Microplastics in Marine Water and Freshwater

Environment: Evaluating the Emerging Threat to the

Biodiversity of Bangladesh

Anika Nawar Supervisor

Research Fellow Dr. Mohammad Moniruzzaman
Soil & Environment Research Section PSO, Officer In-charge (Chief Coordinator)
Biological Research Division BCSIR Central Analytical and Research Facilities
Laboratories, Dhaka (CARF) BCSIR, Dhaka
 Outline

• Background

• Objectives

• Materials and Methods

• Results and Discussion

• Conclusions
 Background
• Basically, the lack of proper waste
management has led to the
accumulation of over 250,000 tons of
plastic pieces floating in the oceans
globally.
• Bangladesh’s annual per capita plastic
consumption in urban areas tripled to
9.0 kg in 2020 from 3.0 kg in 2005.
Plastic pollution on the riverbank in Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Consumption of LDPE packaging
Around 73,000 tones of plastic waste end up in the sea
materials (plastic bags, etc.) increased through the Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna rivers every day
fivefold in 2020 from 2005.
 Mismanaged Plastic Waste is a Challenge
• Mismanaged plastic waste is polluting
cities, the countryside, rivers and canals.
• They clog drains, causing urban
flooding.
• Plastic is a material that degrades slowly,
and into tiny particles (called
microplastics), posing a significant risk
to humans, marine life, and ecosystems.
• The COVID-19 crisis exacerbated the
plastic waste scenario, especially from
single-use plastic used in masks, gloves,
and Personal Protective Equipment.
 Microplastics: Emerging Contaminants

• MPs are considered priority

pollutant vectors in the Stockholm
and Basel Convention.
• Microplastics (MPs) sorb
hydrophobic organic contaminants
(HOCs).
• Sorption of elements such as
cadmium, zinc, nickel, and lead
may also occur.
Primary microplastics Secondary microplastics
• MPs also serve as a vector for
microbial pathogens. Microplastics are small pieces of plastic ranging from less than 5
mm to 1 mm in length
 Objectives

To investigate microplastic types, sizes, colors, their properties, chemical structures, and
1 distributions.

2 To assess the pathways of entry for microplastics to the freshwater sites.

3 To evaluate the drinking water quality with respect to microplastic pollutants.

To compare the abundance of microplastics before and after treatment of freshwater for
4 drinking purpose.

5 To understand the damaging impacts of microplastics on human health and biodiversity.

Sampling Locations
Sampling Location
Experimental Design/Materials and Methods
 Images of Microplastics Under Light Microscope

Microscopic image of microplastics: A & C: Film, B: Microfilm, D: Microfiber, E:

Microfragment, F: Microfilm (blue)
 Images of Microplastics under SEM (Scanned Electron Microscope)

A: Mircrofilm, B: Foam, C: Mircofiber. D: Microfragment. E: Microfilm and F: Film

 Results and Discussion

Bar graph
showing the
comparison of
microplastics
abundance
between
sediment and
water sample
MPs Abundance in Buriganga and Shitalakhya Rivers
 Ecological Risk Assessment
Shitalakhya River Buriganga River

One-way ANOVA; p>0.05

Based on the PLI values, nearly all the sampling sites in the Buriganga River belonged to risk
category IV, indicating serious contamination by MPs. The Shitalakhya River fell within risk
categories III and IV, indicating medium to serious levels of contamination by MPs.
 Polymer Identification using FTIR

B) Absorbance spectra of detected microplastic sample (code 101-

microfragment) and A) Absorbance spectra of reference material (milk bottle)
 Conclusions
• The majority of the identified MPs was from <1 mm – 1 µm
(89%).

• The study revealed a moderate abundance of microplastics (MPs)

in the sediments (140 ± 10 items/kg) and water (40 ± 6.23
items/L) compared to those found in other sandy beaches and
sea water from around the world.

• MPs identified were mostly colourful (57%), and polyethylene

(PE) (41%) and polystyrene (PS) (29%) polymers were found to
be the dominant microplastics, suggesting a land-based origin.
 Conclusions

• Colourful MPs are considered hazardous as they resemble prey to

marine organisms.

• Tourism, urban drainage, and fishing activities could be the major

sources of MPs in the study area.

• Future research on the presence of airborne MPs in biota and the

effects of MPs on humans is warranted.