Microplastics (MPs) pose a persistent global threat and have entered almost every component of the ecosystem and seafood items. This study aimed to identify and characterize MPs in three widely edible fishes in the lower Meghna River estuary of Bangladesh and assess the polymer hazard index. Gastrointestinal tracts (GIT) of fish were collected and digested with KOH to extract MPs, and the polymer was confirmed by FTIR analysis. The species with the highest mean MP abundance was M. gulio (22.89 ± 8.91 MPs/GIT), followed by P. paradiseus (10.78 ± 4.29) and O. pama (15.11 ± 3.55). Fibers were predominant MPs, comprising 73.20-91.75% of the total particles. Blue, red, and black were the dominant colors of MPs, while 81.07-93.81% particles were between 500 and 1000 μm. Five distinct polymers, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, Polystyrene, and Nylon 6, were detected in the GIT of these fishes. The study unveiled a significant correlation (r2 = 0.223, p = 0.013) between MP incidence and the total length of fish. The polymer hazard index of the selected fishes showed the risk category IV (Danger), which is alarming. A risk category IV indicates that exposure to polymer, directly or indirectly through the food chain, may result in severe health consequences for humans as well as wildlife. With these detailed insights into MPs in most consumable fishes, the study highlights the comprehensive risks posed by MPs that could be useful for strategies to mitigate this environmental challenge.

• Klíčová slova
• Aquatic ecosystem, Brackish water fishes, Meghna estuary, Microplastic pollution,
• MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu * metabolismus   analýza   MeSH
• estuár MeSH
• mikroplasty * analýza   metabolismus   MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí * MeSH
• řeky chemie   MeSH
• ryby * metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Bangladéš MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu * MeSH
• mikroplasty * MeSH

Arsenic (As),iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn) pollution in the coastal areas of Bangladesh are severe problems.Irrigation by shallow wells in the agricultural lands is the primary source of these metals. Being a part of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna (GBM) Delta, the coastal accreted land of the Meghna River estuary has experienced a series of erosion and accretion phenomena and deposited a vast amount of sediments along with potentially toxic elements. This study investigated the spatial distribution, source, fate, and potential environmental and human health risks of As, Fe, and Mn from 25 sites across the coastal accreted land in the lower Meghna River estuary, Bay of Bengal. The mean concentration of As, Fe, and Mn in the surface soil samples ranged from 0.1-5.16, 12,000-23,810, and 50.6-1025.12 mg/kg, respectively, where high concentrations of metals were found in the southern belt of the estuary. A high As concentration (> 2 mg/kg) was observed at stations 3-4, 15, and 17. Igeo values of As, Fe, and Mn were estimated as -1.05, -0.50, and -0.55, respectively. The Igeo values analyzed in the sediments were below zero for all the metals, suggesting no contamination from these metals. The pollution load index (PLI) for As, Fe, and Mn was lower than the contamination level, indicating that contamination levels remain below harmful thresholds but require regular monitoring. Potential ecological risk index (PERI) values (1.32-10.75) showed low ecological risks in the studied area. Moreover, "no risk" to "low level" of carcinogenic risk was identified. According to the threshold values, except in the southern belt (stations 3-4, 15, and 17), most of the accreted agricultural land can be considered adequately safe for food production. This study suggests that plant analyses be incorporated into future research; however, it would be more impactful to emphasize bioavailability studies and their relevance to agricultural safety.

• Klíčová slova
• Meghna River estuary, coastal agriculture, metal pollution, potentially toxic elements, soil quality,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH