MICROPLASTICS LEVELS IN Clarias gariepinus FROM IKPOBA RESERVOIR, BENIN CITY, NIGERIA.

ABSTRACT

Microplastics are plastic particles smaller than 5 mm in size, and their presence in the environment is extensively researched. The ingestion of microplastics has also been highlighted as a pathway for the transfer of attached pollutants into organisms' tissues and food chain pathway. The average amount of microplastic per fish is referred to as the plastic load (PL). This value will include all fish sampled, even those which are found to have no plastic present; To ensure the complete removal of all residual organic matter, the digested sample was purified using wet 30% H2O2. The filter was rinsed into a glass petri-dish using pure water. The resultant dried filtrate was transferred to a slide for visual identification using a microscope, counting the number of each type of microplastic (fibre, foam, fragment and film) present. Frequency of Occurrence is a value that refers to the percentage of fish with at least one piece of microplastic. According to the frequency of occurrence; There is significant difference in station 1 across the months. But in station 2 there is no significant difference in June and July but in the month of August, there is significant difference. but in station three there is no significant difference across the three months. This could indicate that microplastics may be distributed widely within the ecosystem in the rapid growth of opportunistic species. Chemical composition such as polypropylene and polyethylene are found in microplastics.