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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to A Review on Pollutants Found in Drinking Water in Sub-Sahara African Rural Communities: Detection and Potential Low-cost Remediation Methods
ClearEmergence 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.
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 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.
Management of Contaminated Drinking Water Source in Rural Communities
This review examines strategies for managing safe drinking water in rural communities facing pressures from population growth, pollution, and climate change. While not focused on microplastics specifically, rural water management challenges include microplastic contamination of groundwater and surface water sources.
Comparative systematic review of low-cost adsorbents for fluoride and heavy metal removal in rural water supplies in South Africa (1 January 2000 – 30 June 2025)
This systematic review compared low-cost adsorbents derived from agricultural and natural materials for removing fluoride and heavy metals from drinking water in rural South Africa. While focused on traditional contaminants, the adsorption techniques reviewed are also applicable to emerging water treatment challenges including microplastic removal in resource-limited settings.
The Presence and Impacts of Microplastics in Drinking Water
This chapter discusses microplastic contamination of freshwater and drinking water, with a focus on developing nations where testing and monitoring infrastructure is limited. Microplastics in drinking water pose public health risks, and the authors argue that cost-effective detection and removal methods need urgent global attention.
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.
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.
Emerging contaminants in rural water: microplastic pollution and its association with agricultural, livestock, and industrial activities in Ecuador
Researchers surveyed 169 samples from 29 rural drinking water systems in southern Ecuador, finding microplastics in 61.5% of samples, with PET as the most frequent polymer and contamination levels correlating with proximity to agricultural, livestock, and industrial activities.
Contaminants in Our Water: Identification and Remediation Methods
This curated research collection presents studies on detecting and removing contaminants from drinking water, including heavy metals, pesticides, and microplastics. Access to safe drinking water remains a global concern, and the collection highlights microplastics as an emerging contaminant requiring new analytical and remediation approaches.
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.
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.
Severity of waterborne diseases in developing countries and the effectiveness of ceramic filters for improving water quality
This review evaluates strategies used in developing countries to combat waterborne diseases, with a focus on ceramic water filters as an affordable purification method. Ceramic filters can effectively remove bacteria, viruses, and chemical contaminants including microplastics from drinking water. With billions of people lacking access to clean water, low-cost filtration methods that also remove emerging contaminants like microplastics are critical for protecting public health.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A Systematic Review of Contaminants of Concern in Uganda: Occurrence, Sources, Potential Risks, and Removal Strategies
This systematic review looked at pollutants threatening Uganda's environment and public health, including microplastics alongside heavy metals, pesticides, and pharmaceutical residues. The study found these contaminants at levels well above safety standards in water sources, raising concerns about antibiotic resistance, hormone disruption, and cancer risk. It highlights how poor wastewater treatment in developing countries can lead to widespread contamination of drinking water.
Microplastics and trace metals across the drinking water supply system of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A case study for low and middle-income countries
Researchers assessed both microplastics and trace metal contamination in the drinking water supply system of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, using advanced spectroscopic methods. They found MPs and elevated metal levels at multiple points in the distribution system, highlighting drinking water safety challenges in low- and middle-income country urban systems.
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.
Evaluating the Risk of Microplastic Contamination of Water Resources: Case of Mfoundi Subbasin-Cameroon
Researchers evaluated microplastic contamination risks to water resources in the Mfoundi subbasin of Cameroon, investigating distribution and potential impacts on this urban water catchment. The study contributes to understanding of microplastic pollution dynamics in sub-Saharan African freshwater systems.
Review of emerging contaminants in water: USA and African perspectives
This review examines emerging water contaminants across the United States and Africa, including microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides. It highlights significant gaps in regulation and monitoring, particularly in African countries where data is limited. The authors recommend a holistic approach combining research, better regulations, and international cooperation to protect water quality and human health globally.
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.
Overview of African water resources contamination by contaminants of emerging concern
This review documented contamination of African water resources by pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, pesticides, PFAS, and microplastics across all five continental regions, finding widespread contamination even in rural and groundwater sources. The authors highlighted major gaps in monitoring infrastructure and treatment capacity needed to protect African populations from these emerging contaminants.