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Distribution of microplastics in shoreline water and sediment of the Ganges River Basin to Meghna Estuary in Bangladesh
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Researchers measured microplastic contamination along the Ganges River from the India-Bangladesh border to the Meghna Estuary in Bangladesh. They found microplastics at every sampling point, with higher concentrations downstream, indicating pollution accumulates as the river flows through populated areas. The overall pollution level was rated higher than other studies in Bangladesh, raising concerns for the millions of people who depend on this water.
This study focused on the distribution of microplastics in the water and sediment of the Ganges River Basin to the Meghna Estuary in Bangladesh. Thirty points were sampled from Chapainawabganj district (India-Bangladesh border) to Chandpur district (Meghna Estuary). The morphological appearances were recognized by stereomicroscope and SEM-EDX analysis. Potential ecological risks were also measured. The average microplastic concentration in upstream and downstream water was 50.9 ± 24.4 particles/L and 64.1 ± 26.3 particles/L, respectively, and the sediment concentration was 2953.49 ± 1670.52 particles/kg in upstream sediment and 4014.66 ± 1717.59 particles/kg in downstream sediment. In upstream water, the most dominant morphological appearance was fragment shape, blue colour and 1-2 mm in size. The appearance of downstream water was fragments shape, red colour and 0.1-0.5 mm in size. In upstream sediment, the most dominant morphological appearance was fragment shape, red colour and < 0.1 mm in size. The appearance of downstream sediment was fibre shape, red colour and < 0.1 mm in size. Seven polymer types were discovered in water, dominated by low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and eight polymer types in sediment, dominated by polyamide (PA). The correlation between the size and shape of particles was analyzed using principal component analysis. The overall pollution load index of the Ganges River Basin to the Meghna Estuary was 1.86, higher than the other studies done in Bangladesh. Surprisingly, the nemerow pollution index (NPI), contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), polymer hazard index (PHI), and potential ecological risk (Ei)- all five ecological risk indicators had low to very high water and sediment pollution in the Ganges River Basin due to microplastic exposure. The data produced through this study will drive increasing awareness regarding microplastic pollution in the vast river ecosystem. Given the widespread presence of this pollution, it highlights the necessity for continuous national monitoring of microplastics.
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