Papers

61,005 results
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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

Microplastics in sediments from urban and suburban rivers: Influence of sediment properties

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in sediments from 12 sites across three Vietnamese rivers in the Red River Delta during dry and rainy seasons, finding concentrations ranging from 1,600 to 94,300 items per kg dry weight. Fiber-dominated microplastic contamination was strongly influenced by sediment properties including grain size and organic carbon content.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the surface sediments from the Beijiang River littoral zone: Composition, abundance, surface textures and interaction with heavy metals

Researchers characterized microplastics in surface sediments from the Beijiang River in China, finding widespread contamination with characteristics indicating multiple local sources including urban runoff and agricultural activity.

2016 Chemosphere 780 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in surface sediments of a typical river with a highly eroded catchment, a case of the Yan River, a tributary of the Yellow River

Microplastic contamination was characterized in riverbed sediments of rivers on the Loess Plateau in northwest China, an area subject to heavy erosion, finding widespread contamination dominated by polyethylene and polypropylene fragments. The study fills a gap in knowledge on microplastic pollution in inland arid and semi-arid river systems.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 51 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

Transport and fate of microplastics from riverine sediment dredge piles: Implications for disposal

Analysis of dredged river sediment piles in southeast China found high MP concentrations (6,060–37,610 items/kg), and monitoring of surrounding soils and surface waters showed that dredging and stockpiling remobilized these MPs into adjacent agricultural land and waterways — a previously unrecognized dispersal pathway.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 74 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 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

Comparison of microplastic abundance and characteristics in rural rivers : Hamada River, Japan and Mlese River, Indonesia

Researchers compared microplastic abundance and characteristics between rural rivers in Hamadan Province, Iran, measuring particle concentrations, types, and seasonal variation. Urban agricultural activities were identified as major sources, with fiber microplastics dominating.

2024 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Seasonal and spatial variation, and land-use influences on riverine microplastics and their ecological risks in the Yanshui River Basin

Researchers conducted year-round, basin-wide monitoring of microplastics in the Yanshui River Basin across 14 sites spanning agricultural, industrial, and urban land uses, finding average concentrations of 235.1 items/L in surface water and 20,370 items/kg in sediment. Microplastic abundance peaked at upstream agricultural and downstream drainage sites, with sediment functioning as a major accumulation sink.

2025 Journal of environmental chemical engineering
Article Tier 2

Abundances and characteristics of sedimentary microplastics in the three main Vietnamese Rivers

Researchers characterized the abundance, types, and distribution of microplastics in sediments of Vietnam's three major rivers, contextualizing findings within Vietnam's status as one of the world's top plastic waste-polluting countries with approximately 3.1 million metric tons of mismanaged plastic waste annually.

2025
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

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

Potential sources and occurrence of macro-plastics and microplastics pollution in farmland soils: A typical case of China

This review examines plastic pollution in Chinese farmland soils, finding that agricultural practices like mulch film use and sewage sludge application are major sources of both macro- and microplastics that accumulate over time.

2023 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in the Yangtze River Basin: Heterogeneity of abundances and characteristics in different environments

Researchers compiled microplastic data from 624 sampling sites across the Yangtze River Basin covering water, sediment, soil, and biota, revealing heterogeneous contamination patterns driven by local land use, population density, and wastewater infrastructure.

2021 Environmental Pollution 112 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

Population density and agricultural land cover influence microplastic concentrations in river sediments

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in river sediments across nine Mid-Atlantic US watersheds and compared findings from 18 countries, finding no consistent longitudinal trend from headwaters to downstream reaches, but identifying population density and agricultural land cover as significant positive predictors of MP accumulation at a global scale.

2026 The Science of The Total Environment
Article Tier 2

Macro- and micro-plastic accumulation in soils under different intensive farming systems: A case study in Quzhou county, the North China Plain

Soil samples from six farming systems in the North China Plain showed macroplastic abundances from 0.2 to 46.8 kg/ha and microplastic concentrations up to 3.7×10⁴ items/kg, with greenhouse and mulched vegetable fields showing the highest contamination.

2024 Environmental Pollution 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in the adjacent environment of Yellow River Delta, China

Researchers assessed microplastic pollution across water, sediment, and soil samples in the Yellow River Delta of China. The study found microplastic concentrations ranging from 0.5 to nearly 8 particles per liter in water and up to 4,200 particles per kilogram in sediments, with polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common polymer types, indicating widespread plastic contamination in this coastal environment.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial Distributions, Compositional Profiles, Potential Sources, and Intfluencing Factors of Microplastics in Soils from Different Agricultural Farmlands in China: A National Perspective

Researchers conducted a nationwide survey of microplastics in Chinese agricultural soils, collecting 477 samples from 109 cities across 31 regions, and identified spatial distribution patterns and key factors influencing farmland microplastic contamination.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 130 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

Occurrence, distribution and affecting factors of microplastics in agricultural soils along the lower reaches of Yangtze River, China

Researchers conducted a large-scale field survey of microplastics in agricultural soils along the lower Yangtze River, finding widespread contamination that correlated with proximity to plastic-mulching farmland and irrigation with treated wastewater.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 220 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

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