Ekta Sharma
Biography
Ekta Sharma
Ganga Aqualife Conservation Monitoring Centre, Wildlife Institute of India (GACMC, WII) -Chandrabani, Dehradun – 248001, Uttarakhand, India
Research Interest
Forest Research Institute Deemed to be University (FRIDU) – Kaulagarh Road, Dehradun-248195, Uttarakhand, India, India
Abstract
Assessing Plastic Pollution Flux in the Ganga River: Critical Challenges and Impacts on Freshwater Ecosystems
Abstract The Ganga River, a vital freshwater ecosystem, is increasingly imperiled by plastic pollution stemming from widespread usage and inadequate waste management practices. While substantial research has focused on marine plastic pollution, freshwater systems—particularly in the Global South—remain underexplored, creating significant knowledge gaps regarding the sources and pathways of plastic debris. This study seeks to bridge these gaps by investigating plastic pollution in shorelines and floodplain settlements adjacent to the Ganga River.
Employing a stratified random sampling methodology, this study quantified 37,730 plastic debris items across varied environmental settings. Floodplain settlements exhibited significantly higher plastic debris densities (6.95 items/m²) than river shorelines (0.25 items/m²), with packaging materials representing 54.67% of shoreline waste and 38.79% of floodplain waste. Statistical analyses revealed no significant influence of population density on plastic waste accumulation (v=36, p=0.4316).
These findings highlight the urgent necessity for tailored waste management interventions, particularly in rural and urban riparian regions. Alongside legislation aimed at reducing single-use plastics, stronger enforcement, recycling initiatives, sustainable packaging, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) are critical. Improved data collection will support more effective policy frameworks to protect the Ganga River ecosystem, mitigate plastic waste leakage into the ocean, and promote sustainable environmental health.
Keywords: Riverine, Plastic waste, Waste management, Plastic distribution, Riparian Communities
