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Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris
Published on: July 28, 2018
16.2K
Sediments microplastics along three Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes demonstrated variation in polymer composition and
Mathewos Hailu1, Tadesse Fetahi2, Seyoum Mengistou2
1Africa Centre of Excellence for Water Management, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
|August 2, 2025
Summary
Microplastic pollution is severe in Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes, with higher wet-season concentrations. Fibers and fragments made of polyamide, polyethylene, and polypropylene dominate, indicating urgent waste management needs.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Ecotoxicology
- Water Quality Assessment
Background:
- Microplastic contamination is a growing global concern in freshwater ecosystems.
- Data on microplastic pollution in African lakes, particularly the Ethiopian Rift Valley, is limited.
- Understanding microplastic distribution is crucial for assessing ecological and human health risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively assess microplastic pollution in sediments of Lakes Ziway, Hawassa, and Koka.
- To investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of microplastics.
- To determine the influence of land use and seasonal changes on microplastic contamination.
Main Methods:
- Sediment samples were collected from the three lakes during both wet and dry seasons.
- Microplastic abundance, types (fibers, fragments, etc.), and polymer composition were analyzed.
- Pollution Load Index (PLI) was calculated to assess contamination levels.
Main Results:
- Microplastic concentrations ranged from 20 to 740 particles kg⁻¹.
- Lake Koka showed the highest mean concentration (454.17 particles kg⁻¹), followed by Hawassa and Ziway.
- Wet-season concentrations were significantly higher than dry-season levels, with fibers and fragments predominating.
- Polyamides, polyethylene, and polypropylene were the most common polymers identified.
- Pollution Load Index values indicated severe contamination across all lakes, with Koka showing the highest PLI (4.76).
Conclusions:
- The study confirms widespread microplastic contamination in the studied Ethiopian lakes.
- Surface runoff during the wet season significantly contributes to microplastic transport.
- Anthropogenic activities and hydrological processes are key drivers of microplastic pollution.
- Urgent targeted waste management strategies and further research on ecological/health impacts are necessary.
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