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Microplastic pollution in coastal surface seawater of Southern Vietnam
Summary
Microplastics were detected in all 45 surface seawater samples from three Southern Vietnam coastal regions in April 2019, with estuarial sites showing the highest abundance (up to 0.56 pieces/m³ in Tien Giang) and polypropylene, polyethylene, and fragments predominating.
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 in Can Gio to 0.56 ± 0.35 pieces/m 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.