Back to papers
0
Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Detection Methods Environmental Sources Food & Water Marine & Wildlife Sign in to save

Microplastic contamination, comparative retention efficiency, and ecological hazard in saltmarsh, mangrove, sandy, and muddy habitats along the northern Bay of Bengal coast

Ocean & Coastal Management 2025 11 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 58 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Partho Banik, M. Belal Hossain Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Khadijatul Kubra Riya, M. Belal Hossain M. Belal Hossain M. Belal Hossain M. Belal Hossain M. Belal Hossain M. Belal Hossain M. Belal Hossain Bilal Ahamad Paray, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Salma Sultana, M. Belal Hossain Khadijatul Kubra Riya, M. Belal Hossain Partho Banik, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Qi Yu, M. Belal Hossain M. Belal Hossain M. Belal Hossain Qi Yu, Qi Yu, Qi Yu, M. Belal Hossain Khadijatul Kubra Riya, Partho Banik, Khadijatul Kubra Riya, M. Belal Hossain Khadijatul Kubra Riya, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Khadijatul Kubra Riya, Khadijatul Kubra Riya, Khadijatul Kubra Riya, Partho Banik, Salma Sultana, Salma Sultana, Salma Sultana, Md. Kamal Hossain, Md. Kamal Hossain, David J. Marshall, Md. Kamal Hossain, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, M. Belal Hossain Salma Sultana, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Khadijatul Kubra Riya, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Khadijatul Kubra Riya, Khadijatul Kubra Riya, M. Belal Hossain Md. Kamal Hossain, Md. Kamal Hossain, Md. Kamal Hossain, Bilal Ahamad Paray, David J. Marshall, Khadijatul Kubra Riya, Khadijatul Kubra Riya, Khadijatul Kubra Riya, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Salma Sultana, David J. Marshall, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Md. Kamal Hossain, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Partho Banik, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Qi Yu, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Norhayati Ngah, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Md. Kamal Hossain, Salma Sultana, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Qi Yu, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Qi Yu, Md. Kamal Hossain, Qi Yu, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Qi Yu, Norhayati Ngah, Qi Yu, Qi Yu, M. Belal Hossain Bilal Ahamad Paray, Partho Banik, Partho Banik, Bilal Ahamad Paray, M. Belal Hossain Norhayati Ngah, Norhayati Ngah, Norhayati Ngah, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Qi Yu, Bilal Ahamad Paray, M. Belal Hossain M. Belal Hossain M. Belal Hossain M. Belal Hossain Bilal Ahamad Paray, M. Belal Hossain M. Belal Hossain M. Belal Hossain M. Belal Hossain Bilal Ahamad Paray, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Bilal Ahamad Paray, Bilal Ahamad Paray, M. Belal Hossain M. Belal Hossain M. Belal Hossain Norhayati Ngah, M. Belal Hossain Norhayati Ngah, Norhayati Ngah, Qi Yu, M. Belal Hossain M. Belal Hossain

Summary

Researchers compared microplastic contamination across four types of coastal habitats along the Bay of Bengal, including saltmarshes, mangroves, mudflats, and sandflats. They found that saltmarshes and mangroves retained significantly more microplastics than open sandy or muddy areas, acting as natural sinks for plastic pollution. The study highlights that these ecologically important habitats bear a disproportionate burden of microplastic accumulation, which may affect the organisms that depend on them.

Polymers
PE PET PP PS
Study Type Environmental

Understanding the role of coastal habitats as microplastic "sinks" and estimating associated ecological risks are crucial due to the unique biodiversity and socioeconomic importance of these ecosystems. This study was the first to assess microplastic (MP) retention efficiency in the sediments of four coastal habitat types (saltmarsh, mangrove, mudflat and sandflat) along the northern Bay of Bengal coast, focusing on morpho-chemical attributes, accumulation patterns, and associated ecological risks. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses (ANOVA, ANOSIM, and nMDS) were applied to examine variations in MP abundance and retention patterns across coastal habitats.The analysis unveiled the presence of MPs across all habitats, with retention trends of saltmarsh > mangrove > mudflat > sandflat. The higher accumulation of MPs in saltmarshes suggested they might serve to reduce the spread of MPs from land to ocean, thereby mitigating their negative impacts.The average MP accumulation was 35.14 ± 19.19 items/kg of sediment, with the highest concentrations in vegetated sediments (mangrove and saltmarsh), showing significant habitat variation (p < 0.05). Vegetation played a key role in MP movement, distribution, and accumulation, with fibers (85 %) being the most prevalent form, followed by films (11 %), fragments (2.5 %), and foams (1.3 %). MPs <0.5 mm were predominant (83 %), suggesting that coastal habitats are effective in trapping smaller MPs. FTIR analysis identified PE (36.67 %), PET (16.67 %), SBR (13 %), Cellulose (13.33 %), PP (11.67 %), and PS (8.33 %) across habitats. The Pollution Load Index (PLI) indicated high MP pollution, while the Contamination Factor (CF) showed a moderate pollution level. The Pollution Hazard Index (PHI) revealed a category II hazard, highlighting significant threats to coastal ecosystems. The results supports vegetation promotion to limit MP spread and the development of targeted pollution management and mitigation strategies. • Microplastics renetion pattern was: saltmarsh > mangrove > mudflat > sandflat. • Vegetated habitats > non-vegetated offered possible mitigation of spread. • Smaller size (<0.5 mm) and fibers were dominant. • PE was the most prevalent (36.67 %) polymer of all observed microplastics. • PHI and PLI indicated moderate MPs pollution in different coastal habitats.

Read via DOI Download PDF

Sign in to start a discussion.

Share this paper

Post Share Share Pin Email