Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Characteristics and distribution of microplastics in the surface water of the Songhua River in China

Microplastics were detected at all sampling sites along the Songhua River in northeast China, ranging from 1.09 to 15.97 items per liter with a mean of 5.72, and concentrations were highest near urban centers and lowest in upstream rural reaches, with fibers and fragments as the dominant morphologies.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution characteristics of microplastics in urban rivers in Chengdu city: The influence of land-use type and population and related suggestions

Researchers surveyed microplastic concentrations in urban rivers of Chengdu, China, finding MP abundances of 20-763 items per liter in water and linking higher concentrations to dense residential areas and industrial land use. Polyethylene and polypropylene fibers dominated the MP assemblage, consistent with textile laundering and household waste as primary sources.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics profile in a typical urban river in Beijing

Researchers profiled microplastic pollution along the Qing River, a typical urban river in Beijing receiving effluent from four wastewater treatment plants, investigating how discharged microplastics distribute and transform as they move through an urban riverine system.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 90 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

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

Spatio-temporal distribution of microplastics in surface water of typical urban rivers in North China, risk assessment and influencing factors

Researchers measured microplastic levels in two urban rivers in North China across wet and dry seasons and found that concentrations generally increased from upstream to downstream. The most common plastics were polyethylene and polypropylene fibers, with natural factors dominating upstream and human activities driving pollution downstream. The study provides a reference for understanding how urbanization contributes to microplastic contamination in river systems.

2025 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and characteristics of microplastics in an urban river: The response to urban waste management

Microplastics were detected throughout surface water and sediments of an urban Chinese river (Nanming River) in both dry and wet seasons, with 25 different polymer types identified and the highest concentrations near sewage discharge points and plastic waste dump sites. The study shows that urban river management practices — particularly wastewater handling — are critical in controlling how much plastic reaches downstream ecosystems.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 10 citations
Article Tier 2

[Composition and Distribution of Microplastics in the Water and Sediments of Urban Rivers in Beijing].

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in water and sediments from eight sampling points along urban rivers in Beijing. Microplastics were widespread, with fibers being the most common type, likely from laundry and textile sources. Urban rivers are important conduits that transport microplastics from cities into larger water bodies and ultimately the ocean.

2021 PubMed 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in sophisticated urban river systems: Combined influence of land-use types and physicochemical characteristics

This study assessed microplastic pollution across an urban river network in China, finding that land-use type and water physicochemical properties jointly influence microplastic distribution, with industrial and residential areas contributing highest loads.

2021 Environmental Pollution 50 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatiotemporal dynamics of microplastics in an urban river network area

Researchers investigated microplastic dynamics in an urban river network in eastern China, finding abundances of 2.3 to 104.6 particles per liter that were significantly higher during wet seasons and concentrated near commercial, industrial, and wastewater discharge areas.

2022 Water Research 161 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

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

Distribution and characteristics of microplastics in urban waters of seven cities in the Tuojiang River basin, China

Microplastics were detected in water across all seven cities surveyed in the Tuojiang River basin of southwest China, with fiber the most common form and polypropylene the dominant polymer. Cities with greater industrial economic output had higher microplastic concentrations, linking manufacturing activity to freshwater plastic pollution.

2020 Environmental Research 152 citations
Article Tier 2

Source identification of microplastics in highly urbanized river environments and its implications for watershed management

Researchers identified the sources and pathways of microplastics entering highly urbanized rivers in the Shenzhen Bay watershed. The study found that 61.6% of annual microplastic loads came from point sources, with textile washing fibers accounting for over 92% of those, while nonpoint source contributions dominated during periods of heavy rainfall.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 18 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

Distribution Patterns of Microplastics Pollution in Urban Fresh Waters: A Case Study of Rivers in Chengdu, China

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in urban rivers of Chengdu, China, finding concentrations of 5 to 10.5 items per liter, predominantly transparent fragments and fibers, with spatial distribution influenced by urbanization and wastewater discharge.

2022 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in China’s Aquatic Systems: Spatial Distribution, Transport Pathways, and Controlling Strategies

This review synthesizes recent findings on microplastic pollution across China's rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and coastal waters. Researchers found that contamination levels vary dramatically by location, with urban waterways showing the highest concentrations and polypropylene and polyethylene being the most common polymer types. The study identifies rivers as major transport pathways carrying microplastics from inland areas to the sea and evaluates strategies for reducing this pollution.

2025 Microplastics 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Temporal and spatial variation of microplastics in the urban rivers of Harbin

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in two urban rivers in Harbin, China, across both dry and wet seasons. The study found that polypropylene and polyethylene were the dominant polymers in surface water, while PVC and PET were most common in sediment, with domestic wastewater and rainfall runoff as the main sources. Evidence indicates that riparian vegetation along the riverbanks helped reduce microplastic migration through natural filtration processes.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 45 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

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

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

Microplastics pollution in inland freshwaters of China: A case study in urban surface waters of Wuhan, China

Researchers characterized microplastic pollution in inland freshwaters across urban suburban areas of China, finding contamination that reflected land use intensity and population density in the surrounding catchments.

2016 The Science of The Total Environment 1061 citations
Article Tier 2

Research Progress of Microplastic Pollution Status and Risk Assessment of Typical Rivers in China

Rivers across China carry substantial microplastic loads, and this review finds that abundance is closely tied to population density, with urban rivers showing higher concentrations than rural ones. More than 60% of microplastics detected in most rivers were smaller than 1 mm — the size range most readily ingested by aquatic organisms and most difficult to remove by conventional treatment. The authors identify sewage plants, surface runoff, and atmospheric deposition as the main sources, and flag gaps in current risk assessment frameworks for river microplastics.

2024 Journal of Physics Conference Series 2 citations
Article Tier 2

[Microplastic Pollution Status and Ecological Risk Evaluation in Weihe River].

This Chinese study characterized microplastic abundance, shapes, sizes, colors, and polymer types in the Weihe River in northwest China. The findings document significant microplastic contamination in a major regional river that drains one of China's most densely populated agricultural areas, raising concerns about both ecosystem and human health.

2023 PubMed 1 citations