We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics Pollution of Water, Sediment, and Selected Fish Species from Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Summary
Researchers sampled water, sediment, and multiple fish species from three communities in Sagbama, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, to characterize microplastic contamination across aquatic compartments. Microplastics were detected in all matrices, with fibers dominating, establishing baseline contamination data for this Niger Delta region where residents rely heavily on local fish for food.
Microplastics are persistent microscopic pollutant particles which are found in many aquatic ecosystems and are harmful to living organisms. The present study investigated microplastics concentration in water, sediment and selected fish species from three communities in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Samples of study were collected following standard procedure while microplastics concentration was determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Data generated were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS and values presented as mean and standard deviation (n=3). In all samples analyzed, microplastics included Polyethylene (PE), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP), Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), Polypropylene (PP), Acrylic fiber (AF) and Polystyrene (PS). In the water samples, TBBPA was the most prevalent microplastic while PP was the least; among the sediment samples, PE was the most prevalent while PET was the least prevalent; in the fish species, DOTP was the most prevalent while AF was the least prevalent. The findings of this study indicate the presence of microplastics in the Niger Delta especially in widely consumed fish species in coastal communities. This calls for more action in the fight against plastics pollution of our ecosystems as a way of safeguarding the health of the people.