References
Akhbarizadeh, R., Dobaradaran, S., Schmidt, T. C., Nabipour, I., & Spitz, J. (2022). Investigating the pollution of bottled water by the microplastics : The effects of mechanical stress, sunlight exposure, and freezing on MPs release. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 194, 796. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10697-2 Alibekov, A., Shakhmara, I., Meirambayeva, M., Batyrbayeva, A., & Lee, W. (2026). Unbottling the risk: Microplastic release and health hazards from bottled drinks. Science of the Total Environment, 1012, 181195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.181195 Anayo, J. M., Okpashi, V. E., & Onwurah, I. N. E. (2018). Impact of ultraviolet radiation on polyethylene packaged water exposed at varying conditions: Are we drinking microplastics? American Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 14(1), 20–28. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajbbsp.2018.20.28 Andrady, A. L. (2011). Microplastics in the marine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62(8), 1596–1605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.05.030 Bach, C., Dauchy, X., Chagnon, M.-C., & Etienne, S. (2012). Chemical compounds and toxicological assessments of drinking water stored in polyethylene terephthalate bottles: A source of controversy reviewed. Water Research, 46(3), 571–583. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2011.11.062 Bach, C., Dauchy, X., Severin, I., Munoz, J.-F., Etienne, S., & Chagnon, M.-C. (2013). Effect of temperature on the release of intentionally and non-intentionally added substances from polyethylene terephthalate bottles into water: Chemical analysis and potential toxicity. Food Chemistry, 139(1–4), 672–680. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.01.046 Cowger, W., Booth, A. M., Hamilton, B. M., Thaysen, C., Primpke, S., Munno, K., et al. (2020). Reporting guidelines to increase the reproducibility and comparability of research on microplastics. Applied Spectroscopy, 74(9), 1066–1077. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003702820930292 Egbueri, J. C., Agbasi, J. C., Abba, S. I., Arunachalam, K. P., Usman, A. G., Abugu, & Paneerselvam, B. (2025). Microplastic contamination in Nigerian treated waters and packaged (sachet, bottled) sources: Trends, regional disparities, and policy implications for sustainable practices. Analytical Letters. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/00032719.2025.2569841 Egbuim, T. C., Onyeuwaoma, N. D., Okere, B. I., Ezenwugo, M. H., Chukwudi, A. O., Uhiene, G. O., et al. (2022). Erythemal UV radiation across Nigeria: Where do we stand? Heliyon, 8(8), e10158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10158 Fan, Y.-Y., Zheng, J.-L., Ren, J.-H., Luo, J., Cui, X.-Y., & Ma, L. Q. (2014). Effects of storage temperature and duration on release of antimony and bisphenol A from polyethylene terephthalate drinking water bottles of China. Environmental Pollution, 192, 113–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2014.05.012 Kankanige, D., & Babel, S. (2020). Smaller-sized microplastics contamination in single- use PET-bottled water in Thailand. Science of the Total Environment, 717, 137232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137232 Mason, S. A., Welch, V. G., & Neratko, J. (2018). Synthetic polymer contamination in bottled water. Frontiers in Chemistry, 6, 407. https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2018.00407 National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. (2023). Guidelines for inspection and requirements for packaged water facility in Nigeria (Doc. Ref. No. FSAN-GDL-002-02). NAFDAC. Nigerian Meteorological Agency. (2022). Annual climate bulletin. NIMET. Ogbolei, G. P., Okechukwu, C., Amos-Bein, E. B., & Avverosuo, P. E. (2026). Assessment of storage-induced microplastic generation, polymer characteristics, and human exposure risks in bottled and sachet drinking water under different environmental conditions in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Iconic Research and Engineering Journals, 9(12), 2362–2374. https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9112-1718899 Okpashi, V. E., Ushie, O. A., & Abeng, F. E. (2021). Analysis of microplastics in sachet water exposed to ultraviolet radiation: A risk of drinking polymer. Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology, 8(2), 121–135. Oßmann, B. E., Sarau, G., Holtmannspötter, H., Pischetsrieder, M., Christiansen, S. H., & Dicke, W. (2018). Small-sized microplastics and pigmented particles in bottled mineral water. Water Research, 141, 307–316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2018.05.027 Sajjad, M., Huang, Q., Khan, S., Khan, M. A., Liu, Y., Wang, J., et al. (2022). Microplastics in the soil environment: A critical review. Environmental Technology and Innovation, 27, 102408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2022.102408 Schymanski, D., Goldbeck, C., Humpf, H. U., & Fürst, P. (2018). Analysis of microplastics in water by micro-Raman spectroscopy: Release of plastic particles from different packaging into mineral water. Water Research, 129, 154–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2017.11.011 Standards Organisation of Nigeria. (2015). Nigerian standard for drinking water quality (NIS 554:2015). SON. Stoler, J. (2017). From curiosity to commodity: A review of the evolution of sachet drinking water in West Africa. WIREs Water, 4(4), e1206. https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1206 Thompson, R. C., Olsen, Y., Mitchell, R. P., Davis, A., Rowland, S. J., John, A. W. G., McGonigle, D., & Russell, A. E. (2004). Lost at sea: Where is all the plastic? Science, 304(5672), 838. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1094559 Umoafia, N.E., Edet, U.O., Joseph, A.P., Henshaw, O.U., Mbim, E.N., Obeten, H., Edet, B., Edet, A., Ibor, O.R., Nkang, N.A., Louis, H., Nwaokorie, F., & Nkang, A. (2023). Impacts of sunlight exposure on physicochemical parameters, potential toxic metals, and microbial characteristics of sachet drinking water sold in Calabar metropolis, Nigeria. SN Applied Sciences, 5, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-023-05585-4 World Health Organisation. (2019). Microplastics in drinking water. WHO. Zuccarello, P., Ferrante, M., Cristaldi, A., Copat, C., Grasso, A., Sangregorio, D., Fiore, M., & Oliveri Conti, G. (2019). Exposure to microplastics (<10 μm) associated to plastic bottles mineral water consumption: The first quantitative study. Water Research, 157, 365–371. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2019.03.077