Pollution

This study aimed to determine the level of awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning among residents of the Ho Municipality in Ghana's Volta Region. The population was made up of residents of Ho, and the study utilised a descriptive approach. A total of 569 people were chosen utilising stratified and convenience sampling procedures. Google Forms was used to collect data, and SPSS was used to analyse it. The findings suggested that respondents had a low level of awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning. In addition, the majority of the respondents' apartments lacked smoke or CO alarms, making them more vulnerable to CO poisoning. Finally, the study discovered that CO poisoning awareness programmes were rare in the Municipality. Therefore, the study recommended, among other things, more CO poisoning awareness programmes.

Honey has been used as a bio monitor to determine environmental quality in the environments which are polluted by heavy metals, radioactivity and pesticides. The study sought to determine the levels of some heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu, Pb, As, and Mn) in honey and assess their potential health risk to consumers. Samples of honey were harvested from within 5km of the Tamale Metropolis of Ghana. A known weight (5g) of honey samples were digested using an oxi-acidic mixture of HNO3/H2O2 and filtered into a 50ml volumetric flask. The contents of the minerals in the digests were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS). The analysis revealed that the concentrations of lead (79.815 ± 16.796 mg/Kg), nickel (15.785 ± 10.968 mg/Kg), copper (13.855 ± 10.213 mg/Kg) and manganese (8.215 ± 4.452 mg/Kg) in the samples exceeded the FAO/WHO maximum permissible limits. The elevated levels of these metals may be evidence of possible pollution agents (vehicular and industrial emissions, pollution of farm soils and pockets of water) in the study area. The Health Risk assessment (THQ< 1) showed no significant public health risk to consumers. However, we recommend regular monitoring of heavy metals from the natural environment of Tamale to mitigate possible future threats to public health.

Contamination of water and sediments of Niger River by pesticides used in Korokoro watershed (60.6 km2, Mali) and Niger River outfall, was studied from 2009 to 2011. In these two localities, pesticides used frequently in cotton production have been surveyed near farmers. Sampling campaigns of water, water and sediments have been also carried out respectively in the watershed outlet and Niger River outfall. Chromatographic analyzes of overall samples showed a contamination of these by organochlorine pesticides due to agricultural waters drained from Korokoro watershed and those from external cotton fields of the watershed. Surface runoff can be the main source of this contamination. 

Desertification is a phenomenon that happens in arid, semi arid and sub-humid areas. Iran is an arid and semi arid country and has two deserts: Lut desert and Kavir plain. Sistan plain is a part of Lut desert and has a very dry territory which impress by driest situation. In Sistan plain, desertification is considered as the main cause of soil lose and biomass decreasing and cause to a fragile environment. The MEDALUS1 model is one of the most important projects that were provided by European commission for desertification assessment. One of the advantages of this model is its high precision. More over particular weighing of layers and usage of geographic information system (GIS) in overlying of indices maps are the other superiorities of this model that increase subtlety and speed of evaluation and preparation of desertification map as well as reducing expert's mistakes. In this research, the MEDALUS methodology was used to assess desertification rate in GHORGHORI region of Sistan plain. In first step, main indices and parameters in desertification process identified. Then, two main indices according to local conditions were selected: wind and water erosions. In second step, considering the main indicators in wind and water erosions, every indicator was quantified according to its quality and was given a weighting based on MEDALUS methodology. In next step, the quality maps of wind and water erosions were prepared using geometric mean of indicators using ArcGIS software. Ultimately, the final desertification map was developed by integration of wind and water erosion quality maps using GIS. Results shows that wind erosion index with average value of 2.84 and water erosion index with average of 1.86 take the high and medium class of desertification. Among main indicators of indices, land use with average of 3.25, percent of plant crown cover with 3.16, dusty days indicator with 2.98 and wind erosion intensity with 2.93 have the highest effects. Water erosion intensity with average of 1.01 has the lowest effect on desertification process. Desertification intensity for studied area was 2.3 that show the critical class (C3).

Dal Lake, situated in the heart of Srinagar city in India is under tremendous anthropogenic pressure. This study was conducted to determine physico-chemical water quality parameters for the Hazaratbal basin of the Dal lake. Water quality was surveyed from May 2013 to August 2013 at three different sites which were located on the Hazaratbal basin. There were two types of data obtained from the lake water quality sampling exercise, i.e in-situ and laboratory analyses data. A total of seven water quality parameters namely pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC),Salinity, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Turbidity, Air temperature and Water temperature were measured at the sampling sites. While for laboratory analysis, there were fourteen parameters namely Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Dissolved Salts (TDS), Free Carbon-dioxide, Acidity, Nitrite, Phosphate, Sulphate, Colour, Total Hardness, Alkalinity, Chloride, Calcium and Magnesium ion concentration. Monthly changes in various physical and chemical parameters were analyzed.

A comprehensive environmental assessment of the Arabian Gulf Coast in the State of Kuwait was carried out by assessing levels of heavy, toxic and rare mineral pollutants in coastal sediments, beach sand, shells and sea water collected from the coastline. By Using (Inductively coupled plasma - Mass spectrometry) ICP-MS technique, we analyzed (Al, Mn, Mg, Na, K, Ca, Zn, Ba, Sr, Co, Cu, Cd, Pb, Ag, Ni, Fe). The results of potential environmental risks indicated that the study area was heavily enriched with (Al, Mn, Mg, Na, K, Ca), moderately enriched with (Zn, Ba, Sr, Co), and low levels of (Cu, Cd, Pb, Ag, Ni, Fe). However, in general, these pollutant levels were not exceed the EPA and the Canadian ISQG values and still lower than some standardized reference values all over the world. Furthermore, the bioaccumulation index indicated that gastropod shells and pelecypod shells had greater ability to concentrate Fe, Na, K and Al, which may be attributable to the shape of them. Regarding the seawater samples, Na and K levels were higher than their average oceanic metal concentrations. Moreover, the average concentrations of heavy metals in the studied area, especially those of Pb, K, Fe, and Zn, were lower than the coasts of many countries all over the world. The moderate enrichment of some metals in the studied area could be partially attributed to anthropogenic activities, notably oil spills from oil tankers and exploration, transportation and from saline water desalination plants in Kuwait Coast, the nearby nuclear reactors overlooking the Arabian Gulf and other industrial activities in the region. Results were in accordance with recommended daily intake allowance by WHO/FAO. From this study, it was noticed that the concentrations of Heavy, Toxic and Trace Metals for Kuwaiti Environmental Marine Samples are lower than the worldwide average value. Results obtained are discussed and compared with the international recommended data.

In India, residential sector represents the largest single source of black carbon (BC) emissions from the use of cow dung cake, wood or coal, in heating stoves, Chullah’s and Kerosene lamp and its radiative forcing is a significant source of uncertainty for health and climate impact. A descriptive assessment was carried out through regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between socioeconomic variables, fuel use, leading causes of biomass fuel use, possible impact of BC, mitigation Measures and barriers to implementing clean fuel initiatives in 900 Households during April to June, 2015. It also looks at changes in this fuel use before and after clean energy program was introduced in India. Per household/month consumption of firewood in rural areas was 154.4 kg. Monthly per household consumption of LPG is 10.3 kg, and a household with access to LPG spends Rs. 218.54 per month on an average. LPG was the primary source of fuel for cooking in 65% of urban households. Firewood and kerosene are reported as primary sources of cooking fuel in 17% and 6% of the households, has been reported in urban households. The results of the model suggest that there is both room optimism and pessimism. One perspective on the data results suggests that there is a good chance that India will grow its way out of the cookstove conundrum; that is there is reasonably good evidence to suggest that fuelwood use may initially increase but the fall at still low NSDP levels.

Multivariate statistics was used to categorize the potential sampling sites of Lake and identify potential pollution sources by analyzing water quality parameters. Water quality parameters ,such as total dissolved solid (TDS), pH, temperature, conductivity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), five day biological oxygen demand (BOD5), total hardness as CaCO3, total alkalinity as CaCO3, nitrate, sulfate, orthophosphate, fluoride, - K, Mg, Cu, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn were determined and compared with WHO standards. Principal component analysis (PCA) extracted seven principal components. The first principal component (PC1) accounted for 22.1 % of the total variance, and pH, Mn turbidity, specific conductance (SC) and sulfate were strongly loaded on it. Principal component two was (PC2) mainly composed of BOD5, total hardness, temperature, iron, DO, and TDS. This component accounted for 17.3 % of the total variance. The third component (PC3), dominated by potassium, TDS, and zinc, explained 12.4 % of the total variance. Copper and fluoride were associated in the fourth principal component, accounting for 10.5 % of the total variance. In the fifth component, total alkalinity, phosphate, and zinc were the dominant components, which account for 10.2 % of the total variance. Nitrate, chromium, and lead were isolated in the sixth component (PC6), accounting for 9.4 % of the total variance. The last component was dominated by magnesium, explaining 7.6 % of the total variance. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) divided the sampling sites into four clusters. Cluster A include five sampling sites and it was highly loaded with PC4 and PC6, which showed the presence of a high level of pollution from industrial effluents and agricultural runoff. Cluster B and C consisted of three sampling sites and one sampling site, respectively, and they were highly loaded with PC3 and PC6, which indicated the presence of a high level of pollution from domestic wastewaters, land development and urban runoff. Cluster D comprised two sampling sites and was highly loaded with all component loadings except for PC7. It was considered a highly polluted site from multiple sources of pollution. These results obtained from the multivariate analysis can be very useful for the surrounding rural and urban communities for the proper and safe use of the lake. In addition, it can reduce the cost associated with monitoring the lake by reducing the number of sampling sites.

The study was conducted to determine the level of contamination of grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) meat with p,p- DDT, p,p-DDE, hexachlorocyclohexane isomers, lindane (?-HCH) and ?- HCH, dieldrin, aldrin, endrin, endrin aldehyde, endrin ketone, alpha-endosulfan, endosulfan sulfate, chlordane, heptachlor and methoxychlor. The paper reports the levels of organochlorine pesticide residues in the meat of 15 grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus ) samples obtained from the Gomoa district, a vegetable farming area in the Central Region of Ghana. The results indicated that all the analyzed samples were contaminated with the studied organochlorine pesticides. Aldrin and heptachlor were the principal contaminants in all the samples. The levels of organochlorine pesticide residues detected in all the meat samples were below the accepted maximum residue limits (MRL), as adopted by the WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission.

Carbon monoxide poisoning an important cause of accidental injury worldwide, and hazards to health, causes many damages in body system. This study was conducted in Al kamleen area where a lot of red brick factories are located along the Blue Nile river bank in the east of the area. The study aimed to investigate PEF at a high CO concentration area. the study area was divided by two lines parallel to the river bank, 500 meters distance from each other into three zones A, B and C from north to south. Also it was divided from east to west by five imaginary lines to give six squires in each zone. The reading for CO concentration was determined for each square. PEF value determined by using PEF fluemeter across summer and winter. CO in air was found to be significantly higher levels of CO concentration in air were detected throughout the year in all zones. PEF values of study group significantly lower than references data and control group; in winter Mean ± SDwere420.4±88.7 and references 552.0±83.1, a reduction to the references was 63.8%. In summer Mean ± SD were 414.0±86.2 and references were 549.0±85, a reduction to the references was 24.6%. The Mean ± SD of control group were 468.4±77.4.The reduction in PEF for study group in winter as compared to the reference were 10.3% and for summer were 11.5% air CO was significantly exceeds the WHO recommended standards. Lower PEF value in study group in winter and summer were associated to high CO concentration which emitted from red brick kilns in Alkamleen area.