ABSTRACT
The toxic impact of microplastics (MPs) in the terrestrial and aquatic environment has recently become a global problem. The Bay of Bengal coasts is an important bio-diverse ecosystem, which help the people for their sound living and gather natural resources. However, the distribution, impact, source and transport mechanism, and policy to take initiatives for MPs pollution control at the Bay of Bengal coasts' have received less attention. Therefore, this review summarizes MPs' distribution and their source in the Bay of Bengal coasts' ecosystems. Current knowledge extends the impacts of MP on this vital ecosystem, existing policy, and further recommendations to mitigate MPs contamination are critically assessed in this study. Furthermore, mechanisms of MP on human health are also highlighted with the identification of current research gaps and future study suggestions. Given the escalating plastic usage and the prevalence of important sea products globally, there is a pressing need to prioritize research efforts on the impacts of MPs on the Bay of Bengal coasts from a long-term perspective. Knowledge obtained in this way would inform the scientists, stakeholders, and policy makers in such a way as to help them mitigate impacts of the micro- and nano-plastic legacy at this region.
Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful for the kind help from the members of the Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU), Bangladesh for library facilities to access the journal articles.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Data availability
All data obtained and analysed during this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Notes on contributors
Md. Saiful Islam
Md. Saiful Islam: Professor, department of Soil Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh. Dr. Islam is working as an expert in the field of environmental science and toxicology.
Md. Shahin Hossin
Md. Shahin Hossin: Associate Professor, department of Soil Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh. Dr. Hossin is working as an expert in the field of environmental science, soil chemistry and plant nutrition.
Md. Rafiq Uddin
Md. Rafiq Uddin: Assistant Professor, department of Soil Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh. Mr. Uddin is working as an expert in the field of environmental science, soil chemistry and plant nutrition.
Md. Towhidul Islam
Md. Towhidul Islam: Research fellow, department of Soil Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh. An expert in the field of environmental science and plant nutrition.
Uttam Biswas Antu
Uttam Biswas Antu: Research fellow, department of Soil Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh. An expert in the field of environmental chemistry and plant nutrition.
Abu Reza Md. Towfiqul Islam
Abu Reza Md. Towfiqul Islam: Associate Professor, 2Department of Disaster Management, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur, Bangladesh. Dr. Towfiqul Islam is working as an expert in the field of environmental science, ocean chemistry, and microplastic pollution.
Mahmudul Hasan
Mahmudul Hasan: Assistant Professor, department of Oceanography, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Mr. Hasan has a specialization on the oceanographic research, water and sediment chemistry and plastic pollution in the aquatic environment.
Md. Tanvir bin Hossain
Md. Tanvir bin Hossain: Research fellow, department of Soil and Environmental sciences, University of Barishal, Barishal-8254, Bangladesh. Mr. Hossain has been working on the water and sediment chemistry and plastic pollution in the aquatic environment.
Mir Mohammad Ali
Mir Mohammad Ali: Assistant Professor, department of Aquaculture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh. Mr. Ali has a specialization on the oceanographic research, water and sediment chemistry and plastic pollution in the aquatic environment.
Zulhilmi Ismail
Zulhilmi Ismail: Professor, Centre for River and Coastal Engineering (CRCE), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Johor Bahru Malaysia. Dr. Ismail has a specialization on the oceanographic research, water and sediment chemistry and plastic pollution in the aquatic environment.
Sujat Ahmed
Sujat Ahmed: Research fellow, Environment, Center for People & Environ (CPE), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Mr. Ahmed is working as an expert in the field of environmental science, ocean chemistry, and microplastic pollution.
Abdullah Al Bakky
Abdullah Al Bakky: Scientific Officer, Agriculture wing, Bangladesh Jute Research Institute, Dhaka. An expert in the field of environmental chemistry and plant nutrition.
Abubakr M. Idris
Prof. Abubakr M. Idris: Professor, department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha-62529, Saudi Arabia. He has been working since 10 years in the field of Environmental Chemistry.