Assessment of water, hygiene, and sanitation practice and associated factors among Bihari refugee camp in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study.

Background and Aims: The global significance of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) cannot be overstated, extending far beyond the confines of developing nations and encompassing even the most developed ones. This study, rooted in the Bihari refugee camp in Bangladesh, seeks to underscore the universality of WASH concerns. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design and a structured questionnaire, we conducted a meticulous evaluation of WASH practices with 313 participants selected through random sampling. Results: Findings shows the water practice, among all of them, only 4.8% of the respondents were very happy with the water supply system and 16.0% of the respondents were happy with this. A total of 29.7% of the respondents were satisfied with safe drinking water and only 4.8% of the respondents were very satisfied with safe drinking water. Regarding the hygiene practice, among all respondents, 10.2% of them were satisfied with using the same bathroom by multiple people. Only 5.4% respondents were happy in their living environment. Regarding sanitation practice, only 31.3% had private toilet facilities. Among all of the respondents, 13.7% of the respondents were satisfied with using the same toilet by multiple people. Respondents who were illiterate (p < 0.01) and self-employed (p < 0.04) were satisfied with the water supply. Similarly, respondents who were illiterate (p < 0.03) and self-employed (p < 0.00) were satisfied with safe drinking water. Respondents who were illiterate (p < 0.02) and whose monthly income was below 8000 BDT (p < 0.00) were satisfied using same bathroom by multiple people. Respondents who were self-employed (p < 0.01), whose monthly income 8000-12,000 BDT (p < 0.01) and having single room (p < 0.00) were satisfied using the same toilet by multiple people. Conclusion: Enhanced access to safe WASH facilities, coupled with a comprehensive understanding of the study's findings, have the potential to serve as vital signposts for the development and implementation of policies and interventions.

Bioavailability and health risk of pollutants around a controlled landfill in Morocco: Synergistic effects of landfilling and intensive agriculture.

Toxic contamination of agricultural soils by trace metal(oid)s can pose detrimental effects on human health and agroecological systems. In this view, the current research explored total and available metal(oid)s in surface soils and assessed the associated hazards using pollution indices, PMF modeling, PCA, and Montecarlo probabilistic human risk assessment with 10,000 repetitions. The mean concentrations of Cd, Pb, As, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Fe were 0.89, 24.86, 1.81, 19.10, 25.44, 7.98, 49.12 and 6183.32 mg kg-1 dry weight, respectively. These findings highlighted that the concentration of pollutants exceeded the values measured in the geochemical background. Soil enrichment by heavy metal (oid)s was confirmed by analyzing available fractions using DTPA ,CaCl2 and enrichment factor (EF). Additionally, pollution indicators (Igeo, PLI, and PERI) displayed significant contamination levels, with a higher ecological risk. Matrix Factorization (PMF) receptor and multivariate statistical analysis reflected that anthropogenic activities, particularly landfilling and agricultural practices were the main causes of the contamination. Furthermore, probabilistic and deterministic human risk assessments showed that carcinogenic risks exceeded the threshold values (10-4) set by the USEPA. Consequently, it is crucial to implement continuous monitoring and supervision of landfill sites to prevent additional pollution. These measures should be integrated into the management plans for waste management.

GIS-based landslide susceptibility mapping using logistic regression, random forest and decision and regression tree models in Chattogram District, Bangladesh.

The frequency of landslides and related economic and environmental damage has increased in recent decades across the hilly areas of the world, no exception is Bangladesh. Considering the first step in landslide disaster management, different methods have been applied but no methods found as best one. As a result, landslide assessment using different methods in different geographical regions has significant importance. The research aims to prepare and evaluate landslide susceptibility maps (LSMs) of the Chattogram district using three machine learning algorithms of Logistic Regression (LR), Random forest (RF) and Decision and Regression Tree (DRT). Sixteen landslide conditioning factors were determined considering topographic, hydro-climatic, geologic and anthropogenic influence. The landslide inventory database (255 locations) was randomly divided into training (80 %) and testing (20 %) sets. The LSMs showed that almost 9-12 % of areas of the Chattogram district are highly susceptible to landslides. The highly susceptible zones cover the Chattogram district's hill ranges where active morphological processes (erosion and denudation) are dominant. The ROC values for training data were 0.943, 0.917 and 0.947 and testing data were 0.963, 0.934 and 0.905 for LR, RF and DRT models, respectively. The accuracy is higher than the previous research in comparison to the extent of the study area and the size of the inventory. Among the models, LR showed the highest prediction rate and DRT showed the highest success rate. According to susceptibility zones, DRT is the more realistic model followed by LR. The maps can be applied at the local scale for landslide hazard management.

A review of microplastic threat mitigation in Asian lentic environments.

Microplastic (MP) pollution has evolved into a significant worldwide environmental concern due to its widespread sources, enduring presence, and adverse effects on lentic ecosystems and human well-being. The growing awareness of the hidden threat posed by MPs in lentic ecosystems has emphasized the need for more in-depth research. Unlike marine environments, there remain unanswered questions about MP hotspots, ecotoxic effects, transport mechanisms, and fragmentation in lentic ecosystems. The introduction of MPs represents a novel threat to long-term environmental health, posing unresolved challenges for sustainable management. While MP pollution in lentic ecosystems has garnered global attention due to its ecotoxicity, our understanding of MP hotspots in lakes from an Asian perspective remains limited. Hence, the aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive analysis of MP hotspots, morphological attributes, ecotoxic impacts, sustainable solutions, and future challenges across Asia. The review summarizes the methods employed in previous studies and the techniques for sampling and analyzing microplastics in lake water and sediment. Notably, most studies concerning lake microplastics tend to follow the order of China > India > Pakistan > Nepal > Turkey > Bangladesh. Additionally, this review critically addresses the analysis of microplastics in lake water and sediment, shedding light on the prevalent net-based sampling methods. Ultimately, this study emphasizes the existing research gaps and suggests new research directions, taking into account recent advancements in the study of microplastics in lentic environments. In conclusion, the review advocates for sustainable interventions to mitigate MP pollution in the future, highlighting the presence of MPs in Asian lakes, water, and sediment, and their potential ecotoxicological repercussions on both the environment and human health.

Quantification of rainfall, temperature, and reference evapotranspiration trend and their interrelationship in sub-climatic zones of Bangladesh.

Rainfall, temperature, and reference evapotranspiration (ET0) have a significant influence on irrigation, aridity, flooding, and crop water requirements. The primary aims of this study were to analyze the trends in rainfall, temperature, and ET0 in seven sub-climatic zones of Bangladesh from 1989 to 2020, as well as examine their interrelationships. The Modified Mann-Kendall method was employed to assess trends, while linear regression was used for trend validation. ET0 was calculated using the FAO-56 Penman-Monteith method, and Sen's slope was utilized to quantify the magnitude. Spatial analysis was conducted using Inverse Distance Weighting techniques. The findings revealed that annual rainfall increased only in the south-eastern zone, while the other zones experienced a decline. No significant changes were observed in annual maximum temperature, except in the south-eastern, north-eastern, and south-central zones, which showed variations ranging from 0.02 to 0.05 (°C/year). However, the yearly minimum temperature increased in all zones. Additionally, negative changes were observed in the annual magnitude of ET0 for all zones and seasons, except for the south-eastern and north-eastern zones, with a range of 0.01-0.02 mm/year. It was also noted that rainfall and ET0 displayed a strong decreasing relationship, except during the pre-monsoon season. Regarding regional variation, the northern regions exhibited a significant decreasing trend in both rainfall and ET0. The study identified key challenges, including water scarcity and irrigation difficulties due to declining rainfall and evapotranspiration, increased aridity, changing flood patterns, temperature-related impacts on crop growth, regional disparities in climate trends, and the need for effective climate change adaptation measures. Therefore, the study's findings can contribute to knowledge in areas such as irrigation scheduling, promoting climate-smart agricultural practices, encouraging crop diversification to reduce dependence on water-intensive crops cultivation, and planning resilient water resource management to minimize the effects of environmental shifts, regulate human operations, and implement disaster remedial actions in Bangladesh.

Microplastic as an invisible threat to the coral reefs: Sources, toxicity mechanisms, policy intervention, and the way forward.

Microplastic (MP) pollution waste is a global macro problem, and research on MP contamination has been done in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. Preventing MP pollution from hurting them is essential to maintaining coral reefs' ecological and economic benefits. However, the public and scientific communities must pay more attention to MP research on the coral reef regions' distribution, effects, mechanisms, and policy evaluations. Therefore, this review summarizes the global MP distribution and source within the coral reefs. Current knowledge extends the impacts of MP on coral reefs, existing policy, and further recommendations to mitigate MPs contamination on corals are critically analyzed. Furthermore, mechanisms of MP on coral and human health are also highlighted to pinpoint research gaps and potential future studies. Given the escalating plastic usage and the prevalence of coral bleaching globally, there is a pressing need to prioritize research efforts on marine MPs that concentrate on critical coral reef areas. Such investigations should encompass an extensive and crucial understanding of the distribution, destiny, and effects of the MPs on human and coral health and the potential hazards of those MPs from an ecological viewpoint.

Personal protective equipment-derived pollution during Covid-19 era: A critical review of ecotoxicology impacts, intervention strategies, and future challenges.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people used personal protective equipment (PPE) to lessen the spread of the virus. The release of microplastics (MPs) from discarded PPE is a new threat to the long-term health of the environment and poses challenges that are not yet clear. PPE-derived MPs have been found in multi-environmental compartments, e.g., water, sediments, air, and soil across the Bay of Bengal (BoB). As COVID-19 spreads, healthcare facilities use more plastic PPE, polluting aquatic ecosystems. Excessive PPE use releases MPs into the ecosystem, which aquatic organisms ingest, distressing the food chain and possibly causing ongoing health problems in humans. Thus, post-COVID-19 sustainability depends on proper intervention strategies for PPE waste, which have received scholarly interest. Although many studies have investigated PPE-induced MPs pollution in the BoB countries (e.g., India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar), the ecotoxicity impacts, intervention strategies, and future challenges of PPE-derived waste have largely gone unnoticed. Our study presents a critical literature review covering the ecotoxicity impacts, intervention strategies, and future challenges across the BoB countries (e.g., India (162,034.45 tons), Bangladesh (67,996 tons), Sri Lanka (35,707.95 tons), and Myanmar (22,593.5 tons). The ecotoxicity impacts of PPE-derived MPs on human health and other environmental compartments are critically addressed. The review's findings infer a gap in the 5R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Redesign, and Restructure) Strategy's implementation in the BoB coastal regions, hindering the achievement of UN SDG-12. Despite widespread research advancements in the BoB, many questions about PPE-derived MPs pollution from the perspective of the COVID-19 era still need to be answered. In response to the post-COVID-19 environmental remediation concerns, this study highlights the present research gaps and suggests new research directions considering the current MPs' research advancements on COVID-related PPE waste. Finally, the review suggests a framework for proper intervention strategies for reducing and monitoring PPE-derived MPs pollution in the BoB countries.

Spatiotemporal evaluation of drought trend during 1979-2019 in seven climatic zones of Bangladesh.

Evaluation of drought is essential and useful to eradicate climate change impact. Therefore, this study aims to explore the spatiotemporal drought intensity trend in seven climatic zones of Bangladesh during 1979-2019. Mann-Kendall trend test and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) are employed to identify drought trend and status, whereas spatial visualization is checked through Inverse Distance Weighting Interpolation. The study's findings emphasize the decreasing rate of SPEI in all climatic zones except the south-eastern zone, which is > 0.0065, >0.007, >0.0128, and >-0.0001 for SPEI 09 12, 24, and 06, respectively. Furthermore, the northern region has the highest value in SPEI in some periods with the highest decrease rate in SPEI 06, SPEI 09, SPEI 12 demonstrates greater drought responsibilities. The Barisal (.>-3.75), Rangpur (>-3.65), Dinajpur ((>-3.00), Rajshahi (>-4.35), Bogra (>-4.50), Ishurdi (>-3.45), Faridpur (>-4.30) and Madaripur (>-2.10) found under extreme drought-prone climatic zone. Thus, the study recommends taking initiatives and management for water resources to adopt mitigation planning for drought-prone climatic zones.

Consumer fish consumption preferences and contributing factors: empirical evidence from Rangpur city corporation, Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Fish is the important source of animal protein and regarded as the second food after rice in Bangladesh. Fish consumption is influenced by consumer socioeconomic characteristics. OBJECTIVE: The specific objectives of the current study are (i) to find information on consumers' fish consumption levels; (ii) to assess the relationships between consumer's preferences and their socioeconomic characteristics; and (iii) to investigate the factors affecting consumer fish consumption. METHOD: We surveyed a total of 128 randomly selected respondents from the Rangpur city corporation (RPCC), Bangladesh in 2019 using a semi-structural questionnaire. MAIN FINDINGS: The average consumption level of fish per quarterly was 1.45 kg/person. Rui (Labeo rohita), Pangas (Pangasius), Hilsha (Tenualosa ilesha) and Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) were the most frequently consumed fish species. Significant differences in consumption level were observed among the age categories, profession, gender, education, and income levels (p < 0.05). Most participants consumed fish more than once a week throughout the year and there was no seasonal impact on fish consumption. Fish consumption level was significantly and positively associated with education and income levels and negatively associated with age categories (p < 0.01). The stepwise multiple regression method elucidated 53.7% of the variance (p < 0.05) for fish consumption. CONCLUSION: Fish consumption in the RPCC is lower than the average consumption level in Bangladesh particularly for lower income people. Lack of proper knowledge on fish consumption value and high price appeared as the important barrier to increase the fish consumption.

Resonator-Inspired Metamaterial Sensor: Design and Experimental Validation for Measuring Thickness of Multi-Layered Structures.

A digit 8-shaped resonator inspired metamaterial is proposed herein for sensor applications. The resonator is surrounded by a ground frame and excited by a microstrip feedline. The measurement of the sensor can be performed using common laboratory facilities in lieu of using the waveguide, as the resonator, ground frame, and feedline are all on the same microstrip. To achieve metamaterial properties, more than one unit cell is usually utilized, whereas, in this work, a single cell was used to achieve the metamaterial characteristics. The properties of the metamaterial were investigated to find the relationship between the simulation and measurements. The proposed metamaterial sensor shows considerable sensitivity in sensor application. For the sensor application, FR4 and Rogers RO4350 materials were used as the over-layer. The sensor can measure dielectric thickness with a sensitivity of 625 MHz/mm, 468 MHz/mm, and 354 MHz/mm for the single over-layer, double over-layers, and multiple over-layers, respectively. The proposed prototype can be utilized in several applications where metamaterial characteristics are required.