Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Global Plastic Pollution and the Nigerian Dimensions

This review examines global plastic pollution trends with a focus on Nigeria, covering plastic production history, environmental distribution, ecological effects, and policy challenges in the West African context. The authors document how weak waste management infrastructure and high plastic consumption growth rates make Nigeria particularly vulnerable to microplastic pollution in rivers, coastlines, and food chains.

2025 Journal of Geography Environment and Earth Science International
Article Tier 2

Plastic Pollution and Framework Towards Sustainable Plastic Waste Management in Nigeria: Case Study

Nigeria faces a growing plastic pollution crisis driven by the rapid expansion of companies producing plastic bottles and sachet water packaging. This paper examines the scale of the problem and proposes a framework for more sustainable plastic waste management, drawing on case studies of existing challenges and potential interventions. While focused on policy and waste management rather than microplastics specifically, reducing plastic waste at source directly limits the amount that fragments into environmental microplastics.

2025 Environments 1 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Plastic Pollution in the Environment in Nigeria: A Rapid Systematic Review of the Sources, Distribution, Research Gaps and Policy Needs

This systematic review examines plastic pollution across Nigeria's environment, including water, soil, air, and food. The research finds that plastic contamination is widespread but under-studied in African countries, with significant gaps in data and policy. Understanding plastic pollution in developing nations is critical because these regions often lack the waste management infrastructure to prevent microplastic contamination of food and water.

2022 13 citations
Article Tier 2

The importance of microplastics pollution studies in water and soil of Nigeria ecosystems

This review highlights the lack of microplastic pollution research in Nigeria, despite the country's growing plastic production and consumption. The author calls for more local studies to generate data needed for science-based policy on plastic waste management in African ecosystems.

2019 Analytical Methods in Environmental Chemistry Journal 20 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Impact of Plastic Pollution on the Economic Growth and Sustainability of Blue Economy in Nigeria

This systematic review examines how plastic pollution threatens Nigeria's ocean-based economy, including its fishing and tourism industries. The research found that plastic waste also harms human health through water contamination, and that weak laws and poor waste management are making the problem worse.

2024 African Journal of Environment and Natural Science Research 6 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Plastic pollution in the environment in Nigeria: A rapid systematic review of the sources, distribution, research gaps and policy needs

Researchers conducted a systematic review of plastic pollution research in Nigeria and found critical data gaps — covering only 15 of 36 states — with microplastics detected in fish, insects, and water, highlighting the need for stronger policies, better monitoring, and expanded research to address the growing plastic crisis in West Africa.

2022 Scientific African 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Innovations for Sustainable Plastic Waste Management in Nigeria

This paper reviews the current state of plastic waste management in Nigeria and proposes innovations for more sustainable disposal and recycling. Inadequate plastic waste management in rapidly urbanizing countries is a major driver of microplastic pollution in freshwater and marine environments.

2023 Environmental Contaminants Reviews 2 citations
Review Tier 2

A Review of the Literature on the Environmental and Health Impact of Plastic Waste Pollutants in Sub-Saharan Africa

This review examines the environmental and health impacts of plastic waste in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting how rapid population growth, inadequate waste management, and improper disposal contribute to organic pollutant release affecting both land and marine ecosystems.

2022 Pollutants 33 citations
Article Tier 2

The Role of Public Health Laws in Combating Plastic Pollution in Nigeria: Lessons from Other selected Jurisdictions

This legal analysis examines how public health laws could be used to combat plastic pollution in Nigeria, drawing on regulatory approaches from other countries. The paper argues that stronger legislation governing single-use plastics and waste management is essential to address the severe environmental and health consequences of plastic pollution in Nigeria.

2020 eYLS (Yale Law School) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Presence in Sediment and Water of a Lagoon Bordering the Urban Agglomeration of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria

This study investigated microplastic contamination in water and sediment from a lagoon bordering Lagos, Nigeria, finding plastics present at all sites. The study is the first of its kind in the area and raises concerns about how microplastic exposure affects aquatic organisms and the communities that depend on this water body for food and livelihoods.

2020 Geosciences 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Pollution in Nigerian Aquatic Ecosystems: Sources, Pathways, Impacts, and Mitigation Strategies. A Review

This review synthesized evidence on microplastic contamination across Nigerian aquatic ecosystems, including rivers, lagoons, seafood, and drinking water. The authors describe complex pollution pathways and impacts on organisms across trophic levels, while highlighting the need for Nigeria-specific research and stronger waste management policies.

2025 American Journal of Environment and Climate
Review Tier 2

Environmental Challenges Awareness in Nigeria: A Review

This review examines environmental challenges in Nigeria and globally, including climate change, deforestation, urbanization, improper waste disposal, and plastic pollution, identifying anthropogenic drivers and discussing awareness gaps and policy needs for environmental protection and sustainable management.

2022 African Journal of Environment and Natural Science Research 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Public Awareness, Knowledge, Attitude and Perception on Microplastics Pollution Around Lagos Lagoon

Researchers surveyed public awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding microplastic pollution around Lagos Lagoon in Nigeria, finding significant gaps in understanding among residents, students, and fishermen about microplastic health and ecological risks.

2022 Ecological Safety and Balanced Use of Resources 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of Macro Litter and Microplastics Abundance in the Ogunpa River, Ibadan: Intimation for Solid Waste Management and Environmental Policy

Researchers characterized macro litter and microplastic abundance across five sites on the Ogunpa River in Ibadan, Nigeria during the wet season, finding high plastic contamination driven by inadequate waste management and recommending targeted environmental policy responses.

2025 International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy
Article Tier 2

Public Health Knowledge and Perception of Microplastics Pollution: Lessons from the Lagos Lagoon

A survey of public knowledge and perceptions about microplastic pollution in Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria found widespread awareness of plastic pollution but limited understanding of microplastics specifically, highlighting the need for targeted public health education.

2021 Research Square (Research Square) 17 citations
Review Tier 2

A Comprehensive Review on Microplastics Pollution in Nigerian Aquatic Environments

This comprehensive review examined microplastic pollution across Nigerian aquatic environments, including rivers, lagoons, estuaries, and sediments. Researchers found that microplastics are widespread in Nigerian waters due to poor waste management, wastewater discharges, and industrial activities, with contamination also detected in food and drinking water consumed by the population.

2026 International Journal of Applied and Natural Sciences
Article Tier 2

Hazards Associated with Plastic Wastes in the Communities of Niger Delta, Nigeria

A field study in Niger Delta communities measured plastic waste contamination in water, fish, sediment, and human blood samples, linking physicochemical anomalies to plastic pollution from local improper waste disposal.

2024 British Journal of Environmental Sciences
Article Tier 2

Characterization and Ecological Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Sediments of a Tropical West African Lagoon Ecosystem

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in sediments from four sites along Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria, finding MP abundance of 9–12 particles/kg with PET fibers dominating, and identifying potentially toxic polymers that pose long-term ecological risks to this West African coastal ecosystem.

2025 Journal of Environmental Science Health & Sustainability
Article Tier 2

Review on the Fate of Contaminants in the Niger Delta Environment

This review examines how crude oil and municipal waste contaminate the Niger Delta environment, harming water, land, and communities. The findings highlight how plastic waste mismanagement compounds the region's pollution crisis, with implications for human health and biodiversity.

2020 Journal of environment and earth science 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Ensuring sustainability in plastics use in Africa: consumption, waste generation, and projections

This review examines plastic consumption, waste generation, and future projections for African nations, finding rapidly increasing plastic use alongside limited waste management infrastructure. The study calls for African-specific sustainability policies to prevent a major escalation in plastic pollution as economic development accelerates across the continent.

2019 Environmental Sciences Europe 241 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental and human health risks of indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste and sachet water bags in Maiduguri, Borno State Nigeria

This study examines the environmental and health impacts of improperly discarded plastic bottles and water sachets in Maiduguri, Nigeria. The research found that accumulated plastic waste blocks drainage systems causing flooding, contaminates soil and water, and creates breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes, highlighting how plastic pollution directly threatens public health in developing communities.

2024 Waste Management Bulletin 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Health and Environmental Hazard of Plastic Waste in The Communities of Niger Delta

This study investigated plastic waste health impacts in Niger Delta communities by analyzing water, fish, sediment, and human blood samples for physico-chemical parameters and contaminants. Microplastics and associated chemical pollutants were detected, highlighting risks to residents in areas with poor waste management infrastructure.

2024 International Journal of Environment and Pollution Research 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of Microplastics in Surface Sediments of Beaches in Lagos, Nigeria

Microplastics were found in beach sediments at all four sampled sites in Lagos State, Nigeria, with fragments dominating and polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene identified. The results provide baseline data for West Africa's most populous city and highlight the need for better waste management in rapidly urbanizing coastal regions.

2019 European Chemical Bulletin 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Health Risk Assessment of Marine Plastic Pollution in Communities along the Coastline of Lagos, Nigeria

A health risk assessment of three coastal communities in Lagos, Nigeria found that plastic debris in marine sediments and water contained phthalate esters and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at concentrations above WHO safety limits. Children and adults — particularly in the Orimedu community — faced elevated cancer and non-cancer health risks from exposure to these plastic-associated toxins through coastal activities and fishing. This study provides some of the first quantitative health risk data for West African coastal populations exposed to marine plastic pollution.

2023