Identification of the Existence of Micro Plastic in Turag River

Abstract

In recent times microplastic pollution in freshwater has turned into a devastating form. In the present study, we investigated the existence of microplastic from the Turag River in 2021. The study has been used three sediments samples and three surface water samples. The study has been used one of the most visited and populated spots of the Turag river area that is the boro Bazar ghat area. The first sample was been taken directly from the boro Bazar ghat area and the other two samples were taken from 500 meters north of boro Bazar ghat and 500 meters south of boro Bazar ghat. After collecting the sample, the sample was examined in our lab where we have used KOH for making digestion of organic matters and after that, the microplastic was identified with the help of a microscope and bare eyes, the size of the particle was not identified in this study but we have successfully identified 2 types of microplastics. One is the particle of microplastic another is a filament of microplastics. The microplastic we have identified in this study has shown the characteristics and color with which we could identify the microplastic sample. Then the study made a comparison between the results found in the Turag River with the result from other rivers throughout the world. The study has compared both results and concluded that the microplastic which we have identified was quite similar with other microplastic with has been identified worldwide other rivers.