Papers

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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

[Composition and Distribution Characteristics of Microplastics in Danjiangkou Reservoir and Its Tributaries].

Researchers analyzed the types, abundance, and distribution of microplastics in Danjiangkou Reservoir, a first-class drinking water source protection area in China. Finding microplastics in a protected drinking water source underscores the need for improved upstream plastic waste management and water treatment to protect public health.

2021 PubMed 6 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

[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

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

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

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

Seasonal variations of microplastics in surface water and sediment in an inland river drinking water source in southern China

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in surface water and sediment of a southern China river used as a drinking water source during both flooding and dry seasons. They found microplastic abundances were generally higher during the dry period, with fibers being the dominant type and polyethylene the most common polymer. The study suggests that seasonal hydrological changes significantly affect microplastic distribution in inland drinking water sources.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Pollution status of microplastics in the freshwater environment of China: a mini review

This review assessed microplastic pollution in China's freshwater environments including rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, finding widespread contamination in surface waters, sediments, and biota with variations linked to population density and industrial activity.

2022 33 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

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

Characteristics and ecological risks of microplastic pollution in a tropical drinking water source reservoir in Hainan province, China

Microplastic pollution was investigated in surface water and sediment of the Chitian Reservoir, a drinking water source in Hainan province, China. Microplastic abundance averaged 3.05 items per liter in surface water and 0.15 items per gram dry weight in sediment, with ecological risk assessed and potential drinking water contamination implications noted.

2024 Environmental Science Processes & Impacts 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigation on microplastic pollution of Dongting Lake and its affiliated rivers

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in Dongting Lake and its affiliated rivers in China, collecting 15 surface water and 15 sediment samples from across the lake district and finding microplastic abundances of 0.62-4.31 items/m3 in water and 21-52 items/100 g dry weight in sediments. Fibers dominated and the results indicate the lake system is a significant microplastic sink fed by surrounding river networks.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 113 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Microplastics in Urban Tap Water and Water Sources in Qingdao, China

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in tap water and two reservoir water sources in Qingdao, China, finding 0.3–1.6 items/L in tap water and 0.2–0.7 items/L in source water, with rayon fibers dominating (99.2% fibers, 48.9% rayon). Water treatment was found to reduce the polymer-based risk of microplastics before reaching consumers.

2019 Analytical Letters 94 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

Microplastics in surface waters and sediments of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

Researchers sampled surface waters and sediments of the Three Gorges Reservoir in China and found microplastic contamination throughout, with concentrations influenced by water flow dynamics and proximity to human settlements.

2017 The Science of The Total Environment 896 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in surface water and sediments of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Current status and causes

A survey of microplastic pollution across rivers and lakes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau found surface water concentrations averaging 856 items/m³ and sediment concentrations averaging 362 items/m², with river sediments more contaminated than lake sediments and domestic wastewater and tourism identified as primary sources.

2021 China Geology 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Sediment and Surface Water of West Dongting Lake and South Dongting Lake: Abundance, Source and Composition

Microplastics were found in both surface water and sediments of West Dongting Lake and South Dongting Lake in China, with fibers and fragments as the dominant types and concentrations influenced by proximity to urban and agricultural land use. The study provides the first data on microplastic contamination in China's second-largest freshwater lake system.

2018 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 204 citations
Article Tier 2

The occurrence and abundance of microplastics in surface water and sediment of the West River downstream, in the south of China

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in surface water and sediment of the West River downstream in southern China. They found microplastics in all samples, with concentrations ranging widely and fibers being the dominant shape. The study suggests that the downstream section of the West River serves as both a conduit and accumulation zone for microplastic pollution heading toward coastal waters.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 200 citations
Article Tier 2

The Detection and Analysis of Microplastics in a Typical Mountainous Drinking Water System in China

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in a mountainous drinking water system in rural China and found that microplastic concentrations increased along the pipeline length, with simple filtration facilities failing to effectively remove most particles. Polyethylene, polyurethane, and PET were the dominant polymers, with most particles smaller than 100 micrometers. The estimated daily intake was highest for infants, highlighting the particular vulnerability of young children in remote communities with limited water treatment infrastructure.

2024 Toxics 2 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

Occurrence, stability and source identification of small size microplastics in the Jiayan reservoir, China

Microplastics across a full size range were found in a Chinese reservoir, with small-sized particles (less than 300 micrometers) dominating and showing seasonal variation linked to rainfall and runoff, highlighting reservoirs as underappreciated sinks and sources of fine microplastic pollution.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 50 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