Titre : The Niger River facing the test of plastic pollution and its impacts on agriculture in Faranah (Republic of Guinea) 

Auteurs : Mata Mamoudou KALLE
, Ibrahima BARRY
, Mabetty TOURE
, Mamby KEITA,  

Revue : Science, Technology, Development 

Numéro : Issue 1 

Volume : 4 

Date : 2024/05/16 

DOI : 10.21494/ISTE.OP.2024.1161 

ISSN : 2752-6879 

Résumé : Plastics pose a very worrying environmental problem in Faranah, because their production is increasing day after day and solutions to manage them remain insufficient. They continue to invade the streets and public spaces to congregate around sanitation routes, or to be transported by the wind and carried by the runoff of water from the gutters towards the Niger rRiver. This study presents an inventory of plastic pollution in the Niger River and the impacts on water quality, aquatic ecosystems and agricultural activities. To achieve this we have surveys, direct observation and experimental tests. The 8,374 households in Faranah produce a total quantity of 36,500 Tons/year of household waste of which plastics represent 20%, i.e. 7,300 Tons/year or approximately 20 Tons/day or 0.4Kg/day/inhabitant. Plastic bags from the drinking water production and sale industries represent 55% and packaging 23%. This plastic waste is very poorly managed: 75% is thrown into illegal dumps, 40% of which ends up on the banks and in the bed of the Niger River. This results in potential pollution of the Niger River’s water with the presence of heavy metals, bacteria, parasites, and fungi; a high content of suspended solids (MES) on average 4140.33 mg/l; a PH which varies between the extremes 7.5 to 8.2. This plastic pollution leads to the loss of biodiversity, the filling of the river bed, the considerable reduction in flow, and persistent flooding. In agriculture we have observed the reduction in agricultural areas, germination difficulties, inhibition of photosynthesis, prevention of infiltration and drop in yield. 

Éditeur : ISTE OpenScience