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Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly becoming recognized as worldwide environmental contaminants, exerting a substantial impact on the safety of city rivers. This study explored the temporal variance in MPs in different rainfall seasons, including spring, plum, and autumn rains. The Qinhuai River has large spatial fluctuations in MPs at six sampling sites, with an average concentration of 466.62 ± 153.69 items/L, and higher MP abundance was found downstream of spring rain and upstream of autumn rain. Among the different rainfall seasons, the variations in microplastics at various sampling sites were more stable in the plum rain season, with an average concentration of 473.67 ± 105.17 items/L, while the concentrations of TP and TN in the plum rain season were higher than those in other rain seasons. Transparent MPs had the highest abundance at many sampling sites in all seasons, and large-sized MPs (270–5000 μm) occurred more in the autumn rain season. PVC was more prevalent in autumn, but PET decreased in the plum rain season. Interestingly, more fibers, PET, and large-sized MPs were found in the autumn rain. The index of hazard scores of plastic polymers ( H ) revealed that the studied river was at a severe pollution level (IV), which was highly influenced by PVC and PC. In addition, the pollution load index ( P L I ) value in different rain seasons indicated slight pollution (I). At the same time, it was higher in autumn rains than in other seasons due to the higher variance in MPs. Therefore, the ecological risk of microplastics in the Qinhuai River should be seriously considered, along with seasonal variance and the PVC and PC polymers. Our research is expected to provide valuable assistance in improving the management of urban rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water bodies play a crucial role in supporting life, maintaining the environment, and preserving the ecology for the people of India. However, in recent decades, human activities have led to various alterations in aquatic environments, resulting in environmental degradation through pollution. The safety of utilizing surface water sources for drinking and other purposes has come under intense scrutiny due to rapid population growth and industrial expansion. Surface water pollution due to micro-plastics (MPs) (plastics < 5 mm in size) is one of the emerging pollutants in metropolitan cities of developing countries because of its utmost resilience and synthetic nature. Recent studies on the surface water bodies (river, pond, Lake etc.) portrait the correlation between the MPs level with different parameters of pollution such as specific conductivity, total phosphate, and biological oxygen demand. Fibers represent the predominant form of MPs discovered in surface water bodies, exhibiting fluctuations across seasons. Consequently, present study prioritizes understanding the adaptation, prevalence, attributes, fluctuations, and spatial dispersion of MPs in both sediment and surface water environments. Furthermore, the study aims to identify existing gaps in the current understanding and underscore opportunities for future investigation. From the present study, it has been reported that, the concentration of MPs in the range of 0.2–45.2 items/L at the Xisha Islands in the south China sea, whereas in India it was found in the range of 96 items/L in water samples and 259 items/kg in sediment samples. This would certainly assist the urban planners in achieving sustainable development goals to mitigate the increasing amount of emergent pollutant load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastic pollution in agricultural soil threatens soil quality and human health which has attracted extensive attention worldwide. However, there is no uniform standard for microplastic extraction methods and the identification of microplastic component in different typical agricultural soils. In this study, an artificial simulation adding experiment was used in eight typical agricultural soil samples in China. The aim of the study was to use different methods for extraction, comparing the extraction rates of four microplastics and their influence on polymer identification using ATR- FTIR. The two separate methods were oil extraction (water + oil and saturated NaCl solution + oil), and density method (saturated NaCl solution). The four types of microplastics include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene (PE). We found that the oil extraction method effectively extracted four types of microplastics in agricultural soils, which varied from 83.33% to 100.00%. However, the extraction rate of PET under the oil extraction method and PP under the density method from Southern laterite area was lower than other soils. The presence of iron and aluminum ions influenced the extraction rates of microplastics in the Southwest laterite area. With the increase in microplastic density, the extraction rates of the density method decrease. The oil extraction methods with the cleaning of residual oil were recommended for the higher density microplastics. The density method was recommended for the lighter microplastics in agricultural soils. However, these two extraction methods were not ideal to extract the microplastics from the Southern laterite area and the appropriate extraction methods for laterite need to be further studied in the future. Our results can provide technical support for the extraction treatment and scientific microplastic pollution control of typical agricultural soils with different erosion areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the occurrence status and removal efficiency of microplastics in wastewater treatment plant processes. Analysis of effluent and sludge samples from the Wulongkou and Shuangqiao wastewater treatment plants in Zhengzhou revealed an overall microplastic removal efficiency of 95.64% and 92.53%, respectively, indicating the effectiveness of wastewater treatment plants in reducing microplastic emissions. Microplastics primarily exist in forms such as fiber, fragment, floc, film, and grain. Fibers are predominant in the effluent of the Wulongkou plant, while fibers and films predominate in the effluent of the Shuangqiao plant. Moreover, microplastics are predominantly sized below 500 μm, with larger microplastics (2–5 mm) exhibiting higher removal efficiencies after secondary treatment. Analysis of microplastic types revealed that PE is the most common type in the effluent of the Wulongkou plant, while the Shuangqiao plant predominantly contains PE and PA66. The abundance of microplastics in sludge samples was found to be 6.4 ± 0.8 items/g and 11.3 ± 2.3 items/g, highlighting sludge as an important sink for microplastics. Surface analysis of microplastics revealed characteristics such as wrinkles and cracks, with energy-dispersive spectroscopy indicating significant adsorption of heavy metal elements such as Zn, Hg, and Pb onto microplastic surfaces in sludge. These findings underscore the importance of microplastic removal in wastewater treatment processes and provide scientific evidence for the control and management of microplastic pollution in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The land application of sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants has been recognized as a major source of microplastic contamination in soil. Nevertheless, the fate and behavior of microplastics in soil remain uncertain, particularly their distribution and transport, which are poorly understood. This study does a bibliometric analysis and visualization of relevant research publications using the CiteSpace software. It explores the limited research available on the topic, highlighting the potential for it to emerge as a research hotspot in the future. Chinese researchers and institutions are paying great attention to this field and are promoting close academic cooperation among international organizations. Current research hot topics mainly involve microplastic pollution caused by the land application of sewage sludge, as well as the detection, environmental fate, and removal of microplastics in soil. The presence of microplastics in sludge, typically ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of particles (p)/kg, inevitably leads to their introduction into soil upon land application. In China, the estimated annual accumulation of microplastics in the soil due to sludge use is approximately 1.7 × 1013 p. In European countries, the accumulation ranges from 8.6 to 71 × 1013 p. Sludge application has significantly elevated soil microplastic concentrations, with higher application rates and frequencies resulting in up to several‐fold increases. The primary forms of microplastics found in soils treated with sludge are fragments and fibers, primarily in white color. These microplastics consist primarily of components such as polyamide, polyethylene, and polypropylene. The vertical transport behavior of microplastics is influenced by factors such as tillage, wind, rainfall, bioturbation, microplastic characteristics (e.g., fraction, particle size, and shape), and soil physicochemical properties (e.g., organic matter, porosity, electrical conductivity, and pH). Research indicates that microplastics can penetrate up to 90 cm into the soil profile and persist for decades. Microplastics in sewage sludge‐amended soils pose potential long‐term threats to soil ecosystems and even human health. Future research should focus on expanding the theoretical understanding of microplastic behavior in these soils, enabling the development of comprehensive risk assessments and informed decision‐making for sludge management practices. Practitioner Points: Microplastics in sewage sludge range from tens to hundreds of thousands per kilogram.Sludge land application contributes significantly to soil microplastic pollution.The main forms of microplastics in sludge‐amended soils are fragments and fibers.Microplastics are mainly composed of polyamide, polyethylene, and polypropylene.Microplastics can penetrate up to 90 cm into the soil profile and persist for decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine microplastic pollution just as ocean acidification and greenhouse effect has attracted much environmental concern and become a hot research subject for marine researchers globally. The abundances, distribution, and characteristics of microplastics in surface seawater and sediments from Dapeng Cove were investigated in this study. The results indicated that the abundance of microplastics was 1333 ± 773 items/m3 in surface seawater and 1381 ± 1021 items/kg in sediments, showing a medium microplastic pollution level compared with other sea areas. Fibers were the prevailing shapes of microplastics in both surface seawater and sediments, representing 65.4% and 52.1% of the total microplastic numbers, respectively. Moreover, small microplastics (<1mm) in surface seawater and sediments accounted for 69.6% and 62.2%, respectively. According to the identification by Fourier Transform Infrared microscope (micro-FTIR), the main composition of microplastics in surface seawater and sediments was polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). It is necessary to enhance the regulation of current plastic products used in aquaculture, reduce the production and release of microplastics during the mariculture process, and develop alternatives to plastic fishing gear. The results of this study suggested that long-term mariculture development had caused the accumulation of a large amount of microplastics in water and sediments in Dapeng Cove. We constructed the first basic data of microplastics pollution about Dapeng Cove. This study will serve as a reference for further studies of the distribution and migration of microplastics in mariculture zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) and antibiotics (ATs) have been detected in various aquatic environments and characterized as novel contaminants that have attracted worldwide attention. This review summarizes the characteristics of MPs and ATs, analyzes the sources of MPs and ATs in aquatic environments, reviews the concentration distribution of the two pollutants in China, and introduces the environmental effects of mixing MPs and ATs. Studies on single pollutants of MPs or ATs are well established, but the interactions between the two in aquatic environments are rarely mentioned. The physicochemical characteristics of MPs make them carriers of ATs, which greatly increase their risk of being potential hazards to the environment. Therefore, in this article, the interaction mechanisms between MPs and ATs are systematically sorted out, mainly including hydrophobic, electrostatic, intermolecular interactions, microporous filling, charge-assisted hydrogen bonding, cation-bonding, halogen bonding, and CH/π interactions. Also, factors affecting the interaction between ATs and MPs, such as the physicochemical properties of MPs and ATs and environmental factors, are also considered. Finally, this review identifies some new research topics and challenges for MPs and ATs, in order to gain deeper insight into their behavioral fate and toxic mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An intense period of human population expansion over the past 250 years is about to cease. Total fertility rates are falling dramatically all over the world such that highly industrialized nations, including China and the tiger economies of SE Asia, will see their populations decline significantly in the coming decades. The socioeconomic, geopolitical and environmental ramifications of this change are considerable and invite a multidisciplinary consideration of the underlying mechanisms. In the short-term, socioeconomic factors, particularly urbanization and delayed childbearing are powerful drivers of reduced fertility. In parallel, lifestyle factors such as obesity and the presence of numerous reproductive toxicants in the environment, including air-borne pollutants, nanoplastics and electromagnetic radiation, are seriously compromising reproductive health. In the longer term, it is hypothesized that the reduction in family size that accompanies the demographic transition will decrease selection pressure on high fertility genes leading to a progressive loss of human fecundity. Paradoxically, the uptake of assisted reproductive technologies at scale, may also contribute to such fecundity loss by encouraging the retention of poor fertility genotypes within the population. Since the decline in fertility rate that accompanies the demographic transition appears to be ubiquitous, the public health implications for our species are potentially devastating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastic pollution is a research hotspot around the world. This study investigated the characteristics of microplastic pollution in the freshwater environments of 21 major cities across China. Through indoor and outdoor experimental analysis, we have identified the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of microplastic pollution in China's freshwater environments. Our findings indicate that the average concentration of microplastics in China's freshwater environments is 3502.6 n/m3. The majority of these microplastics are fibrous (42.5%), predominantly smaller than 3 mm (28.1%), and mostly colored (64.7%). The primary chemical components of these microplastics are polyethylene (PE, 33.6%), polyvinyl chloride (PVC, 21.5%), polypropylene (PP, 16.8%), and polystyrene (PS, 15.6%). The abundance of microplastics in China's freshwater environments generally tends to increase from west to east and from south to north, with the lowest concentration found in Xining, Qinghai (1737.5 n/m3), and the highest in Jiamusi, Heilongjiang (5650.0 n/m3). The distribution characteristics of microplastics are directly related to land use types, primarily concentrated in areas of intense human activity, including agricultural, transport, and urban land. Seasonal changes affect the abundance of microplastics, peaking in summer, followed by spring and autumn, mainly due to variations in rainfall, showing a positive correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fast development of China's urbanization has led to a notable release of emerging pollutants, including microplastics (MPs) and endocrine disruptors (EDCs). Generally, these pollutants enter the coastal environment through the discharge of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and finally threaten the organisms in the receiving waterbody. The study investigated the environmental behavior of MPs and EDCs in two typical WWTPs in one of the megacities in China, Shanghai. The abundance of MPs in the influent ranged from 321 to 976 items/L. Four shapes (films, fragments, fibers, and microbead) were found, while fibers and films dominated. Transparent (31–63%) and white (20–47%) MPs were more frequently observed, while polyethylene terephthalate, cellulose, and cellophane were the main polymetric materials. The size of the MPs fell between 15.8 μm and 2220 μm, and the smaller one (<500 μm) dominated. The removal efficiencies of the two WWTPs for MPs ranged from 64% to 92%, and both WWTPs performed better for large pieces of MPs (>500 μm). For EDCs, total concentrations in the influent were detected, ranging from 113 to 2780 ng/L. Two groups, including phenolic estrogens (PEs) and steroid estrogens (SEs), were detected, and PEs, especially bisphenol A (BPA), were the predominant individuals among the studied EDCs. Specifically, PEs ranged from 82.8 to 2637 ng/L, while SEs ranged from 27.3 to 143 ng/L. The removal efficiencies of the WWTPs for EDCs varied (82.8–100%) as well, possibly due to the different treatment compartments and contamination load in the influent. Seasonal variations for both MPs and EDCs were observed. Specifically, concentrations of MPs and EDCs in WWTPs influent were higher in the wet season, as well as the removal efficiency. Furthermore, there was a correlation observed between the concentrations of MPs and EDCs, suggesting that MPs and EDCs may originate from the same source and that EDCs released by MPs cannot be ignored during treatment. Finally, the study evaluated the environmental risk of the effluents. MPs led to a minor risk (Level I), while EDCs might lead to an adverse impact on algae (RQs = 0.0014–0.024) and fish (RQs = 3.4–30.2). In summary, WWTPs received considerable amounts of MPs and EDCs. Although the WWTPs removed the contaminants efficiently, the environmental risk of the effluent needs to be noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic film mulching, widely used in agriculture, leads to microplastic (MP) pollution in soils. While biodegradable polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) films may offer a solution, their impacts on subsurface soils and microorganisms remain unclear. To investigate the effects of conventional non-biodegradable polyethylene (PE) and biodegradable PBAT MPs on the properties of sub-surface soils and microbial communities, MPs were added at varying doses in a field experiment and incubated for 160 days. Physicochemical characteristics, nutrient dynamics, and microbial composition, diversity, and networks of soils were analyzed using standard techniques and 16S rRNA/ITS gene sequencing. Correlations between soil properties and microbes were assessed. Both MP types significantly altered soil characteristics, with PBAT-MP elevating pH and the levels of available phosphorus and potassium more than PE-MP. Microbial composition shifts occurred, with low-addition PBAT-MP promoting plastic-degrading genera. The assessment of α/β-diversity indicated that PBAT-MP predominantly influenced fungi while PE-MP impacted bacteria. An examination of microbial co-occurrence networks highlighted that PE-MP primarily disrupted fungal interactions, whereas PBAT-MP streamlined network complexity. Correlation analyses revealed that PBAT-MP promoted fungal diversity/network resilience correlating to nutrients. PE-MP and PBAT-MP significantly altered native soil/microbe relationships. PBAT-MP may exert greater, yet unknown, impacts over time through its biodegradation into newer and smaller fragments. Future research needs to integrate multi-omics and stable isotope science to elucidate the deep mechanistic impacts of degraded film-derived MPs on microbial ecological functions and biogeochemical cycles. Attention should also be paid to the long-term accumulation/transport of MPs in agricultural soils. Overall, this work deepens the impact and understanding of MPs from plastic film on sub-surface soil ecology. Furthermore, it provides a theoretical foundation for managing 'white pollution' in the film-covered farmlands of arid and semi-arid regions in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyethylene (PE) is a common component of microplastic pollution, and cadmium (Cd) is a prevalent pollutant in contaminated freshwater bodies in China. Among cyanobacteria, Microcystis aeruginosa (M. aeruginosa) plays a crucial role in the formation of algal blooms in these water systems. However, there has been limited research on how microplastics and heavy metals affect cyanobacteria ecologically. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological effects of individual and combined exposure to Cd pollutants and microplastics on M. aeruginosa. The solutions containing 13 µm and 6.5 µm PE particles (100 mg/L) with Cd were used in the research. The results indicated that the combined treatment led to a significant inhibition of chlorophyll a content, dropping to zero by day 5. The treated groups exhibited higher microcystins (MCs) content compared to the control group, suggesting increased MCs release due to pollutant exposure. Interestingly, the adsorption of heavy metals by microplastics partially alleviated the toxicity of heavy metals on algal cells. Moreover, the combined treatment significantly suppressed catalase (CAT) activity compared to Cd treatment, indicating a synergistic effect that led to greater oxidative stress. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the impact of PE and Cd pollution on freshwater ecosystems, elucidates the physiological responses of cyanobacteria to these pollutants, and establishes a theoretical groundwork for addressing complex water pollution using cyanobacteria-based strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics are widely found in rivers and their sediments, which will cause harm to the water ecological environment. The Wei River is a first-class tributary of the Yellow River, the fifth largest river in the world, and has vulnerable ecological environment and most sediment in the world. However, understanding how anthropogenic activities and environmental factors affect the microplastics distribution in this river is not clear. Based on this, the spatiotemporal distribution of microplastics in the Wei River were investigated. The abundance of microplastics ranged from 1033 to 8333 items/m3 and from 120 to 840 items/kg in the water and in the sediment, respectively. Fibers and fragments were the main shapes of Wei River, microplastics less than 500 μm were the main sizes, and black and white/transparent were the main colors. In Wei River, the abundance of microplastics in urban areas was higher than that in agricultural areas and mountainous areas. Furthermore, the correlation analysis revealed that microplastic abundance in the water was related to anthropogenic activities (population density, per capita GDP and distance) and environmental factors (water temperature, NH3-N, ORP), while in the sediments was correlated with anthropogenic activities (per capita GDP) and environmental factors (water temperature and NH3-N). This study reveals new patterns in microplastic pollution in the Wei River, underscoring the need for targeted environmental strategies. Our findings provide novel insights into the characteristics and distribution of microplastics, significantly adding to the current understanding of riverine microplastic pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Monitoring microplastics (MPs) in cetaceans is challenging due to difficulties in obtaining samples, especially for endangered species. In this study, we characterized MPs ingested in nine individuals of four cetacean species stranded along the western coast of the Taiwan Strait including not only small coastal dolphins but also large pelagic and deep-diving cetaceans. A total intestine length of 123.2 m was analyzed, and the color, shape, size, and polymer types of MPs were then identified. The mean abundance of MPs was 86.44 ± 12.22 items individual−1, which was slightly higher compared with the same species from other waters worldwide. Moreover, a strong significant relationship between MPs abundance and intestine contents mass was identified. Transparent, fibrous MPs made from PET and PP were found to be predominant in the present study, indicating that the primary MPs source is from municipal and industrial sewage from clothing production and industry as well as from fisheries and aquaculture. Our study provides more information about the MPs pollution of endangered species in the western Taiwan Strait. It highlights the further risk assessment of MPs consumption in these threatened species. Microplastics (MPs) pollution is of global concern, which poses serious threats to various marine organisms, including many threatened apex predators. In this study, MPs were investigated from nine cetaceans of four different species, comprising one common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), two pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps), one ginkgo-toothed beaked whale (Mesoplodon ginkgodens), and five Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) stranded along the western coast of the Taiwan Strait from the East China Sea based on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis. Mean abundances of 778 identified MPs items were 86.44 ± 12.22 items individual−1 and 0.43 ± 0.19 items g−1 wet weight of intestine contents, which were found predominantly to be transparent, fiber-shaped polyethylene terephthalate (PET) items usually between 0.5 and 5 mm. The abundance of MPs was found at a slightly higher level and significantly correlated with intestine contents mass (p = 0.0004*). The MPs source was mainly likely from synthetic fibers-laden sewage discharged from intense textile industries. Our report represents the first study of MPs in pelagic and deep-diving cetaceans in China, which not only adds baseline data on MPs for cetaceans in Asian waters but also highlights the further risk assessment of MPs consumption in these threatened species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pollution of microplastics (MPs) to the marine environment has become a widespread focus of attention. To assess MP-induced ecotoxicity on marine ecosystems, periphytic protozoan communities were used as test organisms and exposed to five concentrations of MPs: 0, 1, 5, 25, and 125 mg l−1. Protozoan samples were collected using microscope slides from coastal waters of the Yellow Sea, northern China. A total of 13 protozoan species were identified and represented different tolerance to MP-induced ecotoxicity. Inhibition effects of MPs on the test protozoan communities were clearly shown in terms of both the species richness and individual abundance and followed linear relationships to MP concentrations. The community patterns were driven by MPs and significantly shifted at concentrations over 5 mg l−1. Our findings demonstrated that MPs may induce the community-level ecotoxic response of periphytic protozoan fauna and followed significant community dynamics. Thus, it is suggested that periphytic protozoan fauna may be used as useful community-based test model organisms for evaluating MP-induced ecotoxicity in marine environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The threat of microplastics to marine animals and habitats is increasing, which may affect sea turtle nesting grounds. The Qilianyu Islands are the largest remaining green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nesting grounds in China. Despite being far from the mainland, microplastic pollution cannot be ignored. In this study, the level of microplastic pollution in surface sediments from three different zones, namely, the bottom, intertidal, and supratidal zone, was investigated on North Island, Qilianyu Islands. The results showed that the abundance of microplastics in the supratidal zone was significantly higher than that in the bottom zone and intertidal zone (r = 3.65, p = 0.011), with the highest average abundance of microplastics located on the southwest coast of North Island. In the bottom zone, only plastic blocks (88%) and fibers (12%) were found. The main types of microplastics in the intertidal and supratidal zones were plastic blocks (48%) and foam (42%), with polyethylene (PE) (40%) and polystyrene (PS) (34%) being the predominant components. These types and components of microplastics differed from those in the surrounding seawater, but corresponding types and components were found in the plastic debris on the beach. Meanwhile, it was also observed that there were multiple instances of fragmented plastic on the beach. Thus, we suggest that the microplastics on the beach in North Island were mainly derived from the fragmentation of microplastic debris, indicating secondary microplastics. It is recommended to further strengthen the regular cleaning of plastic debris on the beach, especially the removal of small plastic debris, in order to reduce the pollution from secondary microplastics generated by the fragmentation of beach plastic debris and to better protect China's most important sea turtle nesting site in the South China Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics have been widely detected in the natural water environment, which brings inevitable risks to the water ecosystem and human health. However, the understanding of the potential impact of microplastics on aquatic animals, plants, and human health is still limited, and technical methods to control microplastic pollution in natural water are still rare. Hence, this paper summarizes the progress of research on microplastic pollution in water systems in terms of microplastic source, attributes, distribution characteristics, environmental effects, and prevention and control methods according to the relevant research reports on water microplastic pollution. It also expounds the basic ways for the prevention, control, and treatment of water microplastics, and looks forward to the research direction of water microplastic pollution in the future. The results show that the abundance of fresh water microplastics in China is higher than that in other regions, but the pollution level of marine microplastics is at the middle level. Compared with other countries, the pollution degree of microplastics in aquatic organisms in China is at the middle and lower level, but the spatial heterogeneity is more obvious. Through hydraulic control and the substitution of degradable plastic products, water microplastic pollution can be greatly reduced. This paper can provide a reference basis for the formulation of microplastic pollution prevention and control in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastic pollution in sugarcane areas of China is severe, and reducing the ecological risks is critical. Biochar has been widely used in soil remediation. This study aims to explore the effects and mechanisms of microplastics combined with or without biochar on sugarcane biomass, soil biochemical properties in red soil through a potted experiment. The results show that, compared with control (CK), treatments with microplastics alone reduced the dry biomass of sugarcane, soil pH, and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents by an average of 8.8%, 2.1%, 1.1%, and 2.0%, respectively. Interestingly, microplastics combined with biochar could alleviate the negative effects of microplastic accumulation on sugarcane growth and soil quality. There were significant differences in the bacterial community alpha diversity indices and compositions among different treatments. Compared with CK, treatments with microplastics alone obviously decreased the observed operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and the Chao1 and Shannon indices of soil total bacteria (16S rRNA gene-based bacteria) while increasing them in phoD-harboring bacteria. Microplastics combined with biochar treatments significantly increased the abundance of Subgroup_10 for the 16S rRNA gene and treatments with microplastics alone significantly increased the relative abundance of Streptomyces for the phoD gene compared to CK. Moreover, compared with microplastics alone, the treatments with microplastics combined with biochar increased the relative abundance of Subgroup_10, Bacillus, Pseudomonas in soil total bacteria, and Amycolatopsis and Bradyrhizobium in phoD-harboring bacteria, most of which can inhibit harmful bacteria and promote plant growth. Additionally, different treatments also changed the abundance of potential microbial functional genes. Compared to CK, other treatments increased the abundance of aerobic ammonia oxidation and denitrification but decreased the abundance of nitrate respiration and nitrogen respiration; meanwhile, these four functional genes involved in N cycling processes were obviously higher in treatments with microplastics combined with biochar than in treatments with microplastics alone. In conclusion, microplastics combined with biochar could alleviate the negative effects of microplastic accumulation on sugarcane biomass by altering soil nutrients and microbial community structure and function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an emerging contaminant, microplastics (MPs) have caused global environmental pollution and become the focus of current research. This research presents a comprehensive literature review on the occurrence and distribution characteristics of MPs in surface water within China. The findings demonstrate that stainless steel barrels currently serve as the predominant tool for water sampling, whereas Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer and Raman spectrometer are extensively employed for the detection of MPs. The mean abundance of MPs in rivers ranges from 0.57 to 930.00 n/L, while in lakes and reservoirs, it varies between 1.30 and 27.50 n/L. The size of MPs in surface waters is mainly less than 1 mm, with the transparent or white fibrous forms being the most frequently observed morphology, and polypropylene and polyethylene emerge as the primary polymer types. Additionally, the investigation of MPs in lakes and reservoirs in Northeast China and South China remains unexplored. Currently, an increasing number of Chinese cities are opting for surface water as their water source, so more studies should focus on enhancing the accumulation of research data on MPs in surface water to provide substantial support for the development of pollution control measures in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soil ecosystem plays a significant role in the dynamics of microplastics. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of microplastics in six farmland plots from the cities of Nanjing, Suzhou, and Xuzhou were conducted by using laser infrared imaging system (LDIR). The results showed that the abundance of microplastics in farmland soils in Jiangsu Province ranged from 667–9333 items/kg, and the difference between the abundance of microplastics in soils from open-field cultivation and greenhouse farming was not significant. The vertical distribution characteristics showed that the abundance of microplastic decreased significantly with the increase of soil depth. However, there was no significant difference in particle size between top soil (0–5 cm) and deep soil (10–20 cm). Fragments were the most common microplastic form in soil samples (94.6%), with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) being the main polymer type, followed by polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Compared with previous studies conducted in China, the abundance of microplastics in farmland soils in Jiangsu Province was at moderate level but was notably higher than other places within the Yangtze River Delta region. The conclusions drawn from this paper provided important reference data for future assessment of microplastic pollution in agricultural fields. Furthermore, they establish a fundamental groundwork for understanding the migration patterns of MPs in soil environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hazards associated with microplastics (MPs) and the pollutants they absorb in freshwater lake ecosystems have become a hot research topic in academia. In this study, in order to investigate potential affiliated MP hazards, lake MP samples were collected from a typical subtropical freshwater lake system in China (Poyang Lake) during the dry season (here, you should show the specific months) to explore their potential toxic element (PTE) response (i.e., exposure to Cu, Pb, and Zn) respective to the ecological environment and resident phytoplankton. Results show that average MP abundance in surface water can reach up to 1800 items m−3, which higher in the Nanjishan Wetland National Nature Reserve (NWNNR) (1175 items m−3). Polyester (i.e., purified terephthalic acid [PTA]) and polyethylene (PE) were the main polymer types found in surface water, fiber was the main MP shape, and most of the MP particle sizes are greater than 100 μm. Moreover, phytoplankton biomass was significantly higher in the NWNNR compared to Poyang Lake's retention basin and water channel. It indicated that MP pollutant status of Poyang Lake is mild; however, the ecological risks that MPs pose should not be ignored. The significant positive correlation between MPs and PTEs indicated that PTE absorption and desorption by MPs may cause potential ecological stress. Although we anticipate no direct link between ecotoxicity and phytoplankton, MPs may have indirect effects on phytoplankton through their regulatory effects on PTE levels in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The first overview of co-authorship network of microplastics in landfill leachate. • Light color Polyethylene, Polypropylene, and Polystyrene are dominant in leachate. • Microplastics abundance is biased with different sampling and analysis techniques. • There are no global standards for microplastic management. Plastic wastes deposited in landfills eventually break down and degrade into microplastics by physical, chemical, and biological forces. Though microplastics in leachate pose significant threats to the environment, the leachate generated from landfills has not received much attention as a possible source of environmental microplastics. A descriptive and systematic investigation of the global distribution of microplastics in landfill leachate does not exist to date. Therefore, this attempt is to provide a concise scientometric review of the studies on the presence of microplastics in landfill leachate. The present review revealed that the global trend in research on microplastics in leachate has increased exponentially after 2018 and China is the leading country. Different geographical regions have reported different microplastic abundances with the highest of 291.0 ± 91.0 items/L from a landfill in Shanghai. The use of novel sampling techniques to detect small microplastics (20–100 µm) has led to the high abundance of microplastics in landfill leachate in Shanghai. Due to its widespread usage, polyethylene is the most typically encountered polymer type in landfill leachate around the world. However, it is quite challenging to compare the results among studies due to the use of different size categories and extraction techniques. The removal of microplastics by the current leachate treatment facilities is still mostly unexplored, thus it is crucial to develop novel technologies to treat the microplastics in landfill leachate. Further investigations on the transport of microplastics in landfill leachate are urgently required to have a better understanding of potential human exposure and health implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollutant types are increasing along with the rapid development of society and economy. Some emerging pollutants from chemicals have begun to appear and endanger public and ecosystem health. However, the research and development of emerging pollutant monitoring technology is still in its infancy, with no complete monitoring system in place. This makes it impossible to access and identify the spatial pattern of emerging pollutants. Therefore, this paper reviews the existing quantitative research results on four common emerging pollutants in China's water environment—namely, endocrine disruptors, brominated flame retardants, perfluorinated compounds, and microplastics—extracts the quantitative monitoring results of emerging pollutants in the case studies, and outlines the spatial distribution characteristics of emerging pollutants in the water environment. The results show that the emerging pollutants have a large distribution area that has covered most of China. The level of pollution from emerging pollutants correlates with the level of economic development and the pollution level in economically developed regions such as the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, and the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region is significantly higher than in other regions. This study provides a reference for the prevention and control of emerging pollutants in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new type of pollutant, microplastics have attracted much attention. As the third largest freshwater lake in China, Taihu Lake is characterized by severe eutrophication caused by external pollution and frequent occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms. Although there have been previous investigations into the spatial distribution of microplastics in Taihu Lake, research on the relationships among microplastics, pollutants, and cyanobacterial blooms, as well as the spatiotemporal distribution and changing characteristics of microplastics, is deficient. This study investigated the characteristics of microplastics, pollutants, and cyanobacterial blooms in the surface water and sediments of Taihu Lake. The abundances of microplastics were 0–3.7 items/L in the surface water and 44.42–417.56 items/kg (dry weight) in the sediments. Microplastics are most abundant in the western, southern, and northern lake areas. The northern and western lake areas are severely polluted, and cyanobacterial blooms are prone to occur in these areas. This study found that microplastics exist in the surface water of the southeastern lake area, which is a source of drinking water, and the microplastics may thus have adverse effects on drinking water quality. As the main organisms in the cyanobacterial blooms, Microcystis and microplastics have similar spatial distributions in Taihu Lake and are both affected by wind. Based on a combination of the investigations of this paper with the existing research on the microplastics in Taihu Lake, the spatiotemporal distribution of microplastics was obtained: the abundance of microplastics in surface water has continuously decreased, there are no obvious spatial distribution differences, and the spatial distribution of microplastics in the sediments is the same as that in the surface water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) are prevalent in our environment, being present in the air we breathe and in the food we consume. Due to the widespread use of plastic materials in everyday life, the amount of microplastics being released into the biosphere has become increasingly apparent in recent years. This study provides the first documentation of the presence of microplastics in Chinese baijiu, a popular alcoholic beverage in China, bottled in plastic. It is essential to note the significance of this discovery and potential implications for human health. Analysis of samples collected from the Chinese market showed the presence of microplastics in all six Chinese baijiu brands tested. Concentrations ranged from 172 MPs/500 mL to 944 MPs/500 mL with an average concentration of 436 MPs/500 mL. Cellulose and PA accounted for 70.4% and 17.8% of all microplastics detected, respectively. These were the most commonly detected types. Other types of microplastics were also found, including PET, PP, PVC, and PE. PET accounted for 2.7%, PP for 2.2%, PVC for 1.2%, and PE for 0.1% of all microplastics. The possible sources of contamination include raw materials, ambient air, and equipment and vessels that shed microplastics. Therefore, this study emphasizes the requirement for further research to mitigate the potential hazards associated with human exposure to microplastics. Additionally, it presents significant findings on the presence of microplastics in Chinese baijiu sold in plastic bottles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, a large number of microplastics (MPs) appeared in the aquatic environment, causing serious pollution. In order to study the influence of MP concentrations on freshwater zooplankton, polystyrene microspheres (PS) of 0.5 μm were used in this study as experimental reagents, and Moina macrocopa, which was dominant zooplankton in the Pearl River Basin of China, was selected as the experimental object. The experiment was divided into four treatment groups plus a control group, and it was conducted for 15 days. The treatment groups had MP concentrations of 10, 10², 10³ and 104 pieces/mL. The survival time, reproduction rate, the total offspring, and the time of first pregnancy of Moina macrocopa were counted every day, and the intrinsic growth rate, generation time, and net reproduction rate were calculated. The results showed that the survival time of Moina macrocopa decreased with the increase of the MP concentration, and the MP concentration had more influence on the reproduction rate. Except for the 10 pieces/mL treatment group, no reproduction occurred in other treatment groups, and the reproduction rate gradually decreased with the increase of age. The life table showed that only the control group and the 10 pieces/mL treatment group had an intrinsic growth rate, and the intrinsic growth rate of the treatment group was far lower than that of the control group. Our experimental results provide basic data and a theoretical basis for further understanding the toxic effects of MPs on freshwater zooplankton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics, as a currently emerging pollutant, are gaining increasing attention from researchers in various fields. The purpose of this study is to summarize research development on microplastics in the field of neurotoxicity using bibliometric tools and visualization methods and to identify current research hotspots. The Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) was searched under the topics of "microplastics" and "neurotoxicity." A total of 33 published articles were obtained by exclusion and analyzed using CiteSpace (V6.1.R2). It was found that microplastic neurotoxicity research is currently on the rise, with the most research results being published in China, the most collaboration occurring between Italy and other countries, and the least collaboration occurring between authors. The focus and hotspots of future research on the neurotoxicity of microplastics may revolve around "accumulation" and "integrated biomarker response." These findings demonstrate the trends and frontiers in the field of microplastic neurotoxicity research and provide valuable information for subsequent research directions and potential collaborations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural soil is subject to the serious contamination of microplastics (MPs) derived from the intensive agricultural activities. The representative sites under different farming practices (mulching, greenhouse, or traditional plantation) were selected, with soil samples collected from shallow (0–5 cm) and deep (5–10 cm) layers. Results showed that the distribution of MPs varied greatly with sites, with the abundance ranging from 373 ± 236 to 7 888 ± 1 797 items kg−1. Meanwhile, MPs in deep soil appeared to have higher abundance and smaller size compared to those in shallow layer, indicating the vertical transport of MPs especially the small ones. Overall, MPs with the size of < 1 mm, the shapes of fragment and fiber, and the colors of black, white, and transparent, individually played the most contribution. Furthermore, laser direct infrared spectroscopy (LDIR) and micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (µ-FTIR) were applied for identification of MPs, and 20 polymer types were identified. Among them, polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene were the primary types. The distribution of MPs revealed that facility agriculture application (such as mulching and greenhouse) led to more serious MP pollution in farmland, while the diverse characteristics of MPs inferred multiple sources other than agricultural plastic film/net. The surface morphology and elemental composition of typical MPs were characterized, showing polymer-special weathering features and multiple chemical pollutants (such as Ti, Br, and Cu) on MPs. This work provided a comprehensive insight into MP pollution in agricultural soil, thus, to better understand MP potential environmental risk to soil system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated microplastic distribution characteristics by collecting surface seawater from sea areas to the south of Jeju Island in August 2020. The average microplastic abundance was 0.46 ± 0.27 particles/L (n = 23), and PE had a high ratio, averaging 53%. The levels of fragments and fibers were observed to be 69% and 31% on average, respectively. The most common size of the microplastics was on average 0.02–0.30 mm at a level of 69%. We found a higher abundance of microplastics in the study area than in other open waters such as the Arctic Central Basin and the Atlantic Ocean, whereas the abundance was lower than that in previous studies on coastal areas. We studied an area of open sea connecting China, Japan, and the Pacific Ocean, and, in this region, the microplastic distribution varies depending on sea currents in the surrounding areas. In the summer, the western and central regions of the study sea area have low salinity levels due to discharge from China's Yangtze River. This generally indicates that high-density plastic deposits are found in the Yangtze River estuary, and low-density plastics are found in the study area. Furthermore, this implies that low- and high-density plastics are transported in water for long periods of time due to the Taiwan Warm Current and because the eastern sea area has high salinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the environmental microplastic pollution has aroused wide interdisciplinary attentions. However, the occurrence of microplastics in agricultural soils is rarely understood, especially in eastern China. In this work, the occurrence and characteristic property of microplastics in agricultural soils in Anhui province, which is situated in eastern China, was investigated for the first time according to the density separation and filtration method. The concentration of microplastic in agricultural soils varied from 0.66 to 17.66 (103 kg−1 dry soil), and the fiber (~ 55.1%), film (~ 34.7%) were the main types in farmland soils. In addition, the small size (250 ~ 500 µm) was the dominant size of microplastics in agricultural soils in Anhui province. The concentration of microplastics was closely related to geographical location and planting patterns. Meanwhile, the types of microplastics were polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Finally, the environmental risk of microplastics in farmland soil in Anhui Province was evaluated. The overall risk index of farmland soil microplastics in Anhui Province was less than 1000, and the content of soil microplastics was high, but the overall risk level was low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An emerging source of MPs in China is artificial turf applied as hedge walls (ATHWs), which have been increasingly used mainly in enclosing construction sites as well as beautifying the municipal landscape. However, the specific ecological risks caused by MPs released from ATHWs (ATHW-MPs) are still unknown. In the present study, we investigated the amount and aging-induced properties of green fibers (GMPs) and the backing materials (BMPs), released from the ATHWs; as well as their potential uptake by animals. Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus), mussels (Mytilus edulis) and earthworms (Eisenia fetida) were used as animal test species. Outdoor exposure for 180 days made ATHWs more prone to embrittlement and disintegration, leading to 4.58 ± 1.96 % weight loss of the grass panels. More and finer particles and fibers were released by an external shear force from the outdoor exposed panels than from panels exposed to artificial UV-light. The aging process altered the surface properties of both GMP and BMP such as zeta potential, surface roughness, specific surface area and chemical groups, which may change their interaction with chemicals and species in the environment. All the studied species tended to ingest more fine particles (<40 µm) of BMPs. As a kind of microfibers, GMP were ingested by some grass carp and mussels but not by earthworms. Ingestion of MPs increased at higher MP-exposure concentrations. Although most of BMPs were partly egested by animal species after 3 d intestinal cleansing; 10 %, 44 % and 22 % of ingested BMPs remained in grass carp, mussels and earthworms, respectively. Aging of ATHW cause more and finer shed MPs, therefore, the sources and quality of the raw materials and producing process must be strictly controlled. We suggest that industry should develop or pay attention to the materials that are more resistant to aging; assess and inform the life cycle of the ATHWs in the instructions, and remind users to avoid free exposure of the backing material during installation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics are polluting the oceans worldwide and being stored in popular seafood species. Although there is uncertainty about human health impacts from consuming such seafood, such uncertainty doesn't limit consumer concern. Economic studies regarding these new pollutants are seriously lacking, although environmental research is becoming more common. One of the goals of this study is to fill this gap, and meanwhile we explore that culture, attitudinal factors, and willingness-to-pay (WTP) elicitation formats may be key determinants in consumer actions. Surveys were conducted in three countries that vary in their seafood consumption habits, environmental attitudes, and culture. The results show that while previous knowledge of microplastics differs widely, when presented with microplastic information, about 90% of the respondents in all countries viewed microplastics as harmful. Mean own WTP for microplastic safer salmon was 162%, 222%, and 150% above the usual price of salmon in the US, China, and Korea, respectively. While there exists significant differences in WTP across examined nations, commonalities exist. Namely, individuals with a peer-like-oneself outlook and collectivistic values displayed significantly higher WTP for microplastic safer salmon. Promoting an equal view of peers and emphasizing the group can lead to higher WTP for less microplastic contaminated food. Policies in educating the public for these new pollutants, supporting the seafood industry to help clean up waters near the seashore, and partnering with consumers in funding the pro-environmental behavior are called for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pollution of freshwater environments with microplastics (MPs) has attracted increasing attention owing to their threats to aquatic ecosystems and human health. Here, we sampled and analyzed MPs from mainstream, tributary, and backwater areas in the Wanzhou section of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) in impoundment and flood periods. Microplastic pollution was the most severe in the backwater areas. The average abundance of MPs reached the highest value in the flood period (5.27±3.47×107 items km−2), which was 3–5 times that in the impoundment period. In the 0.3–5 mm size class, the 1–5 mm fraction was the most abundant, accounting for more than 81% in the flood period and 68% of the total MP particle abundance in the impoundment period in the mainstream and backwater areas. However, 0.3–1 mm MPs contributed more than 50% in the tributaries during the impoundment period. Polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene MPs were detected in foam, fragment, sheet, and line-shaped MP particles. White, opaque, foamed polystyrene MPs contributed 32–81% to total MP particle abundance in the watershed. Microplastic particle surfaces showed signs of damage and oxidation, and ten different elements were found. Oxygen was clustered on the surface of foam and fragment MPs. Microplastic pollution was severe in the Wanzhou watershed. Especially in the backwater areas, oxidized MPs of variable shapes derived mainly from surface runoff in the flood period and sewage discharge in the impoundment period were abundant. The results of this study contribute to understanding seasonal pollution patterns and surface characteristics of MPs in the TGR and similar watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there is a lack of studies on microplastic pollution in mountain terrains and foothills areas in Northwest China and Central Asia. Here, we collected monthly dusts samples for one year and we studied the distribution, pollution levels, and sources of microplastics in atmospheric dust fall in the Ebinur Lake Basin in Northwest China. Results showed that the average content of dust microplastic on construction land was 28.61 ± 1.13 mg/kg, followed by farmland (20.25 ± 1.56 mg/kg), forest (19.52 ± 1.06 mg/kg), and deserts (8.08 ± 0.56 mg/kg). Regarding different land use types, atmospheric dust reduction dominated on farmland (58.64%), followed by urban area (26.65%), forest (9.76%), and desert (4.95%). Regarding the shape of microplastics, the order of occurrence in dust was film (46.85%) > fiber (35.15%) > foam(12.35%) > fragment (5.65%). In this study, four colors of microplastics were found in dust, and white accounted for the largest proportion (52.15%), followed by transparent (18.65%), black (19.45%), and green (9.75%). The main components of film microplastics in atmospheric dustfall in the Ebinur Lake Basin were PE and PP, and their sources were mainly plastic products in daily life, plastic industrial packaging materials from urban enterprises, broken plastic woven bags, and PET mostly from fabric fragment emissions. The abundance of microplastics in dust was correlated with atmospheric dust pH, EC, and total salt content. The contents of seven heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn, and Co) adsorbed by microplastics were also correlated with pH, EC, and total salt content. Our results represent a reference for microplastics pollution prevention in mountain terrains and foothills areas in northwest China and Central Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals (HMs) co-exist in sweet potato fields of China. As the main component of agricultural field mulch and one of the most polluting and harmful HMs, the effects of polyethylene microplastics (PE MPs) and cadmium (Cd) on sweet potato and soil environment are remains unclear. Here, pot and hydroponic experiments are used to explore the effects of original and weathered PE MPs on growth and Cd uptake of sweet potatoes. The results of pot experiments reveal that compared with the control (0%), 5% of weathered PE MPs can significantly increase soil electrical conductivity (EC); both 5% of the original PE MPs and weathered PE MPs can significantly reduce the concentration of Olsen phosphorus (P) and Olsen potassium (K) in soil, inhibit plant growth, but significantly increase Cd accumulation and glutathione (GSH) level in tissues of sweet potatoes, and also induce membrane lipid peroxidation. In addition, compared to 5% weathered PE MPs, 5% original PE MPs significantly reduce soil EC, growth and peroxidase level of sweet potatoes, but significantly increase Cd concentration in leaves and stems. The results of hydroponic experiment show that original PE MPs significantly increase the P, K, and Cd adsorption compared with weathered PE MPs, and Cd increases the original PE MPs accumulation in the root cortex but decrease PE MPs accumulation in shoots. To sum up, our study investigates the differences and reasons of the effects of original and weathered PE MPs on growth and Cd absorption of sweet potatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastic pollution on bathing beaches threatens the health of human beings and coastal organisms. There is a lack of assessment on the level of microplastic pollution and the health risk associated with plastics. As one of the earliest open bathing beaches in China, Liandao is well known as the two high-quality beaches. However, little is known about the extent of microplastic pollution on these bathing beaches. Based on the analysis of microplastic pollution abundance, distribution, shape, size, color, and composition at the Liandao bathing beaches, this study puts forward a novel approach to comprehensively evaluate the microplastic pollution level and risk level by using the Nemerow pollution index (NPI) and polymer hazard index (PHI). The results show that the average abundance of microplastics on the Liandao bathing beaches is 135.42 ± 49.58 items/kg; the main shapes are fibers, fragments, and granules. Most of the microplastics are transparent, brown, and black, accounting for 71.54%, and they have an average particle size of 0.63 ± 0.43 mm. The main components are PE, PP, PS, PET, and nylon, of which nylon appears in the highest proportion (54.77%). The microplastic NPI and PHI values are 0.38 and 74.81, respectively, indicating that the pollution level and health risk index of microplastics on the Liandao bathing beaches are both low. With the increase in population and per capita consumption, plastic waste generated on land will continue to increase. Finally, this study puts forward some suggestions regarding microplastic monitoring, plastic waste management, and environmental attitudes and behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in the aquatic environment and have received widespread attention worldwide as emerging pollutants. Urbanization and anthropogenic activities are the main sources of MPs in rivers; however, the MPs in plateau rivers with less human activities are not well understood. In this study, the pollution of MPs in the surface water and shore sediment of the Lhasa River from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was investigated, and a risk assessment was conducted. The abundance of MPs in the surface water and shore sediment of Lhasa River were 0.63 n/L and 0.37 n/g, respectively. MPs in surface water were mainly dominated by films (43.23%) and fibers (31.12%) in shape, transparent (54.25%) in color, and 0–0.5 mm (75.83%) in size, while MPs in the shore sediment were mainly fibers (43.69%) and fragments (36.53%), transparent (71.91%), and 0–0.5 mm (60.18%). PP and PE were the predominant polymer types, accounting for 44.55% and 30.79% respectively in the surface water and 32.51% and 36.01% respectively in the shore sediment. More notably, the polymer pollution index (H) of MPs in the Lhasa River was at hazard level III due to the high risk caused by PVC, but the pollution load index (PLI) was low at hazard level I. This study reveals that the remote river in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are polluted by MPs, and their potential risks to the vulnerable ecosystem deserve attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abundance of microplastics in freshwater systems in China and the biotoxicity of microplastics in the world were reviewed. The analysis and identification methods of microplastics still have many limitations. Improving technical methods is of great significance for studying the aggregation and migration process of microplastics in environmental media. The establishment of an ecotoxicological assessment methods for microplastics and its compound pollution system and the enrichment of basic database will be a hot spot in this field in the future. Scholars and experts should combine international front scientific issues and analysis and identification difficulties, improve the recycling and waste management of plastic products, strengthen the detection of the concentration of microplastics in the environment, and explore the transfer efficiency of microplastics pollutants between different nutritional levels, continuously improve the biological toxicity effects and ecotoxicological mechanisms of microplastics and their compound pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics in marine environments are becoming a hot topic since they can be transferred through the marine food web and may finally be consumed by humans. Here, we investigate the distribution characteristics of microplastics in marine organisms at different trophic levels through their digestive tracts (entire organisms for zooplankton and zoobenthos). A total of 124 fish and 22 crustaceans from 10 fish and 3 crustacean species, as well as a few zooplankton and zoobenthos, were captured from the Zhoushan fishing ground, i.e., China's largest ocean fishing ground. The abundance of microplastics ranged from 0.74 ± 1.29 to 4.71 ± 2.19 items per sample in fish species and from 0.83 ± 1.07 to 1.00 ± 0.93 items per sample in crustacean species. Among the detected microplastics, fiber was the most dominant type (i.e., 67%), transparent microplastics were the most frequently detected (i.e., 49%), and the majority of the microplastics were identified as natural particles (cellulose). The abundance of microplastics was positively correlated with the trophic level (correlation coefficient = 0.717; p < 0.05). Our results show that microplastics are widespread in the marine organisms of the Zhoushan fishing ground, and they might accumulate in marine organisms at higher trophic levels of the marine food chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In recent years, microplastic (MP) contamination has raised enormous concern. However, data on the influence of solid waste treatment systems on MP pollution around agricultural soil are lacking. This study investigated the distribution and characteristics of MPs in agricultural soil surrounding a solid waste treatment center in southeastern China. Materials and methods: Fifty-seven agricultural topsoil samples around the solid waste treatment center were collected. The samples were pretreated by drying, flotation separation using NaCl solution, and digestion by H2O2. The abundance and morphological characteristics of MPs were determined by a microscope, followed by Raman spectroscopy analysis identified polymer types and SEM–EDS analysis observed surface morphology and the type of metals accumulated on the MPs. Results and discussion: Soil MPs' abundance ranged from 280 to 2360 items/kg, while a higher abundance of MPs was distributed in the downwind area. The < 1-mm MPs were dominant, and white fragment MPs were widely found. Polyethylene (52.86%) and polypropylene (27.14%) were the most common. Moreover, SEM–EDS images illustrated that MPs were significantly weathered and showed the uneven distribution of metal(loid) elements on the surface, implying that MPs may migrate as heavy metal vectors to threaten agroecosystem safety. Conclusions: This study reveals the distribution and characteristics of MPs in agricultural soil surrounding a solid waste treatment center in southeastern China, as well as the potential source of soil MPs, and provides systematic data for further research on MP pollution in agricultural soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) are widely present in aquatic environments, causing harm to aquatic organisms and posing a threat to human health. MP risk assessment has therefore attracted increasing attention; yet few studies have been conducted on the water quality criteria (WQC) of MPs in the surface waters of China. Herein, data on the toxicity of MPs in aquatic species were reviewed, and the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) method was employed to determine the WQC for the protection of aquatic organisms against MP pollution. Criteria included the maximum concentration (CMC) and the continuous concentration (CCC). In addition, the ecological risk posed by MPs in China's main aquatic systems was assessed using a probabilistic method. The CMC and CCC were estimated at 59.42 μg/L (1.67 × 107 particles/M3) and 93.94 μg/L (2.90 × 105 particles/M3), respectively. The ecological risk levels of MP pollution across the seven aquatic systems in China were as follows: Yangtze, Pearl, Yellow, SongHua, LiaoHe, HaiHe, and HuaiHe Rivers. Although the average concentrations of seven rivers are all far lower than the CCC and CMC values obtained in this study, MP pollution might have harmful effects on aquatic organisms in some regions, necessitating tighter water quality management with regard to MPs in the future. Species sensitivity distribution (SSD) curves were established using microplastic (MP) toxicity data. The criteria maximum concentration (CMC) and criteria continuous concentration (CCC) of MPs for protection of aquatic organisms were derived. A probabilistic method was used to assess the ecological risk of MPs in major Chinese river systems. MP pollution might harm aquatic organisms in certain regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics are plastic particles with a diameter of less than 5 mm that originate from human activities and are widely present in marine environments, resulting in serious impacts on marine organisms and ecosystems. In this study, 10 sampling sites were set in the tidal flats of Sanya Bay based on functional and depth differences. The samples were collected using the coring sampling method and then statistically analyzed using a stereo microscope. The spatial distribution, size range, color, shape characteristics of the microplastics and pollution level were analyzed. The results revealed that the abundance of microplastics in the tidal flats of Sanya Bay was about 16–51.3 pcs/kg. Vertically, the highest abundance of microplastics occurred in the subtidal zone. Horizontally, the highest abundance of microplastics occurred in the hotel resort area, while the lowest was in the transition zone. The distribution of microplastic abundance was influenced by the tide and by tourist activities. The size of the microplastics ranged primarily from 0.1 to 2 mm, with the highest proportion in the 1–2 mm range. The predominant colors were black, blue, and white; black microplastics accounted for the highest proportion. The shape of the microplastics was predominantly fibrous. The pollution level of microplastics in the tidal flats of Sanya Bay is not high, but the impact of tourism waste cannot be ignored. To address microplastic pollution, it is necessary to strengthen pollution source management and control and to promote environmental awareness. Governments and relevant organizations can take measures to encourage the development and use of sustainable materials and products as alternatives to plastics in order to reduce plastic consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) pollution has been extensively investigated in natural fishery waters, but studies on intensive aquaculture systems are scarce. Here, the occurrence and properties of MPs were investigated and compared between four different aquaculture systems nearby the Yangtze Estuary. The average MPs concentration was in order of recirculating aquaculture system (RAS, 1.67 particles/L) < aquarium (2.47 particles/L) < cement pond (10.09 particles/L) < earthen pond (13.81 particles/L). Compared to fragment MPs, fiber was the more abundant shape in aquarium (85.88%), RAS (77.61%) and earthen pond (68.13%). A total of six colors were found in four systems. The black MPs accounted for 56.86% and 47.45% in aquarium and RAS system, respectively. The high proportion of blue MPs was found in cement pond (37.65%) and earthen pond (40%). The most MPs sizes observed in the four systems were 43% of 50–300 μm MPs in aquarium; 44% and 30.19% of 300–1000 μm MPs in RAS and cement pond, respectively; and 30.19% of 3000–5000 μm MPs in earthen pond. For polymers, polypropylene occupied 47.83% in aquarium and RAS, 41.46% in cement pond and 27.79% in earthen pond. Proportion of rayon was highest in RAS (60.87%) and 34.04% of nylon was found in earthen pond. These results could provide scientific reference for further traceability and removal of MPs in different aquaculture systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) are plastic fragments with particle sizes smaller than 5 mm that have potentially harmful effects on ecosystems and human health. The soil environment is not only the source but also the sink of MPs. Thus, it is necessary to fully understand the pollution and distribution of MPs in soils. In this study, Qinghai Province, northeast of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, was selected as the research area, and 22 soil samples were collected and analyzed to study the levels and distribution characteristics of MPs in grassland soils. MPs were obtained from the soils by using density separation, and a laser confocal micro Raman spectrometer was used for MP identification. The results showed that MPs were detected in all of the soil samples. The total abundances of MPs ranged from 1125 to 1329 items/kg, with a mean abundance of 1202 items/kg. Various types, shapes, sizes, and colors of MPs were observed. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was the dominant polymer in all the grassland soil samples. The size range of 10–50 μm accounted for 50% of all identified MPs. Pellets were the dominant MP shape, and colored MPs accounted for 64% of all MPs. The results revealed the presence of large quantities of MPs in the grassland soils of remote areas as well. This study can act as a reference for further studies of MPs in terrestrial systems. At the end of the paper, the prospects and suggestions for pollution control by soil MPs are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastic pollution has attracted worldwide attention. Compared with the status quo of microplastic pollution in marine environment and other major rivers and lakes, the relevant data of the Yellow River Basin is relatively poor. The abundance, types, and spatial distribution characteristics of microplastic pollution in the silts and surface water of the Yellow River Basin were reviewed. Meanwhile, the status of microplastic pollution in the national center city and Yellow River Delta wetland was discussed, and the corresponding prevention and control measures were put forward. The data collected in this study showed that the spatial distribution of microplastic pollution in silts and surface water of the Yellow River Basin increased from upstream to downstream, especially in the Yellow River Delta wetland. There are obvious differences between the types of microplastics in silt and surface water in the Yellow River Basin, which is mainly related to the materials of microplastics. Compared with similar regions in China, the microplastic pollution levels in national key cities and national wetland parks in the Yellow River Basin are in the medium to high degree, which should be paid attention to. Plastic exposure through various ways will cause serious impact on aquaculture and human health in the Yellow River beach area. To control microplastic pollution in the Yellow River Basin, it is necessary to improve the relevant production standards, laws, and regulations and improve the capacity of biodegradable microplastics and the engineering degradation capacity of plastic waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with the research results of water microplastics, soil microplastics have been of concern for a shorter time, and the research started later. As a whole, they are still in the initial stage of development, and the problems of arable land and food security caused by them have attracted close attention from scholars around the world, but have not been effectively solved. To reveal the research status, development and change process and future trend, this paper is based on the data in the Web of Science (WOS) databases from 2016 to November 2021, with the help of Citespace software. The number of articles published, source countries and degree of cooperation, research institutions and teams, keyword clustering and change trend are sorted out. The results showed that: (1) the research results of soil microplastics has experienced a slow-rapid growth stage. In terms of the number of articles published, China occupies the first place in the world, with 55 articles. In terms of the number of publications, Free Univ Berlin ranks first, followed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Berlin Brandenburg Inst Adv Biodivers Res, and Wageningen Univ&Res. (2) In terms of content, environmental pollution and exposure, the function and health of soil-associated media, the common shape characteristics of microplastics and their influencing factors, and the combined pollution caused by microplastics are all covered, and can be divided into eight main categories: soil, ingestion, heavy meals, fiber, marine environment, microplastic, metals, and plants. (3) The migration behavior and ecotoxicological effects of microplastics in soil media are still the focus of attention at present. (4) In the future, "regression process and mechanism", "detection method and evaluation standard", "risk assessment model", "removal technology and control means" are undoubtedly worthy of attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics are contaminants of emerging concern. In particular, research on the ecological effects of microplastics on microorganisms has attracted widespread attention. In this study, the role of characteristics of microplastics and environmental factors on microorganisms in sediments along the Daihai Lakeshore were investigated. Microscopic identification of microplastics revealed that the most common characteristics of microplastics were fiber, black color and particle size <0.5 mm. The results of Pearson correlation analysis verified that the characteristics of microplastics with particle size <0.5 mm and the main physicochemical characteristics of the sediments (pH, salinity) were positively correlated with the abundance of dominant microorganisms (P < 0.05). In addition, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional pathway analysis that the proportion of functional metabolic pathways related to DNA replication, recombination and reparation was higher in the sampling sites with higher microplastics abundance. This study will provide valuable information for assessing the microbial ecological effects of microplastics contamination in sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, microplastics (MPs) pollution has attracted people's attention, and MPs in seawater have caused great harm to the marine environment. Taking Yugang Park Beach (YPB) in Zhanjiang Bay (ZJB) as the research object, we studied the spatial and temporal distribution, composition, and inventory of MPs in the bathing seawater affected by the ebb tide by filtering the bathing seawater with a 45 μm stainless steel sieve. The results showed that the average abundance of MPs in the bathing seawater was 201.3 ± 183.0 items·m−3, with the highest at mid-tide, followed by high and low tides. The size of MPs in the bathing seawater was mainly 1–2 mm, with most being white (23.5%) and green (29.8%) MPs, and the largest proportion being foam (27.5%) and fiber (29.5%). The main polymer types were polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and cellulose (CE). Correlation analysis between MP abundance and their sizes showed that the abundance of 0.33–5 mm MPs was significantly and positively correlated with their sizes (p < 0.05). The average MP inventory was 3.2 × 106 items, with the largest at high tide, followed by mid and low tides. In conclusion, these results highlighted that tidal variations were the main factor causing the uneven distribution of MPs in the bathing seawater at YPB. This study provides theoretical support for future study of MP pollution in bathing waters, and the effect of tidal variations on MPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio-ingestion of microplastics poses a global threat to ecosystems, yet studies within nature reserves, crucial habitats for birds, remain scarce despite the well-documented ingestion of microplastics by avian species. Located in Jiangsu Province, China, the Yancheng Wetland Rare Birds Nature Reserve is home to diverse bird species, including many rare ones. This study aimed to assess the abundance and characteristics of microplastics in common bird species within the reserve, investigate microplastic enrichment across different species, and establish links between birds' habitat types and microplastic ingestion. Microplastics were extracted from the feces of 110 birds, with 84 particles identified from 37.27% of samples. Among 8 species studied, the average microplastic abundance ranged from 0.97 ± 0.47 to 43.43 ± 61.98 items per gram of feces, or 1.5 ± 0.87 to 3.4 ± 1.50 items per individual. The Swan goose (Anser cygnoides) exhibited the highest microplastic abundance per gram of feces, while the black-billed gull (Larus saundersi) had the highest abundance per individual. The predominant form of ingested microplastics among birds in the reserve was fibers, with polyethylene being the most common polymer type. Significant variations in plastic exposure were observed among species and between aquatic and terrestrial birds. This study represents the first quantitative assessment of microplastic concentrations in birds within the reserve, filling a crucial gap in research and providing insights for assessing microplastic pollution and guiding bird conservation efforts in aquatic and terrestrial environments. [Display omitted] • Microplastics ingested by birds were assessed by faecal samples. 2) Microplastics were enriched in guano from the Nature Reserve. 3) Habitat was strongly correlated with microplastics ingested by birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]