Ms. Yogeeta Dahal is a faculty member in the Department of Environment and Climate Studies in College of Natural Resources (CNR). She holds MSc in Natural Resource Management by Research from CNR and BSc in Environmental Science from Asian University for Women in Bangladesh. Her research interest is in the areas of environmental pollution (waste management, freshwater quality analysis, air pollution), and Climate Change.
Microplastics Contaminations in Fish and Aquatic Food Chain in Bhutan
Microplastics pollution in natural waters is a growing concern throughout the world. Rivers transport around 8 million pieces of plastics to oceans every day. South Asia ranks 2nd globally in plastic pollution and three mighty rivers (Ganges, Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy) transport most of them to the Bay of Bengal. Considering the huge volume of discharges confluence at the Brahmaputra River, the proposed research is aimed at investigating microplastics contaminations in fish in Bhutanβs major rivers (which ultimately contributes to the Brahmaputra River). Samples of fish, river sediment, river water will be studied for presence of microplastic. The results will showcase the presence, type, size and colour identification of the microplastic found in different samples and an analysis on the implications of these findings to exposure risks to local community.