Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in sediments from the world's longest natural beach, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh

Hossain, M. Belal; Banik, Partho; Nur, As-Ad Ujjaman; Rahman, Turabur

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111956

Cited by 84 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…Although there are no previous studies of MP abundance in salt samples, other studies have been conducted in the coastal zone of the Bay of Bengal adjacent to Bangladesh. A study conducted by Rahman et al 24 in beach sediments from Cox's Bazar beach registered relatively low MP values of 8.1 ± 2.9 particles kg −1 while, in a study of intertidal sediments from the same area by Hossain et al 25 , higher MP values of 368.68 ± 10.65 particles kg −1 were reported. Both studies attributed their spatial MP variation to be due to the tidal current, wave energy, beach orientation, river discharges, and human activity.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 91%

Microplastics pollution in salt pans from the Maheshkhali Channel, Bangladesh

Rakib

Nahian

Alfonso

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Microplastics (MP) were recognized as an emergent pollution problem due to their ubiquitous nature and bioaccumulative potential. Those present in salt for consumption could represent a human exposure route through dietary uptake. The current study, conducted in Bangladesh, reports microplastics contamination in coarse salt prepared for human consumption. Sea salt samples were collected from eight representative salt pans located in the country's largest salt farming area, in the Maheshkhali Channel, along the Bay of Bengal. Microplastics were detected in all samples, with mean concentrations ranging from 78 ± 9.33 to 137 ± 21.70 particles kg−1, mostly white and ranging in size from 500–1000 µm. The prevalent types were: fragments (48%) > films (22%) > fibers (15%) > granules and lines (both 9%). Fourier transform mid-IR and near-IR spectra (FT-MIR-NIR) analysis registered terephthalate (48%), polypropylene (20%), polyethylene (17%), and polystyrene (15%) in all samples. These results contribute to the MP's pollution knowledge in sea salts to understand and reduce this significant human exposure route and environmental pollution source in the future.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 91%

Microplastics pollution in salt pans from the Maheshkhali Channel, Bangladesh

Rakib

Nahian

Alfonso

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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“…Numerous investigations have already proved that extent of MPs pollution in estuarine waters is very high in various parts of the world, such as Yellow River estuary, China 19 , Shanghai estuary, China 20 , Bohai Bay, China 21 and coastline along the Persian Gulf, Iran 22 . Bangladesh is one of the major plastic-producing countries globally, with over three thousand small and big plastic industry sites 23 . The per capita consumption of plastics in Bangladesh has drastically increased to 3.5 kg, with a total production of 3000 tons of plastic debris each day 23 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bangladesh is one of the major plastic-producing countries globally, with over three thousand small and big plastic industry sites 23 . The per capita consumption of plastics in Bangladesh has drastically increased to 3.5 kg, with a total production of 3000 tons of plastic debris each day 23 . In addition, the percentage of contribution to mismanaged plastic waste in global total is very high in Bangladesh 3 , 23 because a large part of this waste is released to the environment without any kind of recycling.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The per capita consumption of plastics in Bangladesh has drastically increased to 3.5 kg, with a total production of 3000 tons of plastic debris each day 23 . In addition, the percentage of contribution to mismanaged plastic waste in global total is very high in Bangladesh 3 , 23 because a large part of this waste is released to the environment without any kind of recycling. Despite this, only a few studies have been conducted on the status and risk assessment of MPs pollution in Bangladesh.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite this, only a few studies have been conducted on the status and risk assessment of MPs pollution in Bangladesh. High abundance of MPs was determined in the sediments of Cox’s Bazar 1 , 2 , 23 , in salt pans from Moheskhali channel 24 , in tiger shrimp, brown shrimp, Bombay-duck, and gold-stripe sardine from the northern Bay of Bengal 25 , 26 . As rivers and estuaries are the main sources of land-based MPs flowing into the ocean, investigating the abundance, distribution, and potential risks of MPs in estuarine, marine, and coastal ecosystems is necessary for adequately maintaining the estuary ecosystems and human health.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial distribution and risk assessments due to the microplastics pollution in sediments of Karnaphuli River Estuary, Bangladesh

Rakib

Hossain

Kumar

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

Self Cite

121

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Microplastics (MPs) have become an emerging global pollutant due to their widespread dispersion and potential threats to marine ecosystems. However, studies on MPs in estuarine and coastal ecosystems of Bangladesh are very limited. Here, we conducted the first study on abundance, distribution, characteristics, and risk assessment of microplastics in the sediment of Karnaphuli River estuary, Bangladesh. Microplastic particles were extracted from sediments of 30 stations along the estuary by density separation and then enumerated and characterized using a stereomicroscope and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. In the collected sediment of the Karnaphuli River estuary, the number of MPs varied from 22.29 to 59.5 items kg−1 of dry weight. The mean abundance was higher in the downstream and left banks of the estuary, whereas the predominant shape, colour, and size of MPs were films (35%), and white (19%), and 1–5 mm (30.38%), respectively. Major polymer types were polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polyethylene, cellulose, and nylon. MPs were found to pose risks (low to high) in the sediment of the estuary, with the highest risk occurring at one station near a sewage outlet, according to the results of risk analyses using the pollution risk index, polymer risk index (H), contamination factors, and pollution load index (PLI). The single value index, PLI, clearly demonstrated that all sampling sites were considerably polluted with microplastics (PLI > 1). H values showed toxic polymers, even in lower proportions, possess higher polymeric hazard scores and vice versa. This investigation uncovered new insights on the status of MPs in the sediments of the Karnaphuli River estuary, laying the groundwork for future research and control of microplastic pollution and management.

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An investigation on the prevalence of microplastic in commercial and open pan salts obtained from Cox's Bazar and Maheshkhali region of Bay of Bengal (Bangladesh)

Mazumder

Quader

Saha

et al. 2023

Food Science & Nutrition

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Unrestrained utilization of plastic has reached an intemperate state, menacing environment and human lives. The preliminary focus of this research was to investigate and divulge the contemporary status of microplastics (MPs) in commercialized and open pan salts from Cox's Bazar and Maheshkhali channels. A total of 27 samples were obtained. The samples were analyzed for the prevalence of MPs by FTIR and Raman spectroscopy (RS); the prevailing amount, color, size, and shapes were analyzed by stereomicroscope and SEM. The abundance of high‐density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) were detected by FTIR, meanwhile exuberance of cellulose acetate, polypropylene, PET, LDPE, and Nylon 6 were identified by RS. The average quantifications of MPs in Cox's Bazar, Maheshkhali, and packaged salts were found to be 6851.11 ± 538.18, 5638.89 ± 1001.18, and 3405.56 ± 638.57 per kg, respectively. ANOVA resulted in highly significant association between MPs and sampling sites (p = .001*). Post hoc Tukey's test revealed prominent link between commercialized and open pan salts based on the amount of MPs (p = .001*). The most prevalent colors were purple (28%) and blue (27%). The most frequent shapes were fibrous (79%) and fragmented (19.9%) MPs. The smallest MP was detected in commercial salt (1.55 μm), nearly identical and closer to the size of nanoplastics.

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Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in sediments from the world's longest natural beach, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh

Cited by 84 publications

References 63 publications

Microplastics pollution in salt pans from the Maheshkhali Channel, Bangladesh

Microplastics pollution in salt pans from the Maheshkhali Channel, Bangladesh

Spatial distribution and risk assessments due to the microplastics pollution in sediments of Karnaphuli River Estuary, Bangladesh

An investigation on the prevalence of microplastic in commercial and open pan salts obtained from Cox's Bazar and Maheshkhali region of Bay of Bengal (Bangladesh)

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