Abudu Ballu Duwiejuah

Comparative Assessment of Heavy Metals in Drinking Water Sources in Two Small-Scale Mining Communities in Northern Ghana

The study assessed levels of heavy metals in drinking water sources in two small-scale mining communities (Nangodi and Tinga) in northern Ghana. Seventy-two (72) water samples were collected from boreholes, hand dug wells, dug-out, and a stream in the two mining communities. The levels of mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Mean levels (mg/l) of heavy metals in water samples from Nangodi and Tinga communities were 0.038 and 0.064 (Hg), 0.031 and 0.002 (As), 0.250 and 0.031 (Pb), 0.034 and 0.002 (Zn), and 0.534 and 0.023 (Cd), respectively, for each community. Generally, levels of Hg, As, Pb, Zn, and Cd in water from Nangodi exceeded the World Health Organisation (WHO) stipulated limits of 0.010 for Hg, As, and Pb, 3.0 for Zn and 0.003 for Cd for drinking water, and levels of Hg, Pb, and Cd recorded in Tinga, exceeded the stipulated WHO limits. Ingestion of water, containing elevated levels of Hg, As, and Cd by residents in these mining communities may pose significant health risks. Continuous monitoring of the quality of drinking water sources in these two communities is recommended.

Assessment of heavy metals concentration in soils around oil filling and service stations in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana

This study was conducted to assess the level of heavy metals contamination of soil around oil filling and service stations in the Tamale Metropolis. Soil samples were collected from various oil filling and service stations. Elemental analysis of samples was conducted using atomic absorption spectrometer at Atomic Energy Laboratory, Accra. The metals concentrations ranged from 2.37 to 15.00 mg/kg for Cr; 0.01 to 0.03 mg/kg for Hg; 3.2 to 22.68 mg/kg for Cu; 0.12 to 6.63 mg/kg for Cd and 4.93 to 74.20 mg/kg for Pb. The mathematical models: Index of geoaccumulation (Igeo), enrichment factors (EF), contamination factor and degree of contamination were employed to identify possible levels of pollution from anthropogenic sources. The enrichment factor means places the elements in a decreasing order as Cd > Pb > Cr > Cu > Ni> Fe > Zn > As > Hg > Mn that agreed with others models such as contamination factor, pollution load index and degree of contamination. Elements such as chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and manganese (Mg) gave enrichment factor values ranging from 2-5 signifying moderate enrichment. The study revealed that soil contamination by the metals originated from a common anthropogenic source such as the oil filling activities, brake wear, tyres wear and corroded vehicles engine materials since these sources are noted to contribute one or two correlated metals to the natural environment. Hence, pose potential threat to humans and critical environmental media such as water bodies. It is therefore recommended that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should regularly monitor the oil filling and service stations to check the levels of heavy metals in the metropolis.

Microbial profile of common spices and spice blends used in Tamale, Ghana

BackgroundThe main purpose of using spice to grill meat is to add aroma, colour, flavour, taste and pungency. However, the purpose is sometime befitted when spice is contaminated with pathogenic bacteria that result in foodborne illnesses and toxicological effect.ResultsThe study was necessitated by paucity information on handling practices and microbial load common spices used for grilling meat, Ghana. A total of twenty spice samples were collected from five popular and widely patronised joints in the Tamale in Ghana. Detection and identification of potential pathogens was carried out following standard procedures. E. coli count ranged from 0 to 3.14 log10 cfu/ ml with a mean of 1.17 ± 1.07 log10 cfu/ ml. Contamination level for Salmonella spp ranged between 0 and 0.9 log10 cfu/ ml with a mean of 0.38 ± 0.31 log10 cfu/ ml. Coliform bacteria were present in almost all the spices sampled. Faecal coliform and E. coli presence was an indication of contamination by fresh faecal matter. The possible sources of spice contamination include storage equipment, handling, unhygienic surroundings, vehicular transmission, atmospheric particles and air-microbes.ConclusionsThere is a possible risk to public health associated with consumption of spicy meat from the selected joints. There is the need to maintain good sanitary practice and hygienic quality during production stages of spice in order to avoid or reduce prevalence of food borne illnesses in Tamale and Ghana as a whole.

Heavy Metal Concentration in Water, Sediment and Fish Species in the Bontanga Reservoir, Ghana

ObjectiveThis study assessed heavy metals levels in four selected fish species, water and sediment from the Bontanga Reservoir.MethodsSamples were collected on weekly basis and analysed using standards methods.ResultsPhysico-chemical properties of the water were all within World Health Organization (WHO) limits except for turbidity. The study recorded cadmium concentration in the water sample the ranged from 0 to 0.01 mg L-1 that shows some were above WHO stipulated limits for potability. Heavy metal concentration in water was in the order Fe>Cr>Mn>Cu>Cd>Zn>Pb and in sediments Fe>Mn>Cr>Cu>Zn>Cd>Pb which showed that iron was more abundant.ConclusionCd and Cr were above WHO limits for potability which make the water unsafe for drinking without treatment. Heavy metals in the sediment were within Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)/WHO limit. Concentrations of heavy metals in the various species were within the recommended limit for fish and fish products. Hence, these metals have no immediate health threat on the consumers of fish and fish products from Bontanga Reservoir but will likely have adverse effects in the prolong consumption of the fish species since heavy metals accumulate. Periodic monitoring of heavy metals in Bontanga reservoir is recommended since the reservoir serves as a source of fish and water for all-year-round irrigational farming.

Adsorption of Potentially Toxic Metals from Mono and Multi-Metal Systems Using Groundnut and Shea Nut Shell Biochars

Background. Adsorption is a unique and promising method for the removal of trace metals from an aqueous environment using cost-effective and readily available biochars. Objective. The present study examined mono and simultaneous adsorption of cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) onto biochars produced at pyrolysis temperatures of 350 ± 5°C and 700 ± 5°C. Methods. Fifty mg/l of trace metal ions with 2 g/50 ml of adsorbent dosage were leached at constant room temperature of 24 ± 0.5°C in the laboratory with a constant contact time of 72 minutes. A total of 126 elutes were obtained from the batch experiments and conveyed to the Ecological Laboratory at University of Ghana for the analysis. Results. In the mono-component system of Cd, Hg and Pb, removal efficiency was almost 100% using groundnut, shea nut shell, and a combination of groundnut and shea nut shell biochars. The experiment showed that shea nut shell biochars have the strongest affinity for trace metal ions in the mono aqueous phase. In the binary system, the removal efficiency was over 99.60% for cadmium and 100% for mercury. The ternary experiment showed an order of adsorption of Pb2+ > Hg2+ > Cd2+ for Cd, Hg and Pb ions onto groundnut and shea nut shells biochars. Fast pyrolysis temperatures and some types of biochar showed a slight increase in the adsorption efficiency of metal ions, but the increase was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions. The study revealed that the Langmuir adsorption isotherm was the best fit model for trace metal ion adsorption onto biochars in the batch experiment. The interactive effects of binary and ternary metal systems onto biochars are antagonistic and synergistic in nature. Based on these results, it is recommended that further competitive adsorption studies of these biochars should be undertaken for accurate estimation of adsorption in natural environments. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Stakeholder Views on Waste and Its Management in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana

Management of waste in Ghana is primarily the responsibility of District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies in partnership with private waste management companies. The main objective of this study was to assess stakeholder views on waste and its management in Tamale Metropolis. Purposive sampling was used to interview a total of 11 stakeholders from both private and public sectors to solicit their views on the problem of waste generation and its management in the Tamale Metropolis. The study revealed that 100% of the stakeholders considered waste and its management as a serious problem in the Tamale Metropolis. The stakeholders considered improper waste disposal as the major problem in the Metropolis. It is therefore eminent that the fastest growing city in West Africa in recent years is gradually becoming a slum despite being Original Research Article Adongo et al.; JSRR, 6(5): 340-349, 2015; Article no.JSRR.2015.159 341 adjudged the cleanest city in Ghana on three occasions. Out of the 11 respondents, 91% of them believed there is consultation and collaboration among waste stakeholders in the Metropolis whilst only 9% disagreed. The study also revealed that 91% of the stakeholders participated in waste management decision making whilst 9% have never participated in waste management decisionmaking in the Metropolis. This infers that there is a comprehensive collaboration between stakeholders in the management of waste in the Metropolis. The study revealed that waste management challenges in the Metropolis are as a result of deficiencies in technical, financial and institutional frameworks as well as social constraints.

Assessing the Fertilizer Utilization Potential of Municipal Solid Waste in Akosombo, Ghana

Currently waste managers are unable to keep pace with the waste generation rate hence shank of solid waste are uncollected in both dumping sites and open spaces. T he study was conducted to assess the fertilizer utilisation potential ofsolidwastegenerated in Akosombo Township .Samples of solidwaste were collected frommarket, slaughter house, dustbins, drains, t ruckand dumping site during a dryand wet monthforanalysis. The samples were weighed and segregated into o rganic and inorganic components. Theorganiccomponent wasthoroughly mixed, shredded andsieved for laboratoryanalysis.Proximate and ultimate analyses were conducted to obtain the chemicalcharacteristics of the slid waste. The study recorded an average organic material of 70%, making the municipal solid waste suitable for composting because of the presence of high percentage of biodegradable organic matter. The