Riverine plastic flux from Vietnam to the Sea: A national-scale assessment of microplastic variability and basin-level leakage

Seasonal and Spatial Distribution of Microplastics in Surface Water of the Southern Branch of the Mekong River in Vietnam

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Researchers measured seasonal and spatial patterns of microplastic pollution in the Hau River, a southern branch of the Mekong in Vietnam, finding microplastics distributed throughout the waterway. The results show that even rivers far from major industrial centers carry significant plastic contamination, threatening aquatic life and communities that depend on the river for food and water.

Microplastic Pollution and Ecological Risk in a Vietnamese River: A Case Study from the Bach Hac Confluence, Phu Tho Province

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Surface water and sediment samples from the Bach Hac–Red River confluence in Vietnam contained microplastics at 43–103 items/m³ and 200–650 items/kg respectively, with PET, PTFE, and polyamide dominant and particles under 100 µm comprising nearly half of surface water samples. Risk assessments indicate low contamination levels currently, but the dominance of sub-100 µm particles heightens concern for biological uptake and human exposure through water and food chains.

Trailing the flow: source, fate and sink of microplastics in global rivers

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This review synthesized global research on microplastic pollution in rivers, covering sources, entry routes, and the key processes governing transport and transformation—including weathering, aggregation, sinking, and resuspension—along with ecotoxicological and socioeconomic impacts. Because rivers are the primary conduit transferring land-based microplastics to the ocean, understanding riverine dynamics is essential for designing effective interception strategies before contamination reaches marine food webs and human seafood supplies.

The transport and vertical distribution of microplastics in the Mekong River, SE Asia

Impact and Fate of Microplastics in the Riverine Ecosystem

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Researchers reviewed the fate, transport, and ecological impacts of microplastics in riverine ecosystems, finding that rivers serve as major conduits for microplastic transfer from terrestrial sources to oceans and that riverine biota face significant exposure-related health risks.