Microplastics in the Surface Sediment of the main Red River Estuary

Nhu Da Le; Thi Thu Ha Hoang; Thi Thuy Duong; Ngoc Nam Phuong; Phuong Thu Le; Tien Dat Nguyen; Thi Xuan Binh Phung; Thi My Hanh Le; Thi Lien Le; Thi Huong Vu; Thi Phuong Quynh Le

doi:10.15625/2615-9783/17486

Author affiliations

Authors

Nhu Da Le 1-Graduate University of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam; 2-Institute of Natural Product Chemistry, VAST, Hanoi, Vietnam
Thi Thu Ha Hoang Institute of Natural Product Chemistry, VAST, Hanoi, Vietnam
Thi Thuy Duong Institute of Environmental Technology, VAST, Hanoi, Vietnam
Ngoc Nam Phuong GERS-LEE Université Gustave Eiffel, IFSTTAR, F44344 Bouguenais, France
Phuong Thu Le University of Science and Technology of Hanoi, VAST, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tien Dat Nguyen Center of Research and Technology Transfer, VAST, Hanoi, Vietnam
Thi Xuan Binh Phung Electric Power University, Hanoi, Vietnam
Thi My Hanh Le Institute of Tropical Technology, VAST, Hanoi, Vietnam
Thi Lien Le Hanoi National University of Education, Hanoi, Vietnam
Thi Huong Vu Hanoi National University of Education, Hanoi, Vietnam
Thi Phuong Quynh Le 1-Graduate University of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam; 2-Institute of Natural Product Chemistry, VAST, Hanoi, Vietnam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15625/2615-9783/17486

Keywords:

Ba Lat estuary, microplastics, Red River, surface riverine sediment, Vietnam

Abstract

Microplastics (< 5mm) are one emerging pollutant in the environment. These are the threats and challenges facing the global environment, economy, and society, especially in hotspot regions such as Asia. This paper presents the microplastic characteristics found in the surface sediment of the main Red River estuary (the Ba Lat) during four separate monitoring runs in 2020. The microplastic amount in the sediment samples varied from 800 items per kg of dried weight (dw) to 3,817 items.kg^-1 dw, averaging 2,188 ± 1,499 items.kg^-1 dw. Fiber and fragment microplastics were discovered to be primary shapes, of which fibers dominated (94%). Microplastic fiber sizes were found mainly in the < 500 µm (69%) range. The most primarily observed colors of microplastics were blue (36%), white (21%), and red (11%). There were five recognized polymer types (polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyurethane (PU), polyamide (PA), and polystyrene (PS)) in the sediment samples, with PE and PP predominating. Seasonal fluctuations in microplastic concentrations at the Ba Lat site, a significant aquaculture zone, may indicate the contribution of multiple sources. Our research demonstrated the necessity of microplastic observation in organisms, particularly in the aquaculture zones in Vietnam. Our findings further underline the importance of managing and minimizing the amount of plastic garbage that enters the ecosystem.

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