Papers

61,005 results
|
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
Meta Analysis Tier 1

A meta-analysis of methodologies adopted by microplastic studies in China

Chinese microplastic studies predominantly found irregular-shaped particles smaller than 1 mm across sediment, water, and biota, but major methodological inconsistencies in sampling, extraction, identification, and reporting units make inter-study comparisons unreliable and highlight the urgent need for standardized protocols.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 98 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in Chinese bays: Sampling method comparisons, key drivers, and economic influence

Researchers compiled microplastic data from over 300 sampling stations across 13 bays in China and compared three different water sampling methods. They found that microplastic distribution was heterogeneous across bays and that sampling method significantly affected measured abundance, though not the types of polymers detected. The study also found a positive correlation between regional economic development and microplastic pollution levels, suggesting that human activity intensity is a key driver of coastal contamination.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 8 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

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

Probabilistic risk assessment of microplastics on aquatic biota in coastal sediments

Researchers developed a new method to assess the ecological risk of microplastics in coastal sediments and applied it to Zhelin Bay in China, where they found an average of over 2,000 microplastic particles per kilogram of sediment. The assessment found a low probability (3.4%) of toxic effects on marine life at current levels, though 46 different types of microplastics were identified. This kind of risk framework helps scientists determine at what point microplastic contamination becomes dangerous for ecosystems and the food chains that connect to human diets.

2024 Chemosphere 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Coastal bays serve as reservoirs for microplastics from East China: insights from a mass budget model based on sedimentary findings

Researchers investigated sedimentary microplastics in three representative coastal bays of the Zhejiang Great Bay Area, China, and used a mass budget model to quantify sources and fluxes within each bay system. Riverine discharge accounted for 41.5%-96.7% of total microplastic input, with textile and fishing sources dominant in Hangzhou Bay, mariculture and tourism driving levels in Sanmen Bay, and packaging and agricultural sources prominent in Wenzhou Bay.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin
Article Tier 2

Spatiotemporal distribution, source identification and inventory of microplastics in surface sediments from Sanggou Bay, China

Researchers measured the spatiotemporal distribution of microplastics in surface sediments from Sanggou Bay (an aquaculture area in China) across multiple seasons and identified fishing gear and aquaculture equipment as dominant local sources, estimating total plastic inventory in the bay.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 97 citations
Article Tier 2

Factors influencing the occurrence and distribution of microplastics in coastal sediments: From source to sink

Researchers sampled microplastics from sediments of two semi-enclosed bays and two coastal open zones in China, finding that proximity to human activity and reduced hydrodynamic energy were the primary drivers of higher microplastic abundance, with Jinghai Bay showing the greatest contamination due to its enclosed geometry and adjacent urban inputs.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 119 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
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Nationwide meta-analysis of microplastic distribution and risk assessment in China's aquatic ecosystems, soils, and sediments

A nationwide meta-analysis of 7,766 sampling sites across China found that microplastic distribution is influenced by economic development, population density, and geography, with generally higher concentrations in prosperous areas. The pollution varies significantly across water, soil, and sediment compartments, highlighting the need for AI-based regulatory frameworks to manage standardized risk assessment.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 20 citations
Article Tier 2

A systems analysis of microplastic pollution in Laizhou Bay, China

Researchers conducted a systems analysis of microplastic contamination across surface water, sediment, and living fish at 58 sites in Laizhou Bay, China, finding pervasive fiber-dominated microplastic distribution with no significant regional differences, suggesting multiple diffuse pollution sources throughout the semi-closed bay.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 111 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

Impact of microplastic pollution on coastal ecosystems using comprehensive beach quality indices

This study applied three beach quality indices to assess microplastic pollution in Chinese beach sediments, finding that all sampled beaches rated "very high" pollution and "bad" environmental status. The work provides a standardized framework for quantifying microplastic impact on beach environments, which is useful for guiding cleanup priorities and policy decisions.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 14 citations
Article Tier 2

A framework for systematic microplastic ecological risk assessment at a national scale

This study developed a framework for assessing the ecological risks of microplastic pollution across China by analyzing data from 128 studies and over 3,400 sites. The research found that microplastic contamination is widespread in Chinese soil, water, and sediments, with some areas reaching concerning levels. This kind of large-scale risk assessment is important for understanding how widespread microplastic pollution may affect ecosystems and, ultimately, human health through contaminated food and water.

2023 Environmental Pollution 77 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

Policy impact on microplastic reduction in China: Observation and prediction using statistical model in an intensive mariculture bay

Researchers applied decision tree classification and Bayesian Structural Time Series modelling to 26 surface sediment samples and a sediment core from Sansha Bay, China, finding that policy interventions may reduce microplastic abundance in this intensive mariculture area while also predicting near-future microplastic trends.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 14 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Identification of the driving factors of microplastic load and morphology in estuaries for improving monitoring and management strategies: A global meta-analysis

Across 1,477 observations from 124 estuaries worldwide, microplastic abundance averaged 21,342 items/m3 in water and 1,313 items/kg in sediment, with about 69-86% of particles smaller than 1 mm. Population density and mismanaged plastic waste drove water contamination, while 47% of estuarine water and 73% of sediment samples reached the highest potential ecological risk category.

2023 Environmental Pollution 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Integrating species sensitivity distributions and toxicity thresholds: A probabilistic risk assessment of microplastics in Yazhou Bay, South China Sea

Researchers assessed microplastic abundance and ecological risk in Yazhou Bay, South China Sea, finding surface water concentrations of 3,437 n/m³ with a modeled estimate reaching 241,000 n/m³ when accounting for smaller particle sizes. Species sensitivity distribution analysis identified significant ecological risk to marine organisms at detected concentrations.

2025 Emerging contaminants
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 Distribution and Influence Factor Analysis of Seawater and Surface Sediments in a Typical Bay With Diverse Functional Areas: A Case Study in Xincun Lagoon, China

Researchers assessed microplastic distribution in Xincun Lagoon in China, finding that different human activities such as tourism, fishing, and aquaculture directly influenced the type and level of microplastic pollution in seawater and sediments.

2022 Frontiers in Environmental Science 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance, Composition, and Potential Ecological Risks of Microplastics in Surface Water at Different Seasons in the Pearl River Delta, China

Researchers measured microplastic abundance, composition, and ecological risk in surface water of the Pearl River Delta across different seasons, finding spatially uneven distribution with some sites showing far higher concentrations than others. Ecological risk scores were highest at sites near industrial zones and dense urban areas.

2022 Water 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution research methodologies, abundance, characteristics and risk assessments for aquatic biota in China

Researchers reviewed the current state of microplastic pollution research in China's aquatic environments, covering detection methods, abundance data, characteristics, and risk assessments for aquatic organisms. The review highlights that China's marine and freshwater environments are seriously polluted by microplastics, with ingestion by aquatic organisms posing potential ecological harm.

2020 Environmental Pollution 154 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment and sources identification of microplastics, PAHs and OCPs in the Luoyuan Bay, China: Based on multi-statistical analysis

Researchers applied multi-statistical analysis to assess microplastics, PAHs, and organochlorine pesticides in sediments across 21 sites in Luoyuan Bay, a mariculture-influenced bay in southeastern China, finding rayon fragments dominated microplastics and that pollution sources varied spatially across the bay. The upper bay was dominated by microplastic pollution while the lower bay showed higher persistent organic pollutant contamination.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 34 citations