TITLE:
Occurrence and Distribution of Microplastics in African Aquatic Ecosystems: Part 1—Freshwater Systems
AUTHORS:
Thies Thiemann
KEYWORDS:
Plastic Pollution, Microplastics, Freshwater Environment, Wastewater Treatment Plants, Africa
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.17 No.10,
October
14,
2026
ABSTRACT: Microplastics are ubiquitous in aquatic and terrestrial environments worldwide and have emerged as a major environmental concern. This manuscript reviews the literature published between 2017 and 2026 on the occurrence of microplastics in African freshwater ecosystems. It examines how local land use, anthropogenic activities, and wastewater treatment plants, as well as the geomorphological characteristics of rivers and lakes and seasonal hydrological dynamics, influence the distribution of microplastics.