Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastics discharged from urban drainage system: Prominent contribution of sewer overflow pollution

Researchers evaluated the abundance and distribution of microplastics in urban drainage systems in coastal Chinese cities, with a focus on sewer overflow events during storms. The study found that overflow pollution during wet weather is a prominent contributor to microplastic discharge into urban water bodies, with meteorological conditions and land use patterns significantly influencing microplastic transport and release.

2023 Water Research 79 citations
Article Tier 2

Real-time variabilities in microplastic abundance and characteristics of urban surface runoff and sewer overflow in wet weather as impacted by land use and storm factors

Researchers conducted real-time field monitoring of microplastic abundance and characteristics in urban surface runoff and sewer overflows in Shanghai during storm events. Microplastic concentrations in runoff reached up to 4,969 particles per liter and were strongly influenced by land use type and storm intensity.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 76 citations
Article Tier 2

Change in microplastic concentration during various temporal events downstream of a combined sewage overflow and in an urban stormwater creek

Researchers examined how microplastic concentrations in urban waterways changed during rain events, snowmelt, and combined sewage overflow episodes, finding that stormwater runoff and sewer overflows substantially increase microplastic loads, with event type and intensity influencing concentration patterns.

2022 Frontiers in Water 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatiotemporal dynamics of microplastics in urban stormwater runoff: Functional area effects and transport pathways (Shanghai, China)

During a heavy rainfall event in Shanghai, microplastic concentrations in stormwater peaked within just 5 minutes in dining areas (nearly 690 particles per liter), far exceeding residential and parking zones, driven by a pronounced first-flush effect. The results show that food-service land use is an underrecognized microplastic hotspot, with urban stormwater rapidly exporting these particles to waterways.

2026 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology
Article Tier 2

[Pollution Status and Pollution Behavior of Microplastic in Surface Water and Sediment of Urban Rivers].

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in surface water and sediments of eight rivers across urban and suburban areas of Shanghai, finding widespread contamination that varied by location and urbanization level. The study provides a detailed picture of how urban rivers act as pathways for microplastics moving from land to sea.

2020 PubMed 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Combined Sewer Overflows: An Experimental Study

Researchers investigated microplastic concentrations and characteristics in combined sewer overflow events through experimental study, finding that overflow discharges transport significant quantities of microplastic particles directly to surface waters, bypassing wastewater treatment and representing a major urban microplastic pathway.

2021 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 33 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

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

Fugitive release and influencing factors of microplastics in urbanized watersheds: A case study of the central area of Suzhou City

Researchers investigated fugitive release of microplastics in urbanized watersheds of Suzhou City, identifying key sources and factors influencing unorganized microplastic discharge from plastic manufacturing and daily use activities into urban waterways.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 34 citations
Article Tier 2

The abundance and characteristics of microplastics in rainwater pipelines in Wuhan, China

Microplastic abundance and characteristics were analyzed in rainwater pipelines draining different land-use areas in Hongshan District, Wuhan, China. The study found microplastics throughout the rainwater drainage network, identifying urban stormwater runoff as a significant pathway for transporting microplastics from land to freshwater bodies.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 169 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

Microplastics in freshwater river sediments in Shanghai, China: A case study of risk assessment in mega-cities

Researchers characterized microplastics in freshwater river sediments across Shanghai, China, finding widespread contamination with higher concentrations near urban areas and industrial zones, dominated by fibers and fragments.

2017 Environmental Pollution 666 citations
Article Tier 2

Understanding the seasonal variation of the microplastics occurrence and source in the water source: upstream of the Huangpu River in Shanghai as an example

This study examined seasonal variation in microplastic occurrence and potential sources in a monitored water system, finding higher MP concentrations during warmer months and identifying runoff from plastic-intensive land uses as the dominant seasonal driver.

2025 Environmental Research 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Are combined sewer overflows from wastewater treatment plants a critical source of microplastics discharge into water bodies?

Researchers investigated whether combined sewer overflows from wastewater treatment plants represent a critical point source of microplastic discharge into water bodies, examining overflow events and their contribution relative to the overall MP removal efficiencies of WWTPs.

2025 Nova Science Publishers (Nova Science Publishers, Inc.)
Article Tier 2

Urban pipeline rainwater runoff is an important pathway for land-based microplastics transport to inland surface water: A case study in Beijing

This study characterized microplastics in urban rainwater pipeline runoff draining from different land-use types, finding that pipelines are an important but understudied pathway for transporting land-based microplastics to surface water. Abundance and polymer composition varied by land use, with commercial and road-adjacent catchments showing the highest loads.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 58 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

An overview of microplastic pollution in the environment over the megacity of Shanghai during 2013–2022

This review comprehensively examined microplastic pollution across multiple environmental matrices in Shanghai from 2013 to 2021, finding widespread contamination in water, sediment, and biota across the megacity.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 16 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

Urban Stormwater Runoff: A Major Pathway for Anthropogenic Particles, Black Rubbery Fragments, and Other Types of Microplastics to Urban Receiving Waters

Researchers quantified microplastics in urban stormwater runoff from 12 watersheds surrounding San Francisco Bay and found concentrations ranging from 1.1 to 24.6 particles per liter, much higher than typical wastewater treatment plant effluent. The study suggests that stormwater runoff is a major and underappreciated pathway for microplastics and other anthropogenic particles to enter urban waterways.

2021 ACS ES&T Water 312 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic emission characteristics of stormwater runoff in an urban area: Intra-event variability and influencing factors

Researchers found that stormwater runoff from both industrial and residential urban catchments contained substantial microplastics (54–639 particles per liter), with polypropylene and polyethylene dominating, and that microplastic concentrations peaked early in rain events following longer dry periods.

2023 7 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

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

[Removal of Microplastics by Different Treatment Processes in Shanghai Large Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants].

A study of two large wastewater treatment plants in Shanghai found that microplastic concentrations in incoming sewage were very high, and overall removal efficiency ranged from 63% to 90% depending on treatment processes. Even with high removal rates, large volumes of microplastics are still discharged to waterways daily.

2019 PubMed 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric deposition of microplastics in the megalopolis (Shanghai) during rainy season: Characteristics, influence factors, and source

Researchers characterized atmospheric microplastic deposition in Shanghai during the rainy season, finding that rainfall events significantly increased deposition rates, with fibers dominating and sources linked to both local urban activities and long-range atmospheric transport.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 134 citations