ghana news Microplastics found in fish: Threat to human health — CSIR-WRI research

A significant presence of microplastics has been detected in fish caught in Ghanaian waters, raising serious health concerns for consumers. Research conducted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Water Research Institute (CSIR-WRI) indicates that fish, particularly those consumed with gills and guts, contain microplastics at levels dozens of times higher than international safety benchmarks.

The study, which began in 2021, found that fish from certain coastal communities harbor microplastics at alarmingly high concentrations. While international guidelines suggest an annual intake ranging from 112 to 3,078 particles, Ghanaian consumers face much higher exposures. For instance, consumers of farmed tilapia are estimated to ingest around 2,561 particles annually, and consumers of wild freshwater fish face an estimated 4,785 particles per year. In specific coastal areas like James Town in Accra, the annual exposure can reach approximately 31,238 particles, with even higher figures in Labadi and Teshie.

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Along the coast, the numbers climb far higher still: about 31,238 particles a year in James Town (Accra), 75,819 in Labadi, and 81,257 in Teshie, dozens of times above any international benchmark.

This microplastic contamination not only poses a direct threat to human health but also severely impacts Ghana's vital fishing industry. The research highlights that plastic pollution is depleting fish stocks and harming juvenile fish, known as fingerlings. In some regions, these juvenile fish now constitute up to 20 percent of the total catch volume, directly reducing the income of coastal fishers.

Scientists attribute the high microplastic levels to various sources, including agricultural runoff, anti-fouling paint on fishing boats, and materials like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from plumbing and aquaculture infrastructure. In the Volta Basin, boats and cages contribute significantly to plastic pollution, while urban runoff and sewage are major contributors along the coast. The study traced the flow of microplastics, noting that fish in areas dominated by cage farming, such as Asikuma, showed the highest contamination levels.

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At the upper sites, the river was very broad, and the microplastics tended to float on the surface of the water, and the fish consume it. But if you move further to the Sogakope site, the flow discharge was very high, so it flushes out the microplastics into the ocean.