Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Distribution, Sources, and Ecological Risk Assessment of Microplastics in the Lower Minjiang River

Researchers characterized microplastic abundance, morphology, and polymer composition in surface water and sediments from the lower Minjiang River in China, then used pollution load indices and ecological risk assessments alongside socioeconomic data to identify likely pollution sources and ecological impacts.

2025 Toxics
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in Chinese Rivers: A detailed analysis of distribution, risk factors, and ecological impact

Researchers aggregated data from 2,474 microplastic samples across 165 publications to assess ecological risk in Chinese rivers, finding widespread contamination with average abundance varying substantially by watershed characteristics. A revised risk assessment accounting for particle morphology and polymer toxicity raised concern levels beyond previous estimates.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 3 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

Occurrence of microplastics in the Han River and riverine fish in South Korea

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in the Han River and its tributaries in South Korea, as well as in six species of freshwater fish. They found microplastics at all sampling sites, with polyethylene, silicone, and polystyrene being the most common polymer types. Fish intestines contained an average of 22 microplastic particles per individual, predominantly fragments, indicating widespread contamination of the freshwater food web.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 329 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in fish of the Han River, South Korea: Factors affecting microplastic abundance in fish

Microplastics were detected in 106 fish from 22 species at three sites in South Korea's Han River, with an average of 16-20 particles per individual and downstream sites showing the highest contamination, reflecting greater human activity and urban inputs near the river mouth.

2021 Environmental Research 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial Distribution and Ecological Risk of Microplastic Contamination in River Water Near a Landfill Leachate Disposal Area: A Case Study of Supit Urang Landfill, Malang City, Indonesia

Researchers mapped the spatial distribution and ecological risk of microplastic contamination across river sediments in a Chinese river system, finding risk levels varied with proximity to urban centers and industrial zones, and that certain polymer types posed elevated ecological hazard.

2025 Jurnal Pengelolaan Sumberdaya Alam dan Lingkungan (Journal of Natural Resources and Environmental Management)
Article Tier 2

[Microplastic Pollution Characteristics and Ecological Environmental Risk Assessment in Water and Sediments of the Yiluo River Basin].

Microplastic pollution characteristics and associated ecological environmental risks were assessed in a specific aquatic or sediment environment, providing concentration data and risk indices. The study establishes a contamination baseline and identifies priority pollutant risks for the area studied.

2025 PubMed 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecological Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Luoma Lake and its Connecting Rivers

Researchers systematically investigated microplastic contamination in Luoma Lake and its connecting rivers in China, finding microplastics in all water samples at concentrations ranging from 3.2 to 12.2 particles per liter. The most common microplastics were small particles under 100 micrometers, primarily PET and polyethylene debris and granules. Ecological risk assessments indicated low overall pollution levels but moderate polymer hazard, providing baseline data for drinking water source protection.

2026 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
Article Tier 2

Assessment of potential ecological risk for microplastics in freshwater ecosystems

Researchers assessed the ecological risk of microplastics across freshwater ecosystems worldwide, including rivers and lakes in China, Vietnam, Europe, and South America. While one risk method showed negligible danger, more comprehensive assessment approaches revealed extreme ecological threats at every location studied, suggesting that microplastic pollution in freshwater may be more serious than previously thought.

2024 Chemosphere 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in freshwater ecosystems: probabilistic environmental risk assessment and current knowledge in occurrence and ecotoxicological studies

Researchers conducted a comprehensive review of microplastic occurrence in freshwater ecosystems and performed the first probabilistic environmental risk assessment for specific polymer types. They established predicted no-effect concentration values for polystyrene and polyethylene and calculated risk quotients suggesting that current microplastic levels in most freshwater environments pose a low ecological risk.

2025 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Temporal and spatial distribution of microplastic in the sediment of the Han River, South Korea

The first comprehensive survey of microplastic temporal and spatial distribution in Han River sediment in South Korea found microplastics at all sites with concentrations varying by season and proximity to urban areas, with polyethylene and polypropylene fragments and fibers as the dominant types.

2023 Chemosphere 23 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

[Occurrence Characteristics and Ecological Risk Assessment of Microplastic Pollution in the Yellow River Basin].

Researchers examined the spatial distribution, composition characteristics, and ecological risks of microplastic pollution across the Yellow River Basin in China, assessing contamination levels in the nation's historically significant waterway system.

2025 PubMed
Article Tier 2

Spatial heterogeneity of microplastics and ecological risk assessment based on detection of seawater and fish in typical coastal region in Hainan

Spatial heterogeneity in microplastic concentrations across a study area was documented and linked to ecological risk, with hotspots identified near point sources and areas of low water flow. The risk assessment framework developed here can help prioritize sites for remediation or regulatory attention.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 1 citations
Article Tier 2

[Distribution, Risk, and Influencing Factors of Microplastics in Surface Water of Huangshui River Basin].

Researchers collected 63 surface water samples across the Huangshui River Basin on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during the wet season, using metallographic microscopy and Fourier infrared spectroscopy to characterize microplastic distribution, and applied risk index and pollution load index models to evaluate ecological risks.

2022 PubMed 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial–Temporal Distribution and Ecological Risk Assessment of Microplastics in the Shiwuli River

Researchers mapped the spatial and temporal distribution of microplastics in water and sediment of the Shiwuli River, an urban river in Hefei, China, across flood and non-flood seasons. Microplastic concentrations were higher during flood season and at downstream sites influenced by urban runoff and wastewater. Ecological risk assessment indicated moderate to high polymer-related risks, pointing to urban rivers as significant sources of microplastic pollution that require targeted management.

2023 Water 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of potential ecological risk for microplastic particles

Researchers developed a framework for assessing the ecological risk of microplastic particles, incorporating particle characteristics, environmental concentrations, and species sensitivity data. The assessment identified conditions under which current environmental microplastic levels pose significant risk to aquatic organisms.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Meta Analysis Tier 1

[Occurrence Characteristics of Microplastics in Aquatic Environments and Their Environmental Ecological Risk Assessment].

This meta-analysis pools data from studies worldwide to map where microplastics are found in rivers, lakes, and oceans, and assesses their ecological risks. Understanding how widespread microplastics are in water sources matters because contaminated water is one of the main ways people are exposed to these particles.

2025 PubMed
Article Tier 2

[Occurrence Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Water and Sediments of Anhui Section of Huaihe River Basin].

Researchers analyzed microplastic occurrence characteristics and ecological risk in water and sediments across the Anhui section of the Huaihe River Basin using field sampling, scanning electron microscopy, and FTIR spectroscopy. They found 100% detection rates at all sampling sites, with average microplastic abundances of 39,800 particles per cubic meter in surface water and 5,078 particles per kilogram in sediments, with risk index and pollution load index assessments indicating moderate to high ecological risk levels.

2023 PubMed 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution, Characteristics, and Ecological Risk Assessment of Microplastics and Heavy Metals in Surface Water at Hoa Binh Reservoir

Researchers sampled surface water in Hoa Binh Reservoir, Vietnam, during rainy and dry seasons, finding microplastics at all sites with fiber-dominated assemblages, and documenting co-occurrence with heavy metals including chromium, manganese, and lead.

2025 VNU Journal of Science Earth and Environmental Sciences
Article Tier 2

Microplastic accumulation dynamics in Han river headwaters: Sediment interactions and environmental implication

Researchers examined both horizontal and vertical distribution of microplastics in sediments surrounding Lake Paldang in South Korea, along with detailed physicochemical characterization. They found that sediments serve as major repositories for microplastics, with distribution patterns varying across different spatial dimensions. The study provides important data on how microplastics accumulate in freshwater sediments at the headwaters of a major river system.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 11 citations
Article Tier 2

[Basin Distribution and Ecological Risk of Microplastics in Surface Water Bodies in China].

A comprehensive analysis of data from China's ten major river basins (2014–2023) found microplastic contamination in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries across the country, with microplastic abundance strongly correlating with population density and economic output. Polypropylene and polyethylene were the dominant polymers, and the Haihe River Basin near Beijing was classified as high ecological risk. The study also highlighted a major data gap: far less is known about microplastics in China's less-populated northwestern regions. These findings provide a national-scale picture of where microplastic pollution is most severe and what types of plastics are driving the ecological risk.

2025 PubMed 1 citations
Article Tier 2

A new holistic perspective to assess the ecological risk of microplastics: A case study in Baiyangdian Basin, China

Researchers developed a more comprehensive method for assessing the ecological risks of microplastic pollution by considering not just concentration but also the physical and chemical properties of the particles. Applied to a Chinese wetland basin, the approach revealed that traditional methods significantly underestimate the true ecological risk, with human activity and poor water flow contributing to the highest danger zones.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Toward an ecotoxicological risk assessment of microplastics: Comparison of available hazard and exposure data in freshwaters

Researchers compiled available exposure and toxicity data to perform the first probabilistic risk assessment of microplastics specifically in freshwater environments. The study found that while current concentrations in most freshwaters may not yet pose widespread ecological risk, localized hotspots could exceed harmful thresholds, highlighting the need for more standardized freshwater monitoring.

2018 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 188 citations