Microplastics detected in Bangladeshi freshwater fish and pond sediment

Researchers have identified microplastic pollution in commercial freshwater fish farming ponds in Bangladesh. A study conducted in the Trishal Upazila of Mymensingh examined 25 fish farms, finding microplastics in the sediment of every pond tested.

The research, led by Professor Dr. Md. Badiuzzaman Khan of Bangladesh Agricultural University, analyzed 150 fish samples across six species: Rui, Katla, Pangas, Mrigal, Common Carp, and Sarputi. Microplastics were detected in the digestive tracts of 90 fish, with an average of 0.60 particles per fish. The Sarputi species showed the highest concentration, averaging 1.20 particles per fish, while Pangas (40%) and Rui (36%) also showed significant rates of contamination.

Published in the international journal ‘Environmental Pollution’, the study highlights the transfer of microplastics from sediment to fish, posing potential risks to the aquatic ecosystem and public health. The findings raise questions regarding how these particles enter controlled aquaculture environments.