Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of Microplastics in Borehole Drinking Water and Sediments in Lagos, Nigeria

Researchers detected microplastics in borehole drinking water and sediments in Lagos, Nigeria, finding fibres and fragments in the majority of samples, indicating that groundwater sources used for drinking are contaminated with plastic particles and posing potential health risks to communities relying on borehole water.

2022 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Concentration, characterization, and risk assessment of microplastics in two main rivers in Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in two major rivers in Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria, that serve as sources for drinking water, fishing, and farming. Significant concentrations of microplastics were detected in both rivers, predominantly fibers and fragments composed of polyamide and polyethylene, with pollution load indices exceeding safe thresholds and indicating moderate to high ecological risk.

2024 Environmental Health Engineering and Management 3 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024
Article Tier 2

Microplastic particles in river sediments and water of southwestern Nigeria: insights on the occurrence, seasonal distribution, composition, and source apportionment

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in river water and sediments across southwestern Nigeria, providing some of the first baseline data for the region. They found microplastics at every sampling site, with fibers and fragments being the most common forms, and concentrations varying by season and location. The study points to urban runoff, agricultural activities, and inadequate waste management as the primary sources of this pollution.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Contamination, morphological and chemical characterization, and hazard risk analyses of microplastics in drinking water sourced from groundwater in a developing nation

Researchers analyzed groundwater from six coastal districts in a developing nation and found widespread microplastic contamination, with fibers and fragments of polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common types. Since groundwater is the primary drinking water source in many developing countries, this contamination represents a direct pathway for microplastic ingestion by millions of people.

2024 Frontiers in Environmental Science 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Assessment of Human Exposure to Microplastic Particles in Bottled Water From Southwest, Nigeria

Researchers tested eight brands of bottled water from southwest Nigeria and found microplastics in all of them, averaging about 15 particles per liter, mostly in the form of fibers. Children were estimated to consume three to four times more microplastics per kilogram of body weight than adults from bottled water. The study adds to growing evidence that bottled water is a significant source of human microplastic exposure, especially for children.

2025 Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research 6 citations
Article Tier 2

From source to distribution channel: A baseline study of microplastic occurrence in drinking water in Ogun State, Nigeria

Researchers measured microplastics in the drinking water system of Ogun State, Nigeria, from raw water through treatment to tap water, finding 10-16 particles per liter at every stage. Treatment plants removed about 40% of microplastics, but levels actually increased again in tap water, likely from contamination in the distribution pipes. Children were estimated to consume more microplastics per body weight than adults, highlighting the need for better water treatment in developing countries.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental and Toxicological Perspectives of Soil Microplastics in Northern Nigeria

This study examined microplastic occurrence and toxicological implications in soils of Northern Nigeria, identifying agricultural plastics, industrial waste, and urban runoff as key sources. The research addressed a gap in African soil MP research and highlighted ecosystem and food safety risks in the region.

2025 Journal of African Innovation and Advanced Studies
Article Tier 2

Groundwater quality and associated health risks in the Eastern Region of Ghana

Researchers assessed groundwater quality across 136 boreholes in eastern Ghana and found that about 32% had poor to unsafe water quality, with contamination from iron, manganese, fluoride, and nitrates. While not focused on microplastics specifically, the study reveals that groundwater relied on by millions of people in developing regions faces multiple contamination threats. These findings connect to microplastics research because plastic particles in soil can also leach into groundwater supplies.

2025 Heliyon 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and Distribution of Microplastics as Emerging Contaminants in Public Water Supply Dams of Jos-Bukuru Metropolis, Plateau State

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in raw water from public water supply dams in the Jos-Bukuru metropolitan area of Nigeria using oil extraction methods. Microplastics were detected across all sampled facilities, with concentrations varying alongside physicochemical water parameters, pointing to infrastructure and catchment management as key risk factors.

2025 Advanced International Journal for Research
Article Tier 2

First insight into microplastic groundwater pollution in Latin America: the case of a coastal aquifer in Northwest Mexico

Researchers conducted the first investigation of microplastic pollution in groundwater in Latin America, analyzing six capped boreholes in a coastal aquifer in northwest Mexico for microplastic abundance, concentration, and characteristics. The study detected microplastics in groundwater samples, establishing baseline contamination data for this understudied environmental compartment and raising concerns about drinking water quality in the region.

2022 Research Square (Research Square) 3 citations
Article Tier 2

First evidence of microplastics and their characterization in bottled drinking water from a developing country

Scientists in a developing country analyzed 10 brands of bottled drinking water and found microplastics in all samples, with concentrations varying by brand. The most common particles were polyethylene and polypropylene fragments and fibers, likely originating from the plastic bottle caps and packaging. This study adds to evidence that bottled water is a significant source of daily microplastic intake for people worldwide.

2023 Frontiers in Environmental Science 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and transport of microplastics in groundwater (Shiraz aquifer, southwest Iran)

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in groundwater from an alluvial aquifer in a semi-arid region of Iran. They identified microplastics in all sampled wells, with fibers and fragments being the most common shapes and polyethylene the dominant polymer type. The study demonstrates that groundwater, an important source of drinking water, is not immune to microplastic contamination and calls for more research on transport mechanisms in subsurface environments.

2022 Water Research 84 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

Assessment of fishes, sediment and water from some inland rivers across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria for microplastics

Researchers analyzed fish, sediment, and water samples from inland rivers in Nigeria for microplastic contamination, finding particles across all matrices sampled. The study provides baseline pollution data for a region with limited prior microplastic monitoring.

2024 Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 8 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
Article Tier 2

Assessing microplastic contamination in drinking water: implications for vulnerable populations in Tema, Ghana

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in tap water and sachet water at eight institutions in two communities, measuring fiber, bead, fragment, and film types. MPs were detected in all sample types, with sachet water showing higher contamination in some locations, raising equity concerns about water safety for populations dependent on packaged water.

2025 Journal of Water Sanitation and Hygiene for Development
Article Tier 2

Microplastics pollution indices of bottled water from South Eastern Nigeria

Microplastic contamination was evaluated in bottled water from South Eastern Nigeria using scanning electron microscopy, with pollution load indices and estimated daily intake calculated for adults and children, representing the first documented study of microplastics in bottled water from this region.

2021 International Journal of Environmental & Analytical Chemistry 71 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

Microplastics profile in fishes from selected burrow pits: a case of plastic pollution in Kano metropolis, Nigeria

Researchers detected microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts, gills, and muscle tissues of Nile tilapia and redbelly tilapia collected from burrow pits in Kano, Nigeria, confirming that plastic pollution has penetrated freshwater fish in a landlocked urban African setting.

2022 Environmental Forensics 4 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

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.

2025 Cleaner Water 2 citations
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

Presence and Abundance of Microplastics in Benthic Organisms from Some Niger Delta, Nigeria Coastal Rivers

Researchers investigated the presence and abundance of microplastics in benthic organisms collected from coastal rivers in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, documenting contamination levels in organisms from these ecologically significant waterways.

2025 SPIRE - Sciences Po Institutional REpository