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Quantification of microplastics in Coptodon rendalli and surface waters of Dikgatlhong Dam, Botswana: the first baseline evidence
Summary
Researchers collected surface water and fish tissue samples from six sites in Dikgatlhong Dam, Botswana, to establish baseline microplastic data for the region. Microplastics were found in all water samples (33–78 n/L) and in fish (9–19 items/individual), providing the first evidence of MP contamination in this southern African freshwater ecosystem.
This study investigated the presence, distribution, and bioaccumulation of microplastics in surface water and Coptodon rendalli at six sites in Dikgatlhong Dam, Botswana: S1 (Tati River Inflow), S2 (Tati River Midway), S3 (Confluence), S4 (Boundary Wall), S5 (Shashe River Midway), and S6 (Shashe River Inflow). All samples were taken in a single day to ensure consistency. To digest organic materials, water samples were processed with the wet peroxide oxidation method, whereas fish tissues were pre-treated with 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) before going through the same oxidation procedure to extract microplastics efficiently. Surface water microplastic concentrations ranged from 33.59 ± 5.15 n/L (S5) to 78.32 ± 12.83 n/L (S1), and items per fish ranged from 9.46 ± 2.98 (S4) to 19.33 ± 5.87 (S1). The moderate positive association (r = 0.65) between water and fish microplastic levels suggests that water is the primary exposure channel. However, site-specific variations in microplastic size reveal additional factors such as sediment interactions and feeding behaviours. This study emphasizes the importance of focused mitigation methods for managing microplastic pollution and provides a key baseline for future research on microplastic contamination in Botswana's aquatic systems.
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