Microplastics found in high concentrations around Kantamanto, the world’s largest secondhand textile market in Accra, Ghana: A citizen science study

Abstract Located in Accra, Ghana, Kantamanto is the world’s largest secondhand resale and upcycling market for clothing and textiles, receiving tons of garments every week exported under HS Code 6309 by countries in the Global North. We looked at the abundance of microplastics and microfibers from textiles and other sources in this dynamic environment. Our primary interest was assessing how microfibers in a textile-rich environment contribute to overall microplastic pollution. Continuous monitoring of air quality using PurpleAir sensors showed large concentrations of airborne microparticles around the market, which were shown to drop with rain events. Water collected from rain contained dozens to hundreds of microfibers and microplastics (roughly in a 1:10 ratio), depending on the intensity of the rain and on whether the rain was preceded by a significant period of dry weather. Microfiber and microplastic counts from airborne samples showed concentrations about >20x to >100x greater, respectively, than those reported from other metropolises around the world. A comparison of concentrations from water in the adjacent Korle Lagoon was similarly striking, with up to 45x more microfibers, and up to 200x more microplastics than what has previously been reported for lagoon waters worldwide. Beyond the microscale, the issue of whole garments as waste was also demonstrated, with a strong similarity found between the global brand garment tags from fashion items discarded in the market and those that were washed up on nearby beaches, highlighting the need for more holistic regulatory frameworks to address textile waste.