Urbanization and industrialization have drastically increased ambient air pollution in urban areas globally from vehicle emissions, solid fuel combustion and industrial activities leading to some of the worst air quality conditions. Air pollution in Ghana causes approximately 28,000 premature deaths and disabilities annually, ranking as a leading cause of mortality and disability-adjusted life years. This study evaluated the annual concentrations of PM NO and O in the ambient air of 57 cities in Ghana for two decades using historical and forecasted data from satellite measurements.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHigh application rates of dairy effluent and manure are often associated with nitrogen (N) leaching, which can affect groundwater quality. Here, we used a lysimeter to examine N leaching losses and biomass yield following application of dairy effluent and manure under wheat-maize cropping. The field experiment included seven treatments: no N fertilizer (Control); 200/300 kg N ha synthetic N fertilizer only (wheat/maize) (CN); 100/150 kg N ha synthetic N fertilizer plus 100/150 (DE1), 150/200 (DE2) and 250/350 (DE3) kg N ha dairy effluent; 100/150 kg N ha synthetic fertilizer plus 100/150 kg N ha dairy manure (SM1); and 150/225 kg N ha synthetic fertilizer plus 50/75 kg N ha dairy manure (SM2).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe current COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered the quantity and composition of waste generated on the African continent. This new phenomenon, coupled with the indiscriminate disposal of used personal protective equipment (PPEs), poses serious challenges to local authorities, most of whom have limited experience or lack the strategy to handle this occurrence. These PPEs, like the face masks, are made up of polymeric materials that are liquid resistant and remain for a long time in the environment after discard.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Nurse turnover intention, defined as a measure of nurses' desire to leave their positions, is a global public health issue with a grave impact on the healthcare workforce. However, literature on it is limited in sub-Saharan Africa, an at-risk region. This study aimed to determine the predictors of turnover intention among nursing staff at a tertiary hospital in Kumasi, Ghana.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDespite the fact that several cases of unsafe pesticide use among farmers in different parts of Africa have been documented, there is limited evidence regarding which specific interventions are effective in reducing pesticide exposure and associated risks to human health and ecology. The overall goal of the African Pesticide Intervention Project (APsent) study is to better understand ongoing research and public health activities related to interventions in Africa through the implementation of suitable target-specific situations or use contexts. A systematic review of the scientific literature on pesticide intervention studies with a focus on Africa was conducted.
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