Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

[Characterization, Sources and Risk Assessment of Microplastic Pollution in Surface Water and Groundwater of the Hetao Irrigation Area].

This study characterized microplastic pollution in surface water and groundwater of the Hetao Irrigation Area in China, a region with over 30 years of agricultural film use. MPs were detected across drainage channels and groundwater wells, with sources linked to plastic film degradation and irrigation practices.

2026 PubMed 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Transport and Accumulation in Rural Waterbodies: Insights from a Small Catchment in East China

Microplastics were sampled from drainage ditch sediments across forest, agricultural, horticultural, and urban areas in a Nanjing catchment, finding 922 MP particles of six dominant polymer types with concentrations varying by land use and pond connectivity within the catchment.

2024 Toxics 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence status of microplastics in main agricultural areas of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China

Agricultural soils in Xinjiang, China, were surveyed for microplastic contamination, revealing widespread presence in major farming regions where plastic mulch films and irrigation systems are heavily used. The study provides one of the first regional-scale assessments of microplastic pollution in this important agricultural area.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 55 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 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
Article Tier 2

[Spatial Variation and Potential Sources of Microplastics in Rivers in Tongzhou District, Beijing].

Researchers sampled water from 19 sites across six rivers in Tongzhou District, Beijing, and found microplastic contamination at all sites, with the Xiaozhong River showing the highest abundance at 3.50x10^4 particles per cubic meter — about four times higher than the least-polluted river — with agricultural films and synthetic textiles identified as primary sources.

2022 PubMed 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and ecological risk of microplastics in soils and sediments in the Inner Mongolian Yellow River Basin: An analysis based on functional zoning

Researchers analyzed microplastic pollution across 34 soil and sediment samples from the Inner Mongolian Yellow River Basin, finding widespread contamination with a mean abundance of 5,503 items/kg in soils and 2,059 items/kg in sediments, dominated by transparent polypropylene and polyethylene fibers. Sewage outlets and industrial areas were identified as major microplastic sinks in soil, with the highest sediment contamination near Hohhot.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in agricultural drainage water: A link between terrestrial and aquatic microplastic pollution

Agricultural drainage water was identified as a direct link between microplastic contamination in farmland soils and downstream aquatic systems, with drain tile water carrying significant loads of fragment and fiber-shaped microplastics from fields amended with sewage sludge or mulch films.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 76 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of lakeshore landcover types and environmental factors on microplastic distribution in lakes on the Inner Mongolia Plateau, China

This study measured microplastic contamination in lakes across the Inner Mongolia Plateau and found levels ranging from 0.5 to 12.6 particles per liter in water, with polypropylene being the most common type. Lakes near farmland and human activity had the highest contamination, showing that agriculture and tourism are major sources of microplastic pollution. The findings are relevant because these lakes serve as water sources for surrounding communities.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in soils with different agricultural practices: Importance of sources with internal origin and environmental fate

Microplastic abundance and characteristics were examined in soils representing four agricultural practice types in Chinese farmland to evaluate the influence of land use on plastic particle accumulation. Microplastic concentrations and polymer types varied by agricultural practice, with plastic mulch film use and irrigation water source as key drivers of farmland soil contamination.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 282 citations
Article Tier 2

Riverine microplastics derived from mulch film in Hainan Island: Occurrence, source and fate

Researchers investigated the occurrence, sources, and fate of microplastics derived from agricultural mulch films in rivers of Hainan Island, China, finding that mulch film residues are a significant contributor to riverine microplastic pollution with implications for downstream coastal environments.

2022 Environmental Pollution 33 citations
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

Urban drainage channels as a pathway for microplastics in riverine systems: A case study of Delhi, India

Researchers measured microplastics in Delhi's Najafgarh drain, secondary drains, and the Yamuna River, finding concentrations of 100-6,700 particles per cubic meter in secondary drains with clear seasonal variation. Urban drainage channels were identified as a major pathway for microplastics from terrestrial sources into the Yamuna River system.

2024 Water Science & Technology 6 citations
Article Tier 2

[Assessment of Microplastic Pollution and Estimation of Annual Emission Volume in the Dongshan Canal of Yichang City].

Researchers sampled the Dongshan Canal in the Chinese city of Yichang and found microplastic concentrations averaging around 5,000–7,300 particles per cubic meter, dominated by tiny fibers smaller than 0.5 mm made mostly of polyethylene and PET. The canal is estimated to transport roughly 3.4 tonnes of microplastics into the Yangtze River every year, with laundry wastewater, personal care products, and discarded plastics identified as the main sources. The study illustrates how urban waterways act as continuous conduits delivering microplastic pollution into major river systems.

2024 PubMed 2 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

Occurrence characteristics, source analysis, and risk assessment of microplastics in agricultural soils: A case study on Shihezi Reclamation Area, Xinjiang, China

Microplastic occurrence was characterized in agricultural soils of the Shihezi Reclamation Area, Xinjiang — a region with decades of plastic film mulching — finding high-density PE and PP fragments as dominant types, with mulch film degradation as the primary source.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment
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

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

[Distribution and Sources of Microplastics in Farmland Soil Along the Fenhe River].

This study investigated the distribution and sources of microplastics in farmland soil along the Fenhe River in China, finding widespread contamination from agricultural plastic films and other sources. The results highlight how agricultural plastic use contributes directly to microplastic buildup in food-producing soils.

2021 PubMed 9 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