Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Spatial variation of floatable plastic debris and microplastics in the Pearl River Estuary, South China

Researchers quantified and characterized microplastics and large plastic debris in surface water from the Inner Lingding Bay of the Pearl River Estuary, finding both types present at all sites with mean abundances of 2.376 and 0.110 items per square meter respectively, predominantly as fibers from multiple sources.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 88 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial Distribution, Key Influencing Factors, and Ecological Risk of Microplastics in Pearl River Estuary Water and Sediments

Researchers mapped the distribution of microplastics in the water and sediments of the Pearl River Estuary in China and identified the key factors driving contamination levels. Fibers were the most common microplastic type found, and human activity along the coast strongly influenced pollution patterns. The study also assessed ecological risks and provides a framework for understanding how microplastics accumulate in heavily populated estuarine environments.

2025 Water 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Microplastics in a Coastal Region of the Pearl River Estuary, China

Researchers found that microplastic abundance in the Pearl River Estuary coastal region was 1.85-fold higher during the rainy season than the dry season, with concentrations decreasing from river to estuary to open sea. Fibers and fragments dominated, with gray, white, and green particles most common across sampling sites.

2021 Water 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution, morphology, and risk assessment of microplastics in sediment from the Pearl River Estuary, China

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in sediment from the Pearl River Estuary in China, one of the world's most densely populated coastal regions. They found microplastics widely distributed across the estuary, with varying shapes and polymer types linked to both urban and industrial sources. The study provides a risk assessment suggesting that sediment microplastic pollution in this ecosystem warrants ongoing monitoring and management.

2024 Emerging contaminants 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic abundance, distribution and composition in the Pearl River along Guangzhou city and Pearl River estuary, China

Microplastic abundance and distribution were surveyed in the Pearl River urban section through Guangzhou and the Pearl River estuary, finding average concentrations of 19,860 items/m³ in the urban section and 8,902 items/m³ in the estuary, with over 80% of particles smaller than 0.5 mm. The study documents exceptionally high microplastic concentrations in an urban Chinese river and identifies wastewater effluent and urban tributaries as major sources.

2018 Chemosphere 525 citations
Article Tier 2

Measurement, quantification, and potential risk of microplastics in the mainstream of the Pearl River (Xijiang River) and its estuary, Southern China

Microplastic distribution was surveyed across the mainstream and estuary of China's Pearl River, finding higher concentrations near urban centers and establishing a detailed inventory of microplastic abundance, polymer types, and potential sources in this major waterway.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 60 citations
Article Tier 2

Tidal intensity and suspended sediment concentration drive microplastic distribution in the Pearl River Estuary: Insights from remote sensing retrieval

Field measurements showed that tidal intensity and suspended sediment concentrations are key drivers of microplastic transport in coastal and estuarine waters. The results help explain why microplastic concentrations fluctuate with tidal cycles and inform models predicting where plastics accumulate in dynamic coastal zones.

2025 Environmental Pollution 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in an urban river: A case study in the Pearl River along Guangzhou City, China

Microplastics were measured in surface water and sediments at 14 sites along the urban Pearl River in Guangzhou, finding 379–7,924 items/m³ in water and 80–9,597 items/kg in sediment with polyethylene and polypropylene as dominant types, and a significant relationship between population density and microplastic abundance. The study documents extremely high microplastic contamination in an urban Chinese river and quantifies the influence of urbanization on microplastic loading.

2018 The Science of The Total Environment 545 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 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 occurrence and ecological risk assessment in the eight outlets of the Pearl River Estuary, a new insight into the riverine microplastic input to the northern South China Sea

Researchers estimated that the Pearl River Estuary delivers approximately 304 trillion microplastic particles (1,102 tons) annually into the northern South China Sea, finding that tidal effects significantly influence microplastic abundance and that rural areas on the western side pose underestimated environmental threats.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatio-temporal comparison of neustonic microplastic density in Hong Kong waters under the influence of the Pearl River Estuary

Spatial and temporal surveys of microplastic density in Hong Kong surface waters found elevated concentrations near the Pearl River Estuary and seasonal variation linked to river discharge. The study provides empirical evidence that river outflow from China's Pearl River is a significant driver of coastal microplastic distribution in Hong Kong waters.

2018 The Science of The Total Environment 160 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

Study on the Migration and Distribution Characteristics of Microplastics in the Pearl River Estuary under Changing Environmental Conditions

Researchers investigated the migration and spatial distribution of microplastics in the Pearl River Estuary under changing environmental conditions, modeling the dynamic transport of the estimated 66 tons of microplastics discharged annually from this estuary into the South China Sea.

2025 Journal of Environmental Informatics
Article Tier 2

Distribution, sedimentary record, and persistence of microplastics in the Pearl River catchment, China

Researchers traced the sources, distribution, and persistence of microplastics throughout the Pearl River catchment in China, from the main river and its tributaries to the estuary. They found microplastics in all water and sediment samples, with polyethylene and polypropylene fragments dominating, and identified municipal wastewater as a major source. The study also examined sediment cores showing that microplastic deposition has increased over recent decades, reflecting the growth of plastic production and consumption.

2019 Environmental Pollution 278 citations
Article Tier 2

Low level of microplastic contamination in wild fish from an urban estuary

Researchers found low levels of microplastic contamination in 26 wild fish species from the Pearl River Estuary, South China, with abundance and polymer composition varying by species feeding strategy and habitat depth, suggesting that estuarine fish exposure depends substantially on ecological niche.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution characteristics of microplastics in the seawater and sediment: A case study in Jiaozhou Bay, China

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in the seawater and sediments of Jiaozhou Bay, a semi-enclosed bay in China heavily impacted by human activity. They found microplastic concentrations of 20 to 120 items per cubic meter in seawater and 7 to 25 items per kilogram in sediment, with fibers being the dominant shape and PET the most common polymer. The study found positive correlations between microplastic levels in water and sediment, and higher concentrations near areas with residual ocean currents.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 299 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution pattern and influencing factors for the microplastics in continental shelf, slope, and deep-sea surface sediments from the South China Sea

Researchers investigated microplastic pollution in surface sediments across the continental shelf, slope, and deep-sea floor of the northern South China Sea. The study found an average abundance of about 131 particles per kilogram, with distribution patterns influenced by ocean currents, water depth, and proximity to river inputs.

2022 Environmental Pollution 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic occurrence and hydrodynamic-sedimentary driving effects in the Bohai Strait region of China

This study investigated microplastic occurrence and distribution in the Bohai Sea, examining how hydrodynamic and sedimentary processes drive the spatial pattern of microplastic accumulation. Current dynamics and sedimentation rates emerged as key controls on where microplastics concentrate.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Marine Sediments in Eastern Guangdong in the South China Sea: Factors Influencing the Seasonal and Spatial Variations

This study investigated seasonal variation in microplastic abundance in marine sediments across multiple-use zones of Eastern Guangdong in the South China Sea, finding that seasonal and spatial patterns were influenced by hydrodynamic conditions, rainfall, and proximity to human activity.

2023 Water 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in sediments from an interconnected river-estuary region

A study of sediments from two rivers and their connecting estuary in northeastern China found 19 polymer types in microplastics, with film and fragment shapes dominant and higher concentrations in the rivers than the estuary. The results support the hypothesis that estuaries partially trap microplastics before they reach the sea.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 151 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysing the influence of hydrodynamic and sedimentary factors on the microplastic distribution in the Ashtamudi estuary, India

Microplastic abundance in the Ashtamudi estuary in India ranged from 3.2 to 53 items/L, with highest concentrations near river-sea confluences; the study found microplastic distribution inversely correlated with current velocity and directly with suspended sediment concentration, enabling a predictive non-linear transport model.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in mangrove sediments of the Pearl River Estuary, South China: Correlation with halogenated flame retardants' levels

Microplastic concentrations in Pearl River Estuary mangrove sediments were high by global standards, averaging 851 items per kilogram, and significantly correlated with population density and GDP in the region. Several types of halogenated flame retardants in the sediments were also correlated with microplastic abundance, suggesting shared pollution sources.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 146 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Pearl River Estuary and Yangtze River Estuary, China: Occurrence, fragmentation and pollution risk

Researchers compared microplastic pollution in the Pearl River Estuary and Yangtze River Estuary in China using identical sampling and analysis methods. The Yangtze River Estuary had nearly ten times more microplastics, dominated by polypropylene and polyethylene fragments, with higher levels of particle fragmentation suggesting more advanced degradation. Both estuaries were primarily contaminated with small microplastics under 300 micrometers, indicating these important waterways are transporting substantial quantities of tiny plastic particles to the ocean.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 12 citations