Potential contamination of microplastic from plastic recycling enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract

The widespread presence of microplastics (MPs) in water raises serious concerns on a global scale due to the negative effects on human health and ecosystems. Wastewater and sludge from preliminary plants of recycled plastic pellets are a significant continuous source of MP discharged into the environment. Wastewater and sludge samples were collected from three plastic recycling plants and analyzed for MPs (size from 0.15–5 mm). The average rate of MP emission was approximately 5.8–6.6% of the total investigations. The MP in water ranged from 14.3410 to 19.3395 g/l, of which 40% with size 2–5 mm, 32% (1–2 mm), 5% (0.5–1 mm), 14% (0.15–0.5 mm), and 9% with size less than 0.15 mm in average. MP in sludge varied from 472.2031 to 644.7620 g/kg, of which, 37% with size 2–5 mm, 24% (1–2 mm), 9% (0.5–1 mm), 12% (0.15–0.5 mm) and 18% less than 0.15 mm. In average, 2,695 particles/l and 287,600 particles/kg of MP size 0.15–5 mm was found in wastewater and sludge, which may have a potential risk to aquatic fauna and humans. Therefore, control microplastic emission from those sources will contribute significantly to reducing microplastics entering the surrounding environment.