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Mahu E, Vanderpuye-Orgle TJ, Boateng CM, Edusei MO, Yeboah GA, Chuku EO, Okpei P, Okyere I, Dodoo-Arhin D, Akintoye EA. Quantification and characterization of microplastics ingested by mangrove oysters across West Africa. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024:10.1007/s11356-024-34470-9. [PMID: 39088173 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34470-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic ingestion by marine organisms presents a challenge to both ecosystem functioning and human health. We characterized microplastic abundance, shape, size, and polymer types ingested by the West African mangrove oyster, Crassostrea tulipa (Lamarck, 1819) sampled from estuaries and lagoons from the Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Benin, and Nigeria using optical microscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques. A total of 780 microplastics were isolated in the whole tissues of the 250 oysters (n = 50 oysters per country). The abundance and distribution of microplastics in the oysters followed the pattern: the Gambia > Ghana > Sierra Leone > Nigeria > Benin. The Tanbi wetlands in the Gambia recorded the highest average of 10.50 ± 6.69 per oyster while the Ouidah lagoon in Benin recorded the lowest average of 1.80 ± 1.90 per oyster. Overall, microplastic numbers varied significantly (p < 0.05) among the five countries. Microfibers, particularly those within 1001-5000 μm size, dominated the total microplastic count with a few fragments and films. No spherical microplastics were isolated in the oysters. In the Sierra Leone and Benin oysters, fragments and films were absent in the samples. Microplastic between the 1001 and 5000 μm size class dominated the counts, followed by 501-1000 μm, 101-500 μm, and 51-100 μm. Five polymer groups namely polyethylene, polyester, nylon, polypropylene, and polyamide were identified across the five countries, with polyethylene occurring in oysters from all five countries and polyester occurring in all but the oysters from Nigeria. This diversity of polymers suggests varied sources of microplastics ingested by the studied oysters. The absence of microspheres across the five supports findings from other studies that they are the least ingested and highly egested by the oysters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edem Mahu
- Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
| | | | | | - Maurice Oti Edusei
- Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Ernest Obeng Chuku
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Taroona, 7053, Australia
| | - Paulina Okpei
- University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana
| | - Isaac Okyere
- Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, CANS, University of Cape Coast (UCC), Cape Coast, Ghana
- Centre for Coastal Management, Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience - (ACECoR), UCC, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - David Dodoo-Arhin
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
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Kouvara K, Kosmopoulou A, Fakiris E, Christodoulou D, Filippides A, Katsanevakis S, Ioakeimidis C, Geraga M, Xirotagarou P, Galgani F, Papatheodorou G. Assessing marine litter in a highly polluted area in the Mediterranean: A multi-perspective approach in the Saronikos Gulf, Greece. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 203:116497. [PMID: 38796930 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Marine litter poses a significant environmental challenge in the Saronikos Gulf, Greece. Employing an integrated approach, data from both beach and underwater sites were analyzed. The average litter density on beaches was 2.61 items m-2, with plastic being the most common material, notably small polystyrene fragments and cigarette butts. The western part of the Gulf exhibited higher litter density, mainly due to surface circulation patterns. Most beaches fell short of meeting Good Environmental Status criteria for marine litter. Higher litter densities were observed in autumn. Benthic litter density decreased with depth, being 23 times higher in shallower waters, with plastic being the predominant type. This extensive study offers crucial insights into the pollution status and litter distribution in the Saronikos Gulf, contributing significantly to the global understanding of marine litter distribution on coastal ecosystems. Such information is crucial for raising awareness, informing policy decisions, and driving environmental actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Kouvara
- Laboratory of Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography (Oceanus-Lab), Department of Geology, University of Patras, 26504, Greece.
| | - A Kosmopoulou
- A.C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation, Zalokosta 4, Athens 10671, Greece
| | - E Fakiris
- Laboratory of Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography (Oceanus-Lab), Department of Geology, University of Patras, 26504, Greece
| | - D Christodoulou
- Laboratory of Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography (Oceanus-Lab), Department of Geology, University of Patras, 26504, Greece
| | - A Filippides
- OZON, Non-Governmental Organization, Corinth 20100, Greece
| | - S Katsanevakis
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, 81100, Greece
| | - C Ioakeimidis
- UN Environment Programme/Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP), Vas. Konstantinou 48, Athens 11635, Greece
| | - M Geraga
- Laboratory of Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography (Oceanus-Lab), Department of Geology, University of Patras, 26504, Greece
| | - P Xirotagarou
- A.C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation, Zalokosta 4, Athens 10671, Greece
| | - F Galgani
- Ifremer Centre Mediterranée, Laboratoire LER/PAC, immeuble Agostini, ZI Furiani, Bastia, Corse 20600, France
| | - G Papatheodorou
- Laboratory of Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography (Oceanus-Lab), Department of Geology, University of Patras, 26504, Greece
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Hassan HO, Ayeta EG, Ibrahim AA, Omar MF, Abdi SM, Houmed YK, Dirie AM, Faseyi CA. The first assessment of marine litter on somalian coast: The case of Liido Beach, mogadishu. Heliyon 2024; 10:e26593. [PMID: 38420493 PMCID: PMC10901002 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
This paper presents the first assessment of marine litter in the Mogadishu coastal area of Somalia. Samples were collected monthly using 100 m × 40 m transect and classified following OSPAR Marine Litter Survey Guide while litter sources were identified using Ocean Conservancy Marine Debris Index. The results showed a total of 119873 items consisting of plastics (89.47%), clothing items (7.53%), and others (3.00%) recovered from Liido Beach. Litter density ranged from 2.19 items/m2 to 14.18 items/m2 with a mean of 6.25 items/m2 and Clean Coast Index (CCI) suggesting that Liido Beach is extremely dirty (>20 items/m2). In addition, the primary sources of marine litter at the beach are local recreational and shoreline activities (54.12%), and dumping (36.61%). The dominance of plastic litter on the beach poses potential threats to marine biodiversity in the Somalia coastal area and the West Indian Ocean. It is recommended that effective strategies and solutions to mitigate litter on the beach and other coastal areas in Somalia should be developed and compensated with public education and awareness campaigns across the country.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emuobonuvie G Ayeta
- Centre for Coastal Management, Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
- Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
| | | | | | | | | | - Abdulrahman M Dirie
- Green Climate Fund Readiness Project, Global Water Partnerships Africa, Somalia
| | - Charles A Faseyi
- Centre for Coastal Management, Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
- Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana
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Ilechukwu I, Das RR, Reimer JD. Review of microplastics in museum specimens: An under-utilized tool to better understand the Plasticene. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 191:114922. [PMID: 37068343 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
This study summarises the status of microplastic research in marine and freshwater specimens in natural museum collections around the world. Abundances, distributions, and types of microplastics in the archived collections are discussed. Museum collections can fill knowledge gaps on evolution of microplastic pollution before and during the Plasticene era. The specimens in these studies, ranging from plankton to vertebrates, were collected and archived between 1900 and 2019, and are dominated by specimens from marine ecosystems. All the specimens included in this review were preserved by freezing or in ethanol/formaldehyde except for specimens in one study that were preserved via cryomilling. Microfibers were the most common microplastics in the reviewed studies. We recommend more microplastic studies over a wider taxonomic range of species and across a longer span of years utilizing archival specimen collections around the world in order to establish reference points and develop temporal trends for microplastic pollution of the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ifenna Ilechukwu
- Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology (MISE) Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan; Department of Industrial Chemistry, Madonna University, Elele Campus, Rivers State, Nigeria.
| | - Rocktim Ramen Das
- Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology (MISE) Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
| | - James Davis Reimer
- Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology (MISE) Laboratory, Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan; Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
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