Abstract
This study is aimed at the preliminary investigation of microplastics as carrier of heavy metals pollution in surface sediment. Heavy metals concentration was determined by FAAS while microplastics characterization was analysed by ATR-FTIR spectrophotometer. The results obtained showed high level of lead (Pb) concentrations which ranged from 21.37 - 32.80 mg/kg across the sampling sites while Cd has the least concentration between 0.04 - 0.80 mg/kg. The concentration of Pb and Cd were above the USEPA permissible limit in sediment. The following absorption bands; 2978.19, 1728.28 and 1458.23 cm-1 with the functional groups; C-H stretch, C=O stretch and CH2 bend indicates the presence of Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) in site S2 and S4 respectively. Other microplastics found in the sampling sites are Nylon, Nitrile, Polycarbonate and Poly propylene. This indicates that there is identical distribution of the microplastics in the sampling sites. The quantities of microplastics isolated ranged from 8.11 - 8.16 g across the sites. Aquatic organisms fed on these polymeric materials because of their unique appearance. Hence, heavy metals adsorption will lead to higher concentrations on microplastics which could be ingested and lead serious complication in their intestine.
Highlights
Water has faced series of challenges ranges from point and non point sources of pollution and these challenges have remained the same from time immemorial, the nature of pollution has evolved and lengthened over time
Plastic debris are found in seas, oceans and large body of festered water worldwide [1, 2] mostly constituted by organic pollutants such as microplastics. [3, 4]
Microplastics are ingested by fish and other aquatic organisms when feeding in sediments
Summary
Water has faced series of challenges ranges from point and non point sources of pollution and these challenges have remained the same from time immemorial, the nature of pollution has evolved and lengthened over time. Freshwater biotas all over the planet earth are being endangered by both old and new form of pollutants. Plastic debris are found in seas, oceans and large body of festered water worldwide [1, 2] mostly constituted by organic pollutants such as microplastics. Defines microplastics as plastic constituent part smaller than 5 mm in size. Microplastics are ingested by fish and other aquatic organisms when feeding in sediments. Once ingested, it results to problems like pseudo satiation, obstruction of the intestine, endocrine disorder through percolated plasticizers and contamination by adhered pollutants can arise [7, 8]. Some sea debris has the colour that resemble that of their prey which
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