Microplastics pollution indices of bottled water from South Eastern Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The pollution indices of microplastic content in bottled water from South Eastern Nigeria were evaluated. Microplastic contamination factors, pollution load and risk index, polymer risk indices and estimated daily intake for adults and children were determined. Microplastic concentrations, types and shapes were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) – energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). From documented literature, this is the first study on microplastics in bottled water from Africa. The microplastics were found in 92% of the samples. The four types of microplastics were polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) while the dominant shapes were fragment, film and pellet/granule. Principal component analysis shows strong association of the concentration of microplastics with total solids and total suspended solids. Pollution risk indices show medium pollution risks of microplastics in bottled water. The estimated daily intake was generally low and therefore shows no risk from daily consumption but reveals a higher intake of microplastics for children than adults. The source of the MPs was attributed to leaching from the packaging material, which should be monitored by appropriate regulatory bodies.

KEYWORDS:

• Microplastics
• bottled water
• pollution indices
• SEM/EDS
• polymer risk indices

Acknowledgments

We are indebted to the staff and management of Materials Science and Engineering Department of African University of Science and Technology Abuja, and the National Centre for Energy Research and Development, University of Nigeria Nsukka, for using their equipment.

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and/or its supplementary materials.

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.