- English
Plastic pollution in river systems is a growing concern, especially in the Mekong Delta,
where complex tidal dynamics facilitate downstream transport of plastic waste into the
marine environment. This study assessed the density, composition, and temporal variability
of floating plastic waste in the Hau River, approximately 30 km upstream of the
Tran De River estuary. Floating net traps were deployed during both ebb and flood tides
to quantify plastic waste with simultaneous meteorological and hydrological monitoring.
The findings highlight that key meteorological factors, such as air temperature, humidity,
wind speed, and wind direction, were found to indirectly influence plastic transport by
altering surface currents and promoting plastic degradation. Meanwhile, hydrological
conditions, especially tidal variability, play a direct and dominant role in determining the
spatial and temporal distribution of plastic waste. Plastic debris was diverse in terms of
items during both tidal phases. Although the number of plastic pieces was higher at ebb
tide (134.33 pieces/h), the volume and concentration of plastic were greater at flood tide
(1.22 kg/h and 0.73 kg/m3) than at ebb tide (0.81 kg/h and 0.29 kg/m3). Macroplastic debris
was almost dominant during both ebb tide (97.29%) and flood tide (93.96%) compared
to megaplastic and mesoplastic size. These findings highlight the importance of integrating
tidal and climate factors into plastic waste management and support targeted interventions
to reduce plastic discharge into coastal ecosystems.
- English
