Water resources
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Sanford William Meena, Matobola J. Mihale, Harieth Hellar-Kihampa
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30 June 2026
11
5
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Volume 3 Issue 1
Page 1 - 21
Seasonal Abundance and Spatial Distribution of Microplastics in Water and Sediments of Tropical Urban–Agricultural River System; A case of Ngerengere River, Tanzania
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56542/wi.jwempo.v3.i1.a8.2026
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Keywords:
microplastics: Ngerengere river: sediments: water
Abstract
Aquatic ecosystems are globally contaminated with microplastics (MP), making water resources in developing countries not spared from this problem. However, data on microplastic levels in Tanzanian’s freshwater systems is still scarce. Therefore, this study assessed the microplastic abundance in water and sediment of the Ngerengere river using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy technology. Samples from six sampling sites along the Ngerengere River were collected during dry and wet seasons. Quantitative analysis revealed microplastic concentrations in water ranging from 5 to 24 particles per liter, with fragments representing 67% to 95% of particles, and in sediments from 0.6 to 1.8 particles per 100 grams, where fragments exceeded 60% and fibers reached up to 29%. Microplastic loads peaked midstream near urban-industrial zones, particularly during the wet season. Black and white microplastics dominated color distribution, and polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene were the primary polymer types detected. These findings demonstrate that urban and industrial activities contributed microplastic contamination, with sediments acting as sinks. These concentrations are comparable to or exceed values reported for several developing countries, indicating that medium-sized tropical catchments are significant but underreported sources of microplastic pollution. The findings provide baseline evidence for targeted river management, stormwater control, and long-term microplastic monitoring.
