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Heavy Metal Pollution in the Birim River of Ghana
Bright Oppong Afum,
Clement Kwasi Owusu
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 3, June 2016
Pages:
65-74
Received:
11 February 2016
Accepted:
23 February 2016
Published:
20 April 2016
Abstract: The Birim River, one of the main tributaries of the Pra River is among the important freshwater bodies in Ghana which serves as a rich source for gold and diamond production in the country. Artisanal mining activities along river bodies promote continual introduction of wide range of contaminants (heavy metals) into these water bodies, and their toxicity poses great threat to the ecology as well as the environment. This study assesses the level of heavy metals (Cr, Fe, Ni, Zn, As, Cd, Hg and Pb) in the Birim River of Ghana. The concentrations of the heavy metals were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) and Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS). Heavy metals concentration were analysed in the dissolved, suspended mineral fractions, and sediment phases of the River. The result obtained showed that the Birim River is heavily polluted with heavy metals. Samples [Apapam (KB2), Ahwenease (KB3), Adadeatem (KB4), Adukrom (KB5), Akim (KA2), Abodom (KA3), Kade (KA4), Anweaso (KA10) and Kusi (KA11)] with high heavy metals concentrations are located in areas where small scale mining is dominant, indicating that the major contamination source in the water body is resulting from small scale mining activities. Heavy metals concentration measured as dissolved were lower than WHO standards with the exception of Fe. There are high accumulations of heavy metals in the suspended mineral fractions of the river. The sediments were also greatly polluted with heavy metal sinks.
Abstract: The Birim River, one of the main tributaries of the Pra River is among the important freshwater bodies in Ghana which serves as a rich source for gold and diamond production in the country. Artisanal mining activities along river bodies promote continual introduction of wide range of contaminants (heavy metals) into these water bodies, and their to...
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Incident Monitoring of Glyphosate and Aminomethylphosphonic Acid in Natural Waters – Experimental Set-up and Validation
Britta Jahnke,
Bernd Niemeyer
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 3, June 2016
Pages:
75-81
Received:
27 February 2016
Accepted:
8 March 2016
Published:
20 April 2016
Abstract: A measuring system based on sequential injection analysis (SIA) for the detection of the herbicide glyphosate and its main metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in natural waters is presented. The system is automated to enable an unattended monitoring of the analytes. Due to its compact manifold it can easily be integrated into existing observing systems or could be used on board of research vessels. Here we show the experimental setup and the results of the system’s performance during experimental periods of 20 hours in the laboratory as well as in an observing station situated at the Elbe river in Hamburg, Germany. An incident with elevated glyphosate and AMPA concentrations was simulated by injecting spiked river water samples. The results show a good stability of the system over the experimental period.
Abstract: A measuring system based on sequential injection analysis (SIA) for the detection of the herbicide glyphosate and its main metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in natural waters is presented. The system is automated to enable an unattended monitoring of the analytes. Due to its compact manifold it can easily be integrated into existing obse...
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Heavy Metal Levels in Soil, Tomatoes and Selected Vegetables from Morogoro Region, Tanzania
Lugwisha Esther Hellen,
Othman Chande Othman
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 3, June 2016
Pages:
82-88
Received:
18 March 2016
Accepted:
28 March 2016
Published:
20 April 2016
Abstract: The concentrations of heavy metals of Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb and Zn were determined in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. butrytis L.), carrot root (Daucus carota L. ), tomato fruit (Lycopersicon esculenta Mill. ), onion bulb (Allium cepa L. ) and leafy cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capital capitata L.), and the respective soils from Morogoro region, Tanzania. The accumulated heavy metals were quantified and levels compared to FAO/WHO (2003) and TZS (2007) safety limits for such produce. The methodology involved random sampling, extraction of the metals from the tomatoes, vegetables and soil and determination of heavy metals by using ICP-OEC and GFAAS. The results showed that levels of Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb and Zn at 90% of the sites in vegetables and tomatoes were above the FAO/WHO limit. The mean concentrations of Cd, Cr, Pb and Zn in all vegetables and tomatoes except Cu were also found to be above this limit therefore advocating a health risk for consumers. Levels of heavy metals in the soils were below the limits of the Tanzanian standard (TZS 972: 2007) and were lower than levels found in vegetables. The bioconcentration factor for Cu recorded 1 for tomatoes and cabbage at Towelo and below 1 for tomatoes and cauliflowers from Mgeta. Cd in onions at Mgeta as well recorded below 1. However, the bioconcentration factor for these heavy metals in vegetables and tomatoes in all other sites were found to be above 1 in all heavy metals an indication of high uptake of heavy metals in the vegetables and tomatoes from the soil. These results suggest that such vegetables and tomatoes might place the consumers at health risk; therefore they are not safe for consumption in their raw state.
Abstract: The concentrations of heavy metals of Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb and Zn were determined in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. butrytis L.), carrot root (Daucus carota L. ), tomato fruit (Lycopersicon esculenta Mill. ), onion bulb (Allium cepa L. ) and leafy cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capital capitata L.), and the respective soils from Morogoro region,...
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Particulate Matters Levels in Subway Tunnels and Cabins
Wonseog Jeong,
Yongil Lee,
Kyomin Choi,
Duckshin Park
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 3, June 2016
Pages:
89-93
Received:
24 March 2016
Accepted:
5 April 2016
Published:
4 May 2016
Abstract: This research aims to discern the characteristics of PM10 concentrations measured in subway cabins, tunnels and outdoors at the Seoul Metropolitan subways. PM10 concentrations in cabins were found between the range of 45.3 and 101.9μg/m3, and in tunnels the ranges were between 155.3 and 230.6μg/m3. PM10 concentrations in cabins and tunnels during rush hours were 16.5% and 3.8% respectively higher than non-rush hours. Fine particles were higher than that of coarse particles both in subway cabins and tunnels.
Abstract: This research aims to discern the characteristics of PM10 concentrations measured in subway cabins, tunnels and outdoors at the Seoul Metropolitan subways. PM10 concentrations in cabins were found between the range of 45.3 and 101.9μg/m3, and in tunnels the ranges were between 155.3 and 230.6μg/m3. PM10 concentrations in cabins and tunnels during r...
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Spatial and Temporal Variations of Aerosol Optical Depth and Influence Factors over the East China Sea
Xiao-shen Zheng,
Ya-nan Zhang,
Yue Pan
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 3, June 2016
Pages:
94-101
Received:
29 April 2016
Accepted:
12 May 2016
Published:
28 May 2016
Abstract: Atmospheric aerosols are solid and liquid particles suspended in the air, which has an important effect in macroscopic climate change. The aerosol optical depth (i.e, AOD) is one of the main factors to characterize the composition and the content of the aerosol. This study was conducted over the area of East China Sea (24ºN-41ºN, 117ºE-128ºE) based on the monthly average AOD data and monthly average wind data of 10 meter over sea surface during 2003-2013. The AOD distribution has the annual periodic variation, the AOD values increased significantly from January to March, and reached the maximum 0.133 in March, and the AOD values declined from April to August, and they stabilized around 0.1 in September to December. The trend of seasonal changes indicated that the AOD values were the highest in the spring, and slightly higher in the winter. The AOD values of spring and winter were significantly higher than the summer and the autumn. For time-series variation, the maximum of AOD values during certain periods gradually increase from 2003 to 2009, and the maximum of AOD values during certain periods gradually decrease from 2009 to 2013. Analyzing the relationship between spatial distribution of AOD and wind vectors over the sea surface, the spatial and temporal distribution and variation of AOD were closely related to the wind direction and speed over the East China Sea.
Abstract: Atmospheric aerosols are solid and liquid particles suspended in the air, which has an important effect in macroscopic climate change. The aerosol optical depth (i.e, AOD) is one of the main factors to characterize the composition and the content of the aerosol. This study was conducted over the area of East China Sea (24ºN-41ºN, 117ºE-128ºE) based...
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Drawdown Farming and Pesticide Residue Levels of the Afram River in Ghana
Koranteng Samuel Senyo,
Ameka Gabriel Komla,
Owusu Ebenezer Oduro
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 3, June 2016
Pages:
102-109
Received:
6 May 2016
Accepted:
16 May 2016
Published:
30 May 2016
Abstract: Cultivation of fruits and vegetables in the drawdown areas (floodplains) of the Afram River relies on pesticides input for enhanced productivity. Application of pesticides in the floodplains can elevate its level in the water and have health implications. Pesticides content of the Afram River at normal level (recess regime) was compared with the flood regime to determine if farming in the drawdown areas has any impact on water quality. Water samples were taken twice during each regime over two consecutive years and pesticide residues were analysed by gas chromatography. The flood periods registered 14 organochlorines, 12 organophosphates and 9 pyrethroids, with respective mean concentration ranges: 0.01 – 16.79, 0.01 – 2.14, 0.01 -1.12 µg/L; as against 10 organochlorines, 11 organophosphates and 4 pyrethroids quantified during the recess regimes, with respective mean concentration ranges of: 0.01 – 0.27, 0.01 – 0.37, 0.01 – 0.158 µg/L. Levels of 9 pesticides exceeded WHO/EU maximum residue limits for the flood period, in contrast to only 1 during the recess. Dieldrin, endrin, chlorpyrifos and β-endosulfan exceeded quality criteria limits for the protection of aquatic life during flood regime. Welch two sample t-test on common pesticides quantified during both periods show significantly higher concentrations (p ≤ 0.05) during flood regimes. It is concluded that drawdown farming increases the incidence and concentration of pesticides in water during flood periods and presents health risk to the consuming communities and aquatic life.
Abstract: Cultivation of fruits and vegetables in the drawdown areas (floodplains) of the Afram River relies on pesticides input for enhanced productivity. Application of pesticides in the floodplains can elevate its level in the water and have health implications. Pesticides content of the Afram River at normal level (recess regime) was compared with the fl...
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Seasonal Variability of Salt and Heat Diffusion off North Eastern Egyptian Continental Slope
Mohamed Salama Elsharkawy
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 3, June 2016
Pages:
110-114
Received:
17 May 2016
Accepted:
25 May 2016
Published:
7 June 2016
Abstract: The vertical diffusion of salt and heat throughout the water column at two stations along the northern Egyptian continental slope has been investigated. Seasonal profiles of the vertical transport salt showed that generally a downward salt flux occurred throughout the water column; however, upward salt fluxes intermittently occurred in the sub surface layer at depths between 75 m - 150 m. Seasonal averages of salt flux ranged from a minimum of -1.7 X 10-11 kg m-2s-1 directed downwards during autumn to a maximum of 1.6 X 10-8 kg m-2s-1 directed upwards during winter. Vertical diffusion of heat for the four seasons has been found to be directed downwards throughout the whole water column. Estimates of seasonally averages of heat flux varied from a minimum of -1.6 X 10-5 m-2s-1 attained during spring to a maximum of -1.1 X 10-2 m-2s-1 attained during summer.
Abstract: The vertical diffusion of salt and heat throughout the water column at two stations along the northern Egyptian continental slope has been investigated. Seasonal profiles of the vertical transport salt showed that generally a downward salt flux occurred throughout the water column; however, upward salt fluxes intermittently occurred in the sub surf...
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