To investigate the distribution characteristics and ecological risks of microplastics in landscape waters in Taiyuan City, surface water samples were collected from six park waters during the wet season (August) and dry season (November). The abundance, morphology, and polymer composition of microplastics were analyzed using a stereomicroscope and a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), and correlation analysis and ecological risk assessment were performed based on certain water quality parameters. The microplastic abundance in the dry season ((17.79±8.41) items/L) was found to be higher than that in the wet season ((7.75±4.30) items/L). The landscape water body in Binhe Country Park, located near the effluent outlet of a wastewater treatment plant, exhibited significantly higher microplastic abundance than other areas. The morphological characteristics were dominated by fibrous (79.35%~88.62%), blue (60.69%~78.64%), and small (0.02~2 mm, 84.80%~91.10%) particles. The primary polymer components were rayon (RY), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), indicating that domestic sewage and textile fiber migration were the primary sources of pollution. The distribution of microplastics was jointly influenced by hydrological conditions and nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. The abundance in the wet season was negatively correlated with water temperature (p<0.05), and significantly positively correlated with ammonia nitrogen (${\mathrm{NH}}_4^+ $-N), nitrate nitrogen (${\mathrm{NO}}_3^- $-N), total phosphorus (TP), etc. (p<0.01) in the dry season. The ecological risks showed significant seasonal and spatial variation. During the dry season, the sampling sites at Forest Park, Longtan Park, and Jinci Park showed markedly elevated potential ecological risk index (PERI) values owing to the accumulation of high-toxicity polymers (polyacrylonitrile and polyurethane), and the risk level could reach Ⅳ−Ⅴ. This study may provide valuable insights for the pollution status and risk assessment of microplastics in urban landscape waters in northern cities.
Microplastic pollution in the natural environment is a significant contemporary ecological challenge, with industrial sources constituting critical emission pathways. In this study, the distribution characteristics of microplastics in wastewaters from key industrial sectors (printing and dyeing, chemical, and electroplating) in the Taihu Lake Basin were investigated. The average microplastic abundance in various industrial wastewaters was found to range from 236.5 to 1348.0 items/L and predominantly comprised polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE) in fibrous forms (<1 mm). In municipal wastewater treatment plants, the average microplastic abundance was 84.2 items/L, with the particles exhibiting uniformly distributed shapes dominated by PP and PET (<1 mm). Although statistical similarities in microplastic composition were observed between industrial and treated wastewaters, the actual correlation was weak, suggesting that industrial effluents serve as distinct sources of microplastics. The risk assessment classified printing and dyeing and chemical wastewaters as “extremely hazardous,” whereas electroplating and treated wastewaters were classified as “hazardous.” These findings underscore the need for stringent pollutant-source control and advanced treatment technologies to mitigate microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.
Microplastics and antibiotics are emerging contaminants that have become a major focus of current research. Data from Chinese and English databases were compiled to assess their distribution, adsorption mechanisms, and biological hazards in aquatic environments across China. Microplastic levels were highest in reservoirs (4.70~27.5 items/L, average 12.08 items/L), followed by rivers (average 8.83 items/L), and lowest in lakes (average 6.19 items/L). Average antibiotic concentrations were greatest in rivers (102.93 ng/L), exceeding those in lakes (34.37 ng/L) and reservoirs (43.91 ng/L). Van der Waals forces consistently occur between microplastics and antibiotics, while higher polarity MPs readily form hydrogen bonds. Functional groups facilitated π-π interactions and aging microplastics expose more oxygen-containing functional groups that significantly enhance adsorption. Once ingested, microplastic-antibiotic complexes can accumulate in organs, inhibit growth, alter biological structures under prolonged exposure, and promote the spread of antibiotic resistance genes. Effective mitigation requires strengthening control of emission sources, improved recycling systems, adoption of biodegradable plastics, and strengthening research on adsorption processes and combined toxicity under real-world conditions.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a prominent class of antidepressant pharmaceuticals. Given their widespread use and persistence in the environment, SSRIs have entered aquatic systems through multiple pathways and have been frequently detected in influent and effluent samples from wastewater treatment plants, surface water, and even drinking water. Consequently, they are attracting increasing attention from communities concerned about the environment. The presence of SSRIs in aquatic environments may interfere with the normal physiological functions of aquatic organisms, potentially inducing toxic effects. Concern is also growing that these compounds may pose risks to human health through the consumption of contaminated drinking water or their accumulation along the food chain. This review systematically examines the current pollution levels, potential sources, and environmental transport pathways of SSRIs in aquatic environments. The paper summarizes the toxicological impacts of SSRIs on various aquatic species. The primary objectives are to provide scientific references for the effective management and control of these emerging contaminants and to support the protection of aquatic ecosystems.
中文核心期刊
