Microplastics in Asian rivers: Geographical distribution, most detected types, and inconsistency in methodologies

Microplastics pose a significant environmental threat, with potential implications for toxic chemical release, aquatic life endangerment, and human food chain contamination. In Asia, rapid economic growth coupled with inadequate waste management has escalated plastic pollution in rivers, positioning...

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Main Authors: Hsin, Tien Lin, Schneider, Falk, Aziz, Muhamad Afiq, Keng, Yinn Wong, Arunachalam, Kantha D., Praveena, Sarva Mangala, Sethupathi, Sumathi, Woon, Chan Chong, Nafisyah, Ayu Lana, Parthasarathy, Purushothaman, Chelliapan, Shreeshivadasan, Kunz, Alexander
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120104/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120104/1/120104.pdf
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author Hsin, Tien Lin
Schneider, Falk
Aziz, Muhamad Afiq
Keng, Yinn Wong
Arunachalam, Kantha D.
Praveena, Sarva Mangala
Sethupathi, Sumathi
Woon, Chan Chong
Nafisyah, Ayu Lana
Parthasarathy, Purushothaman
Chelliapan, Shreeshivadasan
Kunz, Alexander
author_facet Hsin, Tien Lin
Schneider, Falk
Aziz, Muhamad Afiq
Keng, Yinn Wong
Arunachalam, Kantha D.
Praveena, Sarva Mangala
Sethupathi, Sumathi
Woon, Chan Chong
Nafisyah, Ayu Lana
Parthasarathy, Purushothaman
Chelliapan, Shreeshivadasan
Kunz, Alexander
author_sort Hsin, Tien Lin
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Microplastics pose a significant environmental threat, with potential implications for toxic chemical release, aquatic life endangerment, and human food chain contamination. In Asia, rapid economic growth coupled with inadequate waste management has escalated plastic pollution in rivers, positioning them as focal points for environmental concern. Despite Asia's rivers being considered the most polluted with plastics globally, scholarly attention to microplastics in the region's freshwater environments is a recent development. This study undertakes a systematic review of 228 scholarly articles to map microplastic hotspots in Asian freshwater systems and synthesize current research trends within the continent. Findings reveal a concentration of research in China and Japan, primarily investigating riverine and surface waters through net-based sampling methods. Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) emerge as the predominant microplastic types, frequently observed as fibers or fragments. However, the diversity of sampling methodologies and reporting metrics complicates data synthesis, underscoring the need for standardized analytical frameworks to facilitate comparative analysis. This paper delineates the distribution of microplastic hotspots and outlines the prevailing challenges and prospects in microplastic research within Asian freshwater contexts.
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spelling upm-1201042025-09-23T04:36:20Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120104/ Microplastics in Asian rivers: Geographical distribution, most detected types, and inconsistency in methodologies Hsin, Tien Lin Schneider, Falk Aziz, Muhamad Afiq Keng, Yinn Wong Arunachalam, Kantha D. Praveena, Sarva Mangala Sethupathi, Sumathi Woon, Chan Chong Nafisyah, Ayu Lana Parthasarathy, Purushothaman Chelliapan, Shreeshivadasan Kunz, Alexander Microplastics pose a significant environmental threat, with potential implications for toxic chemical release, aquatic life endangerment, and human food chain contamination. In Asia, rapid economic growth coupled with inadequate waste management has escalated plastic pollution in rivers, positioning them as focal points for environmental concern. Despite Asia's rivers being considered the most polluted with plastics globally, scholarly attention to microplastics in the region's freshwater environments is a recent development. This study undertakes a systematic review of 228 scholarly articles to map microplastic hotspots in Asian freshwater systems and synthesize current research trends within the continent. Findings reveal a concentration of research in China and Japan, primarily investigating riverine and surface waters through net-based sampling methods. Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) emerge as the predominant microplastic types, frequently observed as fibers or fragments. However, the diversity of sampling methodologies and reporting metrics complicates data synthesis, underscoring the need for standardized analytical frameworks to facilitate comparative analysis. This paper delineates the distribution of microplastic hotspots and outlines the prevailing challenges and prospects in microplastic research within Asian freshwater contexts. Elsevier 2024 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120104/1/120104.pdf Hsin, Tien Lin and Schneider, Falk and Aziz, Muhamad Afiq and Keng, Yinn Wong and Arunachalam, Kantha D. and Praveena, Sarva Mangala and Sethupathi, Sumathi and Woon, Chan Chong and Nafisyah, Ayu Lana and Parthasarathy, Purushothaman and Chelliapan, Shreeshivadasan and Kunz, Alexander (2024) Microplastics in Asian rivers: Geographical distribution, most detected types, and inconsistency in methodologies. Environmental Pollution, 349. art. no. 123985. pp. 1-14. ISSN 0269-7491; eISSN: 1873-6424 https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0269749124006997 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123985
spellingShingle Hsin, Tien Lin
Schneider, Falk
Aziz, Muhamad Afiq
Keng, Yinn Wong
Arunachalam, Kantha D.
Praveena, Sarva Mangala
Sethupathi, Sumathi
Woon, Chan Chong
Nafisyah, Ayu Lana
Parthasarathy, Purushothaman
Chelliapan, Shreeshivadasan
Kunz, Alexander
Microplastics in Asian rivers: Geographical distribution, most detected types, and inconsistency in methodologies
title Microplastics in Asian rivers: Geographical distribution, most detected types, and inconsistency in methodologies
title_full Microplastics in Asian rivers: Geographical distribution, most detected types, and inconsistency in methodologies
title_fullStr Microplastics in Asian rivers: Geographical distribution, most detected types, and inconsistency in methodologies
title_full_unstemmed Microplastics in Asian rivers: Geographical distribution, most detected types, and inconsistency in methodologies
title_short Microplastics in Asian rivers: Geographical distribution, most detected types, and inconsistency in methodologies
title_sort microplastics in asian rivers: geographical distribution, most detected types, and inconsistency in methodologies
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120104/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120104/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120104/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120104/1/120104.pdf