Papers

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Article Tier 2

Contribution of mulch film to microplastics in agricultural soil and surface water in China

Researchers developed a framework to quantify how much agricultural mulch film contributes to microplastic contamination in farmland soil and surface water in China, measuring the ratio of mulch-derived particles to total microplastics from all sources.

2021 Environmental Pollution 119 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic in tropical island estuaries in China: Source identification and management framework development

Researchers found surprisingly higher microplastic concentrations in the less-urbanized Wanquan River Estuary compared to the Nandu River Estuary in Hainan Island, China, suggesting that tourism and agricultural activities may contribute more significantly to microplastic pollution than urbanization alone.

2025 Marine Environmental Research
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

Investigation of microplastic pollution on paddy fields in Xiangtan City, Southern China

Researchers found that microplastic abundance in paddy seedling-raising fields in China was approximately nine times higher than in standard paddy fields, with transparent plastic films being the dominant type, suggesting agricultural plastic mulch is a major source of farmland microplastic contamination.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in the Wanquan River estuary, Hainan Island

Researchers characterized microplastic pollution in the Wanquan River estuary in Hainan Island, finding high abundances in both surface water and sediment, with fibers as the dominant shape and polyethylene as the primary polymer type.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Study on Pollution Characteristics and Ecological Risks of Microplastics in Ningyuan River

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in the Ningyuan River in Hainan Province, China, finding plastic particles in surface water samples. The study characterized microplastic abundance, types, sizes, and shapes, and conducted an ecological risk assessment, contributing to understanding of microplastic pollution in China's tropical river systems.

2023 E3S Web of Conferences
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

The first report on the source-to-sink characterization of microplastic pollution from a riverine environment in tropical India

This first source-to-sink study of microplastic pollution in a tropical Indian river system tracked microplastics from urban sources through the river to estuarine and coastal deposition zones, characterizing polymer types and morphologies at each stage.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 334 citations
Article Tier 2

Point-source microplastic input to the river and coastal zone via wastewater treatment facilities: a case study from a tropical mega-city

Point-source inputs of microplastics from a specific industrial or municipal source were quantified in both a river and the adjacent coastal zone. The study links land-based pollution sources to downstream and coastal microplastic concentrations, supporting targeted source-control interventions.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of plastic film mulching on microplastic in farmland soils in Guangdong province, China

Researchers surveyed farmland in Guangdong, China's largest economic province, to determine how much plastic mulch film contributes to soil microplastic pollution. They found that fields using plastic mulch had significantly higher microplastic levels than those without, and the contamination correlated with years of mulch use. The study helps clarify the direct agricultural contribution to soil microplastic pollution in regions with many overlapping pollution sources.

2023 Heliyon 55 citations
Article Tier 2

The occurrence and abundance of microplastics in surface water and sediment of the West River downstream, in the south of China

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in surface water and sediment of the West River downstream in southern China. They found microplastics in all samples, with concentrations ranging widely and fibers being the dominant shape. The study suggests that the downstream section of the West River serves as both a conduit and accumulation zone for microplastic pollution heading toward coastal waters.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 200 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in agricultural soils on the coastal plain of Hangzhou Bay, east China: Multiple sources other than plastic mulching film

Researchers analyzed agricultural soils from the Hangzhou Bay coastal plain and found microplastic concentrations of 571 pieces/kg in mulched soils versus 263 pieces/kg in non-mulched soils, with irrigation water identified as an additional major source alongside mulch films. The findings point to multiple input pathways for microplastic accumulation in Chinese farmland soils.

2019 Journal of Hazardous Materials 682 citations
Article Tier 2

Relative contributions of different local sources to riverborne microplastic in a mixed landuse area within a tropical catchment

Researchers quantified the relative contributions of different land-use sources to riverborne microplastics in a tropical catchment, providing data to help prioritize pollution reduction measures for protecting human and ecological health.

2022 Environmental Research 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics and source-pathway of microplastics in freshwater system of China: A review

This national-scale review examines microplastic characteristics and source-pathway dynamics in Chinese freshwater systems including rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, synthesizing data showing that urban runoff, textile washing, and wastewater discharge are dominant sources. The authors identify key knowledge gaps in understanding microplastic transport from inland waters to the ocean in the world's largest plastic-producing country.

2022 Chemosphere 59 citations
Article Tier 2

Agricultural plastic Legacy in river Sediments: Abundance, oxidation, and occurrence characteristics of microplastics across rural China

Researchers conducted a comprehensive survey of microplastics in sediments from 25 agricultural rivers across Henan Province, China, finding an average abundance of 1,016 items/kg. MP oxidation degree and polymer composition varied across rivers, reflecting the legacy of agricultural plastic use and the weathering of resident MPs.

2025 Environmental Pollution
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and fate of microplastic debris in middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River – From inland to the sea

A large-scale survey along the middle and lower Yangtze River found microplastics throughout the water column and sediments, with concentrations increasing toward the river mouth and a clear trend of microplastics moving from inland sources toward the sea. The study provides field evidence for rivers as major pathways for microplastic transport from land to ocean.

2018 The Science of The Total Environment 320 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

Environmental fate of microplastics in an urban river: Spatial distribution and seasonal variation

Researchers investigated microplastic distribution along an urban river in Guangzhou, China, finding that abundance increased from upstream to midstream and decreased toward the estuary, with seasonal variation linked to rainfall and human activity patterns.

2023 Environmental Pollution 56 citations
Article Tier 2

The Plastic Age: River Pollution in China from Crop Production and Urbanization

Researchers developed an integrated model estimating that 716 kilotons of plastics entered Chinese rivers annually from crop production mulching, sewage systems, and mismanaged solid waste, with agricultural plastic films being a major but often overlooked source.

2023 Environmental Science & Technology 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in Typical Subtropical Rivers in Eastern China: A Case Study of the Feiyun River Basin

Researchers systematically studied microplastic pollution in the Feiyun River Basin in eastern China using field sampling and spectroscopic analysis. They found microplastic concentrations ranging from 3.7 to 36.4 items per liter, predominantly small particles and fragments, with polyethylene and polypropylene as the most common polymer types, indicating significant freshwater contamination in this subtropical river system.

2025 Water 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in coastal plain soils under three land-use types

Microplastic abundance and polymer composition were characterized in farmland, plantation, and orchard/secondary forest soils from 33 sites on the east China coastal plain. Farmland soils had significantly higher microplastic abundances than forest soils, with agricultural plastic mulching identified as the primary source of the dominant polyethylene film fragments.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 70 citations
Article Tier 2

Agricultural plastic mulching as a source of microplastics in the terrestrial environment

Researchers analyzed 384 soil samples from 19 Chinese provinces and found that macroplastic fragments were concentrated in agricultural fields with plastic mulch film use, providing large-scale field evidence linking agricultural mulching to terrestrial plastic contamination.

2020 Environmental Pollution 1205 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in the Haihe River: An investigation of a seagoing river flowing through a megacity in northern China

Microplastics were found throughout the Haihe River in northern China at concentrations of 0.69 to 74.95 items per square meter, with fibers dominant and polyethylene and polypropylene the most common polymers. Weathering features including scratches and micropores on particle surfaces confirmed long-term environmental exposure before collection.

2020 Environmental Pollution 171 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing small-scale freshwater microplastics pollution, land-use, source-to-sink conduits, and pollution risks: Perspectives from Japanese rivers polluted with microplastics

Researchers assessed microplastic pollution in four small-scale Japanese rivers flowing into the Sea of Japan and Seto Inland Sea. The study found that these small rivers were more heavily polluted than many larger rivers worldwide, with polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester fibers dominating, suggesting that small-scale rivers are significant but often overlooked conduits transporting land-based microplastics to marine environments.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 292 citations