Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Damming has changed the migration process of microplastics and increased the pollution risk in the reservoirs in the Shaying River Basin

Researchers investigated how dam construction in the Shaying River Basin affects microplastic pollution in water, sediment, and biological tissues near ten dams. The study found that dams alter the transport and deposition of microplastics, intercepting large amounts in reservoirs and changing how microplastics accumulate in freshwater organisms through shifts in food web structure.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 59 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of cascade dams on the occurrence and distribution of microplastics in surface sediments of Wujiang river basin, Southwestern China

Researchers analyzed microplastic distribution in sediments of the Wujiang River basin in southwest China, finding that cascade dams trap and accumulate microplastics in reservoir sediments, with dam density and upstream land use significantly influencing local microplastic abundance and composition.

2022 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in Chinese Rivers: A detailed analysis of distribution, risk factors, and ecological impact

Researchers aggregated data from 2,474 microplastic samples across 165 publications to assess ecological risk in Chinese rivers, finding widespread contamination with average abundance varying substantially by watershed characteristics. A revised risk assessment accounting for particle morphology and polymer toxicity raised concern levels beyond previous estimates.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 3 citations
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

The influence of water conservancy project on microplastics distribution in river ecosystem: A case study of Lhasa River Basin in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Microplastic concentrations in the Lhasa River Basin decreased from upstream to downstream as reservoirs acted as sinks, with the barrier effect of dams increasing MP deposition in sediments and reducing surface water concentrations in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution, Sources, and Ecological Risk Assessment of Microplastics in the Lower Minjiang River

Researchers characterized microplastic abundance, morphology, and polymer composition in surface water and sediments from the lower Minjiang River in China, then used pollution load indices and ecological risk assessments alongside socioeconomic data to identify likely pollution sources and ecological impacts.

2025 Toxics
Article Tier 2

Substantial burial of terrestrial microplastics in the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

Researchers found substantial burial of terrestrial microplastics in Three Gorges Reservoir sediments, suggesting that large hydropower dams act as significant traps that intercept microplastic transport from rivers to the ocean, with implications for the Yangtze River's plastic output.

2023 Communications Earth & Environment 50 citations
Article Tier 2

A review of microplastics pollution in dams globally: Consequences and future outlook

This review examines microplastic contamination in dams worldwide, covering particle origins, dominant shapes and polymer types, and the ecological and water quality consequences. It identifies dams as significant MPs sinks and highlights major knowledge gaps given the limited research on this environment.

2025 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental fate of microplastics in alpine and canyon-type river-cascade reservoir systems: Large-scale investigation of the Yalong River in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Researchers conducted a large-scale investigation of microplastic distribution in the Yalong River on the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, examining how cascade dam construction affects plastic pollution. They found that microplastic abundance in water and sediment within reservoir areas was significantly higher than in free-flowing river sections, with dams trapping high-density particles in sediments. The study suggests that cascade reservoir systems alter the migration patterns and accumulation of microplastics within alpine river watersheds.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 13 citations
Article Tier 2

The effect of dams on river transport of microplastic pollution

This study investigated whether dams trap microplastics in river sediments, finding significant accumulation of microplastics upstream of dams compared to downstream, suggesting dams act as microplastic sinks. The findings have implications for managing microplastic transport through river systems and for understanding contamination risks associated with dam removal.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 225 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

Dam operation changed the transport patterns of microplastics - from a global perspective

Researchers analyzed data from 517 sampling sites near dams worldwide to understand how dam operations affect microplastic transport in rivers. They found that reservoirs behind dams accumulate higher abundances and more diverse types of microplastics compared to upstream and downstream areas, essentially acting as traps. Seasonal dam operations, particularly during wet seasons, can flush accumulated microplastics downstream into sediments, altering pollution distribution patterns.

2025 Environmental Pollution 5 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

From water to sediment: A meta-analysis of microplastic distribution and the impact of dams in reservoir ecosystems

This meta-analysis of 36 reservoirs worldwide found that microplastics tend to accumulate near dams due to a trapping effect, with concentrations declining upstream. Vertical stratification patterns and significant impacts on benthic organism growth and reproduction were observed, highlighting reservoirs as underrecognized microplastic accumulation hotspots in freshwater systems.

2025 Eco-Environment & Health 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of cascade damming on microplastics transport in rivers: A large-scale investigation in Wujiang River, Southwest China

Researchers investigated how cascade damming on the Wujiang River in China affects microplastic transport, finding that dams intercept microplastics and reduce their downstream flux, with midstream areas showing the highest concentrations.

2022 Chemosphere 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and characteristics of microplastics in the Yulin River, China: Role of environmental and spatial factors

Microplastic pollution in the Yulin River in China was highest in tributary bays and declined downstream, with anthropogenic activity being a strong predictor of abundance. The backwater effect of the nearby Three Gorges Reservoir increased microplastic concentrations at the river's estuary, showing how reservoir management shapes plastic distribution.

2020 Environmental Pollution 140 citations
Article Tier 2

[Microplastic Pollution Status and Ecological Risk Evaluation in Weihe River].

This Chinese study characterized microplastic abundance, shapes, sizes, colors, and polymer types in the Weihe River in northwest China. The findings document significant microplastic contamination in a major regional river that drains one of China's most densely populated agricultural areas, raising concerns about both ecosystem and human health.

2023 PubMed 1 citations
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

[Effects of Flow Concentration on Water Microplastic Pollution in the Luoshijiang Sub-watershed of Erhai Lake Basin].

Researchers studied how variations in river flow concentration affect microplastic transport and distribution in the Luoshijian River, China, finding that higher flow events resuspend and redistribute MPs stored in sediments, increasing waterborne concentrations and downstream transport.

2025 PubMed
Article Tier 2

[Temporal and Spatial Distribution and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Multiple Media of an Urban River].

Researchers collected water and sediment samples from the Guanzhong section of the Weihe River Basin during wet and dry seasons to characterize the temporal and spatial distribution and risk of microplastics in an urban river system. Using density flotation and multiple analytical methods, they systematically documented microplastic abundance, morphology, and polymer composition across multiple environmental media.

2025 PubMed
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

The Three Gorges Dam alters the spatial distribution and flux of microplastics in the Yangtze River

Researchers mapped how the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River alters the distribution and flow of microplastic pollution. They found that the reservoir acts as a significant trap for microplastics, accumulating them in sediment and the fluctuation zone along its banks, while reducing the downstream flux. The study suggests that large dams fundamentally change how microplastic pollution moves through major river systems.

2025 Environmental Research 2 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

Microplastics contamination in the surface water of the Yangtze River from upstream to estuary based on different sampling methods

A survey of microplastic contamination along the Yangtze River from source to estuary found average abundances of up to 4.25 × 10^5 items/km by trawling and up to 3,089 items/m³ by filtration, with the Three Gorges Reservoir showing the highest concentrations due to a dam barrier effect.

2021 Environmental Research 130 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