Microplastic pollution in Chinese urban rivers: The influence of urban factors

Yuyao Xu, Faith Ka Shun Chan, Matthew Johnson, Thomas Stanton, Jun He, Tian Jia, Jue Wang, Zilin Wang, Yutong Yao, Junting Yang, Dong Liu, Yaoyang Xu, Xubiao Yu

Research output: Journal PublicationArticlepeer-review

63 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Microplastics are being widely discussed as an emerging global environmental contaminant. Microplastic pollution usually originates from land-based sources, which are then mainly transported through hydrological and atmospheric pathways and accumulated in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. Urban environments represent a condensed area of human activities (including the production and use of plastic materials), and urban rivers may therefore be a key transporter of microplastic pollution. Understanding microplastic abundances in urban rivers is potentially important in finding effective means of reducing fluvial microplastic discharge. This study quantified microplastic abundances in surface waters along the Fenghua River, Ningbo, a coastal megacity in East China. Microplastic pollution was distributed unevenly along the river, with concentrations ranging from 300 n/m3 to 4000 n/m3 (0.3 – 4.0 n/L). Average concenterations were 1620.16 ± 878.22 n/m3 (1.62 ± 0.88 n/L) in summer (43 sampling points) and 1696.08 ± 983.52 n/m3 (1.70 ± 0.98 n/L) in winter (17 sampling points). The most common microplastic shapes, sizes, colors and types of polymers were fiber, <0.5mm, transparent and polypropylene, respectively. Using multidimensional scaling analysis, microplastic distribution patterns were related to seasonal factors and levels of urbanization. No clear relationships were found, with implications for site selection when studying microplastics and the challenges of attributing sources to microplastic pollution in urban rivers.

Original languageEnglish
Article number105686
JournalResources, Conservation and Recycling
Volume173
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2021

Keywords

  • China
  • Freshwater
  • Microplastics
  • River
  • Surface water
  • Urban

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Waste Management and Disposal
  • Economics and Econometrics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Microplastic pollution in Chinese urban rivers: The influence of urban factors'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this