Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Storm events as key moments of microplastic contamination in aquatic ecosystems

Researchers monitored microplastic concentrations in waterways before, during, and after storm events and found that storm-driven runoff caused major spikes in microplastic abundance, identifying storm events as key transport moments that standard monitoring programs typically miss.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 309 citations
Article Tier 2

Underestimated land-to-sea microplastic emissions: The crucial role of rainfall events

Researchers investigated microplastic emission characteristics during a rainfall event in Masan Bay, Korea, using time-weighted sampling in the Samhochoen stream to capture temporal variation in microplastic loads. They found that microplastic abundance peaked during early runoff stages and was strongly influenced by rainfall intensity, with polypropylene and polyethylene accounting for roughly 60% of detected polymers.

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

The impact of extreme weather events on microplastics in intertidal sediments within a coastal embayment.

Researchers sampled microplastics in intertidal sediments of a coastal embayment before and after an extreme weather event to capture temporal variability. Microplastic concentrations increased substantially following the event, suggesting storms mobilize plastic from terrestrial and coastal sources and can cause short-term spikes in marine microplastic loads.

2025
Article Tier 2

Underestimated land-to-sea microplastic emissions: The crucial role of rainfall events

Researchers investigated the emission characteristics and loads of microplastics transported into Masan Bay via the Samhocheon stream during a rainfall event using time-weighted sampling, finding microplastic abundances ranging from 4.60 to 118 particles per liter with an event mean concentration of 29.87 particles per liter. They found that microplastic concentrations peaked during early runoff and varied with rainfall intensity, with polypropylene and polyethylene accounting for approximately 60% of detected polymers.

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

Microplastic Contamination in Sediments of Xiamen Bay: Investigating Ecological Consequences

Microplastic contamination was assessed in sediments of Xiamen Bay, China, examining spatial and temporal distribution, ecological consequences for sediment biota, and human exposure pathways. Key risk factors were identified based on particle characteristics, with the study providing insights for managing microplastic impacts in this heavily urbanized coastal environment.

2024 Innovation in Science and Technology
Article Tier 2

Microplastics discharged from urban drainage system: Prominent contribution of sewer overflow pollution

Researchers evaluated the abundance and distribution of microplastics in urban drainage systems in coastal Chinese cities, with a focus on sewer overflow events during storms. The study found that overflow pollution during wet weather is a prominent contributor to microplastic discharge into urban water bodies, with meteorological conditions and land use patterns significantly influencing microplastic transport and release.

2023 Water Research 79 citations
Article Tier 2

Inter-event and intra-event dynamics of microplastic emissions in an urban river during rainfall episodes

Researchers conducted high-frequency sampling of microplastics in a Japanese urban river during three different rainfall events to understand how storms mobilize plastic pollution. They found that rainfall events increased microplastic loads by 4 to 110 times compared to dry weather, with smaller particles mobilizing first during lighter rains and larger particles surging after peak rainfall intensity. The study reveals that storm dynamics play a critical role in determining when and how microplastics are flushed from urban areas into waterways.

2023 Environmental Research 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Variations in Land-Based Sources of Coastal Water Affected by Tropical Typhoon Events in Zhanjiang Bay, China

Researchers analyzed the abundance, composition, diversity, and flux of microplastics from three estuaries and one sewage outlet in Zhanjiang Bay, China, before and after tropical typhoon events, finding a 3.6-fold increase in microplastic abundance from land-based sources following typhoons. The study links increased stormwater discharge during typhoons to elevated microplastic loading in coastal waters, highlighting how climate-driven extreme weather amplifies plastic pollution.

2022 Water 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of persistent rain on microplastics distribution and plastisphere community: A field study in the Pearl River, China

Researchers studied the Pearl River in China and found that persistent rain increased the amount and variety of microplastics in surface water while decreasing them in sediments. The heavy rainfall stirred up settled particles, temporarily turning river sediments from microplastic sinks into sources. The study highlights how weather events can redistribute microplastic pollution and alter the microbial communities that grow on plastic surfaces.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Seasonal variation of diversity, weathering, and inventory of microplastics in coast and harbor sediments

Seasonal variation in microplastic diversity, weathering degree, and abundance was characterized in coastal and harbor sediments along the southwestern coast of Taiwan, finding harbor sites more contaminated than coastal areas and summer monsoon rains driving seasonal fluctuations.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 80 citations
Article Tier 2

Rainfall and Tidal Cycle Regulate Seasonal Inputs of Microplastic Pellets to Sandy Beaches

Researchers assessed how rainfall and tidal cycles regulate seasonal inputs of microplastic pellets to sandy beaches at regional and local scales, using pellets as a proxy pollutant to quantify spatio-temporal variation in stranding patterns near port facilities and industrial sites. Results showed that rainfall-driven runoff and tidal dynamics are primary controls on pellet delivery to beaches, with implications for managing industrial microplastic releases to coastal environments.

2020 Frontiers in Environmental Science 64 citations
Article Tier 2

[Pollution Characteristics of Microplastics in Sediments of Xiamen Bay Beach].

Researchers collected layered sediment samples (0-30 cm depth) at high, mid, and low tide lines across five beaches in Xiamen Bay, China, characterising the horizontal and vertical distribution, abundance, and pollution characteristics of microplastics across 45 sediment samples.

2022 PubMed 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of 2015 flood on the distribution and occurrence of microplastic pellets along the Chennai coast, India

Researchers compared microplastic pellet abundance on the Chennai coast before and after a major 2015 flood and found a threefold increase in pellet density post-flood, attributing the surge to urban river runoff carrying fresh plastic debris — demonstrating that extreme rainfall events are significant episodic drivers of coastal microplastic pollution.

2016 Marine Pollution Bulletin 306 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution of the Tamsui River and its tributaries in northern Taiwan: Spatial heterogeneity and correlation with precipitation

Researchers investigated microplastic pollution in the Tamsui River and its tributaries in northern Taiwan, collecting samples over three months. They found microplastics in every sample, with concentrations varying widely between rivers, from 2.5 to 83.7 particles per cubic meter. The study found a positive correlation between rainfall and microplastic abundance, suggesting that precipitation washes plastic debris from land into waterways.

2020 Environmental Pollution 201 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic in three urban estuaries, China

Researchers surveyed three urban estuaries in China and found microplastics throughout, with concentrations and types reflecting the combined influence of surrounding city density, stormwater runoff, and tidal mixing.

2015 Environmental Pollution 696 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution threats coastal resilience and sustainability in Xiamen City, China

Researchers found microplastics widely distributed in the coastal waters and marine organisms of Xiamen City, China, with fiber and fragment shapes predominating, posing threats to coastal ecosystem resilience and long-term environmental sustainability.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Temporal and Spatial Distribution Characteristics of Microplastics and Their Influencing Factors in the Lincheng River, Zhoushan City, China

Researchers analyzed temporal and spatial distribution patterns of microplastics in the Lincheng River in Zhoushan, China, finding that microplastic abundance is influenced by seasonal runoff, land use, and proximity to urban and industrial sources before entering the ocean.

2023 Processes 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Real-time variabilities in microplastic abundance and characteristics of urban surface runoff and sewer overflow in wet weather as impacted by land use and storm factors

Researchers conducted real-time field monitoring of microplastic abundance and characteristics in urban surface runoff and sewer overflows in Shanghai during storm events. Microplastic concentrations in runoff reached up to 4,969 particles per liter and were strongly influenced by land use type and storm intensity.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 76 citations
Article Tier 2

[Microplastic Pollution of the Beaches in Xiamen Bay, China].

Microplastics were found across beaches in Xiamen Bay, China, with fibers and fragments being most common and concentrations higher near urban and industrial areas. The findings add to growing evidence that microplastic contamination is widespread along China's heavily populated coastline.

2019 PubMed 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric deposition of microplastics in the megalopolis (Shanghai) during rainy season: Characteristics, influence factors, and source

Researchers characterized atmospheric microplastic deposition in Shanghai during the rainy season, finding that rainfall events significantly increased deposition rates, with fibers dominating and sources linked to both local urban activities and long-range atmospheric transport.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 134 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic emission characteristics of stormwater runoff in an urban area: Intra-event variability and influencing factors

Researchers found that stormwater runoff from both industrial and residential urban catchments contained substantial microplastics (54–639 particles per liter), with polypropylene and polyethylene dominating, and that microplastic concentrations peaked early in rain events following longer dry periods.

2023 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Stormwater runoff microplastics: Polymer types, particle size, and factors controlling loading rates

Researchers characterized microplastics in stormwater runoff samples collected at urban outfall locations. The study identified 17 different polymer types across various storm events, with concentrations around 0.99 particles per liter for the 500-1000 micrometer size range, and found that rainfall intensity and land use were key factors controlling microplastic loading rates.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastic transport and distribution in the urban environment of Coimbra municipality

Researchers tracked microplastic transport and distribution across five urban watersheds in Coimbra, Portugal, sampling atmospheric deposition, runoff, and streams before and during rainfall. Wet deposition carried more MPs than dry deposition, stream concentrations nearly doubled during rain events, and more urbanized, smaller watersheds had higher MP loads.

2025 Environmental Pollution
Article Tier 2

Seasonal pulses of microplastic emissions to the Mediterranean Sea

Researchers found that microplastic emissions to the Mediterranean Sea via the Na'aman stream in Israel showed strong seasonal pulses driven by rainfall, with abundances and types varying significantly before, during, and after the rainy season along the streambank and nearby beach.

2025 Environmental Research Letters