V1I9P10

Microplastic: A Silent Contaminant in Aquatic Ecosystems and Its Ecological Consequences

Taiwo Bakare-Abidola^1*, Mustapha Saidu², Iyiola Aanuoluwa Temitayo³, Ahmad Alaaya Mashood⁴ , Sodiq Atanda Isiaka⁵, Nwachukwu  Onwuchekwa⁶, Chioma Onwuchekwa⁷

Abstract

Microplastics, plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, are emerging pollutants in aquatic environments with serious ecological consequences. This study assessed their presence in Lagos, Nigeria, through field sampling of water, sediment, and aquatic organisms across freshwater, marine, and shoreline environments. Laboratory analysis revealed high microplastic concentrations in marine surface waters (10 particles/L) and sediments (8.4 particles/g). Zooplankton showed the highest ingestion rate (25 particles/individual), while bioaccumulation factors reached 5.0 in zooplankton and 4.2 in mollusks. Toxicity assays in fish indicated increased oxidative stress, with MDA rising from 0.3 to 0.38 µM and SOD dropping from 10.0 to 7.8 µM. These findings highlight the widespread contamination and biological risks of microplastics, calling for urgent regulatory and mitigation efforts.

Keywords: Microplastic pollution; Aquatic contamination; Marine ecosystems; Environmental toxicology; Plastic particles; Bioaccumulation; Pollutant vectors; Water quality; W,o lqo ; Nanoplastic impact; Ecosystem degradation