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Distribution, Levels and Characteristics of Petrogenic Plastics Particles in the Sediments of River Ngadda
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Researchers tested sediment from River Ngadda in Nigeria over eight months, finding tiny plastic particles at all six sites, with higher amounts during the dry season. Polyethylene was the most common plastic type, mostly in fiber and fragment shapes, likely from textiles, fishing gear and packaging. The findings suggest the river sediment collects these plastic particles, which may affect the ecosystem and food chain.
Plastics can fragment into micro and nano size particles by the action of environmental drivers in the ecosystem. The study was aimed at assessing the occurrence, composition, and environmental drivers of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in the sediments of River Ngadda, Borno State, Nigeria. Sediment samples were collected across six stations during dry and wet seasons for 8 months and analyzed for the physicochemical parameters at the Public Health Engineering Laboratory, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. Microplastics were isolated through density separation and characterized using FTIR for polymer identification and GC–MS for NPs detection at the Chemistry Research Laboratory, Yobe State University. Canonical correlation analysis was employed to examine the relationships between physicochemical parameters (temperature, pH, nitrate, and sulphate) of the sediment and polymer distribution. The result indicates that MPs ranges from 235±2.6 – 390±4.3 pp/kg (in station D and F respectively) during the dry season and 95±3.4 – 180±2.7 pp/kg (in station D and C respectively) during the wet season. Polyethylene (PE) dominated the polymer profile, with appreciable levels of PET, PVC, and PA across stations. Fibres and fragments were the most common morphotypes, with blue and black particles suggesting sources from textiles, fishing gear, and packaging materials. CCA indicated strong linkages between sulphate, pH, and polymer types. The study further reveal that the sediment of River Ngadda is a major sinks for MPs/NPs, with ecological and food chain implications.
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Scientists tested river water in Nigeria over eight months and found tiny plastic particles—including microplastics and even smaller "nanoplastic" fragments—in every sample, even though other water quality measures (like pH and dissolved solids) looked normal by health standards. This matters because this river is a water source for nearby communities, and the results suggest plastic pollution can go undetected by standard water testing, meaning people could be consuming these particles without knowing it—though more research is needed to understand what that means for our health.
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