Risk assessment of microplastic exposure: A case study near a refinery factory at the central coast of Vietnam

Evaluation of microplastic bioaccumulation capacity of mussel (Perna viridis) and surrounding environment in the North coast of Vietnam

This study aimed to identify the presence of microplastics in green mussels (Perna viridis), surface seawater, and beach sediment on the North Coast of Vietnam. The average concentration of MPs in mussels was 3.67 ± 1.20 MPs/g wet weight and 25.05 ± 5.36 MPs/individual. Regarding surface seawater and beach sediments, the MPs concentration was found at 88.00 ± 30.88 MPs/L and 4800 ± 1776 MPs/kg dry weight, respectively. The dominant microplastics shape was fragment with the fractions ranging from 69.86 to 82.41 %. In addition, the size distribution of MPs was mostly in the range of smaller than 50 μm and 1-150 μm (34.17 % and 45.62 % in mussels; 29.65 % and 43.20 % in surface seawater and 40.22 % and 39.40 % in beach sediment, respectively). Polyethylene terephthalate was the major polymer types 49.93-58.44 % of the detected MPs. The risk assessment results based on the polymer types indicated a warning level in several sites.