A preliminary assessment of microplastic occurrence and their potential risk as pollutant transport vectors: A case study in Phu Ly, Ha Nam, Vietnam (2025)

Baseline assessment of microplastic concentrations in marine and freshwater environments of a developing Southeast Asian country, Viet Nam

Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2021

Characteristics of Microplastics and Their Affiliated PAHs in Surface Water in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Polymers

Microplastic pollution has become a worldwide concern. However, studies on the distribution of microplastics (MPs) from inland water to the ocean and their affiliated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are still limited in Vietnam. In this study, we investigated the distribution of MPs and PAHs associated with MPs in canals, Saigon River, and Can Gio Sea. MPs were found at all sites, with the highest average abundance of MPs being 104.17 ± 162.44 pieces/m3 in canals, followed by 2.08 ± 2.22 pieces/m3 in the sea, and 0.60 ± 0.38 pieces/m3 in the river. Fragment, fiber, and granule were three common shapes, and each shape was dominant in one sampling area. White was the most common MP color at all sites. A total of 13 polymers and co-polymers were confirmed, and polyethylene, polypropylene, and ethylene-vinyl acetate were the three dominant polymers. The total concentration of MPs-affiliated PAHs ranged from 232.71 to 6448.66, from 30.94 to 8940.99, and from 432.95 to 3267.88 ng/...

Occurrence of Microplastics in River Water in Southern Thailand

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering

Microplastic (MP) contamination in the marine environment has received growing attention. In 2022, the surface water of the U-Taphao River was sampled four times, in February, April, June, and August. The surface water samples were taken at seven different locations, ranging from upstream to downstream parts of the river. The results reveal that the number of MPs detected at the U-Taphao River in February, April, June, and August were 0.41 ± 0.08, 0.25 ±0.06, 0.24 ± 0.11, and 0.26 ± 0.06 particles/L, respectively. The MPs in the U-Taphao River each month were not statistically different (p = 0.190). The trend of the number of MPs found declined from upstream to downstream. Fibers were the most commonly found MPs in the U-Taphao River in this study and were found at more than 80% of all stations during all sample collection periods. Our results indicate that MP contamination is present in the river water, but it is noted that slightly different polymer types were found during each co...

Occurrence of Microplastics in the Asian Freshwater Environments: A Review

Applied Environmental Research, 2022

Microplastics pollution in selected rivers from Southeast Asia

APN Science Bulletin, 2022

Microplastics have been found in all hemispheres of the world. However, studies on microplastics are mainly conducted in Europe, North America, and East Asia. Few studies are reported in the Southeast Asian region, where a large number of plastic waste is disposed of improperly into the water. This study investigated the abundance and characteristics of microplastics in the surface water of the Chao Phraya River (Thailand), Citarum River (Indonesia), and Saigon River (Vietnam). Samples were collected at urban and estuary zones of these rivers. The numbers of microplastics at the urban zones were 80±60, 12±6, and 68±20 items/m3 at the Chao Phraya, Citarum, and Saigon River, respectively. At the estuary zones, the numbers of microplastics were 48±8, 0±0 (0.08±0), and 42±5 items/m3 at the Chao Phraya, Citarum, and Saigon River, respectively. Microplastics with morphologies of fragments and fibres were mainly found in the rivers. Polypropylene and polyethylene particles were the most ab...

The Presence of Microplastics in Water, Sediment, and Milkfish (Chanos chanos) at the Downstream Area of Citarum River, Indonesia

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 2020

A review of microplastic threat mitigation in Asian lentic environments

Journal of Contaminated Hydrology, Elsevier, 2024

Microplastic (MP) pollution has evolved into a significant worldwide environmental concern due to its widespread sources, enduring presence, and adverse effects on lentic ecosystems and human well-being. The growing awareness of the hidden threat posed by MPs in lentic ecosystems has emphasized the need for more in-depth research. Unlike marine environments, there remain unanswered questions about MP hotspots, ecotoxic effects, transport mechanisms, and fragmentation in lentic ecosystems. The introduction of MPs represents a novel threat to long-term environmental health, posing unresolved challenges for sustainable management. While MP pollution in lentic ecosystems has garnered global attention due to its ecotoxicity, our understanding of MP hotspots in lakes from an Asian perspective remains limited. Hence, the aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive analysis of MP hotspots, morphological attributes, ecotoxic impacts, sustainable solutions, and future challenges across Asia. The review summarizes the methods employed in previous studies and the techniques for sampling and analyzing microplastics in lake water and sediment. Notably, most studies concerning lake microplastics tend to follow the order of China > India > Pakistan > Nepal > Turkey > Bangladesh. Additionally, this review critically addresses the analysis of microplastics in lake water and sediment, shedding light on the prevalent net-based sampling methods. Ultimately, this study emphasizes the existing research gaps and suggests new research directions, taking into account recent advancements in the study of microplastics in lentic environments. In conclusion, the review advocates for sustainable interventions to mitigate MP pollution in the future, highlighting the presence of MPs in Asian lakes, water, and sediment, and their potential ecotoxicological repercussions on both the environment and human health.

Microplastics distribution in sediments collected from Myanmar

Microplastics (MPs) distributions have been increasingly reported in the terrestrial areas worldwide but a little information is available for ASEAN regions. In this study, 68 sediment samples of drainage channels, lakes, rivers and beach from Myanmar were collected between 2014 and 2018, and analyzed to investigate the status of MPs concentration and prevalence. The high concentrations of MPs in sediments were found in urban cities called Yangon (13,855 pieces/kg dry weight), Mandalay (11,946 pieces/kg), and Pathein (12,583 pieces/kg), which were two orders of magnitude greater than the MPs concentrations in sediments collected in rural towns called Wundwin. These results suggested that difference in high population densities and high municipal solid waste generation rate are related to the MPs contamination in sediments. Polyethylene, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate with fragments, lines/fibers and films/sheets were major polymers and shape in the sediment samples ana...

A review on the presence of microplastics in environmental matrices within Southeast Asia: elucidating risk information through an analysis of microplastic characteristics such as size, shape, and type

Water Emerg Contam Nanoplastics, 2024

Microplastics' ecotoxicological potential in almost all ecosystems makes them a global environmental issue. This review evaluates Southeast Asian microplastic contamination data from 2013 to 2023. This evaluation examined 285 research publications from Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect, mostly on sediment and water matrices. Based on their size, shape, polymer type, and potential risks from polymer hazards in Southeast Asian countries, this analysis assesses microplastic pollution in biota, sediment, water, and other environmental matrices. The majority of microplastics in this region are small (46%) and large (32%). Within the biota matrix, small microplastics (SMP) and large microplastics (LMP) dominated. Fibers predominated in all matrices, particularly the being less abundant, polyurethane and polyamide have high hazard scores, raising ecological concerns due to their detrimental effects on environmental matrices. According to the analyzed data, Southeast Asian countries face significant risks due to high levels of microplastic contamination in water, sediments, biota, and other matrices. However, there are noticeable discrepancies in Southeast Asian data, indicating progress in microplastic research, with most data coming from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines and little information in the literature regarding microplastic contamination from East Timor,

Environmental perspectives of microplastic pollution in the aquatic environment: a review

Marine Life Science & Technology