Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Bioremediation00:46

Bioremediation

18.2K
Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.
18.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Acidic-alkaline tandem system for durable CO<sub>2</sub>-CO-C<sub>2</sub>.

Science advances·2026
Same author

Molecular heterogeneity of endometrial cancer in the real-world: Biomarker patterns by tumor stage, histology, and molecular subtype.

Gynecologic oncology·2026
Same author

Qingyi Decoction Alleviates Alcoholic Pancreatitis by Improving Glycerolipid Homeostasis via the AMPK/SREBP-1c/PPARα Pathway.

Journal of inflammation research·2026
Same author

Self-Purifying City: Pathways and Challenges.

Environmental science & technology·2026
Same author

Spatial and temporal variability of supraglacial algae on an Alpine glacier (Forni Glacier, Italy).

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Classification of SINE Tails in the Porcine Genome and Its Potential Impact on <i>VWA8</i> Gene.

Genes·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2025

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris
05:31

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris

Published on: July 28, 2018

16.0K

Wastewater Discharge Transports Riverine Microplastics over Long Distances.

Cai Chen1,2, Win Cowger3,4, Veronica Nava5

  • 1Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Ningbo Observation and Research Station, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, PR China.

Environmental Science & Technology
|July 30, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Wastewater treatment plants release microplastics that travel over 1000 km in rivers, demonstrating a significant spatial link between wastewater discharge and riverine microplastic pollution.

Keywords:
basin scalemicroplasticsspatial dependencethe Yangtze River Basinupstream boundarywastewater discharge

More Related Videos

Separation and Identification of Conventional Microplastics from Farmland Soils
14:10

Separation and Identification of Conventional Microplastics from Farmland Soils

Published on: March 21, 2025

1.5K
Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis
10:16

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

Published on: December 16, 2016

49.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 18, 2025

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris
05:31

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris

Published on: July 28, 2018

16.0K
Separation and Identification of Conventional Microplastics from Farmland Soils
14:10

Separation and Identification of Conventional Microplastics from Farmland Soils

Published on: March 21, 2025

1.5K
Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis
10:16

Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis

Published on: December 16, 2016

49.5K

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • River Ecology
  • Pollution Studies

Background:

  • Wastewater treatment plants are continuous sources of microplastics entering riverine ecosystems.
  • The long-range transport of microplastics in rivers is not well understood, hindering effective pollution control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the transport distances of microplastics in river systems.
  • To quantify the spatial relationship between wastewater discharge and riverine microplastic presence.
  • To develop a framework for understanding microplastic transport in large river basins.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesized microplastic data from the Yangtze River Basin.
  • Developed a conceptual framework to analyze spatial dependence.
  • Utilized dominance analysis to assess the contribution of wastewater discharge.

Main Results:

  • A significant spatial dependence (p < 0.05) was found between large-scale wastewater discharge and riverine microplastics.
  • Microplastics can be traced to wastewater discharge sources over 1000 km upstream.
  • Wastewater discharge contributed over 65% of microplastic pollution in rivers with high discharge rates (>100 m³/s).

Conclusions:

  • Riverine microplastic pollution is influenced by wastewater discharge over extensive distances, not just local factors.
  • Understanding this spatial dependence is crucial for effective microplastic prevention and control strategies.
  • The findings advance the comprehension of microplastic fate and transport in large river basins.