Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Capitalizing on the global financial interest in blue carbon

This study characterized the rapid rise in financial interest in blue carbon ecosystems like mangroves and seagrasses, analyzing the investment landscape and identifying key challenges that must be addressed to scale carbon credit markets for coastal ecosystem conservation.

2022 PLOS Climate 105 citations
Article Tier 2

Long-term human expansion and the environmental impacts on the coastal zone of China

This study analyzed long-term expansion of reclamation, aquaculture ponds, and urban land cover in the Circum-Bohai Coastal Zone of China from satellite data using Google Earth Engine. Human coastal expansion accelerated significantly over the study period and was associated with declining ecosystem services including carbon storage, water purification, and biodiversity habitat.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing the global ocean science community: understanding international collaboration, concerns and the current state of ocean basin research

Researchers analyzed 20 years of ocean science publications and found that while Atlantic research has historically dominated, Pacific research is rapidly catching up driven by Chinese output, international collaboration is growing but remains largely domestic, and sub-Saharan Africa lags far behind other regions in ocean research capacity.

2023 npj Ocean Sustainability 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Study on the Impact of the Coastline Changes on Hydrodynamics in Xiangshan Bay

Not relevant to microplastics — this Chinese hydrodynamics study uses ocean modeling to examine how decades of coastline modification in Xiangshan Bay have altered tidal currents and water flow patterns.

2023 Applied Sciences 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Conditions of Mainland China’s Island Ecosystems and Associated Influencing Factors: Integrated Assessment of 42 Typical Island Ecosystems

Researchers assessed the ecological condition of 42 representative islands along China's coast using a framework integrating environmental quality, biological structure, and landscape patterns, finding that island ecosystem health varied significantly by size, location, and human land use intensity.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial heterogeneity in indirect flooding-mitigation benefits of the Three Gorges Project across China

Scientists studied China's massive Three Gorges Dam and found it prevents flooding damage worth $4-5 billion per year, not just in nearby areas but across the entire country through protected supply chains. The research shows that big flood-control projects like dams provide much greater economic benefits than previously thought because they indirectly protect businesses and communities far from the actual dam site. This finding could help governments worldwide make better decisions about investing in large-scale flood protection projects as extreme weather becomes more common.

2026 npj natural hazards.
Article Tier 2

A machine learning-based evidence map of ocean-related options for climate change mitigation and adaptation

Researchers trained an AI model to map and classify nearly 44,000 scientific papers on ocean-based strategies for addressing climate change, finding that 80% of research focuses on reducing emissions while far fewer studies address adapting to climate impacts. The analysis also revealed that research effort is heavily concentrated in wealthier nations, despite poorer regions facing the greatest climate risks.

2025 npj Ocean Sustainability
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 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

Environmental Behaviors, Ecological Risks, and Toxic Mechanisms of Emerging and Legacy Contaminants in China: From Distribution to Management

Researchers reviewed the environmental distribution, ecological risks, and toxic mechanisms of both emerging and legacy contaminants in China's aquatic environments, examining how industrialization and urbanization drive the co-occurrence and combined pollution that threatens ecosystem integrity and human health.

2026 Toxics
Article Tier 2

Economic and Ecological Impacts of Climate Change on Coastal Fisheries: A Global Analysis of Vulnerability and Adaptive Management Strategies

Researchers conducted a global analysis of how climate change compounds existing threats to coastal fisheries, including pollution from microplastics and other anthropogenic stressors. The study evaluated vulnerability across regions and assessed adaptive management strategies. The findings suggest that integrated approaches addressing both climate and pollution pressures are needed to sustain coastal fisheries.

2025 American journal of student research. 1 citations
Article Tier 2

The Transformation of Coastal Governance Pattern from Human Ecology to Political Ecology—A Case Study of Jimei Peninsula, Xiamen, China

This study examined how coastal governance on China's Jimei Peninsula shifted from human ecology to political ecology, finding that a 2002 coastal exclusion policy eroded maritime culture, disrupted local livelihoods, and caused ecological degradation.

2023 Preprints.org 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Multidimensional Assessment of Microplastic Pollution in Mangrove Wetlands: Driving Mechanisms, Carbon Contribution, and Ecological Risk

Scientists found tiny plastic particles called microplastics throughout mangrove wetlands in China, with the highest levels in areas used for fishing and fish farming. These plastic particles are building up in the sediment and water, creating pollution hotspots that pose moderate ecological risks to these important coastal ecosystems. This matters because mangroves help protect coastlines and support marine life that humans depend on for food, so plastic pollution in these areas could ultimately affect our food supply and coastal protection.

2026 Environmental Science & Technology
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

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

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

China's marine environmental public interest litigation: current situation, challenges, and improvement approach –analysis based on 339 cases

This study analyzed 339 marine environmental public interest litigation cases in China, examining current challenges and potential improvements in how the legal system addresses marine pollution and ecological damage. Researchers found that while the legal framework is developing, inconsistencies in case handling and enforcement remain significant barriers to effective ocean environmental protection.

2023 Frontiers in Marine Science 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Coastal vulnerability modelling and social vulnerability assessment under anthropogenic impacts

This study modeled coastal vulnerability and social vulnerability on the south coast of the Bohai Sea in China, integrating land-based human activities, tidal dynamics, and social exposure data. In 2020, 25.2% of the coastal zone showed high combined vulnerability, with aquaculture ponds and port infrastructure identified as key drivers of disaster risk.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 15 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

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