The case of Qinhuai River in Nanjing, China

Researchers investigated the spatial distribution and vertical characteristics of microplastics in the Qinhuai River in Nanjing, China. The study found an average concentration of about 668 microplastic items per liter, with abundance patterns varying between surface and deep water at different points along the river, and identified correlations between microplastic presence and shifts in microbial community structure.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 16 citations
Article Tier 2

The role of water management and its effect on microplastic transport and fate

Researchers examined how water management practices affect the transport and fate of microplastics in river networks, which serve as both conduits and sinks for plastic pollution. The study found that flow regulation and water management interventions significantly influence how far microplastics travel and where they accumulate.

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

[Occurrence, Driving Factors, and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Surface Water of Typical River Basins in the Yangtze River Delta, China].

Researchers investigated microplastic occurrence, spatial distribution drivers, and risk assessment in surface water of Taihu Lake, Taipu River, and Huangpu River in China's Yangtze River Delta using field sampling, stereomicroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Network analysis was applied to identify driving factors behind the spatial distribution patterns of microplastic pollution across these interconnected freshwater systems.

2025 PubMed
Article Tier 2

Coupled effects of urbanization level and dam on microplastics in surface waters in a coastal watershed of Southeast China

Researchers analyzed the distribution of microplastics across 17 sampling sites in the Minjiang River Watershed in southeast China, finding that microplastic concentrations were positively correlated with urbanization indicators and that dams influenced spatial distribution patterns.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 101 citations
Article Tier 2

Anthropogenic Litter in Urban Freshwater Ecosystems: Distribution and Microbial Interactions

Researchers quantified anthropogenic litter in urban rivers and streams and found that microplastics dominated by mass and particle count compared to macroplastic items. The study highlights urban freshwater systems as major conduits for plastic pollution moving toward marine environments and documents distinct microbial communities on plastic surfaces.

2014 PLoS ONE 287 citations
Article Tier 2

The effects of riverside cities on microplastics in river water: A case study on the Southern Jiangsu Canal, China

Researchers studied microplastic contamination in the Southern Jiangsu Canal in China and found that riverside cities significantly increase microplastic levels in river water, with abundance rising by 26% to 211% after flowing through urban areas. The study found that microplastic concentrations correlated with regional GDP and population density, with PET, polycarbonate, and polyethylene being the most common polymer types detected.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 47 citations
Article Tier 2

[Composition and Distribution of Microplastics in the Water and Sediments of Urban Rivers in Beijing].

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in water and sediments from eight sampling points along urban rivers in Beijing. Microplastics were widespread, with fibers being the most common type, likely from laundry and textile sources. Urban rivers are important conduits that transport microplastics from cities into larger water bodies and ultimately the ocean.

2021 PubMed 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastic pollution in rivers globally: Driving factors of distribution and ecological risk assessment

Researchers constructed a global dataset of microplastic pollution across 862 river water and 445 sediment samples, identifying population density, GDP, and plastic waste generation as key driving factors of riverine microplastic distribution and ecological risk.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 43 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

Microplastics profile in a typical urban river in Beijing

Researchers profiled microplastic pollution along the Qing River, a typical urban river in Beijing receiving effluent from four wastewater treatment plants, investigating how discharged microplastics distribute and transform as they move through an urban riverine system.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 90 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic accumulation in benthic macroinvertebrates is widespread, regardless of the river ecological status

A broad survey of freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates across multiple rivers found that microplastic accumulation was widespread regardless of local urban development levels, suggesting that factors beyond proximity to urban areas—such as river hydrology and upstream sources—drive MP exposure in freshwater invertebrates.

2025 Hydrobiologia 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Variance and precision of microplastic sampling in urban rivers

Researchers assessed the variance and precision of microplastic sampling methods in urban rivers, finding that high spatial and temporal variability in microplastic concentrations requires carefully designed sampling strategies to obtain representative measurements and reliable data for river microplastic assessments.

2022 Environmental Pollution 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Modeling the transport of microplastics along river networks

Researchers built a mathematical model to predict how microplastics travel through river networks, combining water flow dynamics with estimates of human plastic inputs. They tested the model against real-world data from three river systems worldwide and found it reliably predicted microplastic concentrations. The tool could help identify pollution hotspots and guide cleanup priorities across entire river basins.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 28 citations
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

Environmental behavior of microplastic - heavy metal synergistic contamination in a typical urban-rural river network

Researchers investigated the seasonal co-occurrence of microplastics and heavy metals in urban and rural rivers in a Chinese inland city. They found that both pollutant types were present in all water samples and that microplastics can adsorb heavy metals, potentially increasing the combined environmental risk. The study reveals that river networks connecting urban and rural areas serve as pathways for spreading this dual contamination.

2025 Emerging contaminants 2 citations