Tiny Plastic Troubles in the Hanjiang River

The Hanjiang River in China is facing a hidden problem: tiny plastic particles. These small bits, called microplastics, are less than 500 micrometers in size. They are everywhere in the river and can harm aquatic life. A recent study used advanced technology to find out more about these microplastics. The study found a lot of these tiny plastics in the river. On average, there were 7, 278 particles per liter of water. That's a huge number! The smallest particles, between 20 and 50 micrometers, were the most common. These tiny pieces made up about 64. 7% of all the microplastics found. Most of these particles were in the form of thin films, making up 60. 7% of the total. The study also looked at what these microplastics are made of. The most common types were polyamide, rubber, and polyurethane. The researchers found that water temperature, phosphorus levels, and conductivity affected how many microplastics were present and what types they were. The study also looked at the risks these microplastics pose to the environment. Using data on toxicity, the researchers found that these tiny plastics can cause both short-term and long-term harm to aquatic life. The risk was especially high when looking at the mass of the microplastics. This study is important because it is the first to look at the risks of small-sized microplastics in both number and mass. It gives a new way to understand how these tiny plastics affect the environment.