The importance of microplastics pollution studies in water and soil of Nigeria = ecosystems

Verla Andrew Wirnkor^{a, Enyoh
Christian Ebere^a,*, Verla Evelyn Ngozi^b}

^a Gr= oup Research in Analytical Chemistry, Environment and Climate change (GRACE&CC), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Imo State University, Owerri, Imo State Nigeria

^b Department of Environmental Technology, Federal University of Technology, O= werri, Imo State Nigeria

*Corresponding author: *Cenyoh@gmail.com, verngo@yah= oo.com

Abstract

The ubiquity of microplastics in the environment= is a novel problem to scientist, public media, governmental and non-government= al organization. The major problem is from the difficultness in removing them = from the ecosystem. Elsewhere studies are being conducted while in Nigeria studi= es are relatively lacking. Production (10.3 %) and consumption (6.5 %) of plas= tics is on the increase annually, thereby, causing an increase in the amount of plastic waste generated annually. This is turn may potentially causing high microplastics pollution in Nigeria. Many reports have shown that microplast= ics could cause harm to man, animals and plants and exposure (or ingestion) cou= ld come from air, water and soil. Few studies have been conducted in Nigeria a= nd reports have suggested high abundance of microplastics in Nigeria freshwater system. Following these observations, there is a clear need for more detail= ed studies focusing on the quantitative and qualitative determination of occurrence of microplastics in Nigeria ecosystem. Finally, from such studie= s, data generated will provide insight and understanding into the extent of mi= croplastic pollution in Nigeria. Furthermore, the data will be important not only for = both remediation and minimization of effects, but could be employed in averting = occurrence through policies such as ban on some types of plastic uses in Nigeria. In this study, four manually generally microplastic types (PVC, acrylics, polyesters, silicones) were evaluated for heavy metals (Pb, Cd, H= g, and As) adsorption at optimized pH by ETAAS. <= /span>

Keyword: Environment pollution, Human health, Micropollutants, Heavy metals, Nigeria, Soil and Water pollution

1.&n= bsp; Main body

According to Plastic Europe [1], producing and using plastics are vital in creating a mo= re sustainable future because of specific properties including their light-wei= ght, versatility and durability. However, the proposed sustainable future is not sustainable since plastic (including macro, meso and microplastics) polluti= on is now potentially deleterious and harmful to global ecosystem. As an increasing global issue, microplastic (from the degradation of macroplastic= ) contamination in marine, terrestrial and atmospheric environments is attracting significa= nt attention from scientists, policy makers, and the public [2-7]. Microplasti= cs are now naturally ubiquitous and have been detected in pelagic and neritic regi= ons, deepest part of the ocean and highest (Tibetan Plateau) plateau of the worl= d in significant quantities [6, 8-10]. In an effort to combat microplastic pollution, many governments in different continents worldwide have banned plastic use (especially single-use) and are encouraging recycling of plasti= cs. Notable continents include Europe (England, Italy, Wales, Scotland, Germany), Asia = (India, China, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Taiwan), A= ustralia, America (California, certain areas in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Colombi= a) while some African countries (Kenya, Mali, Cameroon, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Morocco, South Africa, Rwanda, and Botswana) have also banned plast= ic bags [11], though in principle but not in practice. In Nigeria, the problem of plastic pollution still persist and potentially on the increase, even though there = are existing laws that may tackle these problems [12], but are not implemented = or are poorly enforced [13]. Plastic industry in Nigeria is receiving massive investment and thus experiencing significant growth. In Sub-Sahara Africa, = excluding South Africa, Nigeria is the largest importer of plastics technology. The plastic types produced and imported in Nigeria are thermoplastics comprised mainly of <= span style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;line-height:200%;font-family:"Times New Roman","s= erif"'>polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA; PA6 + PA66), polyethylene terephthalate resin (PET), polyethylene (PE; high density-PE, low density-PE, Linear low-density-PE), = poly vinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (AB= S), styrene-acrylonitrile resin (SAN) and polycarbonate (PC) [14]. There is a strong steady increase = in plastic production (Figure 1) and consumption (Figure 2) in Nigeria (with n= egligible recycling). In the last decade, Nigeria's plastics production has grown by 10.3% annually, from 120 kt in 2007 to 436 kt in 2018 and is estimated to be 523 kt in 2022 while consumption (by application) has grown by 6.5% annuall= y, from 578 kt in 2007 to 1.148 kt in 2017 and is estimated to be 1.478 kt in = 2022 (Figure 2). Majority of plastic consumed (by application) is by packaging (= 55 %), 16 % by construction, 6 % for automotive and the remainder by various industries. So it is expected that the problem of microplastic pollution wi= ll increase as well (Figure 3), since there are currently no measure for curbi= ng plastic waste in Nigeria. It is estimated that 10 % of plastic consumed ann= ually in Nigeria end up as wastes in the environment and may continue to rise with increasing population. According to the estimates of United nations environ= ment program [15], 6.4 million tons of plastic litter enters the world oceans ea= ch year, of which Nigeria is a major contributor (9^th largest emitters), largely through the river Niger [16]. The river receives its was= tes mainly from inland waterbodies in the country. Furthermore, 90 % of all the plastic that reaches the world’s oceans are from ten countries, with Nigeria as one of them [17-18].

Fig. 1. Plastic production in Nigeria (Data source: [14]).=

Fig. 2. Plastic consumption in Nigeria (Data source: [14]).

Fig. 3. Plastic waste (estimated) generated from plastic consumption in Nigeria

Plastics persist in the environ= ment and can “outlive” humans by several hundred years (e.g PET degradation time ranged from 450-1000 years while average lifespan of human= is < 100 years). So the first produced plastics in 1907 called “Bakelite” may still be in the environment till now (if not recycled). Sadly, plastic production in Nigeria is on the increase annually. The steady and huge increase in production and consumption is responsible f= or high plastic waste generation in Nigeria (Figure 3). Recent studies have shown that plastic is abundance in inland freshwater systems in Nigeria, often received from cities via surface run off [13]. Enyoh et. al., in 2019 [13] reported that plastic contributed= 59 % of the 3487 macrodebris items/m² counted from shore of Rivers = in Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo state. Similarly, a study of Cross Ri= ver, Qua Iboe River and Jaja Creek in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria for suspended marine li= tter also reported high quantity of plastic (> 5000 kg/m²) compare= d to other waste (can, foil etc < 1000 kg/m²) [19]. Reports have s= hown that Macroplastics correlated strongly with microplastics indicating that wherever there is high abundance of macroplastics, there will be a corresponding high abundance of microplastics in that area [13,20]. Therefore, quantifying t= he abundance of microplastics and identifying their major sources in Nigerian environments is important to understand the potentially adverse impacts of microplastics to ecological systems in the country.

Extensive studies are being conducted in other countries regarding the occurrence, fate, and implicatio= n of microplastic in ecosystems [3-4, 6,8, 21-23], while similar studies in Nige= rian environment are very scarce [13]. This is probably due to lack of awareness and/or lack of standard methods for analysis [24]. Many people including government officials and health workers are not aware of the dangers associ= ated with microplastic pollution because they have been taught that plastic is a safe material. Microplastics can serve as vectors to toxic chemicals in the environment and due to their small sizes; they can easily be ingested, wher= e it may pose particle and chemical toxicity as well as microbial toxins through formed biofilm [6]. To the be= st of our knowledge, few studies (n =3D 3) covering 7 areas have been conducted in Nigeria till date (Table 1). Three invertebrates (L. varicus., M. tubercula= ta and T. fluviatilis) studi= ed from Osun river system as bioindicators for microplastics pollution in Nige= ria revealed high quantity of fibre and three polymer types via PE, PP and nylon [25]. Briggs et al., focused on method development, however from re-interpretatio= n of their results, one could say that there is high abundance of microplastics = in surface water from Elechi creek (an area which experiences petroleum-indust= ry related activities) [26]. Reconnaissance survey indicated that microplastics may be made up of PE, PS, PET and PA [26].= Enyoh et. al., in 2019 [13] reported small microplastics (11 µ= m) in surface water of Obiaraedu, Nwangele, Okumpi, Ogbajarajara and Onuezuze rivers which ranged from 440 to 1556 particles per liter. The shapes were generally fibre, film, fragment with PET, PE, PVC, PP as types of polymer. Overall studies have implicated significant microplastics pollution in Nige= ria linked to anthropogenic activities.

Table 1. Available studies on microplastics in Nigeria ec= osystem<= /span>

Study area	Region	Media studied	Method used	MP load	Characteristics	Remark	References
Size (μm)	Polymer type	Shape/form
Osun River (Osun state)	South Western, Nigeria	Invertebrates (L. v= aricus., M. tuberculata and T. fluviatilis; as bioindicators)	Micro-FTIR	1.71 ± 0.46 to 6.1 ± 1.05 per g	0.2	PE, PP, nylon	Fibre, Film	Gives the first chemical identification of polymer types in freshwater inverteb= rates	[25]
Elechi creek (Rivers state)=	South South, Nigeria	Freshwater	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Work document for the first time, the sampling and sample extraction of microplastics in Nigeria.	[26]
Obiaraedu, Nwangele, Okumpi, Ogbajarajara and Onuezuze rivers (Imo state)	South Eastern, Niger= ia	Freshwater	Microscopy	440 to 1556 particle= s/L	11	PET, PE, PVC, PP	Fibre, Film, Fragmen= t	First rep= ort on MP quantification, distribution and composition of freshwater MP in Niger= ia. Results from the study indicated high load of microplastics and provided baseline information for future assessments	[13]

N/A- not reported, FTIR-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy.

In Nigeria, knowledge about microplastic contamination of the ecosystem is still negligible, while such studies have been conducted elsewhere, especially in Europe, Asia and Ameri= ca. Preliminary studies show that in Nigeria there are microplastics in freshwa= ter system and may be on the rise with increasing plastic production and consumption. There is a clear need for more detailed studies focusing on the quantitative and qualitative determination of occurrence in Nigeria ecosyst= em [air (indoor and outdoor), soil (including soil animals) and water (surface and groundwater)]. Such studies will provide insight and understanding into the extent of microplastic pollution in Nigeria. Importantly, increasing attent= ion and studies on atmospheric microplastic pollution would be particularly beneficial to the protection of ecosystems in Nigeria, since the country is= most polluted in Africa and fourth in the world regarding air pollution [27]. Furthermore, studies have shown that microlastics may be consumed from open meal in the house from indoor airborne microplastics during fall out and hi= gh during cooking periods [8, 23]. Finally, similar studies would be very important in Nigeria, where cooking is mostly done with stoves, charcoal, firewood etc. Furthermore, habits such as microwaving of food are rampant in Nigeria. This has been fingered as one possible way by which microplastics enter our food.

As stated earlier, heavy metals = (with adverse effects associated with mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic eff= ects [28]) can be absorbed on microplastics and introduce as a major problem in environment [6]. Many methods used for determination heavy metals which were absorbed on microplastics from waters [29-32]. In an attempt to study this phenome= non, four manually generally microplastic types (PVC, acrylics, polyesters, silicones= ) were evaluated for heavy metal adsorption. Heavy metals such as Pb, Cd, Hg, and = As was used with different concentration from 100-1000 μg L^-1 in batch system with 20 mg of microplastics by vary times (min). Results showed in pH=3D3-6 high adsorption was achieved by surface of microplastics (PVC) at 60 min (pH=3D4-5). After, 60 min. the he= avy metals desorption from PVC powder (1 g) with nitric acid 0.5 M(5 mL) and af= ter dilution with 5 mL of DW, determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (= AAS). The results showed, the adsor= ption capacity for PVC for Hg, Pb, Cd, and As was obtained 68.4 mg g^-1= , 52.3 mg g^-1,48.5 mg g^-1and 35.6 mg g^-1,⁼respectively(Hg>Pb>Cd >As). So, microplastics (PVC powder) help in the removal heavy metals fr= om waters and convert to new solid pollution in waters which must be removed (= Fig. 4-6).

= Fig. 4. The effect of pH on lead and cadmium extraction by microplasti= cs

= Fig. 5. The effect of pH on mercury extraction by microplastics =

= Fig. 6. The effect of pH on arsenic extraction by microplastics <= /o:p>

2.&n= bsp; Conclusion

= Micr= oplastic studies are conspicuously absent from the huge volumes of journal papers fr= om Nigerian authors. This unawareness is exacerbated by the general belief that plastics are non-toxic, biochemically inert and safe. Researchers elsewhere= in the world are exploring the validity and veracity of this statement with ma= ny proposing that plastics degrade to microplastics and are responsible for th= e environment pollution called microplastics pollution. Occasionally microplastics absorb= ed toxic heavy metal from liquid matrix such as sea and rivers. In Nigeria, studies are not even a foot in understanding this pollution not to talk of awareness. Despite the potential toxicity, there is research currently focu= sing on method of quantification and identification of microplastics in Nigeria = as well as its removal in freshwater system. Also, determination heavy metals = in water and microplastics are very important. As a matter of fact, when fully understood and the adverse effects of microplastics on man, his plants and animals are supported with data, the Nigerian government and policy makers = with call for a ban of plastics as is currently done in developed countries. Therefore, a call is made here for more studies and awareness of this pollu= tant because a stich in time serves nine.

3.&n= bsp; Conflict of interest

The authors declares no conflict= s of interest

4.&n= bsp; Acknowledgement

This work is funded by members of Group Research in Analytical Chemistry, Environment and Climate Change (GRACE&CC) with funding number GRACE&CC05/19/FUNDS.

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