Microplastic and microcystin in tropical drinking water reservoir: pollution characteristics and human health risk assessment

TY - JOUR

T1 - Microplastic and microcystin in tropical drinking water reservoir

T2 - pollution characteristics and human health risk assessment

AU - Duong, Thi Thuy

AU - Pham, Le Anh

AU - Pham, Thanh Luu

AU - Nguyen, Thi My

AU - Nguyen, Thi Anh Nguyet

AU - Nguyen, Sy Nguyen

AU - Pham, Phuong Thao

AU - Hoang, Thi Quynh

AU - Nguyen-Thuy, Duong

AU - Pham, Thi Minh Hanh

AU - Nghiem, Viet Hai

AU - Bui, Van Hoi

AU - Nguyen, Thi Thao

AU - Do, Hoang Tung

AU - Doan, Thi Oanh

AU - Hoang, Vu Trung Kien

AU - Le, Thi Phuong Quynh

AU - Nguyen, Xuan Cuong

AU - Suzanne, McGowan

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.

PY - 2025/8

Y1 - 2025/8

N2 - The presence of microplastics (MPs) and cyanobacterial toxins (microcystin, MC) in drinking water is a growing public health concern. This study investigated their occurrence and distribution in a tropical reservoir from June 2023 to May 2024. MPs were found at all sites, with an abundance ranging from 1.3 to 38.0 items m−3, predominantly fibers under 2000 μm. Polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were the prevalent polymer types. The pollution load index of MPs was low (PLI = 2.6, level 1), but their high polymer hazard (PHI = 905.4, category IV) and ecological risk (PERI = 696.5, Danger) indicate potential environmental threats in Hoa Binh Reservoir. The MC toxin analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that total MC concentrations varied seasonally, with the highest value of 5.27 μg L−1. Health risk assessment indicated that the overall risk from MCs in all sampling sites remains low (average HQ values of 0.14). This study confirmed the co-occurrence of MPs and MCs in all Hoa Binh Reservoir sampling locations during the entire study period, which could potentially favor the interaction between these contaminants. These findings highlight the need for more research on how MPs influence cyanotoxin, which is essential for developing effective water management and pollution control strategies in freshwater ecosystems.

AB - The presence of microplastics (MPs) and cyanobacterial toxins (microcystin, MC) in drinking water is a growing public health concern. This study investigated their occurrence and distribution in a tropical reservoir from June 2023 to May 2024. MPs were found at all sites, with an abundance ranging from 1.3 to 38.0 items m−3, predominantly fibers under 2000 μm. Polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were the prevalent polymer types. The pollution load index of MPs was low (PLI = 2.6, level 1), but their high polymer hazard (PHI = 905.4, category IV) and ecological risk (PERI = 696.5, Danger) indicate potential environmental threats in Hoa Binh Reservoir. The MC toxin analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that total MC concentrations varied seasonally, with the highest value of 5.27 μg L−1. Health risk assessment indicated that the overall risk from MCs in all sampling sites remains low (average HQ values of 0.14). This study confirmed the co-occurrence of MPs and MCs in all Hoa Binh Reservoir sampling locations during the entire study period, which could potentially favor the interaction between these contaminants. These findings highlight the need for more research on how MPs influence cyanotoxin, which is essential for developing effective water management and pollution control strategies in freshwater ecosystems.

KW - Drinking water reservoir

KW - Ecological risk assessment

KW - Microcystin

KW - Microplastics

KW - Tropical reservoir

U2 - 10.1007/s10661-025-14391-x

DO - 10.1007/s10661-025-14391-x

M3 - Article

C2 - 40751019

AN - SCOPUS:105012406900

SN - 0167-6369

VL - 197

JO - Environmental Monitoring and Assessment

JF - Environmental Monitoring and Assessment

IS - 8

M1 - 974

ER -