[Ecological Risk Assessment of Microplastics Occurring in Surface Water of Terrestrial Water Systems across China]

Xiao-Nan Sun; Hao Chen; Qi-Long Jia; Yi Zhu; Chang-Wen Ma; Jian-Feng Ye

doi:10.13227/j.hjkx.202202181

[Ecological Risk Assessment of Microplastics Occurring in Surface Water of Terrestrial Water Systems across China]

Huan Jing Ke Xue. 2022 Nov 8;43(11):5040-5052. doi: 10.13227/j.hjkx.202202181.

[Article in Chinese]

Authors

Xiao-Nan Sun¹, Hao Chen², Qi-Long Jia³, Yi Zhu⁴, Chang-Wen Ma¹, Jian-Feng Ye⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai 201209, China.
² Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai 200233, China.
³ School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China.
⁴ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
⁵ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.

PMID: 36437076
DOI: 10.13227/j.hjkx.202202181

Abstract

To assess the ecological risk of microplastics (MPs) occurring in the surface water of terrestrial water systems across China, this study obtained relevant literature and data by searching keywords including microplastics, urban, and river on websites such as Science Direct and Web of Science. We constructed an evaluation method of ecological risk characterization ratio (RCR) based on chemical hazard data, as well as data of MPs abundance and polymer proportion originating in studies from 2017 to 2021 that covered 33 water bodies in 15 provinces. The results showed that the average abundance of MPs in natural water bodies in China reached (3604.2±5926.4) n·m^-3, and the average abundance of MPs in urban water bodies was (7722.6±9505.7) n·m^-3. The corresponding average RCR of natural water bodies was 22.09±45.2, and the average RCR of urban water bodies was 15.67±34.8. Therefore, according to the value of RCR, the ecological risk could be rated as four levels. Of these, no significant risk (RCR ≤ 1) was found in 17 water bodies, accounting for 42.5%; low ecological risks (RCR 1-10) were found in 12 water bodies (30%); medium ecological risks (RCR 10-100) were found in 9 water bodies (22.5%); and high ecological risks (RCR>100) were found in 2 water bodies (5%). Data analysis showed a significant correlation between MPs abundance and RCR values in natural water bodies (R²=0.875, P<0.01), though not in urban water bodies. This suggested that the high abundance of MPs could not precisely indicate a high degree of ecological risk in the area. In addition, RCR values were observed to be positively correlated with the watershed area (R²=0.864, P<0.01), and MPs abundance was correlated with GDP (R²=0.679, P<0.05) and watershed resident population (R²=0.922, P<0.05). This study provides baseline data for evaluating the ecological risk of MPs and a feasible method for evaluating the ecological risk of MPs in surface water of terrestrial water systems.

Keywords: microplastics (MPs); risk assessment; risk characterization ratio; social factor; surface water; terrestrial water system.

Publication types

English Abstract

MeSH terms

China
Environmental Monitoring / methods
Microplastics*
Plastics / analysis
Risk Assessment
Water / analysis
Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis

Substances

Microplastics
Plastics
Water
Water Pollutants, Chemical