Microplastic contamination in the sediment and blood cockle (Anadara granosa) of the mangrove ecosystem of Can Gio, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Authors

1 Faculty of Fisheries, Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

2 Research Institute for Biotechnology and Environment, Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

10.22092/ijfs.2025.134860

Abstract

Microplastic (MPs) pollution poses a significant threat to coastal ecosystems and marine food resources. The mangrove ecosystem of Can Gio (MEC), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is under increasing pressure from anthropogenic activities. This study aimed to quantify and characterize MPs contamination in sediments and the commercially important blood cockle (Anadara granosa) to assess the spatiotemporal distribution of pollution. The sediment and cockle samples were collected monthly from two zones with differing human impact levels, Dong Tranh River and Thanh An Island, between July and September 2024. MPs were extracted via density separation and their characteristics (shape, color, and polymer type) were analyzed using microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The number of MPs in sediment and cockles ranged from 0.20 to 2.60 MPs/g and 0.20 to 2.20 MPs/g, respectively, with no zone-specific and temporal-specific differences for both types of samples. Black and white MPs were predominant in sediment and cockle, accounting for 50-80% of the total MPs abundance. Fiber contributed to more than 50% of MPs forms, followed by fragments and films. Small-sized particles (<1 mm) were dominant in both samples throughout the two zones and all sampling times. The primary polymers in both sample matrices consisted of nylon, PET, and rayon. Our findings indicate that local anthropogenic pressure is a key driver of MPs distribution in the MEC. The contamination levels in the cockles highlight a potential pathway for human exposure to MPs, emphasizing the need to implement pollution management strategies in the region.

Keywords

Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences
Volume 25, Issue 1
January 2026
Pages 141-155

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