We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Plastic Pollution: a Nigerian Case Study
Summary
This review paper examines how Nigeria's growing plastic waste problem, driven by poor waste collection systems and heavy reliance on single-use plastic bags, is polluting water sources with tiny plastic fragments called microplastics, which can end up in the food and water people consume. This matters because these plastics don't just harm wildlife and ecosystems; they can also make their way into our bodies, and scientists still don't fully understand the health risks. The researchers call for better waste management, stronger regulations, and new cleanup methods (like using activated carbon to filter out plastics) to tackle this growing problem before it gets worse.
Nigeria, a country in West Africa, is grappling with the detrimental effects of plastic waste on its ecosystems and communities. Plastic wastes have two major categories of macro-and microplastics according to respective sizes. The urgent need for concerted efforts to determine the extent and characteristics of plastics waste, especially microplastics pollution in Nigerian water resources is emphasized. Land and marine-based plastic wastes have negative effects on human, aquatics systems and wildlife. Societal challenges contributing to plastic pollution in Nigeria include poor waste management practices, insufficient capacity and investment in waste collection infrastructure and prevalence of singleuse plastic bags. The study also highlights that the few successes recorded in the fight against plastic pollution by virtue of Nigeria's recent collaboration with the World Economic Forum's Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP). This study recommends improved waste management practices, regulatory measures, increased research efforts and implementation of novel removal strategies (activated carbon adsorption), as feasible strategies for mitigating plastic pollution in Nigeria.