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Microplastic Contamination in Nigerian Treated Waters and Packaged (Sachet, Bottled) Sources: Trends, Regional Disparities, and Policy Implications for Sustainable Practices
Summary
This review pulls together recent studies on tiny plastic particles (microplastics) found in Nigeria's bottled, sachet, and tap water, and the results are concerning: every single water source tested contained these particles, sometimes at levels higher than what's been found in other countries. Since people drink this water daily, the ongoing exposure to microplastics and the chemicals they carry raises real questions about long-term health effects that scientists are still working to fully understand, highlighting the need for better regulations and water treatment standards.
Microplastic (MP) contamination poses a critical threat to water quality and public health in Nigeria, where reliance on treated and packaged waters is widespread. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of studies synthesizing existing literatures on MP contamination in Nigerian bottled, sachet, and treated waters. Thus, this review synthesized data from studies spanning 2021 to 2025, assessing MP contamination in treated and packaged waters, alongside comparisons with Nigerian groundwater and global benchmarks. Evidence revealed MP presence in all water sources: bottled waters exhibited concentrations of 1.4–59.51 particles/L, treated waters reached up to 36 particles/L, and sachet waters have been reported to containa striking range of MP-derived potentially toxic compounds with percentage concentrations between 0.789% and 24.493%. These findings reflect high variability and substantial exposure risks. Comparatively, Nigerian groundwater showed MP levels ranging from 0.206–96.967 particles/L, while the packaged sources exceed many international concentrations reported in literature. The predominant polymers, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyvinyl chloride, appeared consistently in studies, primarily as fragments and fibers. This aligned with global contamination patterns and suggests ubiquitous plastic sources. Although MPs were detected in all Nigerian treated and packaged water sources, significant regional gaps were noted, with the southern Nigeria showing higher research efforts, while the northern region reported fewer investigations, limiting an in-depth national assessment. These insights signal profound risks to water security, environmental quality, and human health, driven by poor policy implementation and regulatory gaps. The urgent action needed include adoption of standardized methods, expanded research, and effective policies to curb MP contamination and protect public health.