Microplastic pollution in clam (Meretrix Lyrata Sowerby, 1851) at Mekong Delta river, Vietnam

Abstract

The problem of microplastic pollution (<5 mm) is becoming one of the biggest challenges facing countries. One of the problems is the export value of seafood products. Therefore, to assess the microplastic accumulation in clam (Meretrix lyrata), this study investigated the concentration of microplastics (MPs) in clam and their habitat in four clam culture beds (Tan Thanh, Ba Tri, Ganh Hao, and Ba Dong) in three consecutive months (from January to March 2020). The samples were analyzed by the method of oxidation of organic compounds and MPs flotation solution. The result showed that the concentrations of MPs in all three types of samples (seawater, surface sediment, and clam tissues respectively 36,66 ± 11.94 items 1 L- of seawater; 169.34 ± 42.01 items 1 kg- of soil; 13.79 ± 1.06 items individual- 10 g-, w.w) were markedly different between the four clam culture beds in three months (p-value <α = 0.05). Among which, the natural clam culture at Ganh Hao beach had the lowest concentration of MPs compared to Tan Thanh, Ba Dong, and Ba Tri cultured beds by households. Furthermore, the concentration of MPs in March was also the lowest compared to January and February. Hard plastic fibers were found the most (> 50%) compared to other types of plastic. The conclusion that microplastics have appeared everywhere in the environment and were found in the organism of clam, affecting the life of aquatic organisms.