In order to explore the distribution of microplastics in the freshwater environment of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, 63 surface water samples were collected in Huangshui River basin of Qinghai province during the wet season, and the distribution characteristics and main influencing factors of microplastics in the surface water were analyzed by means of metallographic microscope, Fourier infrared spectroscopy, field investigation, and image data analysis. The potential ecological risks of microplastics were evaluated using risk index (H) and pollution load index (PLI) models. The abundance of microplastics in surface water ranged from 665-8780 n·m-3, with the highest average abundance of 5414 n·m-3 in Huangyuan County. The abundance of microplastics increased from upstream to downstream. The main colors of microplastics were transparent (67%) and black (17%), and the particle size was less than 50 μm (70%). Polyethylene (66%) and polypropylene (12%) were the main polymer types. The abundance of microplastics was positively correlated with cultivated land area, precipitation, and ultraviolet intensity, but the opposite results were observed in dissolved oxygen, redox potential, and wind speed. Additionally, the potential ecological risk of surface water in the Huangshui River basin was relatively low.
Keywords: Huangshui River; distribution characteristics; influencing factors; microplastics; risk assessment.