Spatial and Temporal Distribution Characteristics and Potential Sources of Microplastic Pollution in China’s Freshwater Environments
Hualong He,
Sulin Cai,
Siyuan Chen,
Qiang Li,
Pengwei Wan,
Rumeng Ye,
Xiaoyi Zeng,
Bei Yao,
Yanli Ji,
Tingting Cao,
Yunchao Luo,
Han Jiang,
Run Liu,
Qi Chen,
You Fang,
Lu Pang,
Yunru Chen,
Weihua He,
Yueting Pan,
Gaozhong Pu,
Jiaqin Zeng,
Xingjun Tian
Affiliations
Hualong He
School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Sulin Cai
School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Siyuan Chen
School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Qiang Li
School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Pengwei Wan
School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Rumeng Ye
School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Xiaoyi Zeng
School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Bei Yao
School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Yanli Ji
School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Tingting Cao
School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Yunchao Luo
School of Life Sciences, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030031, China
Han Jiang
School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Run Liu
School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Qi Chen
School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
You Fang
School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Lu Pang
School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Yunru Chen
School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Weihua He
School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Yueting Pan
School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Gaozhong Pu
Guangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Conservation and Restoration Ecology in Karst Terrain, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guilin 541006, China
Jiaqin Zeng
College of Resources and Environment, Tibet Agricultural & Animal Husbandry University, Linzhi 860000, China
Xingjun Tian
School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
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.