Global Plastic Pollution and the Nigerian Dimensions

Abstract

Plastic pollution has surged from 1.5 million tons produced in the 1950s to 335 million tons in 2016, with 9–23 million metric tons entering aquatic systems annually. This review examines plastic pollution’s characteristics—diversity, persistence, and combined effects with other contaminants—and its geophysical and biological impacts globally, complemented by a case study on Nigeria. Plastics disrupt carbon and nutrient cycles and threaten over 900 marine species via ingestion and entanglement. In Nigeria, sachet water and poor waste management contribute 0.13–0.34 million tons to oceans yearly, ranking it ninth globally, undermining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like health (SDG 3), water quality (SDG 6), and marine life (SDG 14). Solutions include legislation, education, and improved infrastructure, tailored to Nigeria’s context. This paper fills gaps by addressing macro- and nanoplastics, terrestrial systems, and Nigeria’s unique challenges, urging region-specific strategies for this poorly reversible pollutant.