Associate Professor at the Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences, University of Ghana, Professor Edem Mahu has warned that dangerous levels of microplastics are being consumed worldwide, with traces now found in vital human organs and seafood across West Africa.
Speaking at the 2nd International Conference on Ocean Governance, held at the University of Ghana School of Law on Thursday, September 4, 2025, Prof. Mahu revealed that recent scientific studies have identified microplastics in the human placenta, heart, breast milk, and even blood—underscoring the scale of the crisis.
“Human beings, we cannot run away from the fact that we are consuming microplastics. Imagine a young child who is yet to be born, and the very organ that surrounds this child is already carrying microplastics.”
She explained that exposure to microplastics could potentially cause oxidative stress, DNA damage, and organ dysfunction. While research is still ongoing to understand the long-term health impacts, she stressed that the current evidence is troubling enough to warrant serious concern.
Drawing on studies conducted by her team, Prof. Mahu said microplastics have been documented in oysters collected from Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Benin, and Nigeria. A total of 780 microplastics were found in the oyster samples, with particularly high levels recorded in Gambia. She noted that microfibers dominated the samples, likely originating from abandoned or discarded fishing gear as well as synthetic clothing.
Her research also uncovered alarming quantities of microplastics in fish. In a study of 160 fish from Nigerian waters, researchers found 5,744 microplastics in their digestive tracts. Prof. Mahu cautioned that fish species feeding near the seafloor tend to accumulate higher levels of pollutants and microbeads, which can eventually end up on people’s plates.
She emphasized that the size of microplastics plays a critical role in their toxicity. Smaller particles—especially those under 100 micrometers—can penetrate cell walls and infiltrate organs, raising the risk of long-term health damage. Based on estimated annual fish consumption rates, Prof. Mahu’s team calculated that the average Nigerian adult could ingest up to 178 pieces of microplastics per year through certain seafood species alone.
Preliminary findings from Ghana and other coastal states also show that seawater and estuarine samples are heavily polluted with microfibers—again linked to fishing gear and the shedding of synthetic fabrics during laundry. Prof. Mahu called for urgent upgrades to stormwater and wastewater treatment facilities to prevent more plastics from entering waterways.
“Microplastics are difficult to clean in the environment, so we need to stop them from getting there in the first place.”
She pointed to innovative technologies, such as washing machine filters that trap synthetic fibers before wastewater is released, and stressed the need for greater awareness and stronger policies.
“Many countries have already banned microbeads in cosmetics. It is time for Ghana and other African countries to take similar action,”
Prof. Mahu said, adding that individual choices—such as reducing waste and using refillable dispensers at public events—also play a role.
She noted that although the challenge is global, meaningful progress depends on small, deliberate actions taken locally.
“Little drops of water make a mighty ocean. If we all act at the individual, community, and policy levels, we can slow the tide of microplastic pollution before it overwhelms us.”
Credit: Radio Univers
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