Abstract：
Microplastics (MPs) have found extensive application globally due to their low cost, flexibility and light weight. Microplastic pollution is a growing environmental concern that poses significant threats to aquatic ecosystems worldwide, including African freshwater systems. Nevertheless, although Africa houses some of the deepest and largest freshwater rivers and lakes in the world such as Lake Tanganyika and Victoria, River Congo and the Nile, there is limited information available regarding the presence of MPs in these inland waters. Selected published data on MPs in African freshwater systems, including sediments, biota, rivers, and lakes, were incorporated in this review. The study discovered that the sampling technique employed has a major impact on the morphological characteristics and abundance of MPs in African freshwater systems. Fibers and fragments were the most common shapes; black, white, and transparent were the most prevalent colors; and polyethene terephthalate, polystyrene, and polypropylene were the frequently dominant polymers. As the distance between the sampling sites increased geographically, the polymer similarities declined. MPs have been found to translocate into body cells and tissues where they are capable of causing genetic mutations, cytotoxicity, oxidative stress and neurotoxicity. In Africa, MPs are poorly managed and monitored, and there has been insufficient research done on the possibility that they could be present in drinking water. Considering the fact that humans in the continent are exposed to freshwater and aquatic organisms, the risk assessment routes are currently unvalidated, therefore it was recommended that African nations should strengthen their capacity for plastic management and environmental monitoring. This review provides up to date information on the occurrence, prevalence, ecotoxicity and management of MPs across African freshwater systems.
摘要：
微塑料（MPs）由于其低成本而在全球范围内得到了广泛的应用，灵活性和重量轻。微塑料污染是一个日益严重的环境问题，对全球水生生态系统构成重大威胁，包括非洲淡水系统。然而，尽管非洲拥有世界上最深和最大的淡水河流和湖泊，例如坦噶尼喀湖和维多利亚湖，刚果河和尼罗河,关于国会议员在这些内陆水域的存在的信息有限。关于非洲淡水系统中国会议员的部分公布数据，包括沉积物,生物群,河流,和湖泊，纳入本次审查。研究发现，所采用的采样技术对非洲淡水系统中MP的形态特征和丰度具有重大影响。纤维和碎片是最常见的形状；黑色，白色,透明是最普遍的颜色；聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯，聚苯乙烯,和聚丙烯是经常占主导地位的聚合物。随着采样点之间的距离在地理上增加，聚合物相似性下降。已经发现MPs易位到身体细胞和组织中，在那里它们能够引起基因突变，细胞毒性，氧化应激和神经毒性。在非洲,国会议员管理和监控不善，关于它们可能存在于饮用水中的可能性的研究还不够。考虑到非洲大陆的人类暴露于淡水和水生生物，风险评估路线目前未经验证，因此，建议非洲国家加强塑料管理和环境监测的能力。本评论提供了有关事件的最新信息，患病率,非洲淡水系统中MP的生态毒性和管理。
