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Water and sediment microplastic dynamics in African inland freshwater systems: a review
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This review pulled together 41 studies to show that Africa's rivers and lakes are widely contaminated with microplastics, tiny plastic fragments and fibers, with even higher levels showing up in sediment (the mud and sand at the bottom) than in the water itself, especially during rainy seasons. Since these freshwater sources are often used for drinking water and fishing, this contamination matters because we still don't fully know how ingesting these particles over time affects human health, making this an area that urgently needs more research and better plastic waste management.
Owing to its exceptional properties and versatility, plastic is one of the most widely manufactured and utilised materials globally. Its extensive use, coupled with inadequate plastic waste management, has harmed ecosystems and poses significant risks to human health. When plastic degrades in the environment, it breaks down into microplastics. These tiny particles are a growing global issue due to their widespread presence in aquatic environments. This review summarises existing information on microplastic contamination in water and sediment samples from African freshwater systems based on 41 published studies from eight countries. The data reveal extensive microplastic contamination in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs across the African continent, with polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene being the most common polymers. Microplastics were more commonly detected in sediments than in water. Most microplastics were found during the rainy season, underscoring the need to intensify plastic waste recycling efforts prior to the onset of the rainy season. Fibres and fragments were the most frequently identified types of microplastics, with their distribution strongly influenced by seasonal variations, human activities, and proximity to urban centres. As microplastic contamination increases, more research is needed to better understand how its potential impacts on inland waters can be mitigated.
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This global review of freshwater sediment studies finds that human activities, stormwater runoff, water flow, and sediment grain size all shape where microplastics accumulate in rivers and lakes, but most data come from Asia with limited coverage elsewhere. Filling these geographic and temporal gaps is essential for understanding the long-term fate of microplastics in freshwater systems that supply drinking water worldwide.
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Scientists tested rivers in heavily industrialized areas and found tiny plastic bits, like plastic film scraps, fabric fibers, and small particles, at every location sampled, with noticeably more showing up downstream of wastewater treatment plants. This matters because these polluted rivers eventually feed into oceans and water supplies, and while this study didn't test human health effects directly, it highlights that treatment plants may not be filtering out all microplastics before water flows back into the environment we depend on.
A Review of Microplastics in Aquatic Sediments: Occurrence, Fate, Transport, and Ecological Impact
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Researchers reviewed how microplastics accumulate in aquatic sediments — particularly the ocean floor — finding that sediments act as a long-term sink where plastics alter microbial communities and harm bottom-dwelling organisms, meaning the ecological damage of plastic pollution extends far beyond what is visible at the water surface.
Microplastic (MP) Pollution in the Context of Occurrence, Distribution, Composition and Concentration in Surface Waters and Sediments: A Global Overview
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Researchers compiled global data showing microplastic pollution is essentially everywhere — in surface waters and sediments worldwide — with some locations finding microplastics in nearly every sample collected, underscoring how pervasive this contamination has become.
Environmental perspectives of microplastic pollution in the aquatic environment: a review
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Researchers reviewed how microplastics spread through freshwater and marine environments worldwide, finding they accumulate in sediments, absorb toxic chemicals, and create surfaces where antibiotic-resistant and potentially pathogenic bacteria can thrive. This pollution threat reaches even Antarctica and the deep sea, posing risks throughout aquatic food webs.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.