Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Are we underestimating the driving factors and potential risks of freshwater microplastics from in situ and in silico perspective?

Researchers combined field sampling with machine learning predictions to assess microplastic contamination in rivers of China's Yangtze River Delta, incorporating land use, hydrology, and particle properties. The study found that conventional assessments may underestimate risk by overlooking smaller particle sizes and high-density polymers, and that textile manufacturing effluents are a major underrecognized source.

2025 Water Research 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Water Quality Evaluation, Spatial Distribution Characteristics, and Source Analysis of Pollutants in Wanquan River, China

This paper is not about microplastics — it assesses water quality in a Chinese river basin, finding that agricultural runoff and domestic sewage are the main pollution sources, without examining plastic contamination.

2023 Applied Sciences 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Water Pollution and Its Causes in the Tuojiang River Basin, China: An Artificial Neural Network Analysis

Researchers used artificial neural network analysis to assess water quality and identify pollution causes in the Tuojiang River Basin in China, examining parameters including dissolved oxygen and ammonia-nitrogen to understand contamination patterns and risks in this waterway.

2021 Sustainability 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution and potential sources of microplastics in the Songhua River flowing through urban centers in Northeast China

Microplastics were sampled from river water and wastewater treatment plant effluents at five cities along the Songhua River in northeast China, finding polyethylene and polypropylene as dominant polymers and identifying urban WWTPs as the primary point sources of microplastic input to the river.

2021 Environmental Pollution 50 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in China’s surface water systems: Distribution, driving forces and ecological risk

Researchers compiled over 14,000 samples from across China to map microplastic pollution in surface water systems using machine learning models. They found that microplastic abundance varied enormously across regions, driven by a complex mix of human activities and natural conditions. The ecological risk assessment revealed that watersheds in nearly all Chinese provinces face high to extremely high contamination levels, underscoring the urgency of nationwide management efforts.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 8 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

Spatial–Temporal and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in the Surface Water of the Qinhuai River during Different Rainfall Seasons in Nanjing City, China

Researchers conducted a spatial-temporal analysis of microplastic contamination and risk in a river system across multiple seasons and sites, finding that concentrations varied significantly with location and time of year. Urban and industrial zones showed the highest microplastic loads and associated ecological risk.

2024 Water 7 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

Evolving environmental awareness and shifts in management priorities: a socioeconomic lens on the min river basin, China

Not relevant to microplastics — this paper uses socioeconomic analysis and machine learning to study shifting environmental management priorities in China's Min River basin, focusing on water quality and land use.

2023 Frontiers in Environmental Science 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics and sources of microplastic pollution in the water and sediments of the Jinjiang River Basin

Researchers characterized microplastic pollution across surface water, groundwater, and sediments throughout the Jinjiang River Basin in China, tracing sources via principal component analysis and documenting contamination from inland areas to the estuary.

2022 China Geology 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic risk assessment in surface waters: A case study in the Changjiang Estuary, China

Researchers assessed microplastic risk in surface waters of the Changjiang Estuary, finding measurable contamination and identifying this major river delta as a significant source and pathway for microplastic transport into coastal marine environments.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 676 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in the Yangtze River: Characterization, influencing factors, and scenario-based predictions using machine learning method

Microplastic pollution in the Yangtze River was characterized across multiple sampling sites, documenting spatial patterns in particle abundance, polymer types, and size distributions. As one of the world's largest rivers, the Yangtze's microplastic burden has major implications for plastic delivery to the Pacific Ocean.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of nitrate pollution sources in surface water across the typical rural-urban interface: a case study of Wen-Rui Tang River, China

Researchers identified the main sources of nitrate pollution in a rural-urban Chinese river, finding that human sewage and agricultural runoff were the primary contributors. While focused on nitrogen pollution, the study illustrates how mixed land use creates complex water quality challenges in rivers that also carry microplastics.

2021 Research Square (Research Square) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Machine learning models for forecasting microplastic dynamics in China’s coastal waters

Researchers used machine learning to analyze microplastic pollution patterns across China's four major coastal seas, drawing on over 1,100 data points from peer-reviewed studies. They found that urban centers and industrial activities are key drivers of contamination, with pollution levels varying significantly between marine, coastal, and estuary environments. The models project that economic development and education could reduce microplastic concentrations, while industrial expansion may increase them.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 2 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

Correcting microplastic pollution and risk assessment in Chinese watersheds

Researchers compiled over 2,400 samples from 165 studies to create a national dataset of microplastic pollution across Chinese watersheds and developed a novel risk assessment framework. The study found that microplastic concentrations varied enormously across seven orders of magnitude, that population density and precipitation were key drivers of contamination, and that half of sampling sites fell into dangerous or extremely dangerous ecological risk categories.

2025 Environmental Pollution 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics pollution in inland freshwaters of China: A case study in urban surface waters of Wuhan, China

Researchers characterized microplastic pollution in inland freshwaters across urban suburban areas of China, finding contamination that reflected land use intensity and population density in the surrounding catchments.

2016 The Science of The Total Environment 1061 citations
Article Tier 2

Basin-Scale Pollution Loads Analyzed Based on Coupled Empirical Models and Numerical Models

This study used a combination of field measurements and computer models to quantify pollutant loads from different sources across a Chinese river basin. Better tools for tracking pollution sources at basin scale can support efforts to reduce microplastic and other contaminant inputs to waterways.

2021 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 8 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

[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

Predicting microplastic quantities in Indonesian provincial rivers using machine learning models

This study used machine learning models to predict microplastic levels in rivers across 24 Indonesian provinces based on environmental and economic data. Temperature, economic output, and population density were the strongest predictors of microplastic pollution. The approach could help environmental agencies monitor and manage microplastic contamination in freshwater systems more efficiently.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 7 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
Article Tier 2

Identification of potentially contaminated areas of soil microplastic based on machine learning: A case study in Taihu Lake region, China

Researchers applied machine learning models — including random forest and support vector regression — to predict the spatial distribution of soil microplastic pollution in China's Taihu Lake region, finding that soil texture, population density, and proximity to known plastic sources were the dominant drivers, with nearly half of urban soils showing serious contamination.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring action-law of microplastic abundance variation in river waters at coastal regions of China based on machine learning prediction

Researchers used machine learning to predict microplastic levels in rivers across seven coastal regions of China, identifying population density, urbanization, and industrial activity as the strongest predictors of contamination. The models successfully captured how microplastics accumulate and move through river systems using 19 different environmental and human factors. This approach could reduce the need for costly field sampling while helping target pollution management efforts where they are needed most.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 5 citations