Microplastics in Freshwater Ecosystems: The Case of Odaw River Basin, Ghana

Microplastics have become a pollutant of concern because of its ubiquitous nature. It has been recorded in the most remote parts of the earth, in the depths of oceans and on mountaintops with no human inhabitants. Freshwater ecosystems serve as conduits for the transport of microplastics into the ocean or as sinks where it is retained in the sediments. Consequently, organisms found in these freshwater ecosystems are impacted by the presence of microplastics. Aquatic organisms often mistake microplastic for food and inadvertently ingest them, this is then biomagnified through the food chain. Microplastics also serve as reservoirs for microorganisms and have been proven to either absorb other pollutants onto its surface or be a source of introduction of chemicals into the aquatic ecosystem. While microplastics are well-researched in the marine environment, little is known about microplastics in freshwater ecosystems. This study explores microplastics in the Odaw basin in Ghana, one of the major freshwater basins in the city of Accra. The Odaw is however characterized as a drainage system and hence is highly polluted even though it serves as a source of livelihood for those living mid and upstream. This study seeks to investigate the occurrence of microplastics in the Odaw basin as well as assess the interaction of microplastics with other pollutants and microorganisms in this aquatic ecosystem. To inform policy, the behaviour and attitude, risk perception and knowledge of microplastics will be investigated among individuals living along the Odaw basin. This study contributes to achieving the following Sustainable Development Goals, Three (Good Health and Well-being), Six (Clean Water and Sanitation), Eleven (Sustainable Cities and Communities), Twelve (Responsible Consumption and Production), Fourteen (Life below Water) and Fifteen (Life on Land).

Interlinkages Between Microplastic Pollution and Ecosystem Services in Coastal Communities in Greater Accra Region, Ghana

Biodiversity and ecosystems of marine and coastal habitats are deteriorating at an alarming rate. The disposal of waste near the coast significantly contributes to the ocean’s microplastic contamination, negatively influencing ecosystem health, food security and human health. Approximately 60–80% of the garbage collected on the Earth consists of plastic, and almost 10% of the global production of plastics ends up in the oceans, where their decomposition may take several hundreds of years. This study will emphasize microplastic pollution in coastal ecosystems and its linkages to ecosystem functions, namely provisioning, regulatory, supporting and cultural functions. These services are declining due to humans’ misuse of coastal resources. Some pollutants affecting the coastal zone in Ghana include plastic pollution. Direct and indirect disposal of waste materials in mangroves, lagoons, and the coast negatively impacts coastal ecosystems. The preceding raises the issues of the concentrations of plastic waste in Ghana’s coastal waters and how these pollutants have affected the ecosystem services in the coastal zone. In addressing these issues, sampling methods will determine the concentrations of microplastics in the coastal waters and their effect on the ecosystem services. Data collection and analysis will employ qualitative and quantitative methods in selected coastal communities in Ghana. Primary data will be collected through in-depth interviews with selected households, expert interviews with key informants, and secondary data from government ministries and agencies. Sampling methods will be employed to determine the concentrations of microplastics in the coastal waters and how they affect ecosystem services. Experimental evaluation techniques will validate the findings from ecosystem impact analyses.

Climate Change and its Attendant Challenges on Estuarine Ecosystems and Socio-Economic Activities Along the Coastal Communities of Ghana

The effects of climate change on water bodies cannot be ignored especially when it comes to estuarian ecosystems. Estuarine bodies are often found at the meeting point of marine and freshwater bodies. According to research, these estuarine ecosystems serve as an important resource for both indigenous communities and marine life. livelihoods and marine life greatly depend on such estuarine ecosystems. Although these estuarine ecosystem plays a major role in the life cycle of some marine species, they are heavily affected by activities upstream and downstream. Increase infrastructure along coastal areas also has influence on increasing the vulnerability of natural systems to respond to the impact of climate change. Due to the historical antecedent of human settlement which is closely related to water bodies, communities along the course of these water bodies are inevitable. However, anthropogenic activities along the course of this river often have a direct impact on the quality, quantity and ability of these water bodies to sustain life. The purpose of this project is to identify activities along the course of these water bodies and around the estuarine ecosystem that are impacting directly on the health and survival of these ecosystems whiles also looking into the public health implications for communities that directly depend on these ecosystems for their survival to address SDGs 1, 2, 8, 11 and 13. In all, the project seeks to quantify the impact of climate change precursors on the health of estuarine ecosystems and its impacts on socio-economic activities for communities that depend on it for survival. The project will apply both scientific and social research approaches for identification and quantification of contaminants of emerging concerns and the impacts of anthropogenic activities. The project will also explore ways of restoring and sustaining the health, quality and quantity of these estuarine ecosystems.

Occurrence and Distribution of Emerging Contaminants in the selected Coastal Region of Ghana

Synthetic organic compounds, pharmaceutical products, pesticides and heavy metals pollution are now indispensable in everyday living. Many pollutants enter coastal and marine waters after usage and disposal and by indiscriminate disposal of solid wastes. Identifying these contaminants in waterways has become crucial, due to their properties to persist in the environment and mobility. This research aims to compile and quantify the level and distribution of CECs across the selected coastal regions. Examine associations between the distribution of CECs and land-use patterns and to review both scientific literature and field generated-data to determine the potential for CECs to cause effects on Biota populations.

Application of Carbon Nanotubes from Plastic Waste in Wastewater Treatment

Wastewater management is among challenges in most developing counties with large population. Dar es salaam is among of the coastal cities with large population, rapid urbanization and industrialization, hence high generation of pollutants especially heavy metals and microplastic which are released into water bodies such as rivers and ocean. The use of this water has negative impacts to vegetation surrounding the environment, marine ecosystems and human health. Most adsorbents used by industries in wastewater treatment have shortcomings in performance, high cost and sustainability. This brings a challenge for finding an eco-friendly, affordable and sustainable adsorbent for wastewater treatment. Through this research current status of wastewater pollution in Dar es slaam will be determined and through innovation plastic waste will be converted to high value CNTs for removal of heavy metals in waste water.

Assessment of Coastal Pollution and its Impacts on Coastal Ecosystem Services

Pollution in coastal areas especially the Western Indian Ocean along the Dar es Salaam Coast is a long-standing problem caused primarily by anthropogenic activities. Even though the causes of pollution have been identified, the relationship between the coastal pollution and its impacts to the ecosystems services has not been fully explored. However, limited information exists that details the pollution status of the Dar es Salaam Coast and factors that contributes to these pollutions. Therefore, this study intends to explore the coastal pollution and its impacts on coastal ecosystem services in Dar es Salaam.

Effects of coastal pollution and climate change on mangrove ecosystem a case study of Mnazi bay-Ruvuma estuary and Msimbazi estuary Dar es Salaam

Mangrove ecosystems across Tanzania have varying levels of pollution and climate change, but the situation is worsening since mangroves are often used for dumping waste, including plastics, agricultural runoff, industrial waste and sewage which increase stress on of mangrove ecosystems, Due to the issue, I'm currently working on an evaluation of "Effects of coastal pollution and climate change on mangrove ecosystem a case study of Mnazi bay-Ruvuma estuary and Msimbazi estuary Dar es Salaam" to explore a more effective approach of minimizing the impact of coastal pollution on mangrove ecosystems.

Effectiveness of Co – Management in Coastal Resources on the Sustainability of the Coastal Ecosystems and Communities Livelihood in Tanzania: A Case of Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park (MBREMP)

Despite practicing co-management of coastal and marine resources for more than three decades’ various research findings have revealed that coastal resources in Tanzania are under increasing threats due to ever increasing numbers of resource users with competing interests. Regardless of several of scholarly contributions on MPAs, and especially on co - management, there is clear gap on how effective stakeholder’s engagement in particular on the degree of the decision making process. To partly fill this gap my research study examines stakeholder engagement on decision making process and its influence on the coastal sustainability of both ecosystems and communities in the Mnazi Bay-Ruvuma Estuary Marine Park (MBREMP).

Assessment of sewage pollution on mangrove ecosystems in Dar es Salaam region

In Dar es Salaam Region about 10% of population is served by central sewerage system. The remained population is served by onsite sanitation: pit latrines and septic tanks, however most of these facilities are substandard and likely to collapse and overflow during rainy seasons hence find their way into the rivers. Msimbazi River is one of the most polluted rivers in Dar es Salaam receiving wastes from industries, agricultural activities and domestic. These wastes end up in the Indian Ocean through Msimbazi estuary. Msimbazi Estuary is covered in some areas with Mangroves forests which filter the wastes before they enter the ocean. Mangroves forests are highly productive ecosystems provide abroad range of ecosystem services which are under threat due to sewage pollution. This study shall assess the level of micro plastics and diversity and decay of fecal indicator bacteria of the Msimbazi Mangroves sediment seasonally.

The effect of sea surface temperature rise on intertidal fishery: A case on Mtwara District, Tanzania

The sea surface temperature (SST) rise has received considerable coverage in coastal fisheries in the past decades. However its impacts on intertidal invertebrate gleaners and their livelihood is not clearly understood, regardless of its socio-economic importance to the most of coastal communities in Tanzania as it provide food, income and employment. Several studies has been focused on the impact of rise SST on coastal communities livelihood, decreasing trend in capture fisheries catch, coral bleaching and sea grasses ecosystems. Still there is a gap on how the livelihood of intertidal invertebrate gleaners is impacted by the rise of SST. Therefore, this study intends to understand the impact of rise in SST on intertidal gleaners and their livelihoods in Mtwara District coastal zone.

Impacts of sea sand mining fishery on coastal ecosystems management in Kunduchi, Tanzania

In recent years, coastal problems that are caused by sea sand mining affect the, marine ecosystem, management and conservation process (Ashraf et al., 2011). The persistence of coastal mining in coastal ecosystem in Kunduchi shows that sand mining is neither safe nor healthy as intended by the government. Consequently, there has been loss of marine ecosystems, this threatens not sand mining only and coastal ecosystems managements process but also the performance of both, marine habitats and ecosystem managements. Despite the guidelines, directives, and policies, to safeguard the coastal ecosystems initiated by the government particularly in Kunduchi, however there is little information regarding on how the fishing of kingfish and anchovy using sand bag from sea sand mining fishery in ring net as a tool to sink the traps does cause physical coral reef destruction. This fishing technique affect the coastal ecosystem, both at fishing grounds and areas where sand is harvested. Thus, this study intends to find out how fishing of kingfish and anchovy through sand bags are treated such that it has remained persistent among coastal ecosystem in study site and propose how the government and other stakeholders might use it to enhance the best practice to be used in coastal management and fishing activities.

As part of BC5’s broad aim to promote sustainable management of coastal systems the current project contributes to the sustainable management of Ankobra estuary, which serves as a vital ecosystem resource for local communities. This will contribute to The main objective is to reveal the power dynamics at play in the decision-making and suggests a collaborative approach that will contribute to the restoration of the estuary which is heavily polluted. The study deploys a qualitative approach through interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observation to gain contextual and in-depth knowledge of the motivations, interests, and opinions on the management and usage patterns of the estuary.

In my master thesis I wanted to see if organic pollutants such as PAHs and rare earth elements (REE) would adsorb to microplastic in the water column. If this were to be true, the microplastic could work as transport vectors for the otherwise more stagnant elements. The hypothesis was that in a water system oversaturated with microplastics; this would be the case. As the Korle Lagoon and the immediate marine area after the lagoon have been terribly polluted by e-waste from the late Agbogbloshie e-waste treatment site, and is currently very affected by plastic wastes, it would be very saturated with both metals, organic pollutants and microplastic. Therefore I joined the BC5 project to visit Ghana and take samples in several sites in this area, in addition to other regions of Ghana as well. Further work will be analysis of data, a proof of concept experiment for metal adsorption on microplastic, and writing my thesis.

The aim of my project is to quantify the amount of microplastic in the Keta lagoon in Ghana’s Volta river delta and to study its origin. Keta lagoon is an interesting study site due among other reasons its large mangrove growth, especially in the eastern parts of the lagoon. My study will focus on how mangroves affect sedimentation and “trapping” of microplastic, And whether this "trapping" corelates with the size of the microplastic.