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Indicators of Microplastic Poisoning in the Catchment of Nyumba-ya-Mungu Water Reservoir - Tanzania
Summary
Researchers investigated the relationship between microplastic pollution at Nyumba-ya-Mungu water reservoir in Tanzania and public health issues in surrounding communities. They found microplastics in fish and water samples and identified risky community practices such as burning plastics, serving hot food in plastic containers, and consuming fish from contaminated waters. The study suggests an associative relationship between these practices, microplastic exposure, and various health issues reported in local hospital records.
Microplastic (MP) pollution has emerged as a significant global issue, primarily due to the potential adverse health effects associated with the entry of microplastics into the human body, mainly by ingestion and inhalation. This study explored the relationship between microplastic pollution at Nyumba-ya-Mungu water reservoir (NWR) in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania and public health issues in the catchment area. The study employed a cross-sectional study design that combined questionnaire, document analysis, microscopy, and spectroscopy methods for data collection. A total of 401 community respondents from the study area, 19 medical doctors in 4 hospitals from the catchment, 22 fish samples, and 30 surface water samples (each sampled in triplet) from NWR. The study’s findings indicate that some risky practices and behaviors can directly affect human health due to microplastic pollution, including plastic burning (76.6%), serving hot foods in plastic containers (87.5%), and drink polluted water (71.5%) and eat fish (93.5%) in the study area. Fish and water samples contained MP with a mean concentration of 2.80 ± 3.13679 MP fish-1 and 2.30 ± 2.55231 MP L-1, respectively. Various health issues in the catchment area of NWR can be associated with microplastic pollution, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, intestinal, reproductive, and respiratory diseases. The co-existence of the risky practices and the implied health issues suggests an associative relationship. The study recommends creating public awareness on proper plastic handling and management and support research studies that focus on public health issues.