Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

The hydro-fluctuation belt of the Three Gorges Reservoir: Source or sink of microplastics in the water?

The water-level fluctuation zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir in China was found to be both a source and sink for microplastics depending on season, with high concentrations of plastic particles in the sediment. This large reservoir acts as an accumulation point for microplastics from upstream rivers.

2019 Environmental Pollution 62 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

Occurrence and Characteristics of Microplastic Pollution in Xiangxi Bay of Three Gorges Reservoir, China

Researchers surveyed Xiangxi Bay in the Three Gorges Reservoir and characterized microplastic occurrence and distribution, finding contamination throughout the bay with patterns influenced by local water circulation and sediment dynamics.

2017 Environmental Science & Technology 550 citations
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

Influence of catastrophic flood on microplastics organization in surface water of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

Microplastic distribution in the Three Gorges Reservoir was analyzed before and after a catastrophic 2020 flood, finding that the flood altered microplastic organization, stability, and polymer composition throughout the reservoir, with implications for microplastic transport to the global ocean.

2021 Water Research 83 citations
Article Tier 2

Seasonal pollution and surface characteristics of microplastics in surface water in the Wanzhou section of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

Microplastic pollution in the Wanzhou section of China's Three Gorges Reservoir was highest in backwater areas and during flood periods, when average abundance reached 5.27 x 10^3 items per km, with white foamed polystyrene contributing 32-81% of total particles.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Preferential deposition of buoyant small microplastics in surface sediments of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China: Insights from biomineralization

This study examined the distribution of buoyant small microplastics in surface sediments of the Three Gorges Reservoir, finding preferential deposition patterns at the sediment-water interface. The research revealed that reservoir hydrodynamics and sediment characteristics drive accumulation of buoyant microplastics in specific zones.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence, stability and source identification of small size microplastics in the Jiayan reservoir, China

Microplastics across a full size range were found in a Chinese reservoir, with small-sized particles (less than 300 micrometers) dominating and showing seasonal variation linked to rainfall and runoff, highlighting reservoirs as underappreciated sinks and sources of fine microplastic pollution.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 50 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

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

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

Catchment-wide flooding significantly altered microplastics organization in the hydro-fluctuation belt of the reservoir

Researchers investigated the effect of catchment-wide flooding on microplastic distribution in the hydro-fluctuation belt of the Three Gorges Reservoir in China, finding that flooding reduced local microplastic density from 7,633 to 4,875 particles per kilogram while transporting an estimated 5 times 10 to the 11 microplastic items into the reservoir. Approximately 15.8% by weight of the plastic flux that the Yangtze River delivers to the ocean was attributed to this single flooding event.

2022 iScience 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Seasonal variations of microplastics in surface water and sediment in an inland river drinking water source in southern China

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in surface water and sediment of a southern China river used as a drinking water source during both flooding and dry seasons. They found microplastic abundances were generally higher during the dry period, with fibers being the dominant type and polyethylene the most common polymer. The study suggests that seasonal hydrological changes significantly affect microplastic distribution in inland drinking water sources.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Accumulation of floating microplastics behind the Three Gorges Dam

Researchers collected trawl samples from the Three Gorges Reservoir on the Yangtze River and found extraordinarily high microplastic concentrations — up to 13.6 billion particles per square kilometer — accumulating behind the dam. The dam appears to act as a massive trap for floating plastic, preventing downstream transport and concentrating pollution to extreme levels.

2015 Environmental Pollution 517 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

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 wild fish in the Three Gorges Reservoir, China: A detailed investigation of their occurrence, characteristics, biomagnification and risk

Researchers examined 18 species of wild fish in China's Three Gorges Reservoir and found microplastics in every species, with an average of about 7 particles per fish. The microplastics showed signs of aging and weathering, and the study found evidence of biomagnification -- meaning predator fish accumulated more microplastics than their prey, which is relevant to human health since many of these species are consumed as food.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatiotemporal and vertical distribution characteristics and ecological risks of microplastics in typical shallow lakes in northern China

Researchers studied how microplastics are distributed across water, the viscous sublayer, and sediment layers in Baiyangdian, a shallow lake in northern China, during both wet and dry seasons. They found that microplastic abundance was highest in residential areas and that the vertical distribution pattern reversed between seasons. The study highlights that seasonal water level changes significantly affect where microplastics accumulate in shallow lake ecosystems.

2025 Environmental Pollution 2 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

Vertical distribution of microplastics in the sediment profiles of the Lake Taihu, eastern China

Researchers analyzed vertical microplastic distribution in sediment cores from Lake Taihu, China, finding microplastics at all depths down to 50 cm with total abundances of up to 8,100 particles/kg dry weight, suggesting that surface sediment sampling significantly underestimates total microplastic storage.

2022 Sustainable Environment Research 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Uniqueness and Dependence of Bacterial Communities on Microplastics: Comparison with Water, Sediment, and Soil

Researchers compared bacterial communities on microplastics with those in water, sediment, and soil in the Three Gorges Reservoir area, finding that microplastic-associated communities are unique in composition and ecological function compared to surrounding environments.

2021 Microbial Ecology 38 citations
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

Environmental fate of microplastics in the world's third-largest river: Basin-wide investigation and microplastic community analysis

Researchers conducted a basin-wide investigation of microplastics throughout the entire Yangtze River system, sampling water, sediment, and soil. The study found microplastics in all samples with abundance increasing from upstream to downstream, driven by both geographical and human factors, with major cities at the middle and lower reaches identified as key pollution nodes.

2021 Water Research 254 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and risk assessment of microplastics in a source water reservoir, Central China

Researchers measured microplastic levels at different water depths in a reservoir in central China used as a drinking water source. They found 2 to 14 particles per liter, with polypropylene and polyethylene being the most common types. Middle and bottom water layers showed higher risk levels due to more toxic polymer types, raising concerns about the safety of source water used for drinking.

2025 Scientific Reports 19 citations