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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Emergence of microplastics in African environmental drinking water sources: A review on sources, analysis and treatment strategies
ClearMicroplastic 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.
Drinking plastic: a study of microplastic concentrations in drinking water from rural and urban sources in Mali, Africa
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in drinking water from rural and urban sources in Mali, Africa, finding microplastics in all samples and identifying higher concentrations in urban supplies, with implications for human health in a region with limited water treatment infrastructure.
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.
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.
Microplastics in African freshwater sediments: A systematic review of characteristics, abundance and analytical methods
This systematic review examines microplastic contamination in African freshwater sediments. The research found highly variable microplastic levels across different water systems, with fibers and fragments being the most common types. Freshwater contamination is a concern for human health because many African communities depend directly on rivers and lakes for drinking water and fish.
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.
A Review on Pollutants Found in Drinking Water in Sub-Sahara African Rural Communities: Detection and Potential Low-cost Remediation Methods
This review examined drinking water pollutants in sub-Saharan African rural communities, identifying widespread contamination from microplastics, heavy metals, and pathogens, and evaluating low-cost remediation methods suitable for resource-limited settings.
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.
Microplastic assessment approaches for African freshwater biota: a review
This review assessed the state of microplastic research on African freshwater organisms, evaluating the methodological approaches used across published studies and identifying regional gaps. The authors found that African freshwater biota are understudied relative to the continent's high plastic pollution burden, and identified inconsistent sampling and analytical methods as major barriers to cross-study comparisons.
Microplastics in African ecosystems: Current knowledge, abundance, associated contaminants, techniques, and research needs
This review synthesized current knowledge on microplastic abundance, associated contaminants, and ecological effects in African ecosystems, a region that ranks among the highest in mismanaged plastic waste. Despite the scale of the problem, the review found insufficient environmental monitoring data from Africa, calling for continent-specific research to support accurate global risk assessments.
Macro problems from microplastics: Toward a sustainable policy framework for managing microplastic waste in Africa
Researchers critically reviewed regulatory and policy approaches to managing microplastic pollution across African countries. They found that while environmental monitoring studies demonstrate an urgent need for action, the effectiveness of existing plastic waste policies in Africa remains poorly understood. The study proposes a sustainable policy framework tailored to the unique challenges African nations face in reducing microplastic waste generation and environmental contamination.
A Review of the Current Literature on Sources and Mitigation Strategies of Microplastics in Drinking Water
Researchers reviewed the key sources of microplastic contamination in drinking water — including plastic waste, synthetic clothing, and microbeads in personal care products — and assessed strategies for reducing exposure through improved treatment technologies and stricter regulations on plastic production. The review emphasizes that effective policy, combined with public awareness about single-use plastics, is essential for protecting drinking water quality.
A baseline study on the prevalence of microplastics in South African drinking water: from source to distribution
A baseline survey of South Africa's largest bulk drinking water system found microplastics present throughout — in source water, immediately after treatment, and in the distribution network supplying major urban areas — at concentrations of 0.24 to 1.47 particles per liter. Critically, the treatment process showed little evidence of actually reducing microplastic concentrations, meaning treated tap water delivered to millions of people still contains detectable microplastic particles.
Microplastic: Unveiling the Stealthy Polluters in Our Water
This review covers microplastic contamination in water sources, documenting sources, environmental pathways, analytical detection methods, and potential human health risks from drinking water containing plastic particles, along with emerging mitigation strategies.
Consideration of emerging environmental contaminants in africa: Review of occurrence, formation, fate, and toxicity of plastic particles
This review examined the occurrence of micro- and nanoplastics in African environments, covering contamination across aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric matrices. It highlighted that despite Africa's significant contribution to global plastic pollution, monitoring data from the continent remain sparse relative to Europe and North America.
Plastic and Micro/Nanoplastic Pollution in Sub-Saharan Africa: Challenges, Impacts, and Solutions
This review documents the growing microplastic and nanoplastic pollution problem across sub-Saharan Africa, where rapid plastic use and poor waste management are creating significant contamination in waterways, sediments, and aquatic life. The harsh climate conditions in the region accelerate plastic breakdown into smaller, more dangerous particles. The pollution threatens food production, water quality, and public health in communities that often lack the resources to monitor or address the problem.
Plastics in municipal drinking water and wastewater treatment plant effluents: challenges and opportunities for South Africa-a review.
This review examines the limited research on plastic pollution in South African freshwater and drinking water systems compared to the country's more studied coastal and marine environments. The authors identify a significant knowledge gap on the health and economic impacts of plastics in water supplies and call for more monitoring and policy development.
Microplastic occurrence and fate in the South African environment: a review
This review summarizes microplastic contamination across South Africa's freshwater, marine, and air environments. Researchers found microplastics in drinking water samples from major cities, with marine sediment levels along the southeast coast reaching particularly high concentrations. The findings emphasize the need for better wastewater treatment, stronger laws on single-use plastics, and more research on how this contamination affects human health.
The Occurrence and Fate of Microplastics in Wastewater Treatment Plants in South Africa and the Degradation of Microplastics in Aquatic Environments—A Critical Review
A review of microplastic research in South Africa reveals a critical data gap: despite the country generating around 120 million tons of waste annually, there is almost no published information on microplastic concentrations in its wastewater treatment plants or freshwater systems. The authors argue that urgent monitoring is needed to support effective policy, given that South Africa's infrastructure is under increasing pressure from urbanization and industrialization.
A critical review on recent research progress on microplastic pollutants in drinking water
This critical review synthesizes research on microplastic contamination in drinking water sources and treatment systems. The study highlights that microplastics have been found in rivers, lakes, and treatment facilities worldwide, and that bioaccumulation of these persistent particles through drinking water represents a potential concern that requires further investigation into health effects and improved removal technologies.
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.
Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in South African beverages
Researchers measured microplastic occurrence and characterized particles found in multiple South African beverages including bottled water, soft drinks, and juice, finding plastic contamination across all categories. The study assessed associated human dietary exposure from beverage consumption.
Occurrence, Fate, and Treatment of Micro/Nano Plastics in Drinking Water Sources
This review examines the occurrence, fate, and treatment of micro- and nanoplastics in drinking water sources, covering how these particles enter water supplies and what treatment technologies exist to remove them. The authors note significant gaps in both detection methods and removal efficiency.
A review on the presence of microplastics in Asian water and health consequences
Researchers reviewed studies from across Asia and found microplastics in virtually every type of freshwater source — rivers, lakes, tap water, groundwater, and bottled water — with concentrations varying widely by country, raising public health concerns especially where waste management infrastructure is limited.