An overview of the prevalence of micro- and nanoplastics in the Southern African development community: a potential risk to environmental and public health
Abstract Rapid urbanisation, industrial development, and inadequate solid waste management systems, finances, and even legal frameworks have exacerbated Southern African Development Community (SADC) plastic waste and micro and nanoplastics (MNPs) proliferation, raising serious public health and ecol...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Discover Environment |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-025-00293-9 |
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| author | Babalwa Gqomfa Seteno Karabo Ntwampe Boredi Silas Chidi Thabang Maphanga Cynthia Dlangamandla |
| author_facet | Babalwa Gqomfa Seteno Karabo Ntwampe Boredi Silas Chidi Thabang Maphanga Cynthia Dlangamandla |
| author_sort | Babalwa Gqomfa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Rapid urbanisation, industrial development, and inadequate solid waste management systems, finances, and even legal frameworks have exacerbated Southern African Development Community (SADC) plastic waste and micro and nanoplastics (MNPs) proliferation, raising serious public health and ecological concerns. There is scant information on the occurrence of MNPs in the SADC, especially in rivers, streams, wetlands, and lakes which are vital as freshwater sources and food producers. This systematic review analyses the occurrence of MNPs within the water bodies of SADC. The literature, which included 84 published papers, was collected through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology with additional literature (n = 39) that confirmed MNPs' presence in these ecosystems. Some prominent examples of water bodies that have shown the prevalence of MNPs are Namibia’s Main River and South Africa's Crocodile and Vaal Rivers. Pollution caused by urban runoff and degradation of plastic waste stemming from industrial activities is critically damaging to the environment, particularly the soil, water, food web, and biodiversity of the region. Overall, there is a dearth of research directed towards investigating the occurrence of MNPs in SADC countries with most studies concentrating on bulk plastic waste, underscoring the need for public awareness and stricter regulations on plastic production and waste to mitigate MNP pollution. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c06e77a644ce4a43bf4c67b1c0cc695a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2731-9431 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-c06e77a644ce4a43bf4c67b1c0cc695a2025-08-20T04:01:26ZengSpringerDiscover Environment2731-94312025-07-013111810.1007/s44274-025-00293-9An overview of the prevalence of micro- and nanoplastics in the Southern African development community: a potential risk to environmental and public healthBabalwa Gqomfa0Seteno Karabo Ntwampe1Boredi Silas Chidi2Thabang Maphanga3Cynthia Dlangamandla4Faculty of Applied Sciences, Department of Environmental and Occupational Studies, Ecological Biotechnology Research Group, Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyFaculty of Applied Sciences, Department of Environmental and Occupational Studies, Ecological Biotechnology Research Group, Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyFaculty of Applied Science, Department of Biotechnology and Consumer Science, Ecological Biotechnology Research Group, Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyFaculty of Applied Sciences, Department of Environmental and Occupational Studies, Ecological Biotechnology Research Group, Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyFaculty of Applied Sciences, Department of Environmental and Occupational Studies, Ecological Biotechnology Research Group, Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyAbstract Rapid urbanisation, industrial development, and inadequate solid waste management systems, finances, and even legal frameworks have exacerbated Southern African Development Community (SADC) plastic waste and micro and nanoplastics (MNPs) proliferation, raising serious public health and ecological concerns. There is scant information on the occurrence of MNPs in the SADC, especially in rivers, streams, wetlands, and lakes which are vital as freshwater sources and food producers. This systematic review analyses the occurrence of MNPs within the water bodies of SADC. The literature, which included 84 published papers, was collected through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology with additional literature (n = 39) that confirmed MNPs' presence in these ecosystems. Some prominent examples of water bodies that have shown the prevalence of MNPs are Namibia’s Main River and South Africa's Crocodile and Vaal Rivers. Pollution caused by urban runoff and degradation of plastic waste stemming from industrial activities is critically damaging to the environment, particularly the soil, water, food web, and biodiversity of the region. Overall, there is a dearth of research directed towards investigating the occurrence of MNPs in SADC countries with most studies concentrating on bulk plastic waste, underscoring the need for public awareness and stricter regulations on plastic production and waste to mitigate MNP pollution.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-025-00293-9MicroplasticNanoplasticsAquatic environmentsSADC countriesEnvironmental risksHuman health |
| spellingShingle | Babalwa Gqomfa Seteno Karabo Ntwampe Boredi Silas Chidi Thabang Maphanga Cynthia Dlangamandla An overview of the prevalence of micro- and nanoplastics in the Southern African development community: a potential risk to environmental and public health Discover Environment Microplastic Nanoplastics Aquatic environments SADC countries Environmental risks Human health |
| title | An overview of the prevalence of micro- and nanoplastics in the Southern African development community: a potential risk to environmental and public health |
| title_full | An overview of the prevalence of micro- and nanoplastics in the Southern African development community: a potential risk to environmental and public health |
| title_fullStr | An overview of the prevalence of micro- and nanoplastics in the Southern African development community: a potential risk to environmental and public health |
| title_full_unstemmed | An overview of the prevalence of micro- and nanoplastics in the Southern African development community: a potential risk to environmental and public health |
| title_short | An overview of the prevalence of micro- and nanoplastics in the Southern African development community: a potential risk to environmental and public health |
| title_sort | overview of the prevalence of micro and nanoplastics in the southern african development community a potential risk to environmental and public health |
| topic | Microplastic Nanoplastics Aquatic environments SADC countries Environmental risks Human health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-025-00293-9 |
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