Microplastics (MPs) are significant environmental pollutants that have rapidly garnered public attention due to their widespread presence and harmful effects on ecosystems and human health. While MP pollution in the coastal regions has been widely reported, their potential impacts on public health are still not fully understood. The current study examined MP contamination in nine commercially important fish and shellfish species collected from the coastal waters of Bangladesh, specifically from the Bay of Bengal. MP abundances (fiber, fragment, and microbeads) were evaluated in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and gills of fish and in the whole body of shellfish. Fibers were the most prevalent MP types found across the samples. In the case of gills, the highest abundance of MPs was found in Bombay duck, while the lowest was in pomfret. For GIT samples, hilsa showed the highest MP concentration, whereas the lowest was observed in bombay duck. Moreover, the highest level was observed in crabs, while the lowest was in squid ( p < 0.05), likely because crabs are benthic feeders exposed to sediment‐bound MPs, whereas squids are pelagic predators with lower exposure and more selective diets. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared research revealed that the major polymer types were polymethyl methacrylate (43.33%), ethylene vinyl acetate (23.33%), nitrile butadiene rubber (1.67%), polypropylene (5%), polycarbonate (3.33%), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (6.67%), nylon (5%), high‐density polyethylene (1.67%), polyvinyl chloride (6.67%), and polyurethane (3.33%). MP contamination in fish and shellfish was assessed using contamination factor and pollution load index values, both below 10, indicating low to moderate pollution levels. The polymer hazard index further categorized the identified polymer types into risk levels ranging from low to very high, highlighting potential ecological and health concerns. These results underscore the urgent need for effective environmental management and continuous monitoring to mitigate MP‐related risks.

The impacts of air pollution on human health have become a major concern, especially with rising greenhouse gas emissions and urban development. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms using the STITCH 4.0 and STRING 9.0 databases to analyze the interaction networks (PCI and PPI) associated with two air pollutants: carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide. The functional and pathway analysis related to these pollutants were performed by OmicsBox v.3.0. Additionally, critical proteins and their essential pathways were also identified by the Cytoscape networking tool v.3.10.3. AutoDock vina was employed to hypothetically determine the direct interactions of CO and H₂S with the proteins that were found by STITCH. This study revealed that CO and H₂S interacted with the different biological processes related to human health, including erythropoiesis, oxidative stress, energy production, amino acids metabolism, and multiple signaling pathways associated with respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological functions. Six essential proteins were identified based on their degree of centrality, namely, FECH, HMOX1, ALB, CTH, CBS, and CBSL, which regulate various Reactome and KEGG pathways. Molecular docking analysis revealed that CO exhibited a strong interaction with ADI1, demonstrating a binding affinity of −1.9 kcal/mL. Alternately, the binding energy associated with the H₂S interaction was notably weak (below −0.9 kcal/mL). This present research highlights the necessity for ongoing investigation into the molecular effects of air pollution to guide public health policies and interventions.

Microplastics (MPs) have been widely detected in environmental media and food products; however, their occurrence in seeds and nuts remains poorly understood. This study investigated MPs in eight commonly consumed seeds and nuts collected from markets in Karwan Bazar, Mirpur, and Uttara, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Among seeds, sunflower contained the highest MP abundance (92 ± 9 particles/10 g), whereas chia had the lowest (75 ± 13 particles/10 g). Among nuts, pistachios showed the highest abundance (89 ± 11 particles/10 g) and almonds the lowest (60 ± 5 particles/10 g). Fibers were the dominant morphotype, with transparent fibers larger than 500 µm prevailing. FTIR spectroscopy identified nine polymer types, predominantly high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE). Estimated annual human intake ranged from 65,700 to 98,550 MPs through seed and nut consumption. The Polymer Hazard Index classified detected polymers into five risk categories, while Pollution Load Index values below 10 indicated minimal contamination. SEM-EDX revealed rough, irregular MP surfaces containing trace elements, including Si, K, Fe, Hg, C, and O. These findings highlight the need for improved environmental management and stronger food safety regulations in Bangladesh.