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Microplastic Pollution and Ecological Risk in a Vietnamese River: A Case Study from the Bach Hac Confluence, Phu Tho Province
Summary
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.
Microplastic pollution has become a significant global environmental concern, affecting aquatic ecosystems worldwide, particularly those in inland waters. River confluences are especially important study sites because they receive inputs from multiple pollution sources and play a critical role in material transport between land and sea. This study assessed the distribution, characteristics, and ecological risks of microplastics in surface water and sediment from the Bach Hac-Red River basin in northern Vietnam. Microplastic concentrations ranged from 43.18 to 103.15 items/m3 in surface water and from 200 to 650 items/kg in sediment. A positive but statistically insignificant correlation was observed between surface water and sediment concentrations (r = 0.68; p = 0.211). Fibers and fragments were the dominant shapes in all samples. Microplastics smaller than 100 µm accounted for 48.91% of those in surface water and 65.91% in sediment. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and polyamide (PA) were the predominant polymer types. Ecological risk assessments using the Nemerow pollution index (NPI), pollution load index (PLI), polymer hazard index (PHI), and potential ecological risk index (PRI) indicated low bioavailability (0.024 and 1.041), low contamination (PLI: 1.60 and 1.83), moderate polymer risk (PHI: 45.46 and 48.16), and low ecological risk (PRI: 34.81 and 78.12) in surface water and sediment, respectively. These findings provide valuable baseline data for environmental protection and offer essential insights for future monitoring and management of microplastic pollution in inland aquatic systems.