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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Framing the plastic pollution problem within the water quality-health nexus: Current understandings and policy recommendations
ClearPlastics 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.
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.
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.
The Health and Environmental Impact of Plastic Waste Disposal in South African Townships: A Review
This review examines the health and environmental impacts of plastic waste disposal in South African townships, where inadequate waste management infrastructure leads to significant plastic pollution. Researchers found that improper disposal causes soil and water contamination, contributes to microplastic pollution, and poses direct health risks to community residents. The study calls for improved recycling infrastructure and community-based waste management solutions in underserved areas.
An overview of the prevalence of micro- and nanoplastics in the Southern African development community: a potential risk to environmental and public health
This systematic review examined micro- and nanoplastic pollution across Southern Africa's freshwater systems. Rivers, lakes, and wetlands that communities depend on for drinking water and food production were found to be contaminated. Rapid urbanization and poor waste management are driving the problem, raising concerns about public health in the region.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Water: Impacts of plastic pollution on human health and biological systems
This literature review examined the impacts of plastic pollution on water quality and biological systems, documenting how mismanaged plastics contaminate water bodies and enter food chains, ultimately posing risks to human health through direct exposure and bioaccumulation.
Marine and freshwater microplastic research in South Africa
This review summarizes microplastic research in South Africa, noting that both marine and freshwater studies are still limited but growing. The review highlights key knowledge gaps, particularly in freshwater environments, that need to be addressed to understand the extent of South Africa's microplastic contamination.
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.
Land-based sources and pathways of marine plastics in a South African context
This review evaluates the major land-based sources and pathways — including informal dumping, inadequate waste facilities, and stormwater — by which plastic waste enters the ocean in the South African context, highlighting infrastructure gaps as a key driver.
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.
Effects of urbanisation and a wastewater treatment plant on microplastic densities along a subtropical river system
Researchers quantified microplastic pollution in sediments along a subtropical river system in southern Africa and examined how urbanization and wastewater treatment affect contamination levels. They found that microplastic densities were highest near urban areas and downstream of wastewater treatment plants. The study suggests that urban development and inadequate wastewater infrastructure are key drivers of freshwater microplastic pollution in the region.
Water and health: From environmental pressures to integrated responses
This paper analyzes how water pollution, including plastic contamination, affects human health using a Drivers-Pressures-State-Impacts-Responses framework combined with a literature review. Researchers found that while the pathways from pollution sources to health impacts differ greatly for chemicals, pathogens, and plastics, the potential water management responses share remarkable similarities. The study argues that integrated water resource management can simultaneously address multiple health threats, including those posed by microplastic pollution.
Microplastics in aquatic environment: characterization, ecotoxicological effect, implications for ecosystems and developments in South Africa
This review examined microplastic sources, transport, chemical interactions, characterization methods, and ecotoxicological effects in aquatic environments, with a focus on the South African context. The authors assessed microplastic fate in wastewater treatment plants and summarized the current state and trends of microplastic research in South African freshwater and marine ecosystems.
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.
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.
The Impact of Water Pollution Caused by Plastic Waste: A Threat to Ecosystems and Health
This review investigates how microplastics and larger plastic waste contaminate water bodies, disrupt aquatic life, damage biodiversity, and enter food chains, posing risks to both ecosystems and human health. The study uses a quantitative approach to assess pollution impacts and presents strategies including reduced plastic use, improved waste disposal, and promotion of sustainable alternatives.
Breaking the plastic cycle in Africa: Advancing sustainable solutions for single-use plastic reduction in marine ecosystem beyond current policies
This paper reviews the scale of single-use plastic pollution across Africa and evaluates current policies for reducing plastic waste in marine ecosystems. The analysis calls for stronger and more targeted interventions given Africa's rapidly growing plastic waste output and limited recycling infrastructure.