Microplastics in carnivorous fish species, water and sediments of a coastal urban lagoon in Nigeria

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2023-04, Vol.30 (19), p.55948-55957
• Main Authors: Dada, Olusegun A., Bello, Jummai O.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; carnivores; Catfishes; Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecosystem; ecosystems; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental science; Fibers; Fish; Food chains; Food contamination; Geologic Sediments; Hepsetus odoe; herbivores; Household wastes; human food chain; human health; Humans; Lachnolaimus maximus; Lagoons; Marine debris; Marine ecosystems; Marine organisms; Microplastics; Nigeria; Oreochromis niloticus; Plastic debris; Plastic pollution; Plastics; pollution; Pollution sources; Research Article; Sediments; Waste Water Technology; Water; Water Management; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26410-w

Plastic marine debris is a common source of pollution. Recent research has shown that plastic debris has a negative impact on marine organisms and the environment. For the first time, we investigated the presence of microplastics (MPs) in the Nigerian Lagos Lagoon ecosystem water, sediment, and the most important fish species ( Hepsetus odoe , Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus , Oreochromis niloticus , and Lachnolaimus maximus ). MPs were found in water, sediment, and three carnivorous fish species ( H. odoe , C. nigrodigitatus , and L. maximus ), except for herbivorous O. niloticus, raising concerns about the health of the Nigerian Lagos Lagoon ecosystem and the human food chain. Across the lagoon, fibres were more concentrated in the water, while fragments predominated in the sediment. Plastic debris from recreational, industrial, and domestic wastes contributed significantly to this contamination. Given the potential dangers of MPs to human health, it is critical to protect the ecosystem and its inhabitants in the Lagoon from plastic pollution. Our findings highlight the need for urgent measures to protect Nigeria's fragile coastal and marine ecosystems.