Microplastic pollution in coastal surface seawater of Southern Vietnam

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment 2024-11, Vol.196 (11), p.1077-1077, Article 1077
• Main Authors: Nhon, Nguyen Thi Thanh, Nguyen, Nguyen Thao, Hai, Ho Truong Nam, Minh, Tran Hoang, Hien, To Thi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetates; Acetic acid; Anthropogenic factors; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Brackishwater environment; Chemical analysis; coasts; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental economics; Environmental factors; Environmental Management; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental perception; Estuaries; Ethylene vinyl acetates; ethylene-vinyl acetate; Human influences; Marine ecosystems; Microplastic pollution; Microplastics; Microplastics - analysis; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; PCB; Plastic debris; Plastic pollution; Pollution; Polychlorinated biphenyls; polyethylene; Polymers; Polypropylene; polypropylenes; Regions; risk; Rivers; Seawater; Seawater - chemistry; Surface water; Tourism; Vietnam; Vinyl acetate; Water analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Wind; Wind effects
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-13243-4

Microplastics have recently emerged as a significant environmental concern due to their direct impacts on marine ecosystems. Vietnam, with its 3260-km coastline, faces an elevated risk of microplastic pollution due to various coastal anthropogenic activities. This study explored microplastic distribution in coastal surface seawater in the Southern Vietnam regions of Tien Giang, Can Gio, and Vung Tau. A total of 45 samples were collected in April, 2019, and the results showed that microplastics present at all sampling sites, with the abundance varying from 0.074 ± 0.109 pieces/m 3 in Can Gio to 0.56 ± 0.35 pieces/m 3 in Tien Giang. Estuarial sites showed higher abundances for all regions. Most microplastics were under 2.8 mm, fragmented, and primarily white or transparent. Polypropylene, polyethylene, and ethylene–vinyl acetate were the dominant polymers. This research indicates the urgency of further investigations to comprehensively understand the influence of wind patterns and other environmental factors on microplastic distribution.