Microplastic dynamics and risk projections in West African coastal areas: Developing a vulnerability index, adverse ecological pathways, and mitigation framework using remote-sensed oceanographic profiles.

Microplastic pollution presents a serious risk to marine ecosystems worldwide, with West Africa being especially susceptible. This study sought to identify the key factors driving microplastic dynamics in the region. Using NASA's Giovanni system, we analyzed environmental data from 2019 to 2024.

Effects of α-olefin sulfonate (AOS) on Tubifex tubifex: toxicodynamic-toxicokinetic inferences from the general unified threshold (GUTS) model, biomarker responses and molecular docking predictions.

We investigated the potential ecological risks and harm to aquatic organisms posed by anionic surfactants such as α-olefin sulfonate (AOS), which are commonly found in industrial and consumer products, including detergents. This study assessed acute (96-h) and subchronic (14-day) responses using antioxidant activity, protein levels, and histopathological changes in Tubifex tubifex exposed to different AOS concentrations (10% of the LC, 20% of the LC, and a control). Molecular docking was used to investigate the potential interactions between the key stress biomarker enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and cytochrome c oxidase) of Tubifex tubifex.

Predicting the dynamics of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in coastal regions of Africa: vulnerability index and adverse ecological pathways from remote-sensed variables.

This study aimed to predict the dynamics of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) contamination and ecological vulnerability within coastal regions of Africa utilizing time-averaged remote-sensed data patterns from 2020 to 2023. The analysis identified PFAS contamination hotspots along the coast of Africa, particularly in western Africa around Nigeria and in areas spanning Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau, with risk influenced by eastward wind patterns, overland runoff, and elevated aerosol optical depth (AOD) values. Regional trends indicated that variations in solar energy absorption and surface air temperature could influence PFAS dynamics in North Africa, South Africa, East Africa, and West Africa.

Urbanization effects on growth and otolith asymmetry in Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus and Oreochromis niloticus within tropical coastal lagoon watersheds.

In this study, we investigated the growth dynamics and otolith shape asymmetry of two fish species, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus (CN) and Oreochromis niloticus (ON), within urbanized watersheds of the southern lagoon system, Nigeria. Using the von Bertalanffy growth model (VBGM), in addition to sediment metal concentration indices such as the average shale content, index of geoaccumulation (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk (PER) index, contamination levels were classified, and ecological risks were assessed. Notably, a lower growth potential (t0) was observed in CN at Ikorodu than at Epe, with similar trends for ON in the Epe during the dry season.

Fluorene-induced stress in the benthic oligochaete Tubifex tubifex: A multi-biomarker assessment of toxicological pathways and mechanisms under acute and subchronic exposures.

This study examined the multifaceted impacts of fluorene exposure on Tubifex tubifex, encompassing acute (survival analysis and behavioral responses) and subchronic exposure regimens (antioxidant enzyme response and histopathology), molecular docking studies, and generalized read-across analysis. Survival analysis revealed concentration-dependent increases in toxicity over varying time intervals, with LC50 values decreasing from 30.072 mg/L at 24 h to 12.

Habitat sensitivity in the West African coastal area: inferences and implications for regional adaptations to climate change and ocean acidification.

This study focuses on assessing coastal vulnerability and habitat sensitivity along the West African coast by delineating hotspots based on surface temperature, pH, chlorophyll-a, particulate organic carbon, and carbonate concentrations between 2018 and 2023 depending on data availability. Initial exploration of these variables revealed two distinct focal points i.e.

Redox-active metals and oxidative stress-mediated myopathies in Callinectes amnicola, blue crab populations from impacted sites of the Lagos Lagoon: inferences for adverse ecological outcomes.

While oxidative stress pathways are associated with a wide variety of tissue pathologies, its applications for evaluating and discerning ecological risks are limited. This study seeks to associate trends of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress to risks of muscle pathologies in blue crabs inhabiting regions of the Lagos Lagoon. Crab samples (n = 520) were selected from pollution-impacted sites of the lagoon at Iddo, Ajah, Okobaba, Makoko, and the mid-lagoon area (control site).

Trend relationship between mountain normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and aerosol optical depth (AOD) across two decades: implication for water quality within the Lesotho Highlands, Drakensberg, South Africa.

There are growing concerns on contribution of vegetation dynamics to atmospheric turbidity and quality of regional water towers. The study sought to determine the trends in the MODIS/TERRA-derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and aerosol optical depth (AOD) for Lesotho Highland over 2000-2020. The predictive relationship between the two variables was also examined using regression analysis.

Metal uptake, oxidative stress and histopathological alterations in gills and hepatopancreas of Callinectes amnicola exposed to industrial effluent.

Metal uptake by biota due to elevated environmental concentrations elicits oxidative stress and could lead to pathological outcomes. The relationship between the histopathological profile of hepatopancreas and gills and altered biochemical features (antioxidant enzymes i.e.