By AIT Public Affairs
Microplastic pollution poses major ecological and socio-economic challenges in Southeast Asia, where rapid urban expansion is fueling plastic waste that slips into rivers, canals, and drainage systems before finding its way to the ocean. These urban waterways act like plastic pipelines, yet our understanding of how microplastics move through them remains fragmented, with most studies focusing on isolated pieces of the problem. To bridge this gap, researchers are combining science and policy to build stronger governance while developing new tools to detect microplastics in real time.
Currently, two major research initiatives at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) are tackling the challenge from two complementary angles.
Understanding Microplastic Flows and Policy Integration
The project, Enhancing the Science-Policy Interface to Manage Microplastic Influx from Major Cities into the Oceans in Southeast Asia (2024-2026), funded by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), is working with partners in Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, including University Pertamina and Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade.
Field studies in Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR), Thailand, revealed that industrial and transport zones release the highest concentrations of microplastics through stormwater runoff, often surpassing levels of Wastewater Treatment Plant’ Effluents. Research on the Chao Phraya River also showed seasonal and spatial variations, with spikes linked not only to rainfall and urban growth but also to changes during the COVID-19 period.
Using a source–pathway–receptor (SPR) framework, the project maps where microplastics come from, how they move, and where they end up. By combining these flows with mass balance analyses, the team is building a clearer picture of the problem while producing policy briefs, and guidelines for decision-makers. The ultimate aim is to strengthen the governance of water and waste systems, directly contributing to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
Innovating Real-Time Monitoring Tools
The second project, “Development and Application of In-situ Microplastic Detection in Water Environments Using Electrical Sensing Zone Method Empowered by Machine Learning Techniques” (2025-2027), is supported by CAS-ANSO and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences.
This initiative aims to create cost-effective, real-time detection tools that can be used directly in the field. By applying the electrical sensing zone (ESZ) method enhanced with machine learning, the system delivers quick and reliable results, an affordable alternative to expensive laboratory testing. Trials in Thailand and China are showing promise, with plans to scale the technology across Belt and Road countries. This innovation supports SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
From Evidence to Action
Both initiatives, led by Associate Professor Dr. Wenchao Xue of AIT’s School of Engineering and Technology, demonstrate how science and policy can move hand in hand. “Cities in Southeast Asia are dynamic but vulnerable systems where infrastructure often lags behind population and waste growth,” Dr. Xue explains. “Our aim is to create tools that both diagnose the problem and empower governments to act on it.”
What sets these efforts apart is their complementarity: one builds governance frameworks while the other delivers novel detection tools. Together, they form a science-to-policy pipeline that generates evidence, technology, and actionable solutions for microplastic pollution.
With rising concerns about plastic waste and the urgent need for climate-proof cities, Dr. Xue’s work highlights how local innovation in Southeast Asia can drive global impact. “We are building the evidence base, the technology, and the governance tools needed to respond to this crisis now, and in the years to come. That’s what sustainability science should be about.”
