Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution and quantitative source apportionment in the Jiangsu coastal area, China

Researchers investigated microplastic pollution in the Jiangsu coastal area of China, finding average surface water concentrations of 0.10 items/m and sediment concentrations of 0.19 items/g, with higher abundances nearshore and in southern zones, and quantified shipping, fishing, and terrestrial runoff as major sources.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in North Yellow Sea, China: Observations on occurrence, distribution and identification

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution across the North Yellow Sea, documenting their occurrence, distribution, and characteristics, and finding widespread contamination with higher concentrations in coastal areas and near river inputs.

2018 The Science of The Total Environment 412 citations
Article Tier 2

Pollution characteristics and source analysis of microplastics in the Qiantang River in southeastern China

Researchers found that microplastic abundance in the Qiantang River near Hangzhou, China, ranged from 1.5 to 9.4 items per liter, with higher levels during dry periods and concentrations correlated with local GDP and industrial manufacturing activity.

2022 Chemosphere 111 citations
Article Tier 2

Tracing Land-Based Microplastic Sources in Coastal Waters of Zhanjiang Bay, China: Spatiotemporal Pattern, Composition, and Flux

Researchers measured the spatiotemporal pattern, polymer composition, and flux of land-based microplastics entering Zhanjiang Bay, China through estuaries and sewage outlets across three seasons, finding an overall mean of 18 MPs per liter with highest concentrations during normal-flow seasons. Fiber-dominated MP assemblages from textile sources comprised the largest fraction transported to coastal waters.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 14 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 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

A review of microplastic pollution in seawater, sediments and organisms of the Chinese coastal and marginal seas

This review compiled microplastic abundance and characteristics data from seawater, sediments, and marine organisms across China's coastal and marginal seas, finding widespread contamination linked to China's extensive plastic production and mismanaged waste streams.

2021 Chemosphere 211 citations
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

Microplastics in China Sea: Analysis, status, source, and fate

This comprehensive review of microplastic research in China Seas compiled data from coastal and offshore studies, finding widespread contamination in seawater, sediment, and biota, with major sources including riverine runoff from densely populated river basins and fishing activities, and highlighting gaps in deep-sea and tidal flat monitoring.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 70 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of coastal wastewater treatment plants on microplastic pollution in surface seawater and ecological risk assessment

Microplastics were sampled at nine stations along the southern coast of Istanbul's Bosphorus to assess the influence of nearby wastewater treatment plant discharges on surface seawater contamination. Treatment plant outfalls were confirmed as localized hotspots, with ecological risk highest near discharge points.

2022 Environmental Pollution 63 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

Comparison of microplastic pollution in different water bodies from urban creeks to coastal waters

Microplastics were surveyed across a gradient of water body types in the Yangtze Delta area—from city creeks to rivers, estuary, and coastal sea—finding higher concentrations in freshwater (1.8–2.4 items/L) than estuarine/coastal water (0.9 items/L) and a dilution gradient from urban to marine environments. The study provides systematic data on how microplastic concentrations change along the freshwater-to-ocean continuum in a densely urbanized region.

2018 Environmental Pollution 474 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Freshwater River in Rio de Janeiro and Its Role as a Source of Microplastic Pollution in Guanabara Bay, SE Brazil

Researchers found widespread microplastic contamination in three rivers flowing into Guanabara Bay, Brazil, with an average of 3,651 particles per cubic meter dominated by fibers, identifying these freshwater systems as major sources of coastal microplastic pollution.

2023 Micro 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in sediments from the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea, China

Researchers sampled sediments from the Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea and found widespread microplastic contamination, with fibers and fragments as the dominant forms, and higher concentrations near river mouths and urban coastlines.

2018 The Science of The Total Environment 531 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in freshwater river sediments in Shanghai, China: A case study of risk assessment in mega-cities

Researchers characterized microplastics in freshwater river sediments across Shanghai, China, finding widespread contamination with higher concentrations near urban areas and industrial zones, dominated by fibers and fragments.

2017 Environmental Pollution 666 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial and Temporal Distribution Characteristics and Potential Sources of Microplastic Pollution in China’s Freshwater Environments

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution across freshwater environments in 21 major Chinese cities and found an average concentration of about 3,500 particles per cubic meter. The most common types were fibers, and concentrations generally increased from western to eastern China, closely tracking levels of human activity. The study found that microplastic abundance peaked in summer, likely driven by increased rainfall washing particles into waterways.

2024 Water 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution Characteristics of Microplastics in Surface Seawater off the Yangtze River Estuary Section and Analysis of Ecological Risk Assessment

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in surface seawater near the Yangtze River estuary across four seasons in 2017 and 2019. They found microplastics at all sampling stations, with abundance varying by season and influenced by river discharge and ocean currents. The study provides baseline data on microplastic pollution levels in this ecologically important estuarine region of China.

2023 Toxics 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Pollution status of microplastics in the freshwater environment of China: a mini review

This review assessed microplastic pollution in China's freshwater environments including rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, finding widespread contamination in surface waters, sediments, and biota with variations linked to population density and industrial activity.

2022 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence, potential sources, and ecological risk assessment of microplastics in the inland river basins in Northern China

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in a typical urban river system in Northern China, examining both surface water and sediment samples. They found that river sediments contained dramatically more microplastics than surface water, acting as a sink for this pollution, with polypropylene and polyethylene being the most common types. The study suggests that small fiber and fragment-shaped particles under 0.5 mm dominate these environments, likely originating from everyday plastic products and wastewater discharge.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 23 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

Distribution characteristics of microplastics in urban rivers of Songjiang District, Shanghai

Microplastics were found throughout urban river sections in Shanghai, China, with concentrations reflecting local population density and land use patterns. Urban rivers are a significant pathway for microplastic contamination flowing into coastal and marine environments.

2021 Marine Fisheries 3 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

The contamination of microplastics in China's aquatic environment: Occurrence, detection and implications for ecological risk

This review summarized microplastic contamination across marine environments, freshwater systems, and wastewater treatment plants in China, one of the world's top plastic-producing countries. The study highlights that research on how microplastics transfer between connected water environments remains lacking, and the microscale toxicity of microplastics is still poorly understood.

2021 Environmental Pollution 91 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in surface seawater of Sanggou Bay, China: Occurrence, source and inventory

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in the surface seawater of Sanggou Bay, China, finding average abundances of 20.06 items per litre dominated by polyethylene fragments smaller than 0.5 mm, and estimating that approximately 62.76% of the microplastic inventory originated from local aquaculture and fishing activities.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 80 citations