Characterizing micro-litter pollution in Bakkhali and Fraserganj Beaches of West Bengal, India

The present study assessed the micro-litter load in Bakkhali and Fraserganj Beaches, two tourist destinations on the West Bengal coast in the northern Bay of Bengal periphery. This study aimed to develop first-hand baseline information about the micro-litter load in the beach sediments, considering the essentiality of monitoring these pollutants and understanding their dynamics in tourist destinations. This study analyzed thirty sediment cores collected from these two beaches (fifteen from each). The micro-litter load was significantly higher at Bakkhali sea beach (9.87 ± 3.51 particles per 10 g of dry sediment) than at Fraserganj sea beach (7.29 ± 3.26 particles/10 g). The micro-litter load remains homogeneously distributed across the length and breadth of these two beaches. Depth profiles recorded significantly lower micro-litter load in the 30 cm–45 cm depth range than the 15 cm–30 cm and 0 cm–15 cm depth ranges. The micro-litter shapes followed the hierarchy: fibers > pellets > fragments > films. The majority of the micro-litters belonged to the size class 2000μm–5000μm (4.87 ± 2.30 and 3.53 ± 1.70 particles/10 g, in Bakkhali and Fraserganj, respectively). The white/transparent micro-litters were most dominant (34.6%), followed by blue-colored micro-litters (21.6%). The micro-litter load was significantly higher than that observed in most other sea beaches of India. Breakdown of beach macro-litters mainly disposed of through tourism activities and abrasion of fishing gears were the potent sources of micro-litters in these beaches. The observations indicate that the beach infaunas, like crabs, bivalves, and gastropods, could be at severe risk if adequate intervention is not undertaken to abate this pollution. •Micro-litter load was assessed on two tourist beaches adjoining the Bay of Bengal.•Micro-litter load was more on the Bakkhali Beach than the Frasergunj Beach.•0 cm–30 cm sediment depths recorded higher microliter load than deeper layers.•White/transparent colored micro-fibers between 2000 and 5000 μm were most dominant.•Beach littering through tourism activities was responsible for micro-litter pollution.