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Assessing Marine Litter Pollutionand Ecotourists Dynamics along Lagos Coastline Beaches: Sources, Composition, and Impacts
Summary
This study assessed litter abundance, composition, and tourist population dynamics at six beaches along the Lagos coastline from November 2021 to February 2022, recording 12,968 litter items with plastic (29%) and styrofoam (22.25%) dominant. Significant spatial variations existed across beaches, with Oniru recording the second-highest litter occurrence (2,589 items), and Principal Component Analysis showing styrofoam and plastic significantly influencing litter composition, likely driven by poor waste management and coastal erosion.
A study assessing the environmental quality of six beaches along the Lagos coastline (Atican, Alpha, Elegushi, Narval, Oniru, and Takwa) was conducted from November 2021 to February 2022. The research focused on litter abundance, composition, and tourist population. A total of 12,968 litter items were recorded, revealing significant spatial and temporal variations in litter abundance. The average litter composition per 100 meters included: Plastic: 163.91 ± 20.66, Rubber: 57.00 ± 7.38, Styrofoam: 125.33 ± 26.03, Cloth: 22.83 ± 5.08, Glass/Ceramic: 44.75 ± 4.28, Metals: 67.16 ± 9.28, Paper: 33.66 ± 2.79, Wood: 23.41 ± 5.86, Fruits: 14.91 ± 5.01, and Nets: 10.16 ± 2.80. ANOVA analysis indicated significant differences in litter abundance among beaches, except for metals and paper, suggesting regular dumping by tourists or litter washed ashore by currents. The dominant litter types were plastic (29%), styrofoam (22.25%), metal (12%), and rubber (10%). Principal Component Analysis revealed that styrofoam and plastic significantly influenced litter composition across the beaches, likely due to poor waste management and coastal erosion. Elegushi Beach recorded the third-highest litter occurrence (1,769 items), followed by Oniru (2,589) and Narval (439). Cluster analysis grouped Narval, Oniru, and Elegushi, indicating similar litter sources and activities. The Shannon diversity indices ranged from 1.72 to 1.95, with Takwa having the highest and Oniru the lowest values. Narval Beach attracted 32.7% of total visitors and accounted for 33.2% of litter, making it the most frequented beach. The prevalence of plastic and styrofoam suggests these materials are commonly used by tourists and easily transported to the beach. To mitigate marine litter along the Lagos coastline, stakeholders should enhance waste management infrastructure and promote eco-friendly practices among tourists and local businesses.