Distribution,characteristics, and research status of microplastics in the trunk stream and main lakes of the Yangtze River: A review

Microplastic pollution has become an environmental issue of great concern owing to the persistence of microplastics and their potential adverse effects on biota.The Yangtze River is the longest river in China and the third-longest river in the world,and the microplastics in this river will affect the health of a large population living along with it.To ensure the survival safety of people,it is essential to plan ahead and investigate in advance in order to understand the microplastic pollution in the river and work out countermeasures.This paper reviews the literature concerning the microplastic pollution in the Yangtze River basin and analyzes the abundance,shapes,colors,and composition of microplastics in the water bodies and sediments in the trunk stream and main lakes of the Yangtze River.The results are as follows.Compared to other river basins in China and abroad,the microplastics in the Yangtze River basin have a moderate abundance and high spatial heterogeneity.Owing to the barrier effect of the Three Gorges Dam on microplastics,the abundance of microplastics in the Three Gorges Reservoir is generally an order of magnitude higher than that in other sections of the river.Most microplastics in the water bodies and sediments are less than 1 mm in size and are transparent and colorful.In terms of shapes,they are dominated by fibers,followed by fragments and films.In terms of composition,the microplastics in the source region of the Yangtze River are mainly composed of nylon and polyethylene,while the microplastics in the surface water from the lower reaches of the Jinsha River to the Yangtze River estuary are dominated by polypropylene and polyethylene.The microplastics are primarily derived from the secondary microplastics in the environment,and relatively intensive human activities increase the abundance of microplastics.These results serve as bases for understanding and preventing microplastic pollution in the Yangtze River.     

Microplastic contamination in lacustrine sediments in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Current status and transfer mechanisms

This paper aims to investigate the present situation and transfer mechanisms of microplastics in lacustrine sediments in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The study surveyed the average abundance of microplastics in sediments. The abundance of microplastics in sediments of lakes from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is 17.22–2643.65 items/kg DW and 0–60.63 items/kg DW based on the data of the Qinghai Lake and the Siying Co Basin. The microplastic abundance in sediments from small and medium lakes is very high compared to that in other areas in the world. Like microplastics in other lakes of the world, those in the lakes in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau mainly include organic polymers PA, PET, PE, and PP and are primarily in the shape of fibers and fragments. The microplastic pollution of lacustrine sediments in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is affected by natural changes and by human activities, and the concentration of microplastics in lacustrine ecosystems gradually increases through food chains. Furthermore, the paper suggests the relevant administrative departments of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau strengthen waste management while developing tourism and pay much attention to the impacts of microplastics in water environments. This study provides a reference for preventing and controlling microplastic contamination in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.     

Current status and cause analysis of microplastic pollution in sea areas in China

As a new type of pollutants in the marine environment,microplastics have attracted increasing attention from scientific researchers and environmental protection workers in China and abroad.However,for the microplastic pollution in sea areas in China,there are a very limited number of studies on its current status and few reviews of research on the microplastics.This paper reviews the surveys and researches of microplastics in the Bohai Sea,the Yellow Sea,the East China Sea,the South China Sea,and main estuaries in China carried out in recent years and proposes an outlook for future work,aiming to provide research suggestions and solutions for ecological protection against microplastic pollution in sea areas in China.Previous studies have shown that microplastics are widely distributed in water bodies and sediments in sea areas and major estuaries in China.The Pearl River Estuary,in the South China Sea suffers the most serious microplastic pollution,followed by the Bohai Sea.In contrast,the microplastic pollution in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea is comparatively slight.Microplastics in sea areas in China are mainly fibrous and are concentrated in offshore areas with developed industry and a dense population(especially around estuaries and bays).In addition,they are widely affected by human activities,such as shipping,aquaculture,industry,and sewage discharge.Here the authors suggest unifying measurement units and research methods and developing related standard systems to carry out researches related to microplastics.Furthermore,this paper also suggests further deepening researches on both the source-sink process of microplastics and nanoscale microplastics while enhancing the development and implementation of related policies,aiming to promote researches and control of microplastics in sea areas in China.     

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

To study the current status and causes of the microplastic pollution in surface water of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, this paper compared the average microplastic abundance in sediments and surface water of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the results are as follows. First, the average microplastic abundance in surface water of the independent rivers and the whole area is 247–2686 items/m³ and 856 items/m³, respectively. The average microplastic abundance in sediments of independent rivers or lakes and the whole area is 0–933 items/m² and 362 items/m², respectively. Meanwhile, the degree of microplastic pollution in river sediments is higher than that in lake sediments, and the rivers suffering from microplastic pollution mainly include the Brahmaputra River, Tongtian River, and Nujiang River. Second, compared with the microplastic pollution in other areas of the world, the levelof microplastic pollution in the lakes and rivers of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau is not lower than that of well-developed areas with more intensive human activities. Finally, this study suggests that relevant government departments of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau should strengthen waste management strategies while developing tourism and that much attention should be paid to the impacts of microplastics in the water environment.©2021 China Geology Editorial Office.     

雄安新区白洋淀表层沉积物重金属地球化学特征及生态风险评价

【研究目的】白洋淀为雄安新区核心生态功能区,为支撑白洋淀湿地生态修复与保护,系统开展了全淀区表层沉积物环境质量调查。【研究方法】在白洋淀湿地采集表层沉积物样品484组,查明了白洋淀表层沉积物重金属地球化学特征,并采用地累积指数法、潜在生态风险指数法等多种方法开展了重金属生态风险评价。【研究结果】白洋淀表层沉积物重金属含量普遍偏高于河北省表层土壤重金属含量背景值,府河入淀口及白沟引河入淀口为重金属元素主要富集区,入淀河流输入为白洋淀重金属主要来源;环境地球化学综合评价结果为清洁无污染等级分布面积144.54 km²,占表层沉积物分布总面积的96.68%;各重金属污染程度由重到轻排序为Cd＞Cu＞Hg＞Pb＞Zn＞Ni＞Cr＞As,Cd元素污染程度等级以中度和偏中度为主,Cu元素以轻度和清洁为主,其他元素以清洁无污染为主;重金属潜在生态风险以轻度和中度为主,河流入淀口所在淀区重金属潜在生态风险高于其他淀区,潜在生态风险由高到低排序为南刘庄＞烧车淀＞小白洋淀＞王家寨＞藻苲淀＞捞王淀＞池鱼淀＞泛鱼淀。【结论】白洋淀表层沉积物环境质量总体较好,南刘庄等局部淀区存在重金属污染潜在生态风险,以Cd元素污染最为突出。创新点：采用地累积指数法、潜在生态风险指数法等多种方法,系统评价白洋淀湿地表层沉积物重金属污染程度和生态风险;重金属地球化学特征分析与主成分分析法相结合,揭示表层沉积物重金属污染主要来源为河流输入。     

小秦岭太峪水系沉积物重金属污染生态危害评价

以金矿开发影响的黄河二级支流太峪水系沉积物为研究对象,沿河采集16个表层沉积物样品,分层采集垂向剖面10件水库沉积物样品,测定了样品中重金属元素Hg、Pb、Cd、Cr、As、Cu和Zn的含量,采用Hakanson潜在生态指数法和Tomlinson污染负荷指数法评价重金属元素污染程度和潜在生态风险。结果表明,矿业活动是太峪水系沉积物重金属元素污染的主要因素;变异系数、富集系数和最高污染系数均反映Hg、Pb、Cd是太峪水系沉积物的特征污染重金属元素,Cr和As的质量分数接近地区背景值;太峪水系表层沉积物受到重金属元素的极强污染,山区段污染较山外更严重;整个流域的Hg、Pb、Cd具有很强的潜在生态危害,Cr、As、Zn的潜在生态危害轻微;太峪水系沉积物垂向各层沉积物都受到重金属元素的极强污染,生态问题以Hg、Pb、Cd的潜在生态危害为主,其污染和生态危害程度都高于流向上的沉积物。潜在生态危害指数评价突出了不同元素的毒性和危害程度,而污染负荷指数法侧重于样本空间上的污染程度,二者互补使用有利于实际问题的全面评价。     

黄河包头段不同粒级沉积物中重金属形态分布特征

以黄河包头段为研究对象,探讨了该河段不同粒级沉积物中重金属的形态分布特征,并估算了各粒级沉积物对各形态重金属的贡献率。结果表明,铁锰氧化物结合态是黄河干流各粒级沉积物中Cu、Pb和Zn非稳定态的主导形态;总体上,黄河干支流沉积物中3种重金属各形态含量均随粒级增大而减小,表现明显的粒度效应;重金属形态分布的粒度效应是沉积...     

金矿区河水和底泥中重金属含量分布与耦合关系

河流中河水与底泥中重金属含量之间的关系对于河流污染防治意义重大。对某金矿区3种典型河流的河水与底泥中的重金属含量进行分析,发现4条河流均有超过国家标准限值的情况,河水中7种重金属元素均出现超标,Cr、As元素超标不严重;底泥中Hg、Pb、Cr、Cu、Zn超标,其中Hg超标最严重,河水和底泥中Hg最大超标倍数分别达到3099倍和244倍。河流中重金属主要赋存形态为沉积态,底泥的吸附解吸作用是河流底泥和河水中重金属沿程变化的主控因素;金矿区区域上河水和底泥中重金属很好地服从Langmuir等温吸附模式。矿业活动、地层岩性均会影响底泥对重金属的平均最大吸附容量,流径黄土区的双桥河平均最大吸附容量最大。研究结果为矿山河流污染防治与预警提供了参考依据。     

Characteristics and sources of microplastic pollution in the water and sediments of the Jinjiang River Basin,Fujian Province,China

Microplastic pollution is widely distributed from surface water to sediments to groundwater vertically and from land to the ocean horizontally. This study collected samples from surface water, groundwater, and sediments from upper to lower reaches and then to the estuary in 16 typical areas in the Jinjiang River Basin, Fujian Province, China. Afterward, it determined the components and abundance of the microplastics and analyzed the possible microplastic sources through principal component analysis (PCA). As a result, seven main components of microplastics were detected, i.e., polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyformaldehyde (POM), nylon 6 (PA6), and polystyrene (PS). Among them, PE and PP were found to have the highest proportion in the surface water and sediments and in the groundwater, respectively. The surface water, groundwater, and sediments had average microplastic abundance of 1.6 n/L, 2.7 n/L and 33.8 n/kg, respectively. The microplastics in the sediments had the largest particle size, while those in the groundwater had the smallest particle size. Compared with water bodies and sediments in other areas, those in the study area generally have medium-low-level microplastic abundance. Three pollution sources were determined according to PCA, i.e., the dominant agriculture-forestry-fishery source, domestic wastewater, and industrial production. This study can provide a scientific basis for the control of microplastics in rivers.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.     

Geographical variations of trace elements in sediments of the major rivers in eastern China

 A total of 26 geographically and hydrologically diverse sediment samples were collected from 12 major rivers in eastern China. The <63-μm fraction of the sediments was analysed for both total concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd, and their associations with various geochemical phases. The geographical variations of sediment-bound trace metals can be related to the bedrock types and weathering processes in the corresponding river basins. The rivers in southern China had notably higher concentrations of trace metals in sediments because of abundant non-ferrous mineral deposits and stronger weathering process in the region. A large proportion of trace metals in these sediments was associated with iron and manganese oxides and organic matter. Relative low levels of trace metals were found in river sediments in northern China, and a significant proportion of the metals was bound to organic matter, carbonates, and the residual fraction. The sediments in the Yellow River, originating from special loess, had the lowest concentrations of trace metals. Most of the trace metals were associated with the carbonates and residual phases. Received: 24 March 2000 · Accepted: 11 July 2000     

The distribution and ecological risks of antibiotics in surface water in key cities along the lower reaches of the Yellow River: A case study of Kaifeng City,China

A large number of antibiotics have been discharged into rivers by human activities, posing a threat to aquatic ecosystems. The surface water of the Yellow River Basin also suffers antibiotic pollution, which hinders the improvement in the aquatic ecological environment. This study investigated and analyzed the characteristics and assessed the ecological risks of antibiotic pollution in surface water bodies such as canals, rivers and fish ponds in Kaifeng, Henan Province, which is a key city along the lower reaches of the Yellow River. The test results are as follows. A total of 15 types of antibiotics were detected in the surface water. They had a total antibiotic concentration of 12.2–249.9 μg/L, of which tetracyclines (TCs) and quinolones accounted for the highest percentages. Six types of quinolones had detection rates of up to 100%, and doxycycline (DC) and oxytetracycline (OTC) had average concentrations of 29.52 μg/L¹ and 13.71 μg/L, respectively. The major canals with water diverted from the Yellow River had total concentrations of quinolones and TCs of 22. 0 μg/L and 14.9 μg/L, respectively, which were higher than those in previous studies. This phenomenon may be related to the decrease in the water flow of the Yellow River during the dry season and the increase in the antibiotic consumption of residents in the context of the Covid-19 outbreak. The upper reaches of the Huiji River in the Xiangfu District had higher antibiotic content than other districts in Kaifeng. Specifically, TCs accounted for 72.38%–91.84% of all antibiotics, and the DC and OTC concentrations were significantly higher than other antibiotics in the upper reaches. As indicated by the ecological risk assessment results, TCs had the highest ecological risks to green algae. Among them, DC had medium-high risks; TC, OTC, and chlortetracycline (CTC) had medium-high risks; trimethoprim (TMP) and lomefloxacin (LOM) had low risks; other TC antibiotics had no risk. Compared with green algae, most antibiotics showed higher ecological risks to daphnia and lower ecological risks to fish. DC and OTC dominate antibiotic pollutants in the surface water in Kaifeng City, and especially in Xiangfu District, where DC and OTC have medium-high risks. The TCs in the major Yellow River showed medium risks to both green algae and daphnia. It can be speculated that the antibiotic pollution in the Yellow River might pose a certain threat to the ecological security of water in Kaifeng City.©2022 China Geology Editorial Office.     

滦河流域沉积物中重金属分布特征及风险评价

沉积物作为重金属污染物的源和汇,对水环境有着至关重要的影响.为了全面了解滦河沉积物中重金属污染现状,采用电感耦合等离子体质谱法对滦河干支流沉积物中重金属含量进行了测定,分析了其空间分布,并采用潜在生态危害指数法对滦河沉积物进行了评价.结果表明:滦河沉积物中Cr、Ni、Cu、Zn、Cd 和Pb的平均含量分别为60.40、26.15、48.07、76.42、0.30、25.55 mg/kg,其中Cu和Cd含量高于中国水系沉积物背景值.滦河干流的重金属含量空间分布自上游往下游呈逐渐增加趋势.潜在生态危害指数评价结果表明:不同重金属污染对滦河流域生态风险构成的危害由强至弱依次为:Cd＞Cu ＞Pb＞Cr＞ Zn,其中Cu、Pb、Cr和Zn为低生态危害等级,Cd以中等生态危害等级为主.总体上,滦河沉积物重金属处于中等生态危害等级,干流大黑汀水库和支流瀑河宽域处于强生态危害等级.     

多离子体系中黄河沉积物对重金属的竞争吸附研究

以黄河包头段上游清洁河段的沉积物为吸附剂,以Pb2 + 、Cu2 + 、Zn2 + 、Cd2 + 4种离子的混合溶液体系为吸附质,开展了重金属离子在黄河沉积物中的竞争吸附及其影响因素等实验研究。结果表明,混合溶液体系中不同离子间的吸附竞争有显著的拮抗或协同效应关系,4种重金属离子在黄河沉积物中竞争吸附的能力依序为Pb2 + ≥Cu2+>Zn2 + ≥Cd2 + 。     

松花江上游表层沉积物中重金属元素时空分布特征

松花江是我国七大河流之一,研究其底泥重金属元素的时空分布特征对流域的水环境治理具有重要意义。本文对松花江（哈达山至松花湖段）底泥（表层沉积物）中元素As、Hg、Cr、Cd、Pb的分布特征进行了研究,并利用地累积指数分析了这些元素的污染状况。结果表明：研究区底泥几乎未受到As、Cr和Pb的污染,但多数地段内出现了Cd和Hg的污染,尤其是元素Hg,在个别地段的污染程度达到了极强;与10年前相比,一些重金属的污染得到了明显改善,但吉林市区段内Hg的污染仍非常严重。污染样品空间分布特征表明,松花江吉林市区段可能有来自工农业废水的重金属污染。     

滇西沘江沉积物剖面重金属元素分布特征

采用连续提取法测定流经兰坪金顶铅锌矿区的沘江3个沉积物剖面中重金属元素的含量,分析Pb、Zn、Cd和As在流域的分布特征和在沉积物剖面中的分布特征。结果表明,距矿山75km的河段沉积物中,浅层沉积物中4种金属元素均污染严重,金顶铅锌矿是沉积物中重金属元素的主要来源,随着矿山开发规模的不断扩大,污染程度加深。4种重金属元素中Cd活性态比例高,且污染程度最强、范围最广、深度最大,Zn、Pb次之,As污染相对较轻、范围较小。潜在生态危害指数法研究结果表明,浅层沉积物中重金属元素表现出中等—很强的生态风险性,产生生态危害的主要重金属元素是Cd,其后依次是Pb、As和Zn。     

小秦岭金矿区西峪河底泥重金属元素污染的潜在生态危害评价

重金属元素易于累积,生态效应影响强烈。分析了陕豫接壤的西峪河水系沉积物中Hg、Pb、Cd、As、Cr、Cu、Zn 7种重金属元素的含量,根据地区参比值,评价了金矿活动对西峪河底泥的污染。结果显示Hg、Pb是主要的污染元素;进而用潜在生态危害指数法探讨了重金属元素污染的潜在生态危害性,认为整个西峪河流域的Hg、Pb潜在生态危害很强,Cd具有强的潜在生态危害,而Cr、As、Zn的潜在生态危害性轻微。     

南海湖沉积物重金属形态分布及其对水质影响的研究

通过对包头市南海湖沉积物中Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd的形态、AVS和SEM、上覆水、上覆过滤水及沉积物间隙水重金属的系统分析，结合南海湖为黄河新成牛轭湖的特点，与黄河进行了对比，研究了重金属在固、液两相间的迁移转化规律，结果表明南海湖与黄河沉积物中重金属的残渣态非常接近，反映了沉积的同源性，Pb和Cd次生相则明显在南海湖发生富集，上覆水中重金属81.0%以上均结合在悬浮物上，南海湖水质长期Cu超标的现象是由沉积物的释放造成的，研究证明间隙水为重金属向上覆水迁移起到桥梁通道作用；有机络合物的络合作用超过AVS的沉淀作用，是导致Cu向水相扩散迁移的主导因子。     

基于碎屑锆石的黄土高原—毛乌素交界区石峁黄土粉尘物源估算*

对于黄土高原粉尘物质的来源以及沙漠和河流对粉尘的贡献,仍未达成一致的认识。本研究以毛乌素东神木市石峁剖面为研究对象,利用碎屑锆石年龄谱,对末次冰消期以来的风成粉尘堆积和河流沉积物展开源区分析,并使用逆蒙特卡罗模型进行物源的定量计算。结果显示,粒径分布和阴极发光(CL)图像显示石峁黄土为典型风成沉积。其粗颗粒碎屑锆石(>40 μm)年龄峰值集中在190~300 Ma、300~600 Ma、1700~1900 Ma和2300~2600 Ma,年龄谱显示近源(局地基岩碎屑)、中源(黄河河沙)和远源(阿拉善地区沙漠)均有贡献; 定量计算表明,三者分别贡献71%、21%和8%的风成粗颗粒。中、近源中,黄河及其支流侵蚀基岩后搬运沉积的漫滩物质成为粉尘输移的中转站,为黄土的形成提供了主要的物源。光释光测年结果表明,石峁剖面河流沉积物及其上覆的黄土物质分别形成于倒数第2次冰消期和末次冰消期,两者之间的沉积间断可能指示了末次冰期至冰消期的侵蚀事件,导致了河滩物质暴露,从而形成了潜在的局地尘源。这些结果表明,包括黄河干支流在内的河流系统对黄土粉尘有重要的物源贡献。     

Mercury pollution in two gold mining areas of the Brazilian Amazon

Gold has been exploited intensively in the Brazilian Amazon during the past fifteen years using garimpo methods (small-scale gold mining). In this study, two gold mining areas were investigated, the municipalities of Pocone and Alta Floresta located in the state of Mato Grosso. Central Brazil. The elemental mercury (Hg) used in amalgamating the gold, the final stage of the ore dressing process, has caused abnormal Hg concentrations in waterways. This has occurred principally in the Amazon region, where most of the ore prospected is alluvial. Background levels of metals were determined by analyzing sediments and soils located upstream of the anthropogenic inputs and unaffected by mining activities. The study aimed to evaluate the pollution level in sediments and soils, taking into account drainage waters directly affected by gold mining. ‘Geoaccumulation indexes’ (Igeo) of Hg in sediments from both study areas were used to assesses the pollution level in the aquatic environment. The geoaccumulation indexes of Hg in sediments of the Bento Gomes River in Pocone indicate a relatively high degree of pollution at some sites, even reaching class 4 (1.85 mg/kg). However, when the river reaches the Pantanal swamp, Hg concentrations drop considerably to 0.30 mg/kg. This drop seems to be due to accumulation of metals in the sediments of a lake (sampling site PG-24), which retains most of the sediments transported by the Bento Gomes River. Accumulation of metals in the lake also occurred for Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe and Mn. In the region of Alta Floresta, total Hg concentrations in sediments of the Teles Pires River were studied in the grain size fractions < 74 μm and > 74 μm. Hg concentrations in bottom sediments of this river were higher than those found in the Pocone region, with increases of 1.5 to 30 times the background, and thus reaching an Igeo up to class 5.     

Heavy metal contamination and their distribution in different size fractions of the surficial sediment of Haihe River, China

Heavy metal contamination and their distribution in different size fractions of the surficial sediment in Haihe River, China have been investigated. These results reveal that the heavy metal contamination of Haihe River is closely related to the contaminating sources along the river and has the order: Cd > Cu > Pb > Cr. The contents of these heavy metals in the sediment of Haihe River are at least two times higher than their background values and the highest contaminating metal, Cd, is 15.5 times higher than its background value and determined in the urban area of Tianjin city. The surficial sediments of Haihe River, with 70% particles smaller than 20 μm, belong to sandy clay containing about 28% clay and 42% silt. Electron micrographs and x-ray analysis show that the concentrations of heavy metals depend on the particle size of sediments. The highest concentrations for most metals exist in fine-grained sediments, which are mainly composed of silicates, oxides, and hydroxides of Si, Fe, and Al. In contrast, lower levels of heavy metals are usually found in the coarse sandy sediments, which are composed of quartz, feldspar, and other rocky substances. Based on the results in the present study of the surficial sediments of Haihe River, the contents of Cr, Cu, Pd, and Cd in finer sediments are 2.4, 3.9, 2.8, and 3.6 times higher than those in coarse sandy sediments, respectively. Obviously, because of rapid industrial development in this area during the last few decades, the surficial sediments of Haihe River, especially those finer fractions, have been seriously contaminated by heavy metals.