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Microplastics in the Volta Lake: Occurrence, distribution, and human health implications
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Researchers found microplastics in prawns, clams, tilapia, and sediments from Ghana's Volta Lake, with prawns containing the highest levels at about 4.7 particles per individual. Microfibers were the most common shape, and the types of plastics found in the animals matched those in the lake sediment. Although estimated human exposure from consuming these fisheries products was relatively low, the presence of microplastics in a major African freshwater food source raises food safety concerns for local communities.
Pollution of plastic waste in aquatic ecosystems in Ghana is of significant concern with potential adverse effects on food safety and ecosystem function. This study examined the abundance and distribution of microplastics (MPs) in freshwater biota samples namely: the African river prawn (Macrobrachium vollenhovenii), the Volta clam (Galatea paradoxa), Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), and sediment from the Volta Lake. Both biota and sediment samples were subjected to microscopic identification and FTIR analysis. In biota samples, the highest mean microplastic abundance of 4.7 ± 2.1 items per individual was found in the prawn, while the Nile tilapia recorded the least (2.8 ± 0.6 items per individual). A total of 398 microplastic particles were observed in sediment samples from the Volta Lake. Microfibers were the major plastic shapes identified in biota and sediment samples. We examined the relationship between microplastic abundance, biota size, and sediment properties. Despite the lack of statistical significance, microplastic shape, size, and polymer composition in assessed organisms mirrored those in the benthic sediment. Polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, and polystyrene were the four dominant polymer types identified in the organisms and sediments. Although the estimated human exposure was relatively low compared with studies from other regions of the world, the presence of microplastics raises concern for the safety of fisheries products consumed by the general populace in the country. This research is essential for developing effective mitigation measures and tackling the wider effects of microplastic contamination on Ghana's freshwater ecosystems, particularly the Volta Lake.
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Microplastics in the lower Volta Basin, Ghana - Quantitation and fish dietary exposure assessment using advanced spectroscopic techniques
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Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastics in the lower Volta Basin in Ghana, examining both water, sediment, and fish across wet and dry seasons. They found that fish contained hundreds of microplastic particles each, with cage-farmed tilapia and bottom-feeding species ingesting the most, and that sediments were significantly more polluted than the water. The study raises concerns about dietary microplastic exposure for communities that rely heavily on fish from this freshwater system.
OCCURRENCE, DISTRIBUTION AND HEALTH IMPLICATION OF MICROPLASTICS IN NILE TILAPIA (Oreochromis niloticus) FROM AJIWA RESERVOIR, KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA
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Researchers examined 30 Nile tilapia from a Nigerian reservoir and detected microplastics in 100% of gill, gastrointestinal, and muscle tissues, with polyamide from degraded fishing gear dominating; modeled daily intake estimates showed children face substantially higher exposure risk than adults from eating contaminated fish.
Detection and occurrence of microplastics in the stomach of commercial fish species from a municipal water supply lake in southwestern Nigeria
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Researchers screened and detected microplastics in the stomachs of commonly consumed fish from a Nigerian municipal water supply lake, providing baseline data for a region where such records are scarce and raising concerns about human dietary exposure.
Concentrations, characteristics, and human health exposure assessment of microplastics and heavy metals in freshwater fish in a potable water supply reservoir
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Researchers examined microplastic and heavy metal contamination in catfish and tilapia from a drinking water supply reservoir in Ghana. They found microplastics in all fish studied, with fibers being the most common type and polyethylene the dominant polymer, along with measurable levels of zinc, copper, and lead. The exposure assessment suggests that regular consumption of these fish could represent a notable pathway for human intake of both microplastics and heavy metals.
Occurrence of microplastics in gastrointestinal tract of fish from the Gulf of Guinea, Ghana
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Researchers examined the gastrointestinal tracts of commercially important fish species from the Gulf of Guinea, Ghana, for microplastic contamination. The study found that 68% of the fish contained microplastics, with fibers being the most common type, raising concerns about potential human exposure through seafood consumption in the region.
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