Evaluation of energy potential of MSW in the Tamale metropolis, Ghana: An assessment of solid waste characteristics and energy content.

In the present investigation, a thorough examination of waste composition was undertaken in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana. The methodology employed was carefully designed, incorporating both commercial and residential sectors as well as various socioeconomic classes. Source-based sampling of waste materials covered a range of locations, including households, markets, hotels, and restaurants, while socioeconomic-based categorization followed the zoning of the metropolis.

A systematic review of pharmaceutical and personal care products as emerging contaminants in waters: The panorama of West Africa.

Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) are widely used to prevent or treat human and animal diseases, thereby improving the quality of daily life. Poor management of post-consumer products is recognized worldwide, as they negatively affect the ecosystems where they are discharged. The first action to prevent negative impacts is the state of knowledge regarding their occurrence.

Water pollution control and revitalization using advanced technologies: Uncovering artificial intelligence options towards environmental health protection, sustainability and water security.

In Ghana, illegal mining (galamsey) activities have polluted most of the river bodies. For example, water bodies in Ghana that are polluted amounts to 60% with most of them in deteriorating condition. However, to live a sustainable life, there is the need to follow rules of environmental management, where pollution control and advanced treatment technologies are imperative.

Quantification and health risk assessment of heavy metals in milled maize and millet in the Tolon District, Northern Ghana.

This study was conducted to quantify the levels and measure the health risk of selected heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Pb, Mn, Cr, Ni) in milled millet and maize from 10 communities in the Tolon District, northern region of Ghana. Control samples of maize and millet were also prepared in order to identify whether the sources of the heavy metals were limited to the milling process or otherwise. The heavy metals present in the collected milled samples were quantified using an AAS Varian Spectra 220 FS.

The occurrence and levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in African environments-a systematic review.

In the African continent, several studies have been conducted to determine PAH pollution levels with their associated health risks in the environment. However, these studies are very much disconnected. The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review that serves as a comprehensive report on the PAH-related studies conducted in the African continent.

Microbial quality and antibiotic sensitivity of bacterial isolates in "Tuo-Zaafi" vended in the central business district of tamale.

Introduction: Food safety concerns remain a challenge across nations and among citizens. Microbial contamination of foods and antibiotic resistance constitutes a global threat to food security. The present study assessed microbial quality of "Tuo-Zaafi" sold in the Tamale metropolis as well as antibiotic resistance of isolates from these products.

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.

Modulation of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptors (NMDAR), Bcl-2 and C-Fos Gene Expressions on Exposure to Individual and Mixtures of Low Concentration Metals in Zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Currently, there is limited information on the toxicity of low concentration of metal mixtures in the environment. Of particular interest is the effect of low levels of metal mixtures on neurodevelopment of aquatic organisms. This study reports the neurological gene expressions after exposing zebrafish embryos to low concentration toxic heavy metals, 120 h post fertilization (hpf).

Purification, characterization and immunoregulatory activity of a polysaccharide isolated from Hibiscus sabdariffa L.

Background: Hibiscus sabdariffa L. is not only used traditionally as a component of herbal drinks, beverages and flavoring agents but also as a herbal medicine in the drug industry. Bioactive polysaccharides are important constituents of H.

Associations between pesticide use and respiratory symptoms: A cross-sectional study in Southern Ghana.

Background: Indiscriminate use of pesticides is a common practice amongst farmers in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC) across the globe. However, there is little evidence defining whether pesticide use is associated with respiratory symptoms.

Objectives: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 300 vegetable farmers in southern Ghana (Akumadan).

A review of toxicity and mechanisms of individual and mixtures of heavy metals in the environment.

The rational for the study was to review the literature on the toxicity and corresponding mechanisms associated with lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As), individually and as mixtures, in the environment. Heavy metals are ubiquitous and generally persist in the environment, enabling them to biomagnify in the food chain. Living systems most often interact with a cocktail of heavy metals in the environment.

Human Health Risk Assessment of Artisanal Miners Exposed to Toxic Chemicals in Water and Sediments in the Prestea Huni Valley District of Ghana.

A human health risk assessment of artisanal miners exposed to toxic metals in water bodies and sediments in the PresteaHuni Valley District of Ghana was carried out in this study, in line with US EPA risk assessment guidelines. A total of 70 water and 30 sediment samples were collected from surface water bodies in areas impacted by the operations of artisanal small-scale gold mines in the study area and analyzed for physico-chemical parameters such as pH, TDS, conductivity, turbidity as well as metals and metalloids such as As, Cd, Hg and Pb at CSIR-Water Research Institute using standard methods for the examination of wastewater as outlined by American Water Works Association (AWWA). The mean concentrations of As, Cd, Hg and Pb in water samples ranged from 15 μg/L to 325 μg/L (As), 0.

A multivariate assessment of innate immune-related gene expressions due to exposure to low concentration individual and mixtures of four kinds of heavy metals on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos.

Concerns over the potential health effects of mixtures of low concentration heavy metals on living organisms keep growing by the day. However, the toxicity of low concentration metal mixtures on the immune system of fish species has rarely been investigated. In this study, the zebrafish model was employed to investigate the effect on innate immune and antioxidant-related gene expressions, on exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of individual and mixtures of Pb (0.

Adsorption properties of macroporous adsorbent resins for separation of anthocyanins from mulberry.

In this study, the adsorption/desorption characteristics of mulberry anthocyanins (MA) on five types of macroporous resins (XAD-7HP, AB-8, HP-20, D-101 and X-5) were evaluated, XAD-7HP and AB-8 showed higher adsorption/desorption capacities. On the basis of static adsorption test, XAD-7HP and AB-8 resins were selected for kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics. The adsorption mechanism indicated that the process was better explained by pseudo-first-order kinetics and the Langmuir isotherm model, and the thermodynamics tests showed that the processes were exothermic, spontaneous and thermodynamically feasible.

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).

Integrated Assessment of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Ghana-Part 2: Natural Sciences Review.

This paper is one of three synthesis documents produced via an integrated assessment (IA) that aims to increase understanding of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Ghana. Given the complexities surrounding ASGM, an integrated assessment (IA) framework was utilized to analyze socio-economic, health, and environmental data, and co-develop evidence-based responses with stakeholders. This paper focuses on the causes, status, trends, and consequences of ecological issues related to ASGM activity in Ghana.

Neurological Toxicity of Individual and Mixtures of Low Dose Arsenic, Mono and Di (n-butyl) Phthalates on Sub-Chronic Exposure to Mice.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of individual and mixtures of di(n-butyl) phthalates (DBP) and their active metabolite monobutyl phthalate (MBP) and arsenic (As) on spatial cognition associated with hippocampal apoptosis in mice. Mice were exposed, individually or in combination, to DBP (50 mg/kg body weight, intragastrically), MBP (50 mg/kg body weight, intragastrically), and As (10 mg/L, per os) for 8 weeks. The Morris water maze test showed that mice exposed to DBP/MBP combined with As exhibited longer escape latencies and the lower average number of crossing the platform.

Toxicity assessment due to sub-chronic exposure to individual and mixtures of four toxic heavy metals.

Humans are exposed to a cocktail of heavy metal toxicants in the environment. Though heavy metals are deleterious, there is a paucity of information on toxicity of low dose mixtures. In this study, lead (Pb) (0.

Low concentration toxic metal mixture interactions: Effects on essential and non-essential metals in brain, liver, and kidneys of mice on sub-chronic exposure.

The deleterious effects of long term exposure to individual toxic metals in low doses are well documented. There is however, a paucity of information on interaction of low dose toxic metal mixtures with toxic and essential metals. This study reports on interactions between low dose mixtures of lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) and toxic and essential metals.

Association of arsenic with adverse pregnancy outcomes/infant mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Exposure to arsenic is one of the major global health problems, affecting > 300 million people worldwide, but arsenic's effects on human reproduction are uncertain.

Objectives: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the association between arsenic and adverse pregnancy outcomes/infant mortality.

Methods: We searched PubMed and Ovid MEDLINE (from 1946 through July 2013) and EMBASE (from 1988 through July 2013) databases and the reference lists of reviews and relevant articles.

Interaction of four low dose toxic metals with essential metals in brain, liver and kidneys of mice on sub-chronic exposure.

This study reports on interactions between low dose toxic and essential metals. Low dose Pb (0.01mg/L), Hg (0.

Assessment of cancer and noncancer health risks from exposure to PAHs in street dust in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana.

This study is part of a broader initiative to characterize, quantify and assess the human health risk associated with exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in street dust along the Trans-ECOWAS highway in West Africa. In the first part, PAHs were characterized and quantified in low- and high-traffic zones. In this study, cancer and noncancer human health risks from exposure to (PAHs) in street dust in the Tamale metropolis, Ghana were assessed in accordance with the USEPA risk assessment guidelines.

Quantification and characterization of vehicle-based polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in street dust from the Tamale metropolis, Ghana.

Objective: Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in street dust in the Tamale metropolis, Ghana, have been measured in this study.

Results: The concentrations of the various types of PAHs identified in street dust samples from high vehicular traffic density in the metropolis are as follows: naphthalene, 10,000 μg/kg; acenaphthylene, 13,000 μg/kg; acenaphthene, 76,000 μg/kg; fluorene, 18,900 μg/kg; phenanthrene, 40,000 μg/kg; anthracene, 21,000 μg/kg; fluoranthene, 35,200 μg/kg; pyrene, 119,000 μg/kg; benzo[a]anthracene, 17,700 μg/kg; chrysene, 10,600 μg/kg; benzo[k]fluoranthene, 18,700 μg/kg; benzo[a]pyrene, 10,900 μg/kg and benzo[g, h, i]perylene, 21,000 μg/kg. Calculation of the phenanthrene/anthracene ratio indicated that the PAHs identified in this study were from vehicular fallout as the ratio was less than 10.

Water quality status of dugouts from five districts in Northern Ghana: implications for sustainable water resources management in a water stressed tropical savannah environment.

This study was primarily aimed at investigating the physicochemical and microbial quality of water in 14 such dugouts from five districts in the northern region of Ghana. Results obtained suggest that except for colour, turbidity, total iron and manganese, many physicochemical parameters were either within or close to the World Health Organisation's acceptable limits for drinking water. Generally, colour ranged from 5 to 750 Hz (mean 175 Hz), turbidity from 0.