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Assessment of microplastics contamination and ecological risks associated with urban canals: insights into a case of Dhaka city
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Scientists found tiny plastic bits, mostly from broken down bottles and bags, in Dhaka's urban canals, with far more hiding in the sediment than in the water itself. These canals funnel an estimated 50 to 189 billion plastic particles daily into rivers that people rely on, showing how urban waterways can spread plastic pollution into the water systems we depend on for drinking and food.
Urban canals carry microplastics (MPs) into river systems. This study measured MP abundance and characteristics in five major canals of Dhaka City: Kallyanpur, Gobindapur, Norail, Digun and Abdullahpur. 30 samples were collected, 15 from water and 15 from sediment. Sampling took place in the dry season, when low discharge and minimal dilution contamination to its peak, the results give a worst-case baseline for these canals. Sediment held more MPs (162–1188 items/kg) than water (13–185 items/L). Fibers (33.93%) and fragments (22.99%) were the dominant shapes and came mostly from the breakdown of larger plastic debris. Transparent particles were most common in both matrices (28.54% in water, 28.7% in sediment), most particles fell between 0.5 and 1 mm, and FTIR identified polyethene and polypropylene as the main polymers. SEM images showed heavy weathering and surface degradation. The Nemerow Pollution Index (NPI) placed the canals between low and high contamination. Estimated flux to peripheral rivers ranges from 50 to 189 billion particles per day, which marks these canals as a route for MP transfer. This is the first comprehensive assessment of microplastic contamination in Dhaka’s urban canals, quantifying flux to peripheral riverine and providing a framework for managing microplastic contamination.
More Papers Like This
Assessment of microplastics contamination and ecological risks associated with urban canals: insights into a case of Dhaka city
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found tiny plastic bits, mostly from broken down bottles and bags, packed into the mud and water of Dhaka's urban canals, with sediment holding far more than water. These canals funnel an estimated 50 to 189 billion plastic particles per day into rivers that communities rely on, highlighting how urban waterways can be major hidden sources of microplastic pollution entering the food and water chain.
Assessment of microplastics on the coastal urban waterways in a developing country: a spectrometric study
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Scientists tested water from urban waterways in Bangladesh that flow into the Bay of Bengal and found tiny plastic particles—mostly smaller than half a millimeter—in every sample, with one site showing especially high pollution levels. These microplastics came largely from everyday sources like plastic bags and improper trash disposal, and since these waterways connect to the ocean and food sources, this pollution can eventually make its way into seafood and drinking water that people consume. The findings are a reminder that how we dispose of plastic waste directly shapes the environment—and potentially our own exposure to these particles.
Abundance, characteristics, and ecological risks of microplastics in the riverbed sediments around Dhaka city
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Researchers analyzed riverbed sediments around Dhaka, Bangladesh and found medium-level microplastic pollution dominated by polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET from urban and industrial sources. All sampling sites showed pollution levels above baseline, with ecological risk assessments ranging from medium to very high depending on location. The study fills an important data gap on freshwater microplastic contamination in one of the world's most densely populated urban areas.
Integrated assessment of microplastic contamination in bank sediments of urban Rivers in Khulna, Bangladesh
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Scientists studying two urban rivers in Bangladesh found tiny plastic bits, mostly from household items and disposable drink bottles, buried in the riverbank soil, with pollution getting worse as the rivers flow through more developed areas. While current levels are considered only slightly contaminated, this "baseline" matters because these rivers likely feed into water and food sources people rely on, and rising microplastic pollution could pose long-term risks to both ecosystems and human health. The study gives researchers and policymakers a starting point to track this pollution over time and push for better waste management before it worsens.
Unveiling the microplastic crisis: Insights into Bangladesh's aquatic ecosystems - origins, impact, and solutions
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This review examines the growing microplastic crisis in Bangladesh's rivers, estuaries, and coastal waters, finding that the country's rapid urbanization and limited waste management have led to widespread contamination. Microplastics were documented in water, sediment, and fish across multiple Bangladeshi water systems. Since over 160 million people in Bangladesh depend on these water resources for drinking, farming, and fishing, the contamination poses a significant public health concern.
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