Abstract:
Microplastics are discharged into the environment through human activities and are persistent
in the environment. With the prevalent use of plastic-based personal protective equipment in
the prevention of the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the concentration of microplastics in the environment
is envisaged to increase. Potential ecological and health risks emanate from their potential to
adsorb and transport toxic chemicals, and ease of absorption into the cells of living organisms and
interfering with physiological processes. This review (1) discusses sources and pathways through
which microplastics enter the environment, (2) evaluates the fate and behavior of microplastics,
(3) discusses microplastics in African aquatic systems, and (4) identifies research gaps and recommends
remediation strategies. Importantly, while there is significant microplastics pollution in the
aquatic environment, pollution in terrestrial systems are not widely studied. Besides, there is a
dearth of information on microplastics in African aquatic systems. The paper recommends that the
governments and non-governmental organizations should fund research to address knowledge gaps,
which include: (1) the environmental fate of microplastics, (2) conducting toxicological studies under
environmentally relevant conditions, (3) investigating toxicity mechanisms to biota, and developing
mitigation measures to safeguard human health, and (4) investigating pollutants transported by
microplastics. Moreover, regulatory measures, along with the circular economy strategies, may help
reduce microplastic pollution.
