Ecological Risk and Security Research

Abstract Biomedical waste management is a major public health and environmental challenge in Bangladesh, driven by rapid expansion of healthcare services, population growth, and increased use of disposable medical products. Inadequate segregation, treatment, and disposal of biomedical waste have intensified risks to human health and environmental sustainability. This review critically examines the sources and classification of biomedical waste in Bangladesh, existing management practices, environmental and public health impacts, governance and regulatory challenges, and emerging sustainable approaches. Evidence indicates that biomedical waste originates from hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, pharmaceutical industries, vaccination programs, veterinary services, and informal healthcare practices, contributing to soil, water, and air pollution, microplastic generation, and increased transmission of infectious and vector-borne diseases. Healthcare workers, waste handlers, informal recyclers, and surrounding communities face heightened occupational and community-level health risks. Major challenges include inadequate infrastructure, shortage of trained manpower, weak regulatory enforcement, poor institutional coordination, illegal recycling practices, and limited financial and technical capacity. Recent initiatives, including multi-modal interventions, strategic environmental assessments, NGO-led programs, and adoption of eco-friendly technologies, demonstrate promising improvements but remain limited in scale. Strengthening policy enforcement, expanding sustainable treatment technologies, improving workforce capacity, integrating digital monitoring systems, and enhancing public awareness are essential to establish a safe, effective, and sustainable biomedical waste management system in Bangladesh.  

Abstract Enteric fever remains a significant public health concern in Bangladesh and other low- and middle-income countries, largely due to inadequate sanitation and limited access to safe drinking water. Although blood culture is considered the diagnostic gold standard, serological tests such as the Widal test continue to be widely used in resource-limited settings. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Immunology Laboratory of the Bangladesh Institute of Health Sciences (BIHS) and Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS), Dhaka, from October to December 2020, to determine the serological prevalence of enteric fever among clinically suspected acute febrile patients and to analyze antigen-specific reactivity patterns. A total of 35 blood samples were collected and analyzed using slide and tube Widal agglutination methods to detect antibodies against Salmonella Typhi  and Salmonella Paratyphi  antigens. Of the 35 samples, 16 (45.71%) showed positivity for at least one Widal antigen, while 19 (54.29%) were negative. Seropositivity was slightly higher among males (25.71%) than females (20%). The TH antigen ( Salmonella Typhi  H) demonstrated the highest positivity in both males (20%) and females (27%). Positivity for the BO antigen was observed in both genders, whereas TO antigen positivity was limited and detected only among females (7%). No reactivity was observed for AO or AH antigens in either group. The predominance of TH antigen positivity suggests previous exposure or immune sensitization to Salmonella Typhi  rather than acute infection in many cases. While the Widal test remains a useful screening tool in resource-poor settings, its results should be interpreted cautiously and correlated with clinical findings and local epidemiological data. Strengthening diagnostic capacity, surveillance systems, and vaccination strategies is essential to reduce the burden of enteric fever in Bangladesh.  

Abstract Microplastic pollution has emerged as a significant environmental and public health challenge globally, with Bangladesh being disproportionately affected due to rapid urbanization, industrial growth, high plastic consumption, and inadequate waste management. Microplastics, defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, originate from primary sources such as microbeads and from the degradation of larger plastic debris. This review critically examines the sources, ecological impacts, biochemical effects, and mitigation strategies related to microplastic pollution in Bangladesh. Major sources include mismanaged plastic waste, single-use plastics, textile and garment industry effluents, agricultural practices, industrial discharges, and pandemic-related personal protective equipment. Microplastics are pervasive in rivers, sediments, coastal zones, soils, and the food chain, leading to habitat degradation, reduced biodiversity, soil and crop productivity loss, and bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms and livestock. Biochemically, microplastics act as vectors for toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and persistent organic pollutants, causing oxidative stress, endocrine disruption, genotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and transgenerational effects in exposed organisms. Effective mitigation requires integrated strategies, including improved waste management, stricter policy enforcement, promotion of biodegradable alternatives, industrial compliance, public awareness campaigns, and targeted research. This review highlights the urgent need for coordinated efforts from government, industry, academia, and society to mitigate microplastic pollution, safeguard ecosystems, protect public health, and ensure sustainable development in Bangladesh.