Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

[Spatial and Temporal Variation Characterization and Variability of Microplastics in Water-borne River and Reservoir].

A study comparing microplastic levels in a river and a reservoir used as drinking water sources in Guangdong, China found meaningful differences in contamination patterns across seasons and locations. The findings underscore that drinking water source protection strategies need to account for microplastic pollution, as these particles can enter the water supply before treatment.

2026 PubMed
Article Tier 2

Distribution and source of microplastics in China's second largest reservoir - Danjiangkou Reservoir

Microplastic distribution and sources were investigated in Danjiangkou Reservoir, the second largest reservoir in China and the source for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. The study found microplastics throughout both the Han and Dan sections of the reservoir, identifying agricultural runoff and upstream river inputs as key contamination sources.

2020 Journal of Environmental Sciences 148 citations
Article Tier 2

Manuscript prepared for submission to environmental toxicology and pharmacology pollution in drinking water source areas: Microplastics in the Danjiangkou Reservoir, China

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in surface water and sediments of the Danjiangkou Reservoir, the source area for China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project, finding microplastics in all samples at abundances ranging from 467 to 15,017 particles/m3 in water and 15 to 40 particles/kg in sediment. Fibrous particles smaller than 2 mm dominated, with micro-Raman spectroscopy identifying polypropylene as the primary polymer type.

2018 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 113 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and risk assessment of microplastics in a source water reservoir, Central China

Researchers measured microplastic levels at different water depths in a reservoir in central China used as a drinking water source. They found 2 to 14 particles per liter, with polypropylene and polyethylene being the most common types. Middle and bottom water layers showed higher risk levels due to more toxic polymer types, raising concerns about the safety of source water used for drinking.

2025 Scientific Reports 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in a Source Water Reservoir in Middle Reaches of Yellow River

Researchers assessed microplastic occurrence and associated risk in a source water reservoir in Malaysia, detecting particles across multiple sampling sites and identifying dominant polymer types and size fractions relevant to drinking water safety.

2024 Water 6 citations
Article Tier 2

A Study on Distribution of Characteristics of Microplastic in the Han-River Watershed

Scientists mapped the distribution and characteristics of microplastics throughout the Han River watershed in South Korea, including tributaries and sections that serve as drinking water sources, and found widespread contamination varying by location and flow conditions. The findings underscore the need for better monitoring and management of microplastics in freshwater systems that supply drinking water to millions of people.

2024 Journal of Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of Microplastic Content in Surface Water of the Gajah Mungkur Reservoir in Indonesia

Researchers analyzed surface water from Indonesia's Gajah Mungkur Reservoir, a drinking water source, and found microplastics at every sampling location, with concentrations ranging from 340 to 820 particles per cubic meter. The dominant shapes were filaments and fibers, and the plastics identified included polypropylene and polystyrene. The highest contamination was found at an upstream river inlet, suggesting that rivers are a key delivery route for microplastics into the reservoir. The findings raise concerns about microplastic exposure through drinking water drawn from Indonesian surface water sources.

2025 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Presence of microplastics in drinking water from freshwater sources: the investigation in Changsha, China

Researchers measured microplastic abundance at multiple stages of a drinking water supply chain in Changsha, China — from source freshwater through treatment to household taps — finding that water treatment reduced MP concentrations by more than 85% but tap water still contained an average of 344 particles per liter.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 168 citations
Article Tier 2

[Distribution Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Soil in Danjiangkou Reservoir Area of South-to-North Water Diversion Project].

This study characterized microplastic occurrence in four types of agricultural soil in the Danjiangkou Reservoir area of China — a critical water source for the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. Orchard soils had higher microplastic concentrations than paddy or dryland soils, driven by plastic mulch use and irrigation. Microplastic contamination of this major water supply raises concerns about downstream drinking water quality for millions of people.

2023 PubMed 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and identification of microplastics in tap water from China

Researchers analyzed 38 tap water samples from cities across China and found microplastics in all of them, with concentrations averaging around 440 particles per liter. Most particles were smaller than 50 micrometers, and the dominant types were polyethylene and polypropylene fragments. The findings highlight that drinking water treatment plants face a significant challenge in addressing microplastic contamination in the water supply.

2020 Chemosphere 416 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential ecological risk of microplastics contamination to environment in protect area lakes

Researchers studied microplastic contamination in protected area lakes on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and found that even these remote, supposedly pristine environments contain microplastics. The study compared protected lakes with those outside protected areas and found contamination levels varied by region and economic development. This shows that microplastic pollution reaches even the most isolated freshwater sources, which could affect drinking water quality for surrounding communities.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in China’s largest freshwater lake system

Researchers found high levels of microplastics in both water and sediment across China's largest freshwater lake system, Poyang Lake, with concentrations up to 1,064 particles per cubic meter in water. The study reveals widespread contamination even in protected nature reserves, emphasizing the scale of the freshwater microplastics problem.

2020 Chemosphere 126 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of microplastics on microbial community in sediments of the Huangjinxia Reservoir—water source of a water diversion project in western China

Researchers examined microplastic contamination and its effects on microbial communities in sediments of the Huangjinxia Reservoir in western China, investigating how microplastic presence alters the composition and function of microbial assemblages in this drinking water source.

2020 Chemosphere 97 citations
Article Tier 2

[Vertical Distribution Characteristics of Microplastics in Miyun Reservoir].

Researchers measured microplastic levels at different water depths in Beijing's Miyun Reservoir, an important drinking water source, finding concentrations ranging from 0.4 to 7.6 particles per liter. The study found that microplastic abundance was significantly higher during flood season, with fibers being the dominant type across all water layers and polyethylene and polypropylene the most common polymer types.

2026 PubMed
Article Tier 2

Spatiotemporal distribution of microplastics in surface water, biofilms, and sediments in the world's largest drinking water diversion project

Researchers conducted the first spatiotemporal survey of microplastics in the South-to-North Water Diversion Project canal in China — which supplies drinking water to over 53 million people — finding microplastics present in surface water, biofilms, and sediments throughout the highly regulated system. The study raises concerns about microplastic contamination in engineered drinking water infrastructure.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of land use on soil microplastic distribution adjacent to Danjiangkou reservoir, China

Researchers collected 120 soil samples around China's Danjiangkou Reservoir — a major drinking water source — and found microplastics at concentrations ranging from 645 to over 15,000 particles per kilogram. Subsoil layers (20–40 cm deep) contained more microplastics than surface layers, and the number of nearby villages was the strongest predictor of contamination. These findings are significant because reservoir-surrounding soils act as a reservoir for microplastics that can ultimately enter drinking water supplies.

2023 Chemosphere 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in urban rivers within China's Danxia landforms: Spatial distribution characteristics, migration, and risk assessment

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in surface water, sediment, and groundwater across six cities in China's ecologically fragile Danxia landform region. They found moderate levels of contamination, with urban wastewater and agricultural runoff identified as the primary sources. The study suggests that these unique and ecologically sensitive landscapes face real microplastic pollution risks tied to nearby human activity.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 19 citations
Article Tier 2

[Distribution Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Water of Different Functional Parks in Guilin].

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in the water of parks with different functions in Guilin, China. Microplastics were found in all park types, with concentrations varying based on human activity levels and proximity to pollution sources. Urban parks can serve as important monitoring sites for tracking microplastic contamination in freshwater environments.

2023 PubMed 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring correlations between microplastics, microorganisms, and water quality in an urban drinking water source

This study explored the relationships between microplastics, microorganisms, and water quality in China's Xiangjiang River, a source of urban drinking water. Researchers found that microplastic levels were higher near urban areas and wastewater plant outlets, and that the smallest particles showed the strongest correlations with microbial community changes, suggesting complex interactions between plastic pollution and river ecosystems.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in inland freshwater environments with different regional functions: A case study on the Chengdu Plain

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in the Minjiang River as it flows through the Chengdu Plain in China, examining abundance, composition, shape, and size in both water and sediments. The study found serious microplastic contamination in urban sections of the river, with differences linked to regional functions such as industrial, agricultural, and residential land use patterns.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 64 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics contamination in groundwater of a drinking-water source area, northern China

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in shallow groundwater from a major drinking-water source area in northern China. The study found microplastics present in groundwater samples, with their abundance, morphology, and chemical composition varying across the study area and correlating with nearby human activities.

2022 Environmental Research 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Tracking Microplastics Contamination in Drinking Water Supply Chain in Haikou, China: From Source to Household Taps

Researchers tracked microplastic contamination throughout the entire drinking water supply chain in Haikou, China, from source water to household taps. They found that while water treatment reduced some microplastic content, treated water actually showed higher concentrations than raw water, suggesting contamination during the treatment process itself. The study provides a health risk assessment indicating that microplastic exposure through tap water warrants continued monitoring.

2024 Toxics 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Stratified Reservoirs of the Ceyhan River Basin: Vertical Distribution, Environmental Correlates, and the Role of Dams in Contamination

Scientists found tiny plastic particles called microplastics in all four major reservoirs that supply drinking water in Turkey's Ceyhan River Basin, with concentrations ranging from about 10-15 particles per liter of water. Surprisingly, these plastic particles were most concentrated at the bottom of the reservoirs rather than floating on the surface, meaning current monitoring methods that only check surface water may be missing the full extent of contamination. This matters because these reservoirs provide drinking water to communities, and we're still learning about the long-term health effects of consuming microplastics.

2026 Environmental Research Communications
Article Tier 2

Tracing microplastics in rural drinking water in Chongqing, China: Their presence and pathways from source to tap

Researchers traced the journey of microplastics through a rural drinking water system in Chongqing, China, from reservoir to tap. They found that the water treatment plant successfully removed all microplastics from the water, but contamination increased again during pipe transport to homes, resulting in about 1.4 particles per liter at the tap. The study reveals that aging distribution pipes are a significant and often overlooked source of microplastic exposure in drinking water.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 60 citations