Water transfer projects and microplastics: Analyzing changes in lake environments with a focus on Wabu Lake, China

Bingyu Chen; Qian Wang; Zhimin Wang; Sanqing Han; Junjie Li; Xingmei Zhuang; Yuan Liu; Long Chen; Shuguang Zhu; Fazhi Xie

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174637

Water transfer projects and microplastics: Analyzing changes in lake environments with a focus on Wabu Lake, China

Bingyu Chen^*, Qian Wang, Zhimin Wang, Sanqing Han, Junjie Li, Xingmei Zhuang, Yuan Liu, Long Chen, Shuguang Zhu, Fazhi Xie

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Microplastics are widespread in freshwaters, yet their interaction with navigational structures remains unclear. This study compared the distribution and characteristics of microplastics before and after navigation in Wabu Lake. Microplastic concentrations decreased significantly in both surface water and sediment due to navigation opened, from 13.7 ± 6.56 to 3.12 ± 1.8 p L⁻¹ (p < 0.001) and from 568 ± 286 to 174 ± 60.2 p kg⁻¹ (p < 0.001), respectively. Acrylates copolymer was frequently detected in surface water and sediment before navigation, whereas the dominant polymer after navigation was chlorinated polyisoprene in surface water and chlorinated polyethylene in sediment. The results showed that three-years dredging induced relatively severe microplastic pollution before navigation, however, these microplastics were apparently eliminated after navigation, as the distribution and characteristics of microplastics thoroughly varied. This study provides a valuable finding that microplastic transport process can be facilitated by water transfer project, which should be considered for preventing microplastic pollution. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.

Original language	English
Article number	174637
Journal	Science of the Total Environment
Volume	947
Online published	8 Jul 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174637
Publication status	Published - 15 Oct 2024

Research Keywords

Lake
Microplastic
Sediment
Surface water
Water transfer project

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10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174637

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title = "Water transfer projects and microplastics: Analyzing changes in lake environments with a focus on Wabu Lake, China",

abstract = "Microplastics are widespread in freshwaters, yet their interaction with navigational structures remains unclear. This study compared the distribution and characteristics of microplastics before and after navigation in Wabu Lake. Microplastic concentrations decreased significantly in both surface water and sediment due to navigation opened, from 13.7 ± 6.56 to 3.12 ± 1.8 p L−1 (p < 0.001) and from 568 ± 286 to 174 ± 60.2 p kg−1 (p < 0.001), respectively. Acrylates copolymer was frequently detected in surface water and sediment before navigation, whereas the dominant polymer after navigation was chlorinated polyisoprene in surface water and chlorinated polyethylene in sediment. The results showed that three-years dredging induced relatively severe microplastic pollution before navigation, however, these microplastics were apparently eliminated after navigation, as the distribution and characteristics of microplastics thoroughly varied. This study provides a valuable finding that microplastic transport process can be facilitated by water transfer project, which should be considered for preventing microplastic pollution. {\textcopyright} 2024 Elsevier B.V.",

keywords = "Lake, Microplastic, Sediment, Surface water, Water transfer project",

author = "Bingyu Chen and Qian Wang and Zhimin Wang and Sanqing Han and Junjie Li and Xingmei Zhuang and Yuan Liu and Long Chen and Shuguang Zhu and Fazhi Xie",

year = "2024",

month = oct,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174637",

language = "English",

volume = "947",

journal = "Science of the Total Environment",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Water transfer projects and microplastics

T2 - Analyzing changes in lake environments with a focus on Wabu Lake, China

AU - Chen, Bingyu

AU - Wang, Qian

AU - Wang, Zhimin

AU - Han, Sanqing

AU - Li, Junjie

AU - Zhuang, Xingmei

AU - Liu, Yuan

AU - Chen, Long

AU - Zhu, Shuguang

AU - Xie, Fazhi

PY - 2024/10/15

Y1 - 2024/10/15

N2 - Microplastics are widespread in freshwaters, yet their interaction with navigational structures remains unclear. This study compared the distribution and characteristics of microplastics before and after navigation in Wabu Lake. Microplastic concentrations decreased significantly in both surface water and sediment due to navigation opened, from 13.7 ± 6.56 to 3.12 ± 1.8 p L−1 (p < 0.001) and from 568 ± 286 to 174 ± 60.2 p kg−1 (p < 0.001), respectively. Acrylates copolymer was frequently detected in surface water and sediment before navigation, whereas the dominant polymer after navigation was chlorinated polyisoprene in surface water and chlorinated polyethylene in sediment. The results showed that three-years dredging induced relatively severe microplastic pollution before navigation, however, these microplastics were apparently eliminated after navigation, as the distribution and characteristics of microplastics thoroughly varied. This study provides a valuable finding that microplastic transport process can be facilitated by water transfer project, which should be considered for preventing microplastic pollution. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.

AB - Microplastics are widespread in freshwaters, yet their interaction with navigational structures remains unclear. This study compared the distribution and characteristics of microplastics before and after navigation in Wabu Lake. Microplastic concentrations decreased significantly in both surface water and sediment due to navigation opened, from 13.7 ± 6.56 to 3.12 ± 1.8 p L−1 (p < 0.001) and from 568 ± 286 to 174 ± 60.2 p kg−1 (p < 0.001), respectively. Acrylates copolymer was frequently detected in surface water and sediment before navigation, whereas the dominant polymer after navigation was chlorinated polyisoprene in surface water and chlorinated polyethylene in sediment. The results showed that three-years dredging induced relatively severe microplastic pollution before navigation, however, these microplastics were apparently eliminated after navigation, as the distribution and characteristics of microplastics thoroughly varied. This study provides a valuable finding that microplastic transport process can be facilitated by water transfer project, which should be considered for preventing microplastic pollution. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.

KW - Lake

KW - Microplastic

KW - Sediment

KW - Surface water

KW - Water transfer project

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U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174637

DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174637

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

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VL - 947

JO - Science of the Total Environment

JF - Science of the Total Environment

M1 - 174637

ER -

Water transfer projects and microplastics: Analyzing changes in lake environments with a focus on Wabu Lake, China

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