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Microplastic Pollution in High Population Density Zones of Selected Rivers from Southeast Asia

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Abstract

Southeast Asia (SEA) faces significant environmental challenges due to rapid population growth and economic activity. Rivers in the region are major sources of plastic waste in oceans. Concerns about their contribution have grown, but knowledge of microplastics in the area is still limited. This article compares microplastic levels in sediment and water from urban zones of three major rivers in SEA: Chao Phraya River (Thailand), Saigon River (Vietnam), and Citarum River (Indonesia). The study reveals that in all three rivers, microplastics were found, with the highest concentrations in Chao Phraya’s water (80 ± 60 items/m3) and Saigon’s sediment (9167 ± 4559 items/kg). The variations in microplastic sizes and concentrations among these rivers may be attributed to environmental factors and the exposure duration of plastic to the environment. Since these rivers are important water supply sources, rigorous land-use regulations and raising public awareness are crucial to mitigate plastic and microplastic pollution.

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Data Availability

The data supporting the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author.

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Acknowledgements

This research project was supported by the Thailand Science Research and Innovation Fundamental Fund fiscal year 2024, Thammasat University. Authors also acknowledge the support by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (CRRP2018-09MYBabel).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biochemical Engineering and Technology, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University, P.O. Box 22, Pathum Thani, 12121, Thailand

    Anh Tuan Ta & Sandhya Babel

  2. Faculty of Environment, School of Technology, Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Loan Thi Phuong Nguyen

  3. Bandung Institute of Technology, Kota Bandung, Jawa Barat 40132, Indonesia

    Emenda Sembiring

Authors
  1. Anh Tuan Ta
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  2. Sandhya Babel
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  3. Loan Thi Phuong Nguyen
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  4. Emenda Sembiring
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Contributions

Anh Tuan Ta: Conceptualization, conducting research, writing, and revising the manuscript. Sandhya Babel: Conceptualization, supervision, review, and revision of the manuscript, corresponding author. Nguyen Thi Phuong Loan: Conducting research. Emenda Sembiring: Conducting research.

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Correspondence to Sandhya Babel.

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Ta, A.T., Babel, S., Nguyen, L.T.P. et al. Microplastic Pollution in High Population Density Zones of Selected Rivers from Southeast Asia. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 112, 73 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-024-03901-1

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