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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Ubiquitous Presence of Microplastics (MPs): A Review of Occurrence, Abundances, Spatial Distribution and Future Effects in the Surface Waters, Kenya
ClearOccurrence and Spatial Distribution of Microplastics in the Surface Waters of Lake Naivasha, Kenya
Scientists surveyed microplastic abundance and composition in surface waters of Lake Naivasha, Kenya, finding contamination across the lake with higher concentrations near agricultural and urban areas, providing one of the first datasets for a major East African freshwater body.
Microplastics in Kenya's marine nearshore surface waters: Current status
Researchers collected microplastics from six locations along Kenya's marine nearshore surface waters, finding a mean concentration of 0.58 MPs per cubic meter with fragments (55%) and polypropylene (52%) as the dominant type and polymer. Malindi was identified as a hotspot for microplastic pollution, providing baseline data to support policy development in the region.
Spatial and seasonal variation of microplastics and surface water quality of the Njoro River and Lake Nakuru ecosystems, Kenya
Seasonal sampling of the Njoro River and Lake Nakuru in Kenya found microplastics throughout both freshwater ecosystems, with dry-season concentrations substantially higher than rainy-season levels, likely because dilution and flushing effects reduce concentrations during rains. The study highlights that microplastic contamination extends into East African inland waters, threatening aquatic life and potentially human health in communities that rely on these ecosystems.
Decadal Assessment of Microplastics, Pharmaceuticals, and Pesticides as Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Kenya's Surface Waters: A Review
This review assessed a decade of research on microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides in Kenya's surface waters, finding high microplastic concentrations in coastal waters and widespread antibiotic contamination linked to untreated sewage rather than wastewater treatment plants.
Microplastic pollution in African countries’ water systems: a review on findings, applied methods, characteristics, impacts, and managements
This review synthesizes findings on microplastic pollution in water systems across African countries, highlighting methodological approaches, particle characteristics, sources, and impacts, while noting the limited but growing body of African microplastic research.
Assessing the impact of banning the single-use plastic carrier bags: a case study for Kenyan marine environment looking at macro, meso, and microplastics
Researchers assessed the impact of Kenya's single-use plastic carrier bag ban on marine plastic pollution along the country's coastline. While the ban appeared to reduce the proportion of carrier bags in beach litter, packaging plastics remained the most common type of debris found. The study suggests that banning one category of plastic products alone is insufficient to address the broader problem of marine plastic pollution without tackling other major sources.
Microplastic pollution in aquatic environments in Africa: status and research opportunities
This review examines the status of microplastic pollution research in African aquatic environments, noting that Africa's high rate of plastic waste mismanagement has resulted in widespread contamination of freshwater and marine ecosystems. Researchers found significant research gaps in the region despite its outsized contribution to global plastic pollution, and identified opportunities for expanded monitoring given microplastics' capacity to adsorb persistent organic pollutants.
Seasonal Abundance and Types of Microplastics in Surface Waters of River Sabaki Estuary, Kenya
Researchers conducted a twelve-month sampling survey at the Sabaki River estuary in Kenya in 2022, collecting monthly water samples sieved at 225 μm to characterise seasonal abundance and morphological types of microplastics in surface waters. The study addressed a gap in temporal microplastic data from tropical African estuaries, where limited research had previously been conducted.
Emergence of microplastics in African environmental drinking water sources: A review on sources, analysis and treatment strategies
This review examines microplastic contamination of drinking water sources across Africa, identifying entry pathways linked to uncontrolled plastic imports, poor waste management, and limited water treatment infrastructure. The authors highlight the need for more African-specific research on microplastic fate in water systems and call for improved treatment strategies appropriate for resource-limited settings.
Microplastic pollution in the surface waters of creeks along the Kenyan coast, Western Indian Ocean (WIO)
Microplastic pollution was documented in surface waters of creeks along the Kenyan coast in the Western Indian Ocean, establishing baseline data for a region where microplastic research has been limited and identifying wastewater discharge and fishing activities as likely sources.
Microplastic pollution in Africa: an overview of abundance in aquatic organisms, freshwater and marine water environments and analytical methods for reporting
This review provides an overview of microplastic pollution across Africa, covering contamination levels in aquatic organisms, freshwater and marine environments, and the analytical methods used in studies across the continent. Researchers found that microplastic pollution is widespread in African waters, though standardized detection and reporting methods are needed to enable better cross-study comparisons.
Microplastics in the Aquatic Environment: Overview of the Problem and Current Research Areas
This review summarizes the current state of microplastic research in aquatic environments, covering sources, distribution, ecological impacts, and knowledge gaps. The paper identifies priority research areas needed to better understand and manage microplastic contamination in water bodies.
Quantification, characterization, and source identification of macro- and mesoplastics in the water column of Rivers Sabaki and Tana.
Researchers sampled plastic litter in the water columns of two Kenyan rivers over a full year, quantifying plastic loads and tracing their sources using statistical analysis. The findings establish baseline data on riverine plastic flux to the Indian Ocean from East Africa and showed that rainfall significantly influenced plastic transport.
Updated review on microplastics in water, their occurrence, detection, measurement, environmental pollution, and the need for regulatory standards
This review examines microplastic occurrence, detection methods, and measurement techniques in aquatic environments, highlighting the urgent need for explicit regulatory frameworks to address the growing threat of microplastic pollution in water systems.
Microplastics in water: occurrence, detection, and impacts – a comprehensive review of multiple studies
This comprehensive review synthesized current knowledge on microplastic occurrence, detection methods, and impacts across marine, freshwater, and remote aquatic ecosystems. Researchers highlighted that microplastic concentrations are particularly high in urban rivers, transported through runoff, atmospheric deposition, and river input. The review identifies critical research gaps including the need for standardized detection methods and more studies on chronic human exposure through contaminated seafood and drinking water.
Ecological consequences of microplastic pollution in sub-Saharan Africa aquatic ecosystems: An implication to environmental health
This review examines the ecological consequences of microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems across sub-Saharan Africa, where research on the topic remains limited. Researchers summarized evidence that microplastics have been found in water, sediment, and aquatic organisms throughout the region, with potential effects on food chains and human health. The study highlights the urgent need for more comprehensive monitoring and policy responses in African countries.
Quantifying Plastic Waste and Microplastic Contamination in African Aquatic Systems: An Imperative for Sustainable Waste Management
This review assessed the scale of plastic waste and microplastic contamination in African aquatic systems, finding that inadequate waste management infrastructure amplifies plastic pollution in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters across the continent.
Examining Options for Mitigating Microplastic Pollution in the Nairobi River Basin, Kenya
This paper surveys microplastic pollution in the Nairobi River Basin in Kenya, where over half the city's population lives in informal settlements along riverbanks with little waste management infrastructure, and an estimated 67 tonnes of plastic waste enter the river daily. The authors assess current plastic waste management efforts and propose mitigation options, arguing that proactive upstream waste management is more effective than downstream clean-up. The study illustrates how microplastic pollution is a particularly acute problem in rapidly urbanising cities in the Global South.
Microplastics pollution studies in India: a recent review of sources, abundances and research perspectives
This review summarizes microplastic pollution studies conducted across India, covering sources, distribution, and concentrations in aquatic environments and aquatic organisms. The study highlights the growing scale of microplastic contamination in Indian water bodies and the need for standardized national monitoring programs.
Microplastics pollution in the sediments of creeks and estuaries of Kenya, western Indian Ocean
Microplastic contamination was documented in sediments of creeks and estuaries along the Kenyan coast in the western Indian Ocean, with higher concentrations near urban centers and tourist areas, filling a major gap in microplastic monitoring data for East African coastal ecosystems and confirming regional contamination levels comparable to more studied ocean regions.
A Review on Microplastics Characteristics and Pollution in Tanzania: Mitigating Strategies and Future Perspectives
This review synthesizes the limited literature on microplastic contamination in Tanzania, identifying polymer types, environmental distribution, pollution sources, and knowledge gaps, and recommending national monitoring strategies and waste management improvements.
Microplastics pollution studies in India: a recent review of sources, abundances and research perspectives - a comparison with global research
This review summarizes published research on microplastic pollution in India, identifying sources and distribution across aquatic environments while noting that India remains one of the least-studied countries despite being a major plastic-producing and plastic-polluting nation. The paper compares Indian findings to global research and calls for expanded monitoring.
Microplastics Pollution: A Brief Review of Its Source and Abundance in Different Aquatic Ecosystems
This review summarizes what is known about microplastic sources and abundance across different aquatic ecosystems including rivers, lakes, and oceans. Researchers found that microplastics are pervasive across all water environments, with concentrations influenced by nearby human activities and pollution sources. The study identifies key pathways through which microplastics enter aquatic habitats and calls for standardized monitoring methods to better track contamination levels.
Microplastics influencing aquatic environment and human health: A review of source, determination, distribution, removal, degradation, management strategy and future perspective
This review paper provides a broad summary of microplastic pollution in water environments, covering where they come from, how to detect them, how they spread, and how to remove them. The authors emphasize that microplastics persist for extremely long periods in water and can harm both aquatic life and human health, calling for better management strategies worldwide.