Microplastic pollution has severe ecological and environmental concerns because of its enormous production and discharge in natural ecosystems worldwide. Microplastics interact with heavy metals and ...metalloids like arsenic, chromium, copper, cadmium, and lead in soil and can cause detrimental effects on soil structure and microbial activities and subsequently impact the plants and human health. This article focuses on microplastic translocation from soil to plants together with heavy metals. Microplastic exposure impacts biomass, photosynthetic activity, chlorophyll content, root and shoot length in the plants through apoplastic and symplastic pathways. Microplastics can also indirectly affect the plant growth by changing soil nutrient content and microbial community structure. At the same time, microplastics can absorb heavy metals and increase phytotoxicity in plants. However, the current knowledge about the coupled effect of heavy metals and microplastics bioaccumulation in plants is limited. It is postulated that heavy metals and microplastics collectively impact the chlorophyll content, photosynthetic activity, and induction of reactive oxygen species in plants. This work also outlines the environmental health perspectives based on microplastic and heavy metals toxicity and provides a guideline for future research on the coupled effects of heavy metals and microplastics on plants and humans.
Fluoride is widely found in soil–water systems due to anthropogenic and geogenic activities that affect millions worldwide. Fluoride ingestion results in chronic and acute toxicity, including ...skeletal and dental fluorosis, neurological damage, and bone softening in humans. Therefore, this review paper summarizes biological processes for fluoride remediation, i.e., bioaccumulation in plants and microbially assisted systems. Bioremediation approaches for fluoride removal have recently gained prominence in removing fluoride ions. Plants are vulnerable to fluoride accumulation in soil, and their growth and development can be negatively affected, even with low fluoride content in the soil. The microbial bioremediation processes involve bioaccumulation, biotransformation, and biosorption. Bacterial, fungal, and algal biomass are ecologically efficient bioremediators. Most bioremediation techniques are laboratory-scale based on contaminated solutions; however, treatment of fluoride-contaminated wastewater at an industrial scale is yet to be investigated. Therefore, this review recommends the practical applicability and sustainability of microbial bioremediation of fluoride in different environments.
Bangladesh, situated in Bengal delta, is one of the worst affected countries by arsenic contamination in groundwater. Most of the people in the country are dependent on groundwater for domestic and ...irrigation purposes. Currently, 61 districts out of 64 districts of Bangladesh are affected by arsenic contamination. Drinking arsenic contaminated groundwater is the main pathway of arsenic exposure in the population. Additionally, the use of arsenic-contaminated groundwater for irrigation purpose in crop fields in Bangladesh has elevated arsenic concentration in surface soil and in the plants. In many arsenic-affected countries, including Bangladesh, rice is reported to be one of the significant sources of arsenic contamination. This review discussed scenario of groundwater arsenic contamination and transmission of arsenic through food chain in Bangladesh. The study further highlighted the human health perspectives of arsenic exposure in Bangladesh with possible mitigation and remediation options employed in the country.
Microplastics are emerging pollutants that are ubiquitously present in environment. Occurrence and dispersion of microplastics in the soil can pose a considerable risk to soil health and ...biodiversity, including the plants grown in the soil. Uptake and bioaccumulation of microplastics can have detrimental effects on different plant species. Additionally, the co-presence of microplastics and arsenic can cause synergistic, antagonistic, or potentiating toxic impacts on plants. However, limited studies are available on the combined effects of microplastics and arsenic on plants. This paper elucidates both the individual and synergistic effects of microplastics and arsenic on plants. At the outset, the paper highlighted the presence and degradation of microplastics in soil. Subsequently, the interactions between microplastics and plants, accumulation, and influences of microplastics on plant growth and metabolism were explained with underlying mechanisms. Combined effects of microplastics and arsenic on plant growth, metabolism, and toxicity were discussed thereafter. Combined toxic effects of microplastics and arsenic on plants can have detrimental implications on environment, ecosystems and biodiversity. Further investigations on food chain and human health are needed in the context of microplastic-arsenic interactions.
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•Co-presence of microplastic-arsenic can cause synergistic/antagonistic/potentiating toxic impacts.•Lewis acid-base type interactions can be observed between microplastics and arsenic.•Combined effects of microplastics and arsenic can influence plant growth and metabolism.•Bioaccumulation of arsenic can be increased with arsenic-microplastic adsorption.•Arsenic-microplastic interactions can have serious impacts on human health.
•This perspective discusses increasing concern of microplastic in Sundarbans delta of Bay of Bengal.•Meghna, Brahmaputra, and Ganges rivers transport the micro/plastic to Sundarban.•Fishing, tourism, ...and wastewater are the possible sources of microplastic in Sundarban.•A collective monitoring mechanism for microplastics can be developed by India and Bangladesh.•This article acclaims for monitoring, management, and risk assessment in Sundarban.
Microplastics have been reported in sediments, surface water, and aquatic organisms, including seafood, and thus transferred to food chains. This paper summarizes the emerging concern of microplastic pollution and highlights mitigation policies and action plans in the Sundarban Delta regions in Bay of Bengal. Sundarban is the largest mangrove forest with vibrant and rich biodiversity, facing severe threats because of human activities and climate change. Anthropogenic plastic litter has been found in the Bay of Bengal and thus also in Sundarban, which can cause substantial threats to mangrove forests. More than 56 tons of plastic wastes were found in the Sundarban immediately after the cyclone ‘Amphan’ in 2020 due to unregulated relief packaged materials using plastics. Interestingly, microplastics have also been found in the Bay of Bengal and Sundarban, ultimately transported from various rivers and waved off to the Sundarban mangrove. It has been observed that 4 million tonnes of microplastics have been discharged annually from various rivers of India and Bangladesh to Sundarban and the Bay of Bengal. Trophic transfer of microplastics and their bioaccumulation can result in significant ecological damage to the Sundarban delta. Although the governments of India and Bangladesh have been taking different policy measures for protecting the mangrove forest areas, more policy interventions are required to tackle emerging contaminants like microplastics. Other issues may also arise from huge load of microplastics, such as degradation of natural resources, unsustainable livelihoods, and poverty. In this regard, joint initiatives of both countries are required to consider pollution risk assessments, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development.
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