Department of Biological Oceanography, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Victoria Island, P.M.B. 12729, Lagos, Nigeria.
Environ Monit Assess. 2024 Sep 9;196(10):906. 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.
全球范围内，作为新兴污染物的微塑料（MPs）的环境影响引起了广泛关注。本研究旨在评估尼日利亚近海海域水和沉积物中 MPs 的分布及其潜在的生态毒性风险。2023 年 10 月，从 16 个站位采集了水样和沉积物样，并使用衰减全反射傅里叶变换红外（ATR-FTIR）光谱法和立体显微镜进行了分析。在物理特性方面，沉积物和水中 MPs 的组成分别为 73 个/千克和 48 个/升，而东部区（EZ）的 ATR-FTIR 组成分别为 705 个/升和 1033 个/千克，中央区（CZ）为 212 个/升和 338 个/千克，西部区（WZ）为 223 个/升和 218 个/千克。鉴定出的 MPs 形状有纤维、塑料薄膜、纤维和微珠。在沉积物中，EZ 和 CZ 中氯丁橡胶（CR）（18.10%和 16.86%）和 WZ 中的聚乙烯醇（PVA）（20.64%）最为丰富。相比之下，在整个 EZ、CZ 和 WZ 的水中，PVA（22.3%、22.2%和 21.08%）最为丰富。基于聚合物的塑料污染因子（ppCf）和污染负荷指数（pPLI）显示出低污染和低负荷，水和沉积物中的聚合物风险指数（pRi）分别显示出中低风险。水和沉积物中整个 EZ、CZ 和 WZ 的聚合物生态风险指数（pERI）均显示出高风险水平（pERI：1001-10000）。在海洋环境中，广泛的环境监测计划和微塑料趋势预测至关重要。本研究将为制定有效的塑料污染防治法规或政策提供理论和技术支持。
