Chemical Analysis of Microplastics in Sachet Water Samples in Katsina Metropolis: Improving Health and Safety Standards

The assessment of microplastics (MPs) in sachet water samples sold in Katsina metropolis was investigated. The absorption peak of the infrared spectroscopy (IR) obtained were 1640, 2117 and 3265 cm-1 for sample SA; 1192, 1640, 2124, 3265 cm-1 for SB ; for sample SC: 2035, 2146, 2236, 2333, 3227, 3667, 3734, 3816 cm-1 , SD: 1640, 2117, 3265 cm-1, sample SE: 1640, 2124, 3265 cm-1 and SF: 1640, 2117, 3265 cm-1. The absorption peak of samples SA to SF that correspond to functional groups were C=C, C=O, O-H, except SC that have additional C-O. Comparatively, all the studied samples were absorbed at 1640 cm-1 while other absorption peaks varied. The particle size of the sample ranged from 32.0 particle/0.75L sample SA to 64.1 particle/0.75L sample SF. The microplastic detected were generally polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and granules in shape. Microplastic pollution load index (MPPLI), micro-plastic contamination factor (MPCF), and the estimated daily intake (EDI) for both adults and children were determined. The MPCF values obtained ranged from 1.00 for sample SA to 2.00 for sample SC with a series of profile as SA˂ SB˂SF˂SE˂SD˂SC. The result for EDI for adults was slightly greater than 1 except in all the samples except sample SC which was 2.01 depicting moderate and high daily intake in adults respectively. The EDI for children ranged from 3.84 in sample SA to 7.69 in sample SC. The EDI result showed that children consume more microplastics than adults. The MPPLI obtained was 1.28. Microplastic in sachet water require significant attention to reduce the menace it may cause in the health status of humans due to high daily intake studied.