Abstract
Rivers worldwide are now acting as major transport pathways for plastic pollution and discharge large quantities of waste into the ocean. Previous oceanographic modelling and current drifter data have been used to predict the movement and accumulation of plastic pollution in the marine environment, but our understanding of the transport and fate through riparian systems is still largely unknown. Here we undertook a proof of concept study by applying open source tracking technology (both GPS (Global Positing System) cellular networks and satellite technology), which have been successfully used in many animal movement studies, to track the movements of individual plastic litter items (500 ml PET (polyethylene terephthalate) drinks bottles) through the Ganges River system (known as the Ganga in India and the Padma and Meghna in Bangladesh, hereafter known as the Ganges) and the Bay of Bengal. Deployed tags were successfully tracked through the Ganges river system and into the Bay of Bengal marine system. The "bottle tags" were designed and built (e.g. shape, size, buoyancy) to replicate true movement patterns of a plastic bottle. The maximum distance tracked to date is 2845 km over a period of 94 days. We discuss lessons learnt from the development of these plastic litter tags, and outline how the potential widespread use of this open source technology has the ability to significantly increase understanding of the location of accumulation areas and the timing of large inputs of plastic pollution into the aquatic system. Furthermore, "bottle tags" may act as a powerful tool for stimulating social behaviour change, informing science-based policy, and as valuable educational outreach tools for public awareness.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Bangladesh
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Geography
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Oceans and Seas
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Plastics / analysis*
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Rivers / chemistry
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Technology*
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Water Pollution / analysis*
Grants and funding
This study was conducted as part of the Sea to Source: Ganges Expedition run and funded by the National Geographic Society which played a role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, and preparation of the manuscript as well supporting EMD, AD, GWC, JJ, IN, AB, SEN, HK, TM. Arribada contracted Icoteq Ltd as consultants to cover authors CR contribution. CR did contribute to the design and building of the tracking equipment and preparation of methods section in the manuscript but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish. INDICIT II (11.0661/2018/794561/SUB/ENV.C2), European Commission provided support in the form of salaries for authors EMD & SEN, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Shuttleworth Foundation provided support in the form of salaries for authors AD but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Department of Fisheries (DoF) and Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), Chandpur, Bangladesh provided support in the form of salaries for authors GWC, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The University of Exeter Multidisciplinary Plastics Research Hub (ExeMPLaR) 685 [EPSRC EP/S025529/1] provided support in the form of salaries for authors SEN and BJG, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section.