Microplastics pollution in Bangladesh: current scenario and future research perspective

ABSTRACT

Microplastics are emerging environmental pollutants that have gained tremendous scientific interest in recent years. These micropollutants are omnipresent both in the terrestrial and aquatic environments posing a deleterious threat to the ecosystem and biodiversity. So, it is important to develop a deep understanding of the environmental fate and potential adverse impacts of microplastics on the aquatic and terrestrial environments. By critically reviewing the previously published scientific literature, the present synthesis briefly outlines the characteristics, occurrence and potential toxic effects of microplastics on terrestrial and aquatic biota. The article also focuses on some innovative approaches for sustainable remediation of macroplastics as well as microplastics. Since the concept of microplastics pollution has yet in its infancy in Bangladesh, this synthesis provides an overview of the current scenario of microplastics pollution and some future research recommendations in the context of Bangladesh which might be helpful to the novice researchers of this field.

KEYWORDS:

• Microplastic
• occurrence
• impacts
• remediation
• Bangladesh

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Md. Ekramul Karim is a Lecturer at the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life and Earth Sciences, Jagannath University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. He has completed B.Sc (Honours) and Masters in Microbiology from the Department of Microbiology, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh. His undergraduate and post-graduate project works have focused on the powdery mildew of Ocimum sanctum Linn and microbial decolorisation of textile reactive dyes, respectively. Before joining academia, he was appointed as the scientific officer at the Environmental Biotechnology Division of the National Institute of Biotechnology, Bangladesh (Specialised biotechnology-based research organisation under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Bangladesh). His current research interests are focused on environmental pollution and bioremediation, molecular and cellular biology fields.

Sohana Al Sanjee is an Assistant professor at the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life and Earth Sciences, Jagannath University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. She has completed BSc (Honours) and Masters in Microbiology from the Department of Microbiology, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh. Her research interests are on environmental and medical microbiology.

Shohel Mahmud is a scientific officer at the Plant Biotechnology Division of the National Institute of Biotechnology, Bangladesh. He is graduated in Biotechnology discipline from the Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh. His research interest is in cancer biology.

Modhusudon Shaha is a scientific officer at the Microbial Biotechnology Division of the National Institute of Biotechnology, Bangladesh. He has completed B.Sc (Honours) and Masters in Microbiology from the Department of Microbiology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is interested in environmental microbiology and virology fields.

Md. Moniruzzaman is a scientific officer at the Molecular Biotechnology Division of the National Institute of Biotechnology, Bangladesh. He is graduated in Biotechnology discipline from MawlanaBhashani Science and Technology University, Bangladesh. His research interest is in cancer biology.

Keshob Chandra Das is a principal scientific officer at the Molecular Biotechnology Division of the National Institute of Biotechnology, Bangladesh. He is graduated in biochemistry and molecular biology discipline from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. His research interest is in environmental science and pollution research.

ORCID

Md. Ekramul Karim http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9635-4601