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. 2022 Dec 15;17(6):66. doi: 10.1007/s11783-023-1666-4

Current scenario and challenges of plastic pollution in Bangladesh: a focus on farmlands and terrestrial ecosystems

Md Raihanul Islam 1, Sumaiya Akter Ruponti 1, Md Abdur Rakib 2, Huy Quoc Nguyen 3, Monjur Mourshed 4,5,✉
PMCID: PMC9793393  PMID: 36589210

Abstract

Plastic is considered one of the most indispensable commodities in our daily life. At the end of life, the huge ever-growing pile of plastic waste (PW) causes serious concerns for our environment, including agricultural farmlands, groundwater quality, marine and land ecosystems, food toxicity and human health hazards. Lack of proper infrastructure, financial backup, and technological advancement turn this hazardous waste plastic management into a serious threat to developing countries, especially for Bangladesh. A comprehensive review of PW generation and its consequences on environment in both global and Bangladesh contexts is presented. The dispersion routes of PW from different sources in different forms (microplastic, macroplastic, nanoplastic) and its adverse effect on agriculture, marine life and terrestrial ecosystems are illustrated in this work. The key challenges to mitigate PW pollution and tackle down the climate change issue is discussed in this work. Moreover, way forward toward the design and implementation of proper PW management strategies are highlighted in this study.

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Keywords: Plastic waste, Farmlands, Terrestrial ecosystem, Marine life

Authors Contributions Conceptualization and methodology (M.R.I., S.A.R., M.A.K. and M.M.); data analysis and discussion (M.R.I., S.A.R., M.A.K. and M.M.); manuscript preparation (M.R.I., S.A.R., M.A.K. and M.M.); manuscript review and editing (M.R.I., S.A.R., M.A.K., H.Q.N. and M.M.).

Declaration of Competing Interests The authors have no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.

Footnotes

Highlights

• A global snapshot of plastic waste generation and disposal is analysed.

• Effect of plastic pollution on environment and terrestrial ecosystem is reviewed.

• Ecotoxicity and food security from plastic pollution is discussed.

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