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Ten-year trends in microplastic deposition in sediments at the Lach Tray estuary, Hai Phong province, Vietnam
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Sediment core analysis using 210Pb dating revealed that microplastic concentrations in Vietnam's Lach Tray estuary increased more than fourfold between 2012 and 2023, with polyethylene and polypropylene fragments and fibers dominating, and carbon isotope signatures tracing shifting pollution sources over time. This decade-long record provides direct evidence of accelerating plastic pollution in Southeast Asian estuaries, which serve as critical pathways for microplastics entering coastal marine ecosystems.
This study investigates the abundance, morphology, polymer composition, and carbon isotopic signatures (δ13C) of microplastics (MPs), and sedimentation rate via 210Pb dating in sediment cores from the Lach Tray estuary, northern Vietnam. MPs were extracted using NaCl density separation and identified with a Zeiss stereomicroscope and micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (µ-FTIR). Fragments and fibers dominated, with white/transparent 76.4% and blue 7.6% colors prevailing. Polyethylene 47% and polypropylene 43% were the most abundant polymers. MPs concentrations increased from 440 ± 29 to 1880 ± 68 MPs/kg (2012–2023), corresponding to sedimentation rates of 3.49–5.21 cm·yr⁻1. δ13C variations between polymers indicate temporal shifts in MPs sources. The combined use of isotopic and sediment dating methods provides valuable insights into the history of plastic pollution in estuarine environments.
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