Assessment of Microplastics Found in Two Fish Species of Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis niloticus From River Niger, Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria

Recent studies show that microplastics are prevalent in various products, leading to environmental deposition, especially in riverine areas. The River Niger, crucial for fishing, farming, and transportation, serves as a vital resource in Nigeria. Hence, the objective of this paper was to assess microplastics found in two fish species of Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis niloticus from River Niger Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria. Fish organs were analyzed after digestion with 10% KOH, followed by density flotation using NaCl and filtration. Microplastics were identified using Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and quantified with Openspecy. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, with significance evaluated by One-way ANOVA. Findings revealed 10 microplastic polymers: Polyethylene (PE), Polystyrene (PS), Polypropylene (PP), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Cellulose Acetate (C), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), Polyamides (PA), Polydienes (PD), and Other Plastics (OP). PS microplastics were most prevalent in gills 4.67 to 7.00 (MP/3 g) in Oreochromis niloticus and 5.67 to 7.00 (MP/3 g) in Clarias gariepinus), while cellulose acetate (C) dominated in intestines 5.33 to 6.00 (MP/3 g) in Oreochromis niloticus and 5.67 to 6.67 (MP/3 g) in Clarias gariepinus) and livers 6.00 to 6.67 (MP/3 g) in both species. These findings show significant long-term risks to the River Niger ecosystem, threatening aquatic life and communities reliant on these resources.