Distribution and characteristics of microplastics in the basin of Chishui River in Renhuai, China

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2021-06, Vol.773, p.145591, Article 145591
• Main Authors: Li, Jianlong, Ouyang, Zhuozhi, Liu, Peng, Zhao, Xiaonan, Wu, Renren, Zhang, Chutian, Lin, Chong, Li, Yiyong, Guo, Xuetao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Inland river; Microplastics; Polymer; Risk assessment
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145591

As an emerging pollutant, microplastics widely exist in rivers all over the world. Due to the differences of economic development, economic structure and population in different regions, the abundance of microplastics in rivers is different. In those areas where agriculture is developed, the content of film microplastics is more, while in densely populated areas, the content of fibrous microplastics is more. Taking Renhuai Basin of Chishui River as the research object, the pollution characteristics and current situation of microplastics in the basin were analyzed, and the contamination risk of microplastics was evaluated. The abundance of microplastics in Renhuai basin of Chishui River ranges from 1.77 to 14.33 items/L. The main forms of microplastics were fibrous (59.4%), white (including transparent) (41.3%) and polychromatic (44.1%). The particle size of microplastics was mainly 500– 1000 μm (63.9%). According to the assessment, the risk of microplastics in the basin is 111.79, which is a secondary risk area. This study can provide a further reference for understanding the pollution characteristics of microplastics in rivers. [Display omitted] •It is the first time to investigate the microplastics in Chishui River.•Urban regional planning has an impact on the characteristics of microplastics.•The local economic structure has a great impact on the microplastics.•The risk index of the basin is 111.79, which belongs to the second risk area.