Microplastics distribution in surface sediment during dry season at Can Gio beach, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract

The study aims to determine the characteristics of microplastics (MPs), including their abundance and shape, in surface sediment samples at Can Gio Beach, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Well - established methods, such as organic matter digestion, density separation, sample filtration, and microscopic observation, were utilized. Surface sediment samples were collected in April 2023 along two transects perpendicular to the shoreline (from sample CG - 1 (at low tide) to sample CG - 5 (at the highest tide)) and along t o the shoreline (from sample CG - 6 to sample CG - 9). The results indicate that, perpendicular to the shoreline, the average microplastic abundance is 6.28 ± 0.16 items/g. Microplastic abundance tends to increase towards the shore, with the highest abundance at sample CG - 5 (17.97 items/g) and the lowest at CG - 1 (0.46 items/g). Microplastic shape includes fragments, fibers, foams, and films, with fragments comprising the highest proportion at 74.46%. Along the shoreline, the average microplastic abundance reach es 21.60 items/g. The results of the analysis of the relationship between MPs and sediment particle size showed that MPs were concentrated in the “medium sand”, “coarse sand” and “very coarse sand” types. Thus, the abundance of MPs along the shoreline is h igher than that to the offshore.