Occurrence, efficiency of treatment processes, source apportionment and human health risk assessment of pharmaceuticals and xenoestrogen compounds in tap water from some Ghanaian communities.

The occurrence of pharmaceuticals and xenoestrogen compounds (PXCs) in drinking water presents a dire human health risk challenge. The problem stems from the high anthropogenic pollution load on source water and the inefficiencies of the conventional water treatment plants in treating PXCs. This study assessed the PXCs levels and the consequential health risks of exposure to tap water from selected Ghanaian communities as well as that of raw water samples from the respective treatment plants. Thus the PXCs treatment efficiency of two drinking water treatment plants in the metropolises studied was also assessed. The study also conducted source apportionment of the PXCs in the tap water. Twenty six (26) tap and raw water samples from communities in the Cape Coast and Sekondi-Takoradi metropolises were extracted using SPE cartridges and analysed for PXCs using Ultra-fast-HPLC-UV instrument. Elevated levels of PXCs up to 24.79 and 22.02 µg/L were respectively recorded in raw and tap water samples from the metropolises. Consequently, elevated non-cancer health risk (HI > 1) to residential adults were found for tap water samples from Cape Coast metropolis and also for some samples from Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis. Again, elevated cumulative oral cancer risks >10-5 and dermal cancer risk up to 4 × 10-5 were recorded. The source apportionment revealed three significant sources of PXCs in tap water samples studied. The results revealed the inefficiency of the treatment plants in removing PXCs from the raw water during treatments. The situation thus requires urgent attention to ameliorate it, safeguarding public health. It is recommended that the conventional water treatment process employed be augmented with advanced treatment technologies to improve their efficacy in PXCs treatment.

Investigating the levels of organochlorine pesticides in human milk at three lactational stages: an intensive Ghanaian study.

During breastfeeding, the human breasts secrete three different kinds of milk. Research indicates that newborns exposed to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) during developmental stages, even at low concentrations, may suffer irreparable harm. The study aimed to ascertain whether OCPs levels in human milk vary across lactational stages. University of Health and Allied Sciences Research Ethics Committee (UHAS- REC) examined and approved the study protocol. 47 volunteers were chosen using purposive sampling. Each participant donated 15 ml of each type of breast milk. Colostrum was taken shortly after delivery up to day 4, transitional milk between day 5 and two weeks postpartum, while mature milk was taken two weeks afterwards. A modified version of QuEChERS was used to process 10.0 g aliquot of each breast milk sample, and the resulting extracts analysed for OCPs employing a Gas Chromatograph, Varian CP 3800, fitted with electron capture detector (ECD). The detection threshold was not reached for any of the six OCPs tested. This implied that none of the breast milk components analysed in this study contained any detectable levels of OCPs that might have posed any serious health risks to the infants through breastfeeding. Aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, and heptachlor were not found in detectable quantities in mothers' milk during the three stages of lactation. Our findings are encouraging. The study's findings likely show that the Stockholm Convention's campaign to remove POPs from the environment seems to be yielding positive impact.

Occurrence, ecological risk assessment and source apportionment of pharmaceuticals, steroid hormones and xenoestrogens in the Ghanaian aquatic environments.

Elevated levels of pharmaceuticals, steroid hormones and xenoestrogens (PSHXEs) in the aquatic environment pose a serious threat to the ecological balance. The endocrine disrupting PSHXEs in aquatic systems are linked to several adverse effects like reproductive health impairment, feminization, high mortality rate, decreased biodiversity etc. This study, therefore, sought to investigate the occurrence and the ecological risks posed by some selected PSHXEs and also conduct source apportionment of the PSHXEs in the Ghanaian aquatic environments. A total of 48 samples comprising 24 sediments and water each were taken from six waterbodies in Ghana. The samples were extracted using SPE cartridges for water and QuEChERS-dSPE for sediments. The analyses were done using Shimadzu Prominence UFLC 20A series. Ecological risk assessments were also conducted with the aid of USEPA T.E.S.T., whereas source apportionments were conducted using the APCS-MLR receptor model. Elevated mean total levels of PSHXEs ranging between 12,187 and 52,117 ng/L and 2,022-6,047 ng/g for water and sediment samples respectively were found. The risk quotients (RQ > 1) suggested a high risk posed by PSHXEs in water to organisms at the three trophic levels and also to benthic organisms in sediments of the Ghanaian aquatic environments for a short-term period. The APCS-MLR receptor model suggested three statistically significant sources (p < 0.05) designated by signature PSHXEs as domestic (major), mix hospital and industrial and agricultural waste sources. The source apportionment suggested increased use of steroid estrogens and anabolic drugs among the Ghana populace.

Vehicular influence on atmospheric concentrations and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in some major cities in three regions of Ghana using epiphytic lichens.

The present study employed epiphytic lichens as biomonitor and passive air sampler for the assessment of fifteen (15) atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in some major cities in three regions of Ghana. A total of 36 composite lichen samples were collected and analysed using Gas Chromatography - Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS-MS). The total PAH recorded ranged between 1909.9 ng/kg (A36) and 250,091.4 ng/kg (W15). Due to the inherent deficiencies in using a single source apportionment tool, multiple source apportionment methods including diagnostic ratios, principal component analysis/absolute principal component scores (PCA-APCS) and APCS with automatic linear model (APCS-ALM) were used to ascertain the source of PAHs in the lichens. The diagnostic ratios revealed a mix source of wood/grass and petrol/petroleum fuel combustion, with the major source ascribing to wood/grass combustion. The source apportionment confirmatory statistical test conducted with the PCA-APCS and APCS-ALM, were in good agreement with the diagnostic ratio. Both PCA-APCS and APCS-ALM suggested two significant sources (p < 0.0), with wood/grass combustion as the major (contributing 77.8%) and mix petroleum related sources being the other with 22.2% contribution of PAHs to the receptor sites. The study found PCA-APCS and especially APCS-ALM to be an effective statistical tool for PAH source apportionment in passive air samplers. To our knowledge, this is the first use of lichens for PAH monitoring in the country. Therefore, this study could serve as an inexpensive and real time bio-monitoring tool for air quality assessment in the African sub-region and the world at large.

Characterization and quantification of endocrine disruptors in female menstrual blood samples.

Selected endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) were measured in adult female menstrual blood for the first time in Ghana, Africa, taking into account the importance of non-invasive means of matrices sampling in vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, the elderly or chronically ill people. The menstrual blood samples of twenty (20) female adults between the ages of 25-45 years were sampled. The Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) method was applied for the extraction and clean up, while gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to measure the selected EDCs in adult female menstrual blood, taking into account the composition of menstrual discharge. Diethyl phthalate (DEP), Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were detected in all samples, whereas bisphenol A (BPA) was found in 13 participants. Dimethyl phthalate (DMP) was detected in 7 participants, Di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP) was detected in 3 participants, Bis (2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) and pyrimidine were detected in 2 participants, while benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) was detected in only 1 participant. The maximum concentration of DEP measured was 115.6 µg.L-1and the minimum was 439 µg.L-1. DEHP was the next most abundant phthalate with a maximum measured concentration of 982 µg.L-1 and minimum of 95 µg.L-1. The presence of parent phthalates (rather than metabolites) in menstrual blood of all participants studied suggests that bioaccumulation of selected phthalate compounds such as DEHP, DEP and DBP may be occurring with appreciable human toxicity though the carcinogenic exposure risks of DEHP via various routes were much lower than 1 × 10-6 considered to be very low.

Urinary Pesticide Residual Levels and Acute Respiratory Infections in Children Under 5 Years of Age: Findings From the Offinso North Farm Health Study.

Background: Several environmental factors are associated with the risk of acute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs) and upper respiratory infections (URIs) in children under 5 years of age (YOA). Evidence implicating chemical pesticides remains equivocal. There are also no data on this subject in these children in Ghana. This study investigated the association between urinary pesticide residual levels and the risk for ALRIs/URIs in children under 5 YOA. Methods: The participants for this study were from the Offinso North Farm Health Study, a population-based cross-sectional study. Two hundred and fifty four parents/guardians who had answered affirmatively to the question "Has your child ever accompanied you to the farm?" were interviewed on household socio-demographic and environmental factors, being breastfed, child education, age, gender, and respiratory infection. One hundred fifty children were randomly selected to provide the first void urine. Results: The proportion of children with ALRI was 22.1% and those with URI was 35.8%. We observed a statistically significant exposure-response relation of p,p'-DDE (tertile) with ALRI (1.7-3.2 µg/L urine: prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.22 [1.05-1.70], ⩾3.2 µg/L urine: 1.50 [1.07-3.53] [P-for trend = .0297]). This observation was in children older than two YOA (P-for trend = .0404). Delta-HCH and beta-HCH (2-levels) were significantly associated with ALRI but not URI. The risk of ALRI increased with deltamethrin levels in an exposure-response manner (2.5-9.5 µg/L urine: 2.10 [1.37-3.24], ⩾9.5 µg/L urine: 4.38 [1.87-10.32] [P-for trend = .0011]) and this was also observed in children older than two YOA. Similar observation was noted for URI. Bifenthrin (>0.5 µg/L urine) was positively associated with ALRI and URI whereas permethrin (⩾1.2 µg/L urine) was not associated only with URI. Conclusions: The present study supports the hypothesis that exposure to chemical pesticides is associated with respiratory infections in children under 5 YOA.

Health risk and source assessment of semi-volatile phenols, p-chloroaniline and plasticizers in plastic packaged (sachet) drinking water.

The presence of U.S. EPA priority organic contaminants in drinking water poses a dire health risk on consumers. Packaged drinking water such as plastic sachet drinking water has significantly gained market in both developed and developing countries, especially, its dominance in the Ghanaian market. The treatment process, packaging, and storage of the sachet drinking water contribute to the levels of genotoxic semi-volatile phenols, p-chloroaniline, and plasticizers contamination in the drinking water. The study thus sought to investigate the levels of semi-volatile phenols, p-chloroaniline, and plasticizer contaminants in sachet drinking water on the Ghanaian market and the associated health risk of exposure. The study also investigated the possible sources of the contaminants. A total of thirty (30) different brands of sachet water on the Ghanaian market were studied. The samples were extracted in replicates (n = 3) using Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) cartridges and further analysed with GC-MS (SIM mode). The source apportionment was conducted using absolute principal component analysis coupled with multiple, linear regression (APCA-MLR) and automatic linear regression (APCA-MALR) modelling. The mean total levels for the phenols, p-chloroaniline, and plasticizers were between 210.2 and 18,914.9, 11.2 and 18,871.0, and 21.2 and 69,834.1 ng/L respectively. The cumulative non-cancer risk (hazard quotient) and cancer risk upon exposure were computed to range between 2.1 × 10-3 and 1.2 and 1.5 × 10-7 and 1.3 × 10-4 respectively. About 37% of the samples had elevated cancer risk (>10-6) which may contribute to the existing incidence, cause for concern. The five sources found for the contaminants were apportioned as "environmental background (major)", "water treatment/disinfectant", "plastic/plasticizers", "storage and preservation", and "residual inter-conversion/degradation sources".

Medical Waste-Sorting and Management Practices in Five Hospitals in Ghana.

Hospital waste management in Ghana faces the risk of cross-contamination from the lack of thorough sorting of the waste at the points of generation, codisposal of hazardous and nonhazardous waste types, and use of open-fire pits and substandard incinerators for burning infectious waste. This has increased the potential for the spread of infections and chemical pollutants. A cross-sectional study was conducted in five hospitals in Ghana to assess behavioral patterns on waste sorting and the effectiveness of hospital waste management in Ghana. A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed purposively to some staff of the five hospitals to assess workers' perceptions on medical waste sorting and handling. Additionally, focused group discussions and transect walks were adopted to examine the current collection, storage, treatment, and disposal methods used in the health facilities. Chi-square analyses showed significant differences in waste-sorting behavior based only on occupation (p < 0.0001, n=180) and not on gender, education, or experience in the health sector. Even though contaminated sharps were separated into brown safety boxes, color coding for other infectious waste containers was inconsistent across the health facilities. The study revealed that incineration is still the modal method of treatment in Ghanaian hospitals and therefore new approaches such as an engineering approach were required to minimize its environmental effects. It is recommended that periodic in-service training workshops be held for healthcare staff on the right source-segregation of medical waste, in order to facilitate the effective and safe handling, transport, treatment, and disposal of waste from health facilities.

Levels and risk assessment of residual phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and semi-volatile chlorinated organic compounds in toilet tissue papers.

The presence of phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and semi-volatile chlorinated organic compounds (SVCOC) in toilet tissue papers may be detrimental to the health of consumers upon exposure. This study therefore, sought to investigate the levels of these toxicants in toilet tissue papers on the Ghanaian market and the associated risk of exposure. The study also sought to conduct source apportionments for analytes. A total of 32 composite toilet tissue samples from 8 different brands were analysed in replicates for PAHs, phthalates and SVCOCs. Analysis was conducted using Shimadzu GCMS QP 2020 with the MS operated in SIM mode. The results showed elevated levels of PAHs, phthalates, and appreciable levels of SVCOCs in the toilets tissue papers. The risk assessment conducted, showed an associated elevated cancer risk >10-4 for PAHs in all samples and DEHP in samples NN, BB and SF. The risk associated with the levels of carcinogenic SVCOCs were found to be > 10-5 but < 10-4.The hazard indices (HI) calculated for non-cancer effects, showed risk levels < 1.0 for phthalates in most toilet paper samples except for samples BB and SF. The HI recorded for chlorophenols were all <1. Cumulatively, these values suggested elevated cancer and non-cancer risk associated with the dermal use of the toilet tissue papers on the Ghanaian market. The PCA-MLR source apportionment suggested two significant sources of SVOCs in the toilet tissue papers. PAHs, phthalates and 2-chloronaphthalene were of one source (oil base source) whereas SVCOCs were of another source (bleaching process).

Respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms associated with pesticide management practices among farmers in Ghana's most important vegetable hub.

The data presented here are from the Offinso North District Farm Health Study (ONFAHS), a population-based cross-sectional study among vegetable farmers in Ghana. The paper addresses knowledge, pesticide handling practices, and protective measures related to pesticide use by self-reported symptoms for 310 adult farmers who completed a comprehensive questionnaire on pesticide management practices and health. In addition, an inventory was prepared using information supplied by pesticide sellers/dealers in this district. We report that cough and wheezing (but not breathlessness) are positively associated with stirring pesticide preparations with bare hands/drinking water while mixing/applying pesticides, and stirring pesticide preparations with bare hands/drinking water/smoking cigarettes while mixing/applying pesticides. There is a significant exposure-response association between the number of precautionary measures practiced while handling pesticides and cough and wheezing but not with breathlessness. We also found unsafe practices to be associated with sexual dysfunction, nervousness, and lack of concentration. The results also suggest a negative association between practice of any precautionary measure when mixing/applying pesticides and sexual dysfunction, nervousness, and lack of concentration. We found that in spite of the fact that farmers have adequate knowledge about the environment and health effects of pesticides, several unhygienic practices are in widespread use, indicating that knowledge is not necessarily always translated in action. Further action is necessary to promote the safe use of pesticides and to replace existing poor management practices among these and other farmers in Ghana.

Contamination impact and human health risk assessment of heavy metals in surface soils from selected major mining areas in Ghana.

Analysis of soil samples around pristine and major gold-mining areas in Ghana was carried out for heavy metals as part of a larger soil contamination and metal background study. The surface soil samples were digested using microwave digester (aqua regia) and analyzed with ICP-MS for As, Cd, Hg, Zn, Co, Cu, Mn, Fe, Al, V, Cr, and Pb. The average concentrations (mg/L) for the metals ranged from 0.01 ± 0.01 (Cd) to 86,859.36 ± 47.07 (Fe) for the pristine sites, and 0.01 ± 0.01 (Cd) to 59,006.95 ± 79.06 (Fe) for the mining sites. Mercury was below the detection limit of the analytical instrument (0.029). The concentrations of heavy metals from this study were used to assess their contamination levels, and health risks. The results showed that, the metals ranked by severity of health risks as As > Pb > Cr > Cd. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis showed two groupings with the PCA showing metals variability explained by 79.02%. Results from the PCA and Cluster analysis indicate anthropogenic sources of the metals which may be emanating from gold-mining activities. Results from multi-criteria ranking and pattern recognition employing PROMETHEE and GAIA revealed major contribution of the metals from the mining sites with metal variability explained by 72.83%. This is the first time a multi-criteria approach is employed to characterize heavy metal contamination in Ghana, and the study nevertheless brought to light the impact of mining on human health and the environment with implications for other mineral areas around the globe.

PAHs contamination levels in the breast milk of Ghanaian women from an e-waste recycling site and a residential area.

Breast milk samples from 128 primipararae and multiparae Ghanaian women were screened for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) from 2014 and 2016. These were breast milk from women residing or working around an electronic waste recycling site and a reference area (a residential area). This research is aimed at assessing PAHs levels in human milk samples from some Ghanaian mothers, prediction of the sources of these PAHs and the probable carcinogenic and mutagenic risks to infants. PAHs in the breast milk were analyzed using a gas chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometer (GC-MS/MS). A total of 18 PAH congeners were identified in the human milk samples with a total range between

Heavy metal content and health risk assessment of commonly patronized herbal medicinal preparations from the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana.

PURPOSE: To address the question of whether users of herbal products (HPs) are exposed to harmful contaminants, we evaluated six HPs mostly patronized in Kumasi for heavy metal contamination and assessed the health risk associated with their use. This study is one of the first safety evaluation studies on finished multiherbal products in the region. METHOD: Three antimalarial, two antidiabetic and one antihypertensive HPs were selected after a mini-survey and coded randomly as HP A-F. The HPs were acid digested for quantitative analysis of heavy metals using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer. Hg quantification was carried out using cold vapour atomic absorption spectroscopy. RESULTS: The cancer risk estimation values for the carcinogenic metals ranged between 1.54 × 10-9 to 3.73 × 10-4 and were all within acceptable limits. The non-cancer health risk evaluation revealed that, some of the products pose health risk to consumers. The estimated daily intake (EDI) for As in HPF was 2.48 × 10-4 mg/kg/day compared to the reference limit of 1.67 × 10-4 mg/kg/day. HPF also had high hazard index (HI) of 5.70 (HI >1) in children as compared to 1.68 (HI >1) in adults showing a 3.4 folds increase in the health risk among the former. CONCLUSION: The six polyherbal products exhibited carcinogenic risk within acceptable limits. Although, the non-carcinogenic risk assessment of products HPA to HPE suggests safety, this can only be ascertained after further characterization of their health risks in detailed chronic toxicity studies. The high HI for product HPF suggests health risk for consumers of this product.

Spatial distribution, accumulation and human health risk assessment of heavy metals in soil and groundwater of the Tano Basin, Ghana.

Soil serves as a vast matrix for heavy metal accumulation and subsequent redistribution to critical aspects of the environment such as groundwater. Soil pollution study is essential for sustainable human health and ecosystem protection. This study provides vital insight into the fate, accumulation, interactions, and health risk posed by heavy metals in soil and groundwater by employing geochemical accumulation index (Igeo), risk assessment models and multivariate data analysis techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA), preference ranking organisation method for enrichment evaluation (PROMETHEE) and geometrical analysis for interactive aid (GAIA). The median Igeo estimates show moderate to strong Pb accumulation levels whilst all the other metals indicate uncontaminated to moderate levels. The PCA output point to anthropogenic origin of Pb and Cd in the Tano Basin and surrounding communities. PROMETHEE-GAIA results indicate that Pb, Cd, Zn and Fe accumulated in the soil matrix may potentially leach into the groundwater resources. The carcinogenic lifetime risks posed by Pb, Cd, and Ni metals to adults are within the tolerable acceptable risk and thus do not present an immediate danger in the study area. Due to the significant toxicity, bioaccumulation and biomagnification properties of Pb and Cd in the environment, areas associated with significant anthropogenic activities require regular monitoring and evaluation in order to ensure that these metals are consistently below the regulatory limits. This study has further elucidated the subject of heavy metal pollution and is therefore expected to enhance sustainable protection of the environment and human health.

Assessment of contamination and health risk of heavy metals in selected water bodies around gold mining areas in Ghana.

Heavy metal contamination of selected rivers in Ghana was studied as part of a bigger project aimed at setting background standard for heavy metals in the Ghanaian environment. Water samples were collected from major mining and eight pristine areas. The samples were acid digested with aqua-regia and analyzed with ICP-MS for As, Cd, Hg, Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Cr, Al, V, Co, Ni, and Pb. The average concentrations (mg/L) from the pristine sites ranged from 0.002 ± 0.00(As) to 0.929 ± 0.06 (Fe) and 0.002 ± 0.00 (Pb) to 20.355 ± 5.60 (Fe) from the mining sites. With the exception of Al, Fe, and Mn, the metals level were found to be within the WHO and USEPA guideline limits. Hazard quotients (HQ) for ingestion and dermal contact for pristine and mining samples ranged from 3.00E-04 (Cu) to 0.84 (Cr) and 2.40E-06 (Cu) to 7.44 (As), respectively. The carcinogenic risk (CR) for ingestion and dermal contact ranged from 5.03E-06 to 1.71E-07 (Cr) and 4.22E-08 to 1.44E-09 (Cr), respectively. Arsenic showed a CR value higher than the acceptable limit (1.8E-02) from the mining sites which poses carcinogenic health threat. Multicriteria ranking suggests Birim river (EAM) as the most contaminated. The pattern recognition and multicriteria approach in characterizing the heavy metal contamination (for the first time in the case of Ghana) from the various sites will provide fresh insights into the risk assessment of heavy metals in contaminated surface waters.

Soil-to-cassava transfer of naturally occurring radionuclides from communities along Ghana's oil and gas rich Tano Basin.

Soil-to-plant transfer factor (TF) is widely used to assess the impact of soil radioactivity on agricultural crops. The root crop cassava (Manihot esculenta) provides 30%-50% of the calories consumed in Sub-Saharan Africa and is widely used in South America. γ-ray analysis was used to measure activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K in cassava root and soil. The TF values for 238U, 232Th, and 40K were in the range 0.06-0.12, 0.01-0.10 and 0.04-0.28 respectively. The median transfer factors were 0.10 (238U), 0.04 (232Th) and 0.08 (40K). For 238U and 232Th, the highest TF values were 0.12 and 0.10 respectively.

Assessment of PCBs and exposure risk to infants in breast milk of primiparae and multiparae mothers in an electronic waste hot spot and non-hot spot areas in Ghana.

The aim of the study was to assess the levels of PCBs in the breast milk of some Ghanaian women at suspected hotspot and relatively non-hotspot areas and to find out if the levels of these PCBs pose any risk to the breastfed infants. A total of 128 individual human breast milk were sampled from both primiparae and multiparae mothers. The levels of PCBs in the milk samples were compared. Some of these mothers (105 individuals) work or reside in and around Agbogbloshie (hot-spot), the largest electric and electronic waste dump and recycling site in Accra, Ghana. Others (23 donor mothers) also reside in and around Kwabenya (non-hotspot) which is a mainly residential area without any industrial activities. Samples were analyzed using GC-MS/MS. The total mean levels and range of Σ7PCBs were 3.64ng/glipidwt and ˂LOD-29.20ng/glipidwt, respectively. Mean concentrations from Agbogbloshie (hot-spot area) and Kwabenya (non-hotspot areas) were 4.43ng/glipidwt and 0.03ng/glipidwt, respectively. PCB-28 contributed the highest of 29.5% of the total PCBs in the milk samples, and PCB-101 contributed the lowest of 1.74%. The estimated daily intake of PCBs and total PCBs concentrations in this work were found to be lower as compared to similar studies across the world. The estimated hazard quotient using Health Canada's guidelines threshold limit of 1µg/kgbw/day showed no potential health risk to babies. However, considering minimum tolerable value of 0.03µg/kgbw/day defined by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the values of some mothers were found to be at the threshold limit. This may indicate a potential health risk to their babies. Mothers with values at the threshold levels of the minimum tolerable limits are those who work or reside in and around the Agbogbloshie e-waste site.

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in the Pra and Kakum River basins and associated tap water in Ghana.

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are persistent environmental pollutants that have been detected in various media including human serum. Due to concerns regarding their bioaccumulation and possible negative health effects, an understanding of routes of human exposure is necessary. PFAAs are recalcitrant in many water treatment processes, making drinking water a potential source of human exposure. This study presents the first report on contamination from PFAAs in river and drinking water in Ghana. The targeted PFAAs were perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) with C4-14 carbon chain and perfluoroalkane sulphonic acids (PFSAs) with C6, 8, 10. Five PFAA congeners - PFOA, PFOS, PFHxA, PFDA and PFPeA - were commonly detected in river and tap water. The mean concentrations of ∑PFAAs in the Kakum and Pra Rivers were 281 and 398ng/L, while tap water (supplied from the treatment of water from those rivers) contained concentrations of 197 and 200ng/L, respectively. PFOA and PFOS constituted about 99% of the ∑PFAAs. The risk quotient (RQ) attributed to drinking of tap water was estimated at 1.01 and 1.74 for PFOA and PFOS, respectively. For a country that has not produced these compounds, the RQs were unexpectedly high, raising concerns particularly about contamination from such emerging pollutants in local water sources. The study revealed limitations of local tap water treatment in getting rid of these emerging pollutants.

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). Data on pesticide use was collected with an interviewed-administered questionnaire. The concentration of seven organochlorine pesticides and 3 pyrethroid pesticides was assayed in urine collected from a sub-population of 100 vegetable farmers by a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD). RESULTS: A statistically significant exposure-response relationship of years per day spent mixing/applying fumigant with wheezing [30-60 days/year: prevalence ratio (PR)=1.80 (95% CI 1.30, 2.50); >60days/year: 3.25 (1.70-6.33), p for trend=0.003] and hours per day spent mixing/applying fumigant with wheezing [1-2h/day: 1.20 (1.02-1.41), 3-5h/day: 1.45 (1.05-1.99), >5h/day: 1.74 (1.07-2.81), p for trend=0.0225]; days per year spent mixing/applying fungicide with wheezing [30-60 days/year: 2.04 (1.31-3.17); >60days/year: 4.16 (1.72-10.08), p for trend=0.0017] and h per day spent mixing/applying fungicide with phlegm production [1-2h/day: 1.25 (1.05-1.47), 3-5h/day: 1.55 (1.11-2.17), >5h/day: 1.93 (1.17-3.19), p for trend=0.0028] and with wheezing [1-2h/day: 1.10 (1.00-1.50), 3-5h/day: 1.20 (1.11-1.72), >5h/day: 1.32 (1.09-2.53), p for trend=0.0088]; h per day spent mixing/applying insecticide with phlegm production [1-2h/day: 1.23 (1.09-1.62), 3-5h/day: 1.51 (1.20-2.58), >5h/day: 1.85 (1.31-4.15), p for trend=0.0387] and wheezing [1-2h/day: 1.22 (1.02-1.46), 3-5h/day: 1.49 (1.04-2.12), >5h/day: 1.81 (1.07-3.08), p for trend=0.0185] were observed. Statistically significant exposure-response association was also observed for a combination of activities that exposes farmers to pesticide with all 3 respiratory symptoms. Furthermore, significant exposure-response associations for 3 organochlorine insecticides: beta-HCH, heptachlor and endosulfan sulfate were noted. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, vegetable farmers in Ghana may be at increased risk for respiratory symptoms as a result of exposure to pesticides.

Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (TENORM) in the Oil and Gas Industry: A Review.

Radiation is part of the natural environment: it is estimated that approximately 80 % of all human exposure comes from naturally occurring or background radiation. Certain extractive industries such as mining and oil logging have the potential to increase the risk of radiation exposure to the environment and humans by concentrating the quantities of naturally occurring radiation beyond normal background levels (Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli 2004).