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Microplastic contamination in vertical water columns and fish: a comparative study between the Buriganga River and the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh
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Researchers compared microplastic contamination in vertical water columns and fish between a highly polluted freshwater system (Buriganga River) and a marine environment (Bay of Bengal) in Bangladesh, using hydrogen peroxide digestion followed by microscopy and micro-FTIR spectroscopy for characterization. They found significantly higher microplastic prevalence in the freshwater system and its associated fish compared to the marine environment (p <= 0.05), highlighting the role of urbanized river systems as major microplastic sources.
This study investigated microplastic (MP) contamination in freshwater and marine ecosystems in Bangladesh, focusing on the Buriganga River and the Bay of Bengal. Water and fish samples were collected, digested with HO, and analyzed using microscopy and micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for visual inspection and MP characterization. Microplastics were significantly more prevalent in the freshwater system and its fish compared to the marine environment (p ≤ 0.05), with variations observed across different depths. Fish, particularly those in the benthopelagic zone, showed substantial MPs contamination, predominantly in the form of fibers, fragments, and foam. Transparent MPs dominated in water samples, while colored MPs are more prevalent in fish. Polycarbonate, nitrile, and polypropylene were the major polymers identified in the water and fish samples. A significant positive correlation (r = 0.65, p ≤ 0.05) between MPs in water and fish suggests ingestion of MPs from their habitat.
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Microplastic Pollution in Two Urban Rivers and an Associated Water Treatment Plant in Bangladesh
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The first microplastic study in Bangladesh examined two urban rivers (Buriganga and Shitalakhya) and an associated drinking water treatment plant, finding an average of 11,639 microplastic particles per cubic meter in water samples. Over 90% of particles were under 0.5 mm, with microfilm the dominant form (71%), and PET, PP, PE, PVC, and polystyrene were the most common polymers identified by ATR-FTIR. Notably, microplastic concentrations in the treatment plant were not significantly different from source river concentrations, raising concerns about the efficacy of conventional water treatment in removing microplastics.
Assessment of microplastics pollution in aquatic species (fish, crab, and snail), water, and sediment from the Buriganga River, Bangladesh: An ecological risk appraisals
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Researchers assessed microplastic pollution across water, sediment, fish, crab, and snail from Bangladesh's Buriganga River, finding widespread contamination with fibers and fragments along with elevated heavy metal concentrations on microplastic surfaces.
Abundance, distribution and composition of microplastics in sediment and fish species from an Urban River of Bangladesh
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Researchers examined microplastic contamination in both river sediment and fish from the Turag River in Bangladesh, which separates an industrial city from the capital Dhaka. They found microplastics in all sediment and fish gut samples, with fragment-type particles dominating in sediment and fibers most common in fish. The study highlights that urban rivers in densely populated areas can serve as significant conduits of microplastic exposure for both aquatic life and the people who consume river fish.
Pervasiveness of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of some selected fish species from Turag River alongside the capital city of Bangladesh
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Researchers found microplastics in all three species of fish collected from the Turag River near Dhaka, Bangladesh, with fiber being the dominant type at 89-93% of all particles found. The most common plastics identified were polypropylene, polystyrene, and low-density polyethylene, with the majority of particles smaller than 0.5 mm. Since these freshwater fish are a major protein source for local communities, the contamination raises concerns about microplastic exposure through the food supply in urban areas of developing countries.
Pervasiveness and characteristics of microplastics in surface water and sediment of the Buriganga River, Bangladesh
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Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in the Buriganga River in Bangladesh, finding concentrations of 4.33 to 43.67 items per liter in surface water, with fibers and fragments as dominant types linked to textile industries and urban waste discharge in the Dhaka megacity.
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