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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
Summary
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.