The spectrum of solid waste pollutants on Qua Iboe River Estuarine Beach, Nigeria

Abstract

Solid waste pollution status of Qua Iboe river estaurine beach at Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State, Nigera was evaluated. Thirty-eight waste-types from eight material-types were observed viz: plastic, paper, wood, cotton, soft organic debris, metals, glass and mixed materials. Plastics constituted the most diverse and predominant material type (63.70%). The plastic wastes were: plastic water sachets (12.54%),styrofoam (polystyrene foam) (9.57%), plastic bottles (8.74), polythene bags (2.39%), plastic drinking straws (2.15%), used plastic diapers (.89%), scrap papers (3.71%) and condom packs (2.31%). The remaining 30 waste-types were less than 2% each. Shoreline activities contributed 50.33% of the wastes, medical and personal hygiene activities 23.00%, while dumping and water-way activities accounted for 26.27%. The 16 hazardous wastes items (plastic water sachets, diapers, polythene bags, condom, fishing nets/ropes, syringes, sanitary pads, injection needles, injection vials, tissue paper, handkerchief, human faeces,batteries, insecticides cans, aerosol cans and electric bulb constituted 30.37% of the total wastes. Human health implications of the beach solid wastes include injuries by sharp objects and infection by pathogens associated with contaminated wastes. They can also degrade the aesthetic values of the beach environment with concomittant adverse economic implications considering that people generally detest and avoid littered beaches.

Keywords: Beaches, solid wastes, pollutants, human health

Journal of Aquatic Sciences 28 (1): 57- 68 (2013)