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The chronicles of plastic from boon to bane: A case of resilience in Bangladesh
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This Bangladeshi review documented the escalating plastic pollution crisis in the country's aquatic systems and proposed interventions for the upcoming UN global plastics treaty (INC 5.2), drawing on research by the Aquatic Zoology Research Group. The authors highlighted significant research gaps in monitoring Bangladesh's plastic contamination and advocated for concrete, equitable treaty provisions that address the particular challenges faced by developing nations.
Abstract Plastics have come to symbolize the lifestyle and technological advancements of the 20th century, representing modern convenience and progress. In recent years, global plastic production surpassed 360 million tons in 2018 and is projected to reach between 500 and 600 million metric tons by 2025. This plastic accumulates as waste in freshwater, marine and land environments, leading to habitat disruption, alterations in nutrient cycles and harm to wildlife through exposure to toxic substances, entanglement and ingestion which pose significant ecological and health risks. The long-term ecological changes resulting from this pollution are likely irreversible. Developing countries in the Global South, including Bangladesh, are particularly vulnerable to the challenges of poorly managed plastic waste due to a lack of institutional, financial and technical resources to combat plastic pollution. The Aquatic Zoology Research Group has focused on addressing plastic pollution in Bangladesh and adopted a comprehensive strategy to tackle plastic pollution, starting with identifying the issue through various methods, followed by a thorough assessment of the plastic pollution situation and finally proposing solutions for mitigation. Our review of the current state of plastic pollution in Bangladesh’s aquatic systems highlighted significant research gaps, despite the country’s early ban on plastic bags. As a conservation research team from a developing nation facing the severe impacts of plastic pollution, we studied and listed specific expectations for the upcoming INC 5.2 meeting, highlighting challenges faced by many similar countries. We hope that INC 5.2 will move beyond mere statements to implement concrete and equitable actions.
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Researchers reviewed the sources, dispersion routes, and environmental consequences of plastic waste across global and Bangladesh-specific contexts, finding that inadequate infrastructure and limited resources make plastic pollution — including microplastics entering agricultural soils, marine environments, and food chains — an especially acute threat in developing countries.
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Microplastics have been found throughout Bangladesh's aquatic and terrestrial environments, where they threaten biodiversity and enter the food chain. This review synthesizes the available evidence and calls for stronger national monitoring programs and policies given Bangladesh's vulnerability to plastic pollution from its dense population and major rivers.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.