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From Land to Water: Intensity of Plastic Pollution in the Aquatic Ecosystem and Terrestrial Interfaces of the Andharmanik River, South-West Coastal Zone, Bangladesh
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Researchers found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) throughout a river system in coastal Bangladesh—in the water, riverbed sediment, and even inside fish that people eat. The fish from this river had more microplastic contamination than fish from nearby protected areas, raising concerns that these plastics could work their way up the food chain and end up on our dinner plates. This highlights why reducing plastic waste, especially discarded fishing gear, matters not just for the environment but for the safety of the seafood we consume.
Plastic pollution is a growing concern for both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in the coastal zones of Bangladesh, yet integrated multi-compartment assessments in this ecologically sensitive coastal zone remains scarce. This study evaluated the spatial distribution of land-based macroplastics and abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing nets (ALDFN), and to assess microplastic (MP) contamination in water, sediment, and key fish species of the Andharmanik River, south-west coastal Bangladesh. Riverbank and photoquadrat surveys were conducted to quantify plastic density in terrestrial environments. In aquatic ecosystems, visual identification and micro-Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (μ-FTIR) were used to determine the abundance and characteristics of MPs in water, sediment, and fish samples. Fishing gear dominated land-based plastic litter, with plastic density increasing significantly toward the coastal areas from the downstream river sections (R2 = 0.82). MPs were detected in all sampled environmental compartments. MPs were detected in water, sediment, and fish samples with varying contamination levels. Mean MP abundance was 16.8 (± 3.58) items/L in water, 6 (± 2.10) items/individual in fish samples and 727.66 (± 25.50) items/kg dry weight in sediment. Nylon-6 and polyethylene were the dominant polymer types identified across compartments. Significant variability was observed in the shape, color, and size distribution of MPs across sample types with smaller size group (< 500 μm) demonstrating the highest overall prevalence. MP contamination in fish species from the Andharmanik River exceeded levels previously reported from the Sundarbans and the Bay of Bengal and are comparable to contamination levels documented in moderately to highly impacted fluvial systems globally. The findings indicate widespread plastic contamination across interconnected terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in the south-west coastal zone of Bangladesh. Without effective mitigation and waste management strategies, continued plastic accumulation may increase the risk of trophic transfer and biomagnification of MPs, posing serious ecological and public food safety concerns.
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