Data on macro(micro)plastics and hydrophobic organic contaminants in the Gulf of Guinea coastal psammitic beaches.

The ubiquity of microplastics in coastal environments and marine ecosystems is a significant concern because they have a strong affinity for organic contaminants. This paper presents the first reported data on hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) and microplastics particles (MPs, 1-5 mm) in lagoon and beach sediments along the Gulf of Guinea coastline (SE Atlantic). Sampling was carried out between August and November 2019.

Microplastics and associated organic pollutants in beach sediments from the Gulf of Guinea (SE Atlantic) coastal ecosystems.

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants of global concern due to their pervasiveness, sorptive capacity for organic and inorganic pollutants, and direct and indirect toxicity to organisms and ecosystems. This study aimed to assess the concentration and the statistical difference in the concentration of microplastic-sorbed organic pollutants from two ecosystems, the marine and estuarine lagoon. Surface sediment from the estuarine lagoon and marine ecosystems were sampled for microplastics (1-5 mm).

Occurrence and distribution of micro(meso)plastic-sorbed heavy metals and metalloids in sediments, Gulf of Guinea coast (SE Atlantic).

The pervasive existence of microplastics (MPs) and toxic metals is raising environmental and health concerns. Plastics are essentially a complex mixture of chemicals, but exposure to the aquatic environment increases their complexity through contaminant desorption/sorption. The aim of this study was to establish baseline data on the elemental occurrence and distribution of potentially toxic and geochemical metals/metalloids in microplastics 1-5 mm and mesoplastics (> 5 mm - 1 cm) along designated coastlines of the Gulf of Guinea (Nigeria) in addition to enabling more comprehensive ecotoxicological risk assessment.

Dataset on microplastics and associated trace metals and phthalate esters in sandy beaches of tropical Atlantic ecosystems, Nigeria.

This article presents data on the occurrence and distribution of phthalate esters and metals associated with microplastics (MPs) (1-5 mm) collected from four beaches in the tropical Atlantic ecosystems, Nigeria, Gulf of Guinea. Information on microplastics extraction by density flotation with saturated NaCl and polymer identification with attenuated total reflectance infra-red spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) is also provided. Analysis of six phthalate esters (PAEs) (dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DnBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), di (ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and di n-octyl phthalate (DnOP)) associated with the microplastics by performed using Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS).

Interaction of chemical contaminants with microplastics: Principles and perspectives.

Scientific evidences abound of the occurrence of plastic pollution, from mega- to nano-sized plastics, in virtually all matrixes of the environment. Apart from the direct effects of plastics and microplastics pollution such as entanglement, inflammation of cells and gut blockage due to ingestion, plastics are also able to act as vectors of various chemical contaminants in the aquatic environment. This paper provides a review of the association of plastic additives with environmental microplastics, how the structure and composition of polymers influence sorption capacities and highlights some of the models that have been employed to interpret experimental data from recent sorption studies.

A new method for assessment of sediment-associated contamination risks using multivariate statistical approach.

This paper presents the assimilation of heavy metal concentration data from sequential extraction method (SEM) with metal toxicity factors to develop and propose two new sediment quality indices modified hazard quotient (HQ) and ecological contamination index (ECI), to predict the potential ecological risks associated with sediment contamination. Chemical speciation data of five heavy metals: cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) from five coastal aquatic ecosystems of the Equatorial Atlantic Ocean were used in the assessment of the degree of heavy metal contamination. Evaluation based on ECI indicated that sediments of most aquatic ecosystems were considerably to highly contaminated.

Toxic metals in cigarettes and human health risk assessment associated with inhalation exposure.

This study evaluated the concentrations of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in 10 branded cigarettes commonly consumed in Nigeria. Chemical sequential extraction method and pseudo-total metal digestion procedure were used for extraction of metals from filler tobacco and filter samples. Samples were analyzed using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS).

Trace metal levels in fruit juices and carbonated beverages in Nigeria.

Trace metal levels in selected fruit juices and carbonated beverages purchased in Lagos, Nigeria were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Unicam model 969) equipped with SOLAAR 32 windows software. Fruit juices analysed were grape, pineapple, apple, orange, lemon juices and their brand names were used. Some carbonated drinks were also evaluated for metal levels.