Quantifying Plastic Waste and Microplastic Contamination in African Aquatic Systems: An Imperative for Sustainable Waste Management

Escalating issues pertaining to the disposal of plastic waste have emerged as an alarming global concern, underscored by the environmental infiltration of fragmented plastic materials into terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric systems. This predicament is notably amplified within the African continent, where rudimentary waste management infrastructures exacerbate the situation. This review dissects the prevalence, abundance, and distribution of plastic litter and microplastics within diverse environmental compartments (namely, sediments, water bodies, and biota) across Africa. Detailed analysis of existing research findings highlights concentrations of plastic debris and microplastics, identifying the predominant types of polymers and shapes of particles present. It is observed that most African research endeavours have primarily concentrated on microplastics, albeit macroplastics or plastic litter posing substantial challenges as well. Marine environments have been the predominant focus of these studies, with freshwater ecosystems relatively understudied. The geographical focal points of these research efforts were primarily South Africa, Tunisia, and Nigeria. Conversely, a glaring lack of comprehensive studies addressing plastic pollution within terrestrial and atmospheric systems calls for urgent research attention. Documented evidence of plastic ingestion by diverse aquatic and terrestrial fauna, including insects, fish, birds, molluscs, and arthropods, reaffirms the pervasive nature of the problem within African water bodies. An evaluation of existing literature identifies polyester, polyethylene, and polypropylene as the most common types of plastics present within both freshwater and coastal systems. Unfortunately, a significant proportion of these studies failed to adequately characterize the identified plastics, thus obstructing the identification of potential sources. Consequently, it is imperative that future investigations prioritize polymer identification, which can facilitate the development and implementation of efficacious strategies for mitigating plastic pollution and curtailing environmental leakage of plastics.