73,000 tons of plastic flow into rivers of Bangladesh every year

Plastic pollution in Bangladesh’s rivers is increasing every day. A recent study by Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) found that nearly 73,000 tons of plastic waste are entering the country every year through river routes. This is causing a large buildup of microplastics in river water and sediment.

The study revealed that over 2.5 million floating microplastic particles were found in each square kilometer of water in the country’s internal rivers. In riverbed sediment, about 450 microplastic particles were found per kilogram. Most of this plastic waste is entering Bangladesh through the Brahmaputra and Jamuna rivers and eventually ends up in the Bay of Bengal. As a result, the amount of microplastics in rivers is rapidly increasing.

The research was led by Dr Harunur Rashid, a professor from the Department of Fisheries Management at BAU, along with scientists from Bangladesh, India, and Bhutan. The project began three years ago with funding from the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research.

Dr Harunur Rashid said that the level of microplastic pollution in Bangladesh’s rivers is much higher than in rivers of Bhutan and India—in some cases, it has reached alarming levels. A large amount of plastic from other countries is ending up in Bangladeshi rivers. Much of it travels through the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Meghna, and Irrawaddy rivers to the Bay of Bengal, directly affecting rivers in Bangladesh.

For the research, scientists collected samples of water, sediment, and fish from Bhutan’s Harachu, Manas, and Torsa rivers; five parts of the Brahmaputra River in India (Tuting, Dibrugarh, Tezpur, Guwahati, and Dhubri); and five parts of the Brahmaputra and Jamuna rivers in Bangladesh (Kurigram, Sundarganj, Sariakandi, Sirajganj, and Humuria). They also collected air samples from areas near the rivers to check for microplastic particles.

The study also found that microplastics enter the bodies of aquatic animals, especially fish. When people eat these fish, the microplastics enter the human body, causing health issues. These may include inflammation in the intestines, weakened immunity, hormonal imbalance, digestive problems, fatigue, memory loss, and even kidney and liver damage.

To reduce the harmful effects of microplastics, Dr Harunur Rashid recommended using eco-friendly alternatives like jute and cotton bags. He also stressed the importance of effective recycling of used plastics.