Microplastics in potable water of a coastal city of Bangladesh: Efficacy of boiling as a point-of-use mitigation strategy

Microplastic (MP) contamination of potable water is an emerging concern, particularly in developing countries where treatment infrastructure is limited and plastic pollution is widespread. This study quantified MPs levels in Khulna City's major domestic water sources and assessed the effectiveness of boiling as a point-of-use mitigation strategy. Forty-five samples were collected from three distinct domestic water supply sources in Khulna city: i) supplied tap water, ii) ponds, and iii) submersible groundwater, and analyzed using microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Total water hardness was measured to examine its association with MP reduction in nine composite samples. MPs were detected in all samples, with pond water exhibiting the highest concentration (71.2 ± 10.6 particles/L), followed by supplied tap water (45.5…