Occurrence of Microplastics in Commercial Fish Species in Nigeria: A Case Study of Lower Usuma Dam and Jabi Lake, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33003/fjs-2026-1013-5534Keywords:
Microplastics, Oreochromis Niloticus, Lates Niloticus, Occurrence, Plastic pollution, Federal Capital TerritoryAbstract
The emergence of microplastics pollution poses a significant environmental and health concern on freshwater ecosystems as well as human health, due to its persistence and potential ecological impacts. Microplastics contamination remains greatly under reported across the Nigerian aquatic ecosystem and as such, only limited data exist for the occurrence of microplastics in the region. This present study was carried to investigate for the first time, the occurrence of microplastics in Lower Usuma Dam and Jabi Lake in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. The gastrointestinal tract of common commercial fish species in the locations Lates niloticus (Nile Perch) and Oreochromis niloticus (Nile Tilapia) were analyzed, and microplastics were found in 60% and 80% of each fish species collected from the two sampling locations. Similarly, a total of 71 microplastics particles were also recovered from water samples collected from the two locations confirming the prevalence of microplastics. Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) were found in the surface water samples while Nylon (N), polyethylene terepthtalate (PET) were predominant in fishes collected. Generally, the shape distribution of microplastics particles were reported in the order fragment>foam>filament>film. Statistical analysis carried out showed no significant relationship between microplastics ingestion in different fish species and microplastics in the selected water bodies (P > 0.05). These findings highlight the need for further research in the region in other to identify and assess the full extent of microplastics pollution and how it affects the aquatic life as well as human health.
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