Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies
http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh:8080/handle/123456789/4837
2024-03-28T18:33:12ZInformal Settlements And Pollution Behaviour In The Adentan Municipality, Accra
http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh:8080/handle/123456789/40495
Informal Settlements And Pollution Behaviour In The Adentan Municipality, Accra
Annan, E.A.A.
City authorities have disapproved of the proliferation of informal settlements due to the pollution caused in such environments. This study sought to identify the sources of pollution in informal settlements and determine behaviour change techniques to reduce pollution in terms of indiscriminate waste disposal behaviour in these settlements. The mixed method approach
was used. GPS and a structured listing form were used to identify informal settlements and characterized them, respectively. Overall, 350 respondents (female: 186 and males: 164) were selected randomly to participate in a questionnaire survey aimed at identifying the primary sources of pollution in their environs and the effect of pollution on settlers' health and the environment. The RANAS model for behaviour change was used to identify critical behavioural factors and targeted behavioural techniques. Interviews were also conducted with municipal experts such as the municipal works and planning officer and the environmental health officer. SPSS and Excel were used to analyse the data collected. The results indicated that the significant sources of pollution include indiscriminate solid waste disposal, lack of grey water containment, and lack of toilet facilities. The population structure of the studied community is youthful, with the age groups of 26-35 years recording the highest responses. The age structure indicated that informal dwellers are young migrants searching for greener pastures. Among the participants, 56% (94) had basic level education87.9% (307) engaged in informal businesses, and 86.7% (303) fall within low-income earners. Also, 54.4% (189) of the participants were squatters and had no security of land tenure as the occupied lands were owned mostly by private individuals and the government. In comparing the health of dwellers to the indiscriminate waste disposal behaviour and their environment, a weak positive (𝜌 = 0.393) and a strong positive (𝜌 = 0.714) correlation existed between the health of the dwellers and the environment, respectively. Behaviour change techniques identified include information, persuasive, infrastructural, skills and ability, norm, planning, and relapse prevention BCTs.
In conclusion some critical behavioural factors influenced the indiscriminate waste disposal behaviour of informal settlers in the Adentan Municipality. This thesis recommends further studies in the waste disposal and collection interventions using the Behaviour Change Techniques identified. pastures.
MPhil. Environmental Sanitation
2021-12-01T00:00:00ZHygiene Practices Among Street Food Vendors And Microbial Content Of Foods Sold At Ayensuano District
http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh:8080/handle/123456789/40365
Hygiene Practices Among Street Food Vendors And Microbial Content Of Foods Sold At Ayensuano District
Gbedze, B.Y.
Globally, the estimated amount of food found to be contaminated from street vendors
particularly in developing countries is on the ascendancy. The contribution vendors unhygienic
practices make to food contamination. This study sought to investigate hygiene practices
among street food vendors and microbial content of some selected food sold at Ayensuano
District in the Eastern Region of Ghana. First, 76 food samples which includes “kenkey” with
pepper, “waakye”, porridge and fried rice were analyzed using molecular techniques to
determine the presence of microbial content of Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi,
Staphylococcus aureus and Campylobacter jejuni at at the Biotechnology Laboratory,
University of Ghana. The study was cross sectional and systematically recruited 304 food
vendors using simple random sampling method. A structured questionnaire was administered
to gather data on the knowledge level of food vendors on food-borne diseases, personal hygiene
status and environmental cleanliness of vending premises. Data collected on 304 respondents
were entered into an SPSS version 25. The descriptive tool categorized consumers’ knowledge
and attitude in frequencies and percentages. Using inferential statistics, chi-square test was
employed to determine the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. This
study showed a statistically significant association (p < 0.05) between the characteristics of
selling sites, including selling foods by the open gutter, selling foods in the presence of refuse
dumpsites, selling foods with flies hovering on the foods and clean environment. There was
also a significant relationship (p < 0.05) between marital status and personal hygiene practices.
There was statistically significant (p < 0.05) relation between educational qualification and
personal hygiene practices. It was observed that 65% of the food vendors sell food in fly
infested areas, 48.8% sell foods by the open gutter and 57.7% of the vendors do not have any
idea in sterilization of tools used in the kitchen. The study revealed that of the 76 food samples collected, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and Campylobacter
jejuni were present/absent in the food samples especially kenkey with hot pepper and waakye.
The study confirmed that there was a problem with contamination of street foods within
Ayensuano District and regular training and medical examination of street food vendors within
the district should done to ensure good food hygiene.
MPhil. Environmental Sanitation Studies
2021-12-01T00:00:00ZHygiene Practices Among Street Food Vendors And Microbial Content Of Foods Sold At Ayensuano District
http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh:8080/handle/123456789/40360
Hygiene Practices Among Street Food Vendors And Microbial Content Of Foods Sold At Ayensuano District
Gbedze, B.Y.
Globally, the estimated amount of food found to be contaminated from street vendors
particularly in developing countries is on the ascendancy. The contribution vendors unhygienic
practices make to food contamination. This study sought to investigate hygiene practices
among street food vendors and microbial content of some selected food sold at Ayensuano
District in the Eastern Region of Ghana. First, 76 food samples which includes “kenkey” with
pepper, “waakye”, porridge and fried rice were analyzed using molecular techniques to
determine the presence of microbial content of Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi,
Staphylococcus aureus and Campylobacter jejuni at at the Biotechnology Laboratory,
University of Ghana. The study was cross sectional and systematically recruited 304 food
vendors using simple random sampling method. A structured questionnaire was administered
to gather data on the knowledge level of food vendors on food-borne diseases, personal hygiene
status and environmental cleanliness of vending premises. Data collected on 304 respondents
were entered into an SPSS version 25. The descriptive tool categorized consumers’ knowledge
and attitude in frequencies and percentages. Using inferential statistics, chi-square test was
employed to determine the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. This
study showed a statistically significant association (p < 0.05) between the characteristics of
selling sites, including selling foods by the open gutter, selling foods in the presence of refuse
dumpsites, selling foods with flies hovering on the foods and clean environment. There was
also a significant relationship (p < 0.05) between marital status and personal hygiene practices.
There was statistically significant (p < 0.05) relation between educational qualification and
personal hygiene practices. It was observed that 65% of the food vendors sell food in fly
infested areas, 48.8% sell foods by the open gutter and 57.7% of the vendors do not have any
idea in sterilization of tools used in the kitchen. The study revealed that of the 76 food samples collected, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and Campylobacter
jejuni were present/absent in the food samples especially kenkey with hot pepper and waakye.
The study confirmed that there was a problem with contamination of street foods within
Ayensuano District and regular training and medical examination of street food vendors within
the district should done to ensure good food hygiene.
MPhil. Environmental Sanitation Studies
2021-12-01T00:00:00ZAn Assessment Of Environmental Impact Of Mine Blasting In New Abirem And Its Environs In The Eastern Region Of Ghana
http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh:8080/handle/123456789/40306
An Assessment Of Environmental Impact Of Mine Blasting In New Abirem And Its Environs In The Eastern Region Of Ghana
Avornyotse, C.K.
Blasting can lead to morbidity and mortality of human as well as damage of properties when
not monitored and managed properly. Mine Blasting activities generate seismic effects
including vibrations, air overpressure, flyrock, fumes and dusts. The environment can be
polluted by blasting residues of rocks like hexogen, trinitrotoluene and octogen which have
caused a lot of biodegradation and hazardous effects on ecosystem survival in a mine vicinity.
The seismic effects also result in leaching of chemicals to pollute both surface and underground
waters in New Abirem and its environs which lead to reduction of terrestrial plant biomass and
fertility of earthworm.
In view of this, the study was conducted to assess the ecological impact of mine blasting
residues, ground vibration, air blast and heavy metals on the ecosystems around Newmont by
collecting and analyzing water samples in three communities (New Abirem, Afosu and
Adausena) as well as measured seismic effects. The noise and vibrations were determined by
using the Seismograph from twenty (20) blast shot at the mine pit from October, 2020 to March,
2021. Focus group discussions and household interviews techniques were utilized to assess
community perceptions of mine blasting effects on the mine environment.
Physicochemical parameters including temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, electrical
conductivity, ammonia and nitrate, were determined. Heavy metal concentrations in 108 water
samples collected from five different locations, made up of two sites along one of the tributaries
of Birim River, one site each from two streams, and the Newmont pit were determined using
the technique of Milestone Acid Digestion Microwave ETHOS 900 followed by the atomic
absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The data was examined with a one-way analysis of
variance and significant differences of p < 0.05 were adopted as well as Tukey’s HSD to
separate means. The average blast vibration measured at the compliance locations AF-BMP (Afosu), NABBMP
(New Abirem) and AD-BMP (Adausena) were compared with 2mm/s [Explosives
Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2177), Section 199]. The average blast air overpressure measured at
AF-BMP (Afosu), NAB-BMP (New Abirem) and AD-BMP (Adausena) were also compared
with 117 dBL [Explosives Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2177), Section 199]. The mean, minimum
and maximum blast on air overpressure and ground vibration for each monitoring point
respectively were measured and the results were found to be within mining explosives limits.
The physicochemical parameters mean level were ranged 24.93 – 27.53 0C (water temperature),
4.66 - 5.36 mg/L (Dissolved Oxygen), 109.79 – 125.98 μS/cm (EC), 7.51 – 7.88 (pH), 0.01 –
0.53 mg/L (NH3) and 0.22 – 0.42 mg/L (NO3). The results revealed significant difference in all
the physicochemical parameters (p < 0.05). The Dissolved Oxygen concentrations at all the
five sampling sites were below 5 mg/L which indicated that the water was polluted and
adversely affected aquatic life. The pH measurements in the site of Holy Child and Afosu have
slightly acidic pH. The minimum and maximum concentration levels of Cu, Fe, Zn, Cr and Mn in the water were
(0.01- 0.02) mgL-1, (0.02 – 0.33) mgL-1, (0.08 – 0.93) mgL-1, (0.01) mgL-1 and (0.02 – 0.10)
mgL-1 respectively and there were significant differences between the various sites (p < 0.05)
compared with the control. The mean levels of Cu, Fe, Zn, Cr and Mn were recorded to be
within the permissible limits.
The degree of contamination levels identified in a location are categorized as follows:
unpolluted (Cd < 1), moderately polluted (Cd =1 - 3) and strongly polluted (Cd > 3). The
calculated degree of contamination index, Cd values for Holy Child, Aboabo and Adenkyensu
locations were greater than 3 mgL-1, the criteria limit for drinking, therefore sites were strongly
contaminated. In addition, the pollution index of heavy metals in the water samples from all locations used were greater than the critical value for drinking water, 100 mgL-1 except
Newmont site which recorded 93.91 mgL-1.
Generally, the blasting operation at Newmont, Akyem mine is within the Explosives
Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2177), Section 199 as well as the international Standard quoted AS
2187.2 – 1993. It is recommended that water used for drinking, domestic chores, agricultural
(irrigation) or industrial use by communities along the tributaries of the Birim River must be
treated before use. There is also a need for research and academic institutions to support nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs) in their efforts to protect and manage water resources
through research for long-term sustainable management.
MPhil. Environmental Science
2021-12-01T00:00:00Z