Microplastic pollution in surface water of Lake Victoria

Microplastic pollution of aquatic systems is a widely recognised environmental challenge. In this study, the occurrence, abundance, distribution and chemical nature of microplastics within the size range 0.3–4.9 mm, was assessed in the surface water of northern Lake Victoria. Lake surface transects in the sites were sampled using a floating manta net and analysed for microplastics. The various sites examined were grouped into three: Group A- sites in vicinity of fish landing and recreational beaches, and within urban or semi urban setting; Group B - sites in vicinity of only fish landing beaches within a rural community setting, and Group C - Sites in the vicinity of river inflows. Our results show occurrence of microplastics in all sites (range: 2834–329,167 particles/km2 or 0.02–2.19 particles/m3), with the abundance highest in group A (range: 103,333–329,167 particles/km2 or 0.69–2.19 particles/m3) and lowest in group C (range: 2834–20,840 particles/km2 or 0.02–0.14 particles/m3). All the microplastics were secondary in nature being derived from plastic materials utilised by the community. The largest proportion (36%) of microplastic counts were of the size