Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Analysis of Macro- and Microplastics in Riverine, Riverbanks, and Irrigated Farms in Arusha, Tanzania

  • Published:
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Microplastics and macroplastics have been reported in different urban rivers and agricultural soil across the globe. However, the interlink between them has not been previously assessed. The present study evaluated the relationship between macro- and microplastics in the surface water and sediments in riverine, riverbanks, and soils from irrigated farms in Arusha, Tanzania. Detached pieces from macroplastics and suspected particles of microplastics from the samples were analyzed using the total attenuated reflectance–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Statistical analysis showed that the number of microplastics in the sediments was higher than those in the surface water and that in irrigated farms was of four times higher than those found in riverine. Besides, the numbers of microplastics and macroplastics in the irrigation farms were exponentially related, while the macroplastics from the riverbanks had an inverse relationship with the rivers' profile elevation. Macroplastics of polyethylene type dominated in the riverbanks and irrigated farms with an occurrence frequency of 100%, while polystyrene was abundant in all analyzed microplastics samples. In addition, those irrigation farms adjacent to canals had a significant number of microplastics and macroplastics than the distant farms. This study provides new information for the region and others that divert water from an urban river for irrigation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Angnunavuri PN, Attiogbe F, Dansie A, Mensah B (2020) Consideration of emerging environmental contaminants in Africa: Review of occurrence, formation, fate, and toxicity of plastic particles. Sci African 9:e00546. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00546

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biginagwa FJ, Mayoma BS, Shashoua Y, Syberg K, Khan FR (2016) First evidence of microplastics in the African Great Lakes: Recovery from Lake Victoria Nile perch and Nile tilapia. J Great Lakes Res 42:146–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2015.10.012

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Browne MA, Crump P, Niven SJ, Teuten E, Tonkin A, Galloway T, Thompson R (2011) Accumulation of microplastic on shorelines woldwide: sources and sinks. Environ Sci Technol 45:9175–9179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chacha N, Njau KN, Lugomela GV, Muzuka ANN (2018) Hydrogeochemical characteristics and spatial distribution of groundwater quality in Arusha well fields, Northern Tanzania. Appl Water Sci 8:1–23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-018-0760-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen H, Jia Q, Zhao X, Li L, Nie Y, Liu H, Ye J (2020) The occurrence of microplastics in water bodies in urban agglomerations: Impacts of drainage system overflow in wet weather, catchment land-uses, and environmental management practices. Water Res 183:116073. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.116073

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corradini F, Meza P, Eguiluz R, Casado F, Huerta-Lwanga E, Geissen V (2019) Evidence of microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils from sewage sludge disposal. Sci Total Environ. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai Z, Zhang H, Zhou Q, Tian Y, Chen T, Tu C, Fu C, Luo Y (2018) Occurrence of microplastics in the water column and sediment in an inland sea affected by intensive anthropogenic activities. Environ Pollut 242:1557–1565

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • de Souza Machado AA, Kloas W, Zarfl C, Hempel S, Rillig MC (2018) Microplastics as an emerging threat to terrestrial ecosystems. Glob Chang Biol 24:1405–1416

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dobriyal P, Badola R, Tuboi C, Hussain SA (2017) A review of methods for monitoring streamflow for sustainable water resource management. Appl Water Sci 7:2617–2628

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dris R, Gasperi J, Rocher V, Saad M, Renault N, Tassin B (2015) Microplastic contamination in an urban area: a case study in Greater Paris. Environ Chem 12:592–599. https://doi.org/10.1071/EN14167

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dris R, Gasperi J, Saad M, Mirande C, Tassin B (2016) Synthetic fibers in atmospheric fallout: a source of microplastics in the environment. Mar Pollut Bull 104:290–293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frias J, Pagter E, Nash R, O’Connor I, Carretero O, Filgueiras A, Viñas L, Gago J, Antunes J, Bessa F, Sobral P, Goruppi A, Tirelli V, Pedrotti ML, Suaria G, Aliani S, Lopes C, Raimundo J, Caetano M, Palazzo L, de Lucia, Giuseppe Andrea Camedda A, Muniategui S, Grueiro G, Fernandez V, Andrade J, Dris R, Laforsch C, Scholz-Böttcher BM, Gerdts G (2018) Standardised protocol for monitoring microplastics in sediments. JPI-Oceans BASEMAN Proj 33

  • Galloway TS, Cole M, Lewis C (2017) Interactions of microplastic debris throughout the marine ecosystem. Nat Ecol Evol 1:1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horton AA, Dixon SJ (2018) Microplastics: an introduction to environmental transport processes. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Water 5:e1268.

  • Horton AA, Walton A, Spurgeon DJ, Lahive E, Svendsen C (2017) Microplastics in freshwater and terrestrial environments: Evaluating the current understanding to identify the knowledge gaps and future research priorities. Sci Total Environ 586:127–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.190

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/

  • https://simple-plastics.eu/index.html

  • https://www.chinesestandard.net/PDF.aspx/GBT6003.1-2012

  • Jiang C, Yin L, Li Z, Wen X, Luo X, Hu S, Yang H, Long Y, Deng B, Huang L, Liu Y (2019) Microplastic pollution in the rivers of the Tibet Plateau. Environ Pollut 249:91–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.03.022

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kataoka T, Nihei Y, Kudou K, Hinata H (2019) Assessment of the sources and inflow processes of microplastics in the river environments of Japan. Environ Pollut 244:958–965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.10.111

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kijazi AL, Reason CJC (2009) Analysis of the 1998 to 2005 drought over the northeastern highlands of Tanzania. Clim Res. https://doi.org/10.3354/cr00784

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein S, Worch E, Knepper TP (2015) Occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastics in river shore sediments of the Rhine-Main area in Germany. Environ Sci Technol 49:6070–6076

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koelmans B, Pahl S, Backhaus T, Bessa F, van Calster G, Contzen N, Cronin R, Galloway T, Hart A, Henderson L (2019) A scientific perspective on microplastics in nature and society. SAPEA

  • Komakech HC, de Bont C (2018) Differentiated access: Challenges of equitable and sustainable groundwater exploitation in Tanzania. Water Alterna 11(3):623–637

    Google Scholar 

  • Lagarde F, Olivier O, Zanella M, Daniel P, Hiard S, Caruso A (2016) Microplastic interactions with freshwater microalgae: hetero-aggregation and changes in plastic density appear strongly dependent on polymer type. Environ Pollut 215:331–339

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lahens L, Strady E, Kieu-Le TC, Dris R, Boukerma K, Rinnert E, Gasperi J, Tassin B (2018) Macroplastic and microplastic contamination assessment of a tropical river (Saigon River, Vietnam) transversed by a developing megacity. Environ Pollut 236:661–671. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.02.005

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liro M, van Emmerik T, Wyzga B, Liro J, Mikuś P (2020) Macroplastic storage and remobilization in rivers. Water (switzerland) 12:22–29. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12072055

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mani T, Hauk A, Walter U, Burkhardt-Holm P (2015) Microplastics profile along the Rhine River. Sci Rep 5:17988. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep17988

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Masura J, Baker J, Foster G, Arthur C (2015) Laboratory Methods for the Analysis of Microplastics in the Marine Environment. NOAA Mar Debris Progr Natl 1–39

  • McCormick AR, Hoellein TJ, London MG, Hittie J, Scott JW, Kelly JJ (2016) Microplastic in surface waters of urban rivers: concentration, sources, and associated bacterial assemblages. Ecosphere 7:e01556

  • Mehdinia A, Dehbandi R, Hamzehpour A, Rahnama R (2020) Identification of microplastics in the sediments of southern coasts of the Caspian Sea, north of Iran. Environ Pollut 258:113738. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113738

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Merga LB, Redondo-Hasselerharm PE, Van den Brink PJ, Koelmans AA (2020) Distribution of microplastic and small macroplastic particles across four fish species and sediment in an African lake. Sci Total Environ 741:140527. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140527

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mintenig SM, Kooi M, Erich MW, Primpke S, Redondo- Hasselerharm PE, Dekker SC, Koelmans AA, van Wezel AP (2020) A systems approach to understand microplastic occurrence and variability in Dutch riverine surface waters. Water Res 176:115723. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.115723

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mohamed MA, Jaafar J, Ismail AF, Othman MHD, Rahman MA (2017) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. In: Membrane Characterization. Elsevier, pp 3–29

  • Nanyaro JT, Aswathanarayana U, Mungure JS, Lahermo PW (1984) A geochemical model for the abnormal fluoride concentrations in waters in parts of northern Tanzania. J African Earth Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0731-7247(84)80007-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nizzetto L, Langaas S, Futter M (2016) Pollution: do microplastics spill on to farm soils. Nature 537:488

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Piehl S, Leibner A, Löder MGJ, Dris R, Bogner C, Laforsch C (2018) Identification and quantification of macro- and microplastics on an agricultural farmland. Sci Rep 8:1–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-36172-y

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rafique A, Irfan M, Mumtaz M, Qadir A (2020) Spatial distribution of microplastics in soil with context to human activities: a case study from the urban center. Environ Monit Assess. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08641-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rillig MC, Ziersch L, Hempel S (2017) Microplastic transport in soil by earthworms. Sci Rep 7:1–6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson RC, Moore CJ, Vom Saal FS, Swan SH (2009) Plastics, the environment and human health: current consensus and future trends. Philos Trans R Soc B Biol Sci 364:2153–2166

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • van Emmerik T, Strady E, Kieu-Le T-C, Nguyen L, Gratiot N (2019) Seasonality of riverine macroplastic transport. Sci Rep 9:13549. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-50096-1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Winton DJ, Anderson LG, Rocliffe S, Loiselle S (2020) Macroplastic pollution in freshwater environments: Focusing public and policy action. Sci Total Environ 704:135242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135242

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang GS, Liu YF (2018a) The distribution of microplastics in soil aggregate fractions in southwestern China. Sci Total Environ 642:12–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang D, Cui Y, Zhou H, Jin C, Yu X, Xu Y, Li Y, Zhang C (2020) Microplastic pollution in water, sediment, and fish from artificial reefs around the Ma’an Archipelago, Shengsi. China Sci Total Environ 703:134768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134768

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the support offered by farmers and local leaders during fieldwork in their areas, IUCEA, WISE-Futures, and the three anonymous reviewers.

Funding

This study was financed through the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) under the World Bank project and the Centre for Water Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (WISE-Futures) of Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials, Energy, Water and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (MEWES), The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), P.O Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania

    Mercy N. Kundu & Hans C. Komakech

  2. Water Infrastructures Sustainable and Energy-Futures (WISE-Futures) Center, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), P.O Box 447, Arusha, Tanzania

    Hans C. Komakech

  3. Ministry of Water in Tanzania, P.O Box 456, Dodoma, Tanzania

    George Lugomela

Authors
  1. Mercy N. Kundu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hans C. Komakech
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. George Lugomela
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Mercy Kundu contributed to conceptualization, methodology, software, validation, investigation, and writing—original draft preparation; Hans Komakech contributed to conceptualization, software, resources, writing—review and editing, and supervision; George Lugomela contributed to writing—review and editing and supervision.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mercy N. Kundu.

Ethics declarations

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Availability of Data and Materials

The data and materials are available upon requisition.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kundu, M.N., Komakech, H.C. & Lugomela, G. Analysis of Macro- and Microplastics in Riverine, Riverbanks, and Irrigated Farms in Arusha, Tanzania. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 82, 142–157 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-021-00897-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-021-00897-1

Search

Navigation