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Microplastics in Small Waterbodies and Tadpoles from Yangtze River Delta, China.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hu, L; Chernick, M; Hinton, DE; Shi, H
Published in: Environmental science & technology
August 2018

Although microplastic (MP) pollution in freshwater systems is gaining attention, our knowledge of its distribution in small waterbodies is scarce. Small waterbodies are freshwater habitats to many species, including amphibians, that are vulnerable to MP pollution. This study analyzed the distribution and characteristics of MPs in 25 small waterbodies from the Yangtze River Delta, China. MPs were detected in surface water, sediment, and tadpoles with abundances ranging from 0.48 to 21.52 items L-1, 35.76 to 3185.33 items kg-1, and 0 to 2.73 items individual-1 (0 to 168.48 items g-1), respectively. The dominant shape and polymer of MPs in water and tadpole samples were polyester (PES) fibers, and polypropylene (PP) fibers and fragments were dominant in sediment samples. In addition, MPs were primarily <0.5 mm in length in all samples. Tadpole length was positively correlated to the number of MPs detected. The abundance, shape, and polymer distribution of MPs in tadpoles resembled that of water rather than sediment, suggesting that tadpoles likely take up MPs from the surrounding water. This study demonstrated that MPs are abundant in these small waterbodies and are ingested by resident tadpoles. This may suggest a pathway of MP entry into aquatic and terrestrial food webs.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Environmental science & technology

DOI

EISSN

1520-5851

ISSN

0013-936X

Publication Date

August 2018

Volume

52

Issue

15

Start / End Page

8885 / 8893

Related Subject Headings

  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Rivers
  • Plastics
  • Larva
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • China
  • Animals
 

Citation

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Hu, L., Chernick, M., Hinton, D. E., & Shi, H. (2018). Microplastics in Small Waterbodies and Tadpoles from Yangtze River Delta, China. Environmental Science & Technology, 52(15), 8885–8893. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b02279
Hu, Lingling, Melissa Chernick, David E. Hinton, and Huahong Shi. “Microplastics in Small Waterbodies and Tadpoles from Yangtze River Delta, China.Environmental Science & Technology 52, no. 15 (August 2018): 8885–93. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.8b02279.
Hu L, Chernick M, Hinton DE, Shi H. Microplastics in Small Waterbodies and Tadpoles from Yangtze River Delta, China. Environmental science & technology. 2018 Aug;52(15):8885–93.
Hu, Lingling, et al. “Microplastics in Small Waterbodies and Tadpoles from Yangtze River Delta, China.Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 52, no. 15, Aug. 2018, pp. 8885–93. Epmc, doi:10.1021/acs.est.8b02279.
Hu L, Chernick M, Hinton DE, Shi H. Microplastics in Small Waterbodies and Tadpoles from Yangtze River Delta, China. Environmental science & technology. 2018 Aug;52(15):8885–8893.
Journal cover image

Published In

Environmental science & technology

DOI

EISSN

1520-5851

ISSN

0013-936X

Publication Date

August 2018

Volume

52

Issue

15

Start / End Page

8885 / 8893

Related Subject Headings

  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Rivers
  • Plastics
  • Larva
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • China
  • Animals