Eco-toxic Risk Assessment of microplastics in water and sediment across Nigeria Offshore, Gulf of Guinea

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment 2024-10, Vol.196 (10), p.906, Article 906
• Main Authors: Yakub, Ademola Semiu, Bassey, Bassey Okon, Bello, Adebowale Ibrahim, Bello, Beatrice Omolola, Olapoju, Oluwabukunola Ayokunmi, Agwu, Ogochukwu Angela, Balogun, Kayode James, Igbo, Juliet Kelechi, Ajani, Gloria, Odedere, Adelodun Omotayo, Izge, Musa Abdullahi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alcohols; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Composition; Contamination; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental impact; Environmental legislation; Environmental Management; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental monitoring programs; Filaments; Fourier transforms; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Infrared analysis; Infrared spectroscopy; Legislation; Marine environment; Microplastics; Microplastics - analysis; Microspheres; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Neoprene; Nigeria; Offshore; Plastic debris; Plastic pollution; Plastics; Pollutant load; Pollution; Pollution control; Pollution index; Pollution load; Polymer films; Polymers; Polyvinyl alcohol; Reflectance; Risk Assessment; Risk levels; Seawater - chemistry; Sediment; Sediment samplers; Sediment samples; Sediments; Spectroscopy; Stereomicroscopy; Water; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-13021-2

Globally, the environmental impacts of microplastics (MPs) as emerging pollutants have drawn a lot of attention. This study aimed to assess the distribution and associated potential ecotoxic risk of MPs in the water and sediment of Nigeria’s offshore waters. Water and sediment samples were collected from sixteen (16) stations in October 2023 and analysed using Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and stereomicroscopy. For physical characterization, the composition of MPs in sediment and water was 73 particles/kg and 48 particles/L, respectively, while the ATR-FTIR composition at the Eastern Zone (EZ) was 705 particles/L and 1033 particles/kg, the Central Zone (CZ) was 212 particles/L and 338 particles/kg, and the Western Zone (WZ) was 223 particles/L and 218 particles/kg. The identified MPs shapes were filaments, plastic films, fibre, and microbeads. Polychloroprene (CR) (18.10% and 16.86%) at EZ and CZ and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (20.64%) at WZ were most abundant in sediment, respectively. In comparison, PVA (22.3%, 22.2%, and 21.08%) was most abundant across EZ, CZ, and WZ in water. The polymer-based plastic contamination factors (ppCf) and pollution load index (pPLI) showed low contamination and pollution load, and the polymer risk index (pRi) showed medium and low risk in water and sediment, respectively. The polymer ecological risks index (pERI) showed a high-risk level (pERI: 1,001–10,000) in water and sediment across the EZ, CZ, and WZ of the Nigerian offshore waters. In marine environments, an extensive environmental monitoring program and trend forecasting for microplastics are crucial. This study will provide theoretical and technical support for developing efficient legislation or policy on the prevention and control of plastic pollution.