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Spatio-temporal Distribution and Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Water and Sediment of the Downstream Ganges River, Bangladesh.
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Researchers tested water and sediment from nine sites along the downstream Ganges River in Bangladesh across two years, finding microplastics in all samples, mostly polyethylene and polypropylene. Risk calculations showed very high ecological risk in water and danger-level risk in sediment.
Microplastics are pervasive and persistent emerging contaminants found across freshwater and marine ecosystems, posing significant ecological risks to aquatic organisms. This study investigated the spatio-temporal distribution and ecological risks of microplastics in water and sediment of the downstream Ganges River of Bangladesh. Water and sediment samples were collected from nine sampling sites during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons of 2024 and 2025. A total of 108 samples were analyzed using digestion, density separation, stereomicroscopic observation, and polymer identification. Microplastics were widely distributed in water (7.7 to 18.2 MPs/L) and sediment (1601 to 3813 MPs/kg) across the study area. FTIR analysis identified polyethylene (PE) (27%) and polypropylene (PP) (21%) as the dominant polymers. The ecological risk index (ERI) reached 709 (very high) for water and 1584 (danger level) for sediment. These findings suggest significant ecological risks and emphasize the need for improved plastic waste management and continuous monitoring.
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