1. Phung Thai Duong
   
   Faculty of social sciences teacher education, Dong Thap University, Vietnam (vnm)
2. Фам К. Н. (Pham Cam Nhung)

Purpose: This article presents the results of research on the content of some heavy metals in bottom sediments of the lower Mekong River (Vietnam).

Methods: The sediment samples were collected using a Van Veen sediment sampling bucket, model 3-1775-A10, provided by Wildlife Supply Company/Science First – USA. The concentration of the elements (referred to here as 'HM parameters') was determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Model: ZEEnit 700, Manufacturer: Analytik-Jena – Germany), following the provided instructional manual and using the WinAAS software version supplied with the instrument. The detection limit of the method is approximately 0.2µg for the average of all the parameters measured. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo) was used to evaluate the accumulation level of each heavy metal in the sediments.

Results and discussion: Compared to the 2013 study, the results of the average heavy metal content (HM) conducted in December 2023 show that Zn, Cu, As, Pb, and Cd all tend to increase (especially As content). In a total of 40 samples, the heavy metal content of most indicators did not exceed Vietnamese standards. However, compared to some countries in the world, sediment quality standards have been exceeded (especially the United States and the Russian Federation). Moreover, compared to the downstream of rivers flowing through other key urban and industrial areas in Vietnam, the concentration of heavy metals in the study area is almost always higher.

Implications of the research: In addition, the concentration of heavy metals in general increases from upstream to downstream, and the concentration in tributaries is also relatively high. This suggests that in addition to the upstream sources, the daily life and production activities of people in the region also contribute to increasing the concentration of heavy metals, thereby posing a risk of entering the ecosystem and affecting the sustainable development of the lower Mekong River region.

Originality/value: This provides a scientific basis for making informed decisions in daily life and production activities to ensure sustainable development under the conditions of climate change.