Please note that this is an on-going project.
Project Description
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants that have been detected in every spheres (land, air, water, and organisms) of the planet earth. For example, each year 8 million tonnes of MPs enter the ocean. According to a 2019 report from the World Economic Forum, 30 million tonnes of plastics have already been accumulated in the ocean and it is expected to rise to 145 million tonnes by the year 2060. It is projected that the ocean will contain more plastics than fish by the year 2050! Intentionally or unintentionally, all levels of ocean-dwelling creatures consume or accumulate these MPs, which then enter the food chain. As seafood consumers and/or part of the environment, we are also accumulating MPs into our bodies. As a result, MPs have been found in human blood, faeces, placenta, and even breast milk.
Our knowledge of the negative effects that MPs have on humans and aquatic organisms is still in the early stages of development. We lack knowledge of how much MPs accumulate, transfer, or translocate in plants, animals, and their body parts through the food chain or from the environment, as well as what concentrations are harmful to them or they can tolerate. In this project, we are focusing on MPs levels from the three fundamental components of coastal aquatic ecosystems: water, sediment, and seafood. Through this effort, we hope to better understand the distribution, physical and chemical characteristics, partitioning behaviours, and risk assessment of MPs from Bangladesh’s tropical coastal region.
Project Personnel and Beneficiaries
Increased understandings on MPs contamination and harmful effects will create awareness among general people regarding the further use of plastic materials and reduce plastics pollution. The findings of project will significantly benefit coastal managers, environmentalists, policy makers and government.
Outcomes to Date
Using the data on MPs levels in water, sediment, and food-grade sea salt, we have published articles on MPs distribution, contamination, and risk assessment in high impact journals (eg Scientific Reports and Chemosphere, links:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-12296-0
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0045653522028880)
Project Significance
For numerous aquatic organisms, including plankton, molluscs, and fish, MPs have been found to have negative impacts, such as delaying reproduction. Although acute harmful impacts of MPs on human health have not yet been proven, their chronic effects exist because they transport pathogens and hazardous substances like heavy metals, PAH, and phthalates. Therefore, we should effectively manage, reduce, regulate, and remediate plastic pollution if we are to improve the quality of life and lead a healthy existence, which is essential to achieving the SDGs. A thorough understanding of MPs contamination, pathways, and danger is necessary for raising public awareness of plastic use, making educated decisions, and developing legislation.