Assessment of Microplastic Contamination in Surface Water of River Benue in Makurdi Metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria

Microplastic contamination has emerged as a significant environmental concern, with freshwater ecosystems increasingly recognized as critical zones for contamination. This study investigated microplastics contamination in surface water of River Benue in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Water samples were collected from five locations namely; Brewery, Wadata market, Rice mill Wadata, New bridge and Old bridge as the selected sites of the river Benue within Makurdi metropolis and taken to the laboratory for sample preparation and extraction of microplastics. Microplastic particles were identified with Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The findings reveal widespread contamination, with microplastic concentrations varying along the river’s course. The abundance of microplastics was found to be 51.32± 0.49 in old bridge (OD), 54.02 ±0.46 in Wadata market (WD), 53.98 ± 0.26 in Rice mill (RM), 39.98 ±0.72 in New bridge (NB), and 49.77± 0.52 in Brewery Site (BW) particles/kg in sediment, and 7.64 ± 0.22 in 3L of water sample in Old bridge( OD), 10.46 ± 0.72 in Wadata market(WD), 7.96 ± 0.22 in Rice mill wadata (RM), 3.92 ± 0.44 in New brigde (NB), and 13.14 ± 0.28 in Brewery site (BW) particles/L in water. The predominant types of microplastics identified primarily composed of polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide and polyester the most commonly used Polymers. The Benue State government should provide good recycling facilities to help reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in river Benue and also monitor the river and its environs to ensure proper waste disposal and management.