Browsing by Author "Kazapoe, Raymond Webrah"

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    Compositional and source patterns of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils in southwestern Ghana using robust compositional contamination index (RCCI) and k-means cluster analysis
    (Elsevier, 2021) Kazapoe, Raymond Webrah; Amuah, Ebenezer Ebo Yahans; Dankwa, Paul; Ibrahim, Kwabina; Mville, Benatus Norbert; Abubakari, Sadique; Bawa, Naziru
    Soils are heavily impacted by geogenic and anthropogenic factors. They form an integral part in supporting agri-culture, and the natural climate. This study investigated the soil chemistry in the Wassa and Prestea-Huni Valley areas in southwestern Ghana using the RCCI technique and multivariate statistics with utilizing a total of 300 soil samples. The results showed that 43%, 98%, 50%, and 100% of the samples exceeded the standards respectively for As, Ba, Co, and Cu. Meanwhile, for Cr, Ni, Mn, Fe, and Zn, 50%, 54%, 5%, 46%, and 71% were above their guideline values. The RCCI computation showed that 2%, 15%, 48%, 34%, and 1% of the samples were within lower, medium, moderate, high, and very high ranges respectively. The interpolation of the RCCI results revealed sparse but concentrated hotspot areas around mid-Wassa AmenfiCentral, mid- towards the north of the Wassa AmenfiWest and East Districts. Also, the K-means and ANOVA outputs showed that Cu and Ni contributed sig- nificantly to the chemistry of the soil. The EOF 1 showed a weighted sum of V, Fe, Cu, Ni, Zn, Ba, Cr, Ag, and Pb. Inferentially, these contained the highest signals of the data and predominantly influenced the quality and variability of the soils. The variations shown in the levels of the assessed elements across the areas suggest that processes impacting elemental accumulation and enrichment were influenced by different processes. These could also impact other environmental media including surface and groundwater quality, vegetation, and air quality. Residents within hotspot areas may be exposed to several deleterious health impacts through oral, nasal and der- mal routes. This could further pose public health challenges down the line as these elements come into contact with people through the consumption of crops and groundwater obtained from the areas in future. Addressing such a challenge calls for interdisciplinary collaboration between environmental geologist/medical geology re- searchers, public health practitioners, epidemiologists, environmental toxicologists, nutritionists, dieticians, and agriculturists.
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    Sources and pollution assessment of trace elements in soils of the central, Dodoma region, East Africa: implication for public health monitoring
    (Elsevier, 2021) Abu, Mahamuda; Kalimenze, John; Mvile, Benatus Norbert; Kazapoe, Raymond Webrah
    The study assesses the pollution levels and sources in soils of As, Pb, Cu, Zn, Cd, Mn, Cr, Co, Ni and Se in the central Dodoma region of Tanzania from estimations of CF, EF, Igeo, PLI and RI together with PCA, FA and HCA multivariate techniques. Generally, the capital city’s regional area is polluted with these heavy metals with PLI > 1 and EFs > 40. The Igeo also shows concerning concentration levels of As with 60.77 % of the study area being moderately to extremely polluted by As and As, Cd and Pb are the heavy metals that requires immediate monitoring within the Dodoma region. The multivariate analysis supports a dominant geogenic source of these heavy metals with the mafic ore bearing lithology controlling these elemental concentrations in soils via chemical weathering of pyrites, arsenopyrite and chalcopyrite as the most probable geological process releasing these heavy metals into the soil. The fast growing industrialization of the region with its associated commercial agriculture activities, also contributes although it may be small for now, to the heavy metals contents in soils within the area. With the pace of industrialization coupled with the desire of the country to create jobs through small scale activities, it is appropriate and timely to assess the levels of As, Cd and Pb in surface and groundwater as well as in some cereals like maize or millet which are the main stay of the people, and should be centered at the northern and central parts of the region. This is necessary for effective public health monitoring and to enhance environmental management practices in the region.