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Microplastics in harvested rainwater: Occurrence, characterization, and human health risk in a climate-vulnerable, water-scarce southwest coastal region of Bangladesh
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Rainwater collected for drinking in coastal Bangladesh, often the only option as rising seas contaminate groundwater, contains tiny plastic particles from roofs and storage tanks, especially iron roofs with plastic tanks. Current levels aren't an immediate health emergency, but children face higher exposure risk, highlighting the need for better harvesting systems and filtration as communities rely more on this water source.
Climate change-induced sea-level rise and salinity intrusion have severely limited the availability of safe freshwater in coastal Bangladesh, making rainwater harvesting (RWH) a vital alternative drinking water source. This study examined the abundance, characteristics, and health risks of microplastics (MPs) in harvested rainwater collected from six roofing–storage combinations: iron sheet roof with plastic tank (IP), concrete tank (IC), or clay pot (IE) storage; concrete roof with plastic tank (CP) or concrete tank (CC) storage; and nipa palm roof with plastic tank (NP) storage. Samples were processed using filtration, and optical microscopy, with polymer types confirmed by Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). MP abundance ranged from 8 to 52 MP/L, indicating widespread contamination, and followed the order IP (30.75 ± 15.22) > IE (28.00 ± 0.00) > IC (27.33 ± 17.93) > CC (19.00 ± 15.56) > NP (16.00 ± 9.90) > CP (12.33 ± 4.51) MPs/L. Five polymers were identified polyethylene (PE), polyamide 6 (PA6), polypropylene (PP), polyester (PET), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with PE dominating across all systems. The Pollution Load Index was highest in IP and lowest in CP. Polymeric Hazard Index assessment revealed considerable to high risk across samples. Hazard Index values for non-carcinogenic risk remained below 1 for both adults and children, suggesting no immediate health concern, though children showed consistently higher exposure risk. These findings underscore the urgent need for improved RWH infrastructure, routine MP monitoring, and effective treatment strategies to safeguard water quality in climate-vulnerable coastal communities.
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