Water, Air, & Soil Pollution最新文献

{"title":"Abundance of Microplastics and Heavy Metals in the Riverine Shad (Tenualosa ilisha) from the Northern Bay of Bengal","authors":"Md. Emran Ahammed Emon,&nbsp;Subrata Sarker,&nbsp;Md. Nazmul Hasan Niloy,&nbsp;Md. Monjurul Hasan,&nbsp;Md. Mehedi Hasan Pramanik,&nbsp;Gawsia Wahidunnessa Chowdhury","doi":"10.1007/s11270-025-07926-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-025-07926-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals are significant pollutants affecting aquatic ecosystems in Bangladesh, with potential ecological and human health implications. This study investigates the occurrence and characteristics of MPs and heavy metal contamination in <i>Tenualosa ilisha</i> (riverine shad) from the Meghna River Estuary in the northern Bay of Bengal. MPs abundance varied from 17 to 38 particles/fish sample with a mean of 10 items/fish sample. MPs show variations in shape, size, and color. The occurrence of 189 MPs from the visually identified 210 microplastic-like particles were confirmed by µ-Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscope (µ-FTIR). In addition, 12 heavy metals, including arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and iron (Fe), were quantified in different body parts (head, flesh, and bones). The concentration was found as As ˃ Fe ˃ Mn ˃ Cu ˃ Ni ˃ Pb ˃ Mg ˃ Se ˃ Co ˃ Zn ˃ Cd ˃ Hg in all parts (head, flesh and bones) of the fish samples. Significant differences in MPs and metal concentrations were observed based on fish size and body part. PCA analysis revealed distinct patterns of metal accumulation across different body parts and fish sizes, with larger fish showing higher levels of Pb and Cu, indicating prolonged exposure. Hierarchical clustering further highlighted similarities in metal distribution, grouping metals such as Pb and Cd due to common sources or pathways of accumulation. The results emphasize the potential health risks associated with consuming larger Hilsa fish due to the occurrence of elevated levels of heavy metal and MPs. To tackle this, the need for regular monitoring of both MPs and heavy metals in anadromous fish species in Bangladesh's aquatic environments is quite apparent.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"236 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143821953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hyper-Accumulation of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Metals in Buoyant Foam in a High Conservation-Value River (Belubula River, NSW, Australia)","authors":"Ian A. Wright,&nbsp;Helen. E. Nice,&nbsp;Amy-Marie Gilpin","doi":"10.1007/s11270-025-07983-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-025-07983-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study investigated river foam that accumulated on river edges and amongst in-stream debris in the Belubula River, an endangered ecological community and known habitat for platypus, draining a mostly agricultural catchment to the west of the Great Dividing Range in NSW. Samples of both water and accumulated foam from the river were tested for 15 metals and five per- and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) of which only perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was detected. The concentration of PFOS in foam (median 375,000 ng/L) was 18,750 times greater than in water (20 ng/L). Metals in river foam were more abundant than in river water. The median copper in river water was 3 µg/L and nearly 1000 times greater in river foam (median 2900 µg/L). Several metal toxicants (including mercury, cadmium, selenium and lead) were only detected in river foam where they were orders of magnitude higher than ecosystem protection levels. We speculate that aeration of river flow through rapids and waterfalls contributed air bubbles that produced surface foam in a similar process to <i>foam fractionation</i>. Although foam containing PFOS has previously been documented within a freshwater lake, the hyperaccumulation of metals within PFOS-enriched foam on the surface of a river appears to be a novel phenomenon and warrants further investigation to determine the bioavailability of the hyperaccumulated chemicals. In addition to the potential ecological impacts from such highly contaminated foam, it also poses potential human-health and agricultural pollution risks.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"236 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11270-025-07983-3.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143821911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acute Effects of Size Dependent Low-Density Polyethylene Microplastics on Zebrafish","authors":"Sudharsan Sankar,&nbsp;Natarajan Chandrasekaran,&nbsp;Ajmitra Gurubaran,&nbsp;Kalyanaraman Rajagopal,&nbsp;Indhuja Jayaraj,&nbsp;Venkatachalam Deepa Parvathi","doi":"10.1007/s11270-025-07976-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-025-07976-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Microplastics have increasingly become a global menace, pervading aquatic ecosystems and exerting profound biological impacts on marine life. The breakdown of synthetic fabrics, consumer plastics and industrial trash is the source of these contaminants. Due to an inappropriate disposal and fragmentation procedures, these plastic waste materials end in aquatic bodies. While numerous studies have focused on studying the effects of various plastics, limited research has focused on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) MPs and their unique way of interaction with biota. In this study, pigmented LDPE plastics were separated into three distinct size ranges (&gt; 10 µm, 10–15 µm, and 15–25 µm), characterized and exposed to <i>zebrafish</i> for 48 h at a concentration of 1 µg/ml. The following developmental endpoints were analyzed and assessed: histopathological changes, gastrointestinal enzyme activity (trypsin, chymotrypsin, carboxypeptidase A, α-amylase, and lipase), biochemical responses (superoxide dismutase, lipid peroxidation, and catalase) and embryo survival and hatching rates. Although LDPE MP exposure did not cause embryo death, it did cause a decrease in hatching rate, an increase in heart rate, a considerable accumulation of MPs in the gut and significant tissue damage, especially by the smallest particle size. These results demonstrate how colored LDPE MPs may jeopardize aquatic creatures’ biological integrity, posing a growing risk to aquatic ecosystems and public health.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"236 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143821909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of Various Low-cost Household Drinking Water Treatment Filters, Mechanisms and Applications: A Review","authors":"Anand Harsh Dwivedi,&nbsp;P. V. Nidheesh","doi":"10.1007/s11270-025-07952-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-025-07952-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Access to clean drinking water is a key objective of the United Nations'Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015. Achieving this target by 2030 necessitates various approaches to ensure adequate drinking water facilities, especially in rural areas prone to water scarcity. In this context, the development of self-reliant household drinking water facilities is gaining traction as a cost-effective and immediate solution for providing clean and safe drinking water. These facilities are essential due to the presence of hazardous contaminants such as dirt, bacteria, viruses, pathogens, and emerging organic as well as inorganic pollutants that result from the improper disposal of wastewater into natural streams, posing significant health risks with prolonged exposure. This review examines the different types of household drinking water filters currently in use and their modifications aimed at removing specific contaminants. It highlights their significance as sustainable solutions, emphasizing mitigation strategies that employ eco-friendly and cost-effective materials. Furthermore, the review elaborates on the potential removal efficiencies of these filters, demonstrating their effectiveness as point-of-use (POU) treatment solutions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"236 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143821910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing Copper (Cu) Phytostabilization Efficiency of Commelina communis by Inoculating with Endophytic Bacillus sp. D2: Impacts on Plant Growth, Soil Ecological Characteristics, and Underground Bacterial Community","authors":"Jun Fu,&nbsp;Maodi Ran,&nbsp;Han Zhou,&nbsp;Ying Jiao,&nbsp;Ying Shi,&nbsp;Jiaokun Li","doi":"10.1007/s11270-025-07973-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-025-07973-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Phytoremediation assisted by endophytic bacteria is a promising strategy to enhance the remediation efficiency of heavy metals in contaminated soil. In this study, the capacity and role of the endophytic <i>Bacillus</i> sp. D2, previously isolated from <i>Commelina communis</i> growing near a copper (Cu) mine, in assisting the phytoremediation were evaluated. Results showed that inoculation of <i>Bacillus</i> sp. D2 significantly enhanced the biomass production of <i>C</i>. <i>communis</i> by 131.06% under high level of Cu stress. Additionally, the oxidative damages caused by Cu toxicity in <i>C</i>. <i>communis</i> tissues were alleviated as evidenced by significant reductions in malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide anion (O₂^•−) and proline content following <i>Bacillus</i> sp. D2 inoculation. Meanwhile, the activities of antioxidant enzymes in plant leaves presented upward trends after <i>Bacillus</i> sp. D2 inoculation. Notably, <i>Bacillus</i> sp. D2 inoculation significantly decreased Cu uptake and translocation by <i>C. communis</i>, while enhancing the Cu stabilization in contaminated soils. Furthermore, soil enzyme activities (acid phosphatase, catalase, and urease), as well as the richness of soil bacterial communities in Cu-contaminated soil increased following <i>Bacillus</i> sp. D2 inoculation. Importantly, the inoculation specifically augmented the relative abundance of key bacterial taxa (including <i>Pseudomonas</i> and <i>Sphingomonadaceae</i>) in the rhizosphere soil, which was positively correlated with soil nutrients cycling and plant growth. Our findings suggest that the endophytic strain <i>Bacillus</i> sp. D2 can strengthen the phytostabilization efficiency of Cu by <i>C</i>. <i>communis</i> through its beneficial effects on plant physio-biochemistry, soil quality and bacterial microecology, which provides a basis for the relative application to Cu-contaminated soils.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"236 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143818293","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Legacy and Emerging Poly and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Surface Water, Sediments, and Treated Effluent: A Case Study in Pretoria (South Africa)","authors":"R. Okwuosa,&nbsp;P N. Nomngongo,&nbsp;O. S. Olatunji,&nbsp;O. J. Okonkwo","doi":"10.1007/s11270-025-07984-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-025-07984-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic compounds that pose significant environmental and health risks. Although PFAS contamination has been extensively studied in high-income countries, there is limited data on its occurrence and impact in low and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa. This study addresses the lack of comprehensive data on PFAS in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), surface water, and sediments in Pretoria (South Africa), to inform pollution control strategies and health risk assessments. The Apies River in Pretoria, which receives treated effluent from nearby WWTPs, was selected for investigation due to its importance to local communities and potential exposure to PFAS. Samples were collected during the dry season weekly on days 1, 7, 14, and 21, to investigate temporal variations in PFAS concentrations in treated effluent, sediment, and surface water, and analysed for legacy and emerging PFAS. Sampling during the dry season provides an opportunity to detect and quantify PFAS more effectively as they are less likely to be diluted by rainfall. PFAS were recovered from the samples using solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The results showed that the ΣPFAS concentrations were consistently higher in treated effluent samples over 21 days. Long-chain PFAS concentrations were significantly different (p &lt; 0.05) between upstream and downstream locations. Perfluorocarboxylic acids were consistently found at higher concentrations in treated effluent, surface water, and sediment samples, with surface water (downstream) showing the highest concentration (62.98%). Sediment samples upstream (31.44%) and downstream (29.24%) showed a higher percentage of perfluorosulfonic acids, indicating stronger sediment adsorption. The findings of this study will drive future research and policy development focused on protecting water resources in South Africa’s waterways.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"236 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11270-025-07984-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143822015","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Zinc and Cadmium Remediation in Contaminated Soil by CaCO3-Biochar Material from Sugar Beet Industry","authors":"Roger Borges,&nbsp;Matheus B. Soares,&nbsp;Mariana P. Pollo,&nbsp;Luís Reynaldo F. Alleoni,&nbsp;Amanda S. Giroto,&nbsp;Maraisa Gonçalves,&nbsp;Michael Müller,&nbsp;Nicolai D. Jablonowski,&nbsp;Caue Ribeiro","doi":"10.1007/s11270-025-07965-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-025-07965-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Ore mining and other industrial processes can release toxic elements such as zinc and cadmium into the soil, posing a potential environmental risk. Biochar produced by biomass pyrolysis is proposed to treat contaminated soils by sorption of the contaminants while boosting soil fertility, water retention, and microbial activity. Here, we propose the utilization of Carbokalk, an inexpensive byproduct (spent lime, SL) of the sugar-beet industry, as an ideal source for soil-treatment biochar. We examined the pyrolysis of SL containing up to 20% organic matter at various temperatures and in an oxidizing (air) and inert (N₂) atmosphere. Our results indicate that the pyrolysis temperatures and gas atmospheres greatly influence the physicochemical features of SL-biochar, identifying the most suitable temperature of 600 ºC for both atmospheres. SL-biochar incubation in contaminated soil has shown the potential to mitigate metal contamination in soils. However, under an oxidizing atmosphere, SL-biochar provides higher reductions in exchangeable Zn and Cd fractions. It accounts for 3% and 20%, respectively, along with increases in fractions associated with carbonate and organic matter. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of SL-biochar in immobilizing these contaminants.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"236 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143818301","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preparation of Biochar from Straw in Northeast China to Assist in Carbon Neutrality:Data Visualization and Comprehensive Evaluation","authors":"Yingjie Dai,&nbsp;Hongxia Yin,&nbsp;Junfeng Zhao,&nbsp;Pengcheng Zhu,&nbsp;Zhilin Suo","doi":"10.1007/s11270-025-07964-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-025-07964-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Carbon neutrality is an important goal of global energy conservation and emission reduction, and achieving the green and low-carbon technological revolution. The straw biomass in Northeast China is a potential green resource, and its pyrolysis into biochar (BC) is of great significance for carbon neutrality. This study is based on bibliometrics to conduct network co-occurrence analysis on recent BC and carbon neutrality aspects, and uses the AHP + GRA dual evaluation model for index optimization evaluation. The research direction of BC in carbon neutrality in 2023 is more focused on its carbon fixation performance for carbonaceous substances. The carbon fixation index of BC accounts for 0.314 of this layer, which exceeds 30%. GRA is used to evaluate the performance of BC, with the highest correlation between η and C₀-η (1.0), followed by pore diameter, (O + N)/C, O/C, H/C, ash, SA, pore volume, C, and pH_pzc (0.696). In the process of assisting carbon neutrality with straw BC, the focus should be on carbon sequestration performance, while also considering various factors used for preparation. The aim of this study is to optimize the carbon neutrality indicators for evaluating the resource utilization process of solid waste such as straw, in order to provide a fundamental reference for decision-makers in preparing high-value products.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"236 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143818302","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Agro-Waste-Derived Hybrid Biochar Exhibits High-Efficiency Removal of Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds","authors":"Hildegard R. Kasambala,&nbsp;Mwemezi J. Rwiza,&nbsp;Nelson Mpumi,&nbsp;Mwema Felix Mwema,&nbsp;Karoli N. Njau","doi":"10.1007/s11270-025-07960-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-025-07960-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Poor waste management of the products and products used in water sources becomes a problem for living organisms’ health. Using biosorbent from agro-waste materials becomes the solution for waste management and wastewater treatment. This study investigated the removal of progesterone from aqueous solutions using a biochar adsorbent derived from mixed banana and mango peels. The biosorbent shows high progesterone removal of 97.8 ± 0.02% at 700℃ preparation temperature at an optimal biosorbent concentration of 0.50 g and pH of 8. Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order model. Isotherm analysis revealed that the adsorption data best fitted the Freundlich model (<i>R</i>² = 0.96), with a maximum adsorption capacity (<i>q</i>_<i>max</i>) of 307 mg g⁻¹, indicating multilayer adsorption with a heterogeneous surface. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area was 652 m²g⁻¹ with abundant functional groups verified by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The Scanning Electron Microscopy image (SEM) indicated that the biochar is porous, contributing to its effectiveness as an adsorbent. Thermodynamics results indicate that the spontaneous nature of adsorption reveals the process. The findings proved the potential of using agricultural mixed waste-derived biochar containing various chemical and physical characteristics as an effective and sustainable adsorbent to remove endocrine disruptors. This technique addresses environmental concerns about water hormone pollution and promotes sustainable waste management practices, but the gradual decrease in adsorption efficiency highlights the importance of optimizing the biochar's chemical composition and structural reliability to maximize its performance.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"236 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143818275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distribution and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in the Basin of the Pearl River, China","authors":"Fengxue Wu,&nbsp;Jingfu Wang,&nbsp;Shihao Jiang,&nbsp;Dengjun Wang,&nbsp;Senhua Hu,&nbsp;Jingan Chen","doi":"10.1007/s11270-025-07980-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-025-07980-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Microplastics (MPs) pollution is one of the most pressing environmental problems. Rivers are important conduits for land-sea transport of materials and greatly influence the behaviour of MPs into the ocean. The Pearl River is the second largest river in China in terms of water flow and has a prosperous transport industry. Meanwhile, a large amount of MPs are transported into the South China Sea through the Pearl River. We collected water samples from the origin to the estuary of the Pearl River and studied the abundance, characteristics, ecological risks, and possible impacting factors of MPs. The results showed that the abundance of MPs in the surface water of the Pearl River Basin ranged from 0.7 to 4.5 items/L, and the distribution of abundance showed the order of: origin &gt; estuary &gt; downstream &gt; midstream &gt; upstream. MPs with sizes of 1–1000 µm were the most widely distributed, and fragments and fibers were the most prevalent MPs. The distribution of MPs showed strong spatial heterogeneity, with Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) dominating at the origin and upstream, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) dominating in the midstream, while polyethylene (PE) was most abundant in the downstream and estuary of the Pearl River Basin. Compared with the literature data, the concentration of MPs in the Pearl River Basin was overall low, and the pollution load index indicates that the Pearl River is at a low pollution level. However, the highly toxic PMMA could lead to significant ecological risks in the Pearl River, especially at the origin and upstream watersheds. Natural factors such as hydrological conditions, gravity, and topography can affect the migration trajectory of this MPs. Reservoirs and the concave banks of curved rivers may become new\"sinks\"for MPs.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"236 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143809171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}