Quantification and Characterization of Microplastic Distribution in Surface Water and Sediments of the River Benue Ecosystem, Makurdi, Nigeria
Keywords:
Microplastics; freshwater pollution; sediment; surface water; polymer characterisation; μ-FTIRAbstract
Microplastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems is a growing concern, yet quantitative data for major Nigerian rivers remains sparse. This study provides the first systematic survey of microplastic pollution in the River Benue at Makurdi, analyzing 36 surface water and 36 sediment samples across six sites during the dry and early wet seasons of 2024. Following isolation via vacuum filtration and density separation, particles were enumerated using stereo microscopy and polymer-typed via mu-FTIR spectroscopy. Results revealed that microplastics were ubiquitous, with concentrations ranging from 118–412 particles/L in water and 276–1,186 particles/kg dw in sediment. Fibres dominated the morphology (55.4%), while PET (32.6%), PP (23.1%), and PE (20.4%) were the primary polymers identified. Pollution levels significantly peaked at urban commercial sites near markets and drainage outfalls (p < 0.001), with wet season concentrations 1.6 – 1.9 times higher than dry season levels. These findings indicate that the River Benue exhibits contamination levels among the highest recorded for tropical West African rivers, establishing a critical baseline for environmental management, fisheries conservation, and pollution regulation in Nigeria.
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