Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications
http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh:8080/handle/123456789/7527
2024-03-28T12:54:21ZUsing Hydrochemical And Isotopic Tracers to Assess the Impact of Anthropogenic Activities on Groundwater Quality in Bongo And Kassena Nankana West Districts in Upper East Region of Ghana
http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh:8080/handle/123456789/35390
Using Hydrochemical And Isotopic Tracers to Assess the Impact of Anthropogenic Activities on Groundwater Quality in Bongo And Kassena Nankana West Districts in Upper East Region of Ghana
Zainab, D.
The population within Bongo and Kassena Nankana West Districts, in the Upper East
Region of Ghana is estimated to be about 84,545 and 70,667, respectively. An estimate of
about 80% of the population depends on groundwater for domestic and agricultural
purposes. However, groundwater resources in the Districts is at risk due to anthropogenic
activities such as rapid increase in irrigation activities and animals rearing, open defecation
and uncontrolled disposal of animal droppings, improper land use, waste disposal, and
illegal mining activities. “This study was carried out to use hydrochemical and isotopic
tracers to assess the impact of anthropogenic activities on groundwater quality in the study
areas. The study employed hydrochemistry and isotopic techniques to assess the chemical
quality of groundwater in the study areas. A total of sixty-four (64) boreholes were sampled
from the study areas for the study. The samples were analysed in-situ for pH, conductivity
and salinity using a HACH potable meter; and bicarbonate using a titrimetry. Analytical
methods employed for the determination of major and minor ions were (Na+ and K+)
complexometric titration (Ca2+) and (F-, Cl-, NO3
-, PO4
3-, and SO4
2-). Atomic absorption
spectrometry was used for the determination of Mg2+ and heavy metals (Fe, Mn and As).
Stable isotope of 2H and 18O composition of the water samples were determined using
Liquid-Water stable isotope analyser [Off-Axis Integrated Cavity Output Spectroscopy
(off axis ICOS) via Laser Absorption]. In general, majority of the ions are within the
permissible limit for drinking purpose except few locations in the study areas. The Gibbs
Diagram, the Piper Trilinear Diagram and the Hierarchical Cluster Analysis reveal
different degrees of water-rock interaction or mineralization and are consequence of
silicate weathering and silicate mineral dissolution, cation exchange and to a lesser extent
University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh
vi
fertilizer application. Based on the Water Quality Index (WQI) classification, the majority
of the samples fall under excellent to good water category and suitable for drinking water
purposes, except for groundwater in few areas which showed deteriorating water quality.
The stable isotopes composition implies, there has been fractionated before recharge”.
Since, the values deviate towards the positive valves.
MPhil. Nuclear And Environmental
2019-07-01T00:00:00ZHealth and Safety Assessment of Waste-Pickers at the Kpone Landfill Site
http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh:8080/handle/123456789/34232
Health and Safety Assessment of Waste-Pickers at the Kpone Landfill Site
Nuviadenu, A.M.
Ambient sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were measured mea
sured from seven (7) locations at the Kpone landfill site in the Kpone Municipality
of Greater Accra Region. Average 24-hour concentrations ranged 47 µg/m3 – 185
µg/m3 and 52µg/m3 – 164 µg/m3 were recorded for NO2 and SO2 respectively. All
the measured concentrations were above the WHO guideline limits.
Eight (8) heavy metals (Pb, Hg, V, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, and Cd) were detected and
quantified in the soil and dust sampled from ten (10) locations within the study
area using x-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF). Cu, Zn and Pb recorded the highest
concentrations that were all above their respective New Dutch List permissible
limits. The concentrations, at some sampling locations, were as high as: Cu (334
mg/kg), Zn (36585 mg/kg) and Pb (4808 mg/kg) which recorded high contami
nation factors as well.
Contamination factors computed using elemental concentrations, as well as the
degree of contamination computed for each sampling location revealed locations
4, 5, 6 and 7 as highly contaminated. Health hazard index for carcinogenic and
non-carcinogenic health risk with respect to three exposure pathways (dermal, in
gestion and inhalation) projected locations 4, 5, 6 and 7 as locations with high
health risks for waste pickers who ply their trade around these areas.
Waste pickers’awareness of health and safety risks was assessed as well. All of
them seem to be aware of the physical hazard while 23% are aware of the health
risks associated with their working conditions.
MPhil Nuclear and Environmental Protection Degree
2019-10-01T00:00:00ZAssessment of Factors Affecting Indoor Radon -222 Concentration in Dome and its Environs - Greater Accra Region of Ghana
http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh:8080/handle/123456789/30305
Assessment of Factors Affecting Indoor Radon -222 Concentration in Dome and its Environs - Greater Accra Region of Ghana
Kpordzro, R.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the contributions of the main factors of
indoor radon concentration. This was achieved by measuring indoor and soil gas
radon in three localities (Dome Afghanistan, Achimota Mile7 and Achimota ABC) in
and around Ga East. 60 houses were selected in the three localities for the indoor
measurements. Five sites were located in each of the localities for soil radon
measurement at 75 cm depth. LR-115-type II plastic track detectors were used for the
measurement in two different seasons – dry and wet. The indoor radon concentration
measurement was carried out for three months in each season and the soil
measurement was also carried out in a 14-day cycle for four cycles. The LR- 115-type
II plastic track detectors were collected, etched at 60 0C and counted using the image j
software and v-600 perfection scanner. The track densities obtained were converted
into radon concentrations. The International Commission on Radiological Protection
(ICRP) publication 115 model was used to estimate the annual absorb dose and
effective dose to the lungs. Significant seasonal variations were observed in the radon
concentrations of the dwellings studied. Indoor radon concentrations for the rainy
season showed relatively high values than that of the dry season. This was expected
as the sliding windows used for the dwellings are not opened during the rainy season.
This might have resulted in the accumulation of radon gas in the rooms. Regular
opening of windows and other means of providing air exchanges in the rooms during
the dry season could have also accounted for the low levels of indoor radon
concentration. The mean indoor radon concentration in the rainy season for Dome
Afghanistan, Achimota Mile7 and Achimota ABC were determined to be 165 Bq/m3,
115 Bq/m3 and 119 Bq/m3 respectively. The corresponding dry seasons were 71 Bq/m3, 73 Bq/m3 and 66 Bq/m3 respectively for the three localities. The annual
effective dose (AED) in the dwellings for Afghanistan ranges from 4.8 mSv/y to 20.2
mSv/y and that of Achimota Mile7 and Achimota ABC ranged from 3.23 to 13.9
mSv/y and 3.5 to 10.74 mSv/y respectively. According to ICRP Publication 115
(2010) statement on radon, the upper value for radon reference level of 300 Bq/m3
corresponds to an AED of 17 mSv/y. Thus the three localities are generally found to
fall within the ICRP (2010) limit; however, dwelling AF H17 of Dome Afghanistan
recorded indoor radon concentration of 334.10 Bq/m-3 with a corresponding AED of
20.2 mSv/y. These are relatively higher than the ICRP limit. The soil radon measured
in both seasons was higher than the corresponding indoor radon concentrations. The
concentration ranges from 0.37 to 1.19 kBq/m3 and 1.43 to 4.23 kBq/m3 in the rainy
and dry seasons respectively. The concrete floors and blocks of the dwellings seemed
to have provided shielding and prevented high radon diffusion from the ground and
outdoor into the dwellings. Works already done on the same building materials
showed that the radon exhalation rate from these materials ranged from 17.5 to 42.6
Bq/m3. This suggested that the major possible contributing factor to indoor radon
concentration in dwellings is lack of ventilation which leads to the build-up or
accumulation of radon. A linear correlation analysis for the influence of soil radon
concentration on indoor radon concentration in rainy and dry season, gave an Rsquared
value of 0.0032 and 0.0021 respectively, indicating a weak negative
correlation between soil radon concentration and indoor radon concentrations. This
confirms that the indoor radon concentration is weakly linked to the soil radon,
possibly as a result of the concrete floor and blocks which provided good shielding.
MPhil.
2018-07-01T00:00:00ZOptimisation and Surface Morphological Analysis Of Activated Carbon from Agricultural Waste Products
http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh:8080/handle/123456789/25761
Optimisation and Surface Morphological Analysis Of Activated Carbon from Agricultural Waste Products
Nyogbe, E.K.
Many conventional or agricultural by-products and wastes go unused in Ghana. These
wastes find their way into our water bodies and also sometimes become breeding grounds
for mosquitoes and other insect pest causing diseases leading to severe health problems.
These wastes sometimes are used as fillers in pot-holes which inadvertently blocks
drainages during rainfall thereby leading to flooding in flood prone areas. The precursors
used in this study to produce activated carbon were palm kernel shell and coconut shell.
The produced activated carbon was activated chemically using three different activating
agents, acid (H3PO4), base (NaOH) and a salt (CaCl2). The maximum yield of activated
carbon, 26.3 g (PKS) and 22.9 g (CS), using H3PO4 as an activating agent were obtained at
400 oC, 1 h carbonisation time and an impregnation ratio of 1.2. Similarly, maximum yield
of activated carbon, 22.4 g (PKS) and 17.3 g (CS), using NaOH as an activating agent was
also obtained at 500 oC, 2.5 h and impregnation ratio of 1.2. Using CaCl2 as activating
agent, the maximum yield of activated carbon were 25.5 g (PKS) and 20.8 g (CS), these
maximum values corresponded to 400 oC, 1 h carbonisation time and an impregnation ratio
of 1.2. The H3PO4 activated carbons were fairly better in the areas of ash content (7.17 %),
moisture content (1.94 %), bulk density (0.65 g/cm3), pore volume (0.94 ml/g), iodine
adsorption (743.02 mg/g) and porosity (0.49). On the other hand, the NaOH activated
carbon was also advantageous in terms of carbon content (57.78 %). CaCl2 activated
carbons, were also commendable in terms of volatile matter (30.46 %) and electrical
conductivity (2130 μS/cm). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) technique was
employed to observe the surface physical morphology of the coconut shell and palm kernel
shell activated carbons. Prior to chemical activation the surface morphology of the raw
coconut shell compared to the palm kernel shell at a magnification of ×5000 did not show
porous surface, while the external surfaces of the chemically activated carbon were rich
with cavities.
2017-07-01T00:00:00Z