Environmental Health Risks and Community Awareness About Microplastic Pollution in Coastal Estuarine Systems of Andoni River Estuary, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

This research focused on community viewpoints regarding microplastic contamination and its related health concerns in the Andoni River Estuary, located in Rivers State, Nigeria. A cross- sectional survey approach founded on perception was utilized, gathering information from 399 participants through a systematic questionnaire. The study evaluated perceived health threats, demographic factors, and variations in perceptions across the region. Descriptive statistics alongside inferential methods (ANOVA and multiple regression) were applied, maintaining a significance threshold of 0.05. Results indicated an overall heightened awareness of health threats related to microplastic exposure, with an average score of 3.74 (SD = 1.18). Participants expressed strong agreement that microplastics found in fish (Mean = 4.00), exposure through drinking water (Mean = 3.78), and environmental pollution (Mean = 3.91) present considerable health dangers. Concerns regarding general environmental exposure were also notably high (Mean = 4.06). Nonetheless, gaps in knowledge about long-term and respiratory implications were identified (Means = 3.36 and 3.46 respectively). Analysis of demographic factors indicated that education (Mean = 3.98), occupation (Mean = 3.83), income (Mean = 3.63), and duration of residence (Mean = 3.94) had a significant impact on perception, while age (Mean = 3.48) and gender (Mean = 3.22) did not show significant influence. Regression analysis established that demographic variables collectively accounted for 41.1% of the variance in perception (R2 = 0.411), with education being the most significant predictor (β = 0.418, p < 0.001). ANOVA findings revealed notable differences in perceived health risks among the three regions (F = 7.284, p = 0.001), although perceptions of microplastic presence did not significantly vary by region (p = 0.080). The research concludes that although there is a high level of awareness regarding health risks linked to microplastics, the in-depth scientific knowledge is still lacking. Social and educational variables considerably influence perception trends within the communities in the estuary.

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