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Assessment of Plastic Distribution and Nutrient Flux in Kandolla Shella Stream at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto State, Nigeria
Summary
This Nigerian study assessed plastic distribution and nutrient flux in the Kandolla Shella Stream at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, identifying polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET across four sampling stations. The study found that phosphorus accumulated preferentially in sediments while nitrates were higher in surface water, providing baseline data on the co-occurrence of plastic pollution and nutrient dynamics in a West African freshwater stream.
Plastic waste has emerged as a significant global pollutant in aquatic ecosystems, drawing increasing worldwide attention from the scientific community. However, its impact has received comparatively less attention in Nigeria. This study aimed to assess plastic distribution and nutrient flux in the Kandolla Shella Stream. The Kandolla Shella stream was divided into four sampling points for the study. Standard analysis methods were adopted to assess plastic distribution and nutrient flux. Plastic samples were classified by polymer type, revealing a total weight of 341.8 grams. Polyvinyl chloride (205 grams) was found at only location A due to a nearby construction site. Polyethylene (79.5 grams), Polypropylene (29.6 grams), and Polyethylene terephthalate (27.3 grams) were present across all locations. Water and sediment samples were also evaluated, in which surface water pH ranged from 6.91-6.95 while in sediment from 6.77-6.99. Electrical conductivity varied in surface water (420-434 μs/m) and sediment (31.1-105.9 μs/m). Nitrate-nitrogen concentration was higher in water (5.675 mg/l) than in sediments (1.5 cmol/kg), while phosphorus concentration showed the opposite trend (sediments: 0.535 cmol/kg; water: 0.094 mg/l). Other chemical parameters exhibited higher concentrations in water but lower concentrations in sediments, except for potassium (sediments: 21.5 cmol/kg; water: 11.25 mg/l). The study observed the accumulation of important nutrients, particularly phosphorus, in sediments, emphasising the role of mineralisation processes near or below the bedrock interface along stream bottoms. Finally, the article provides valuable insights into plastic pollution and nutrient dynamics in the Kandolla Shella Stream.