Department of Chemistry

Health Risk Assessment of Urinary-Pahs and their Metabolites Among Artisanal Auto-Mechanical Workers from Selected Workshops in Siwdu, Cape Coast

Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Health Risk Assessment of Urinary-Pahs and their Metabolites Among Artisanal Auto-Mechanical Workers from Selected Workshops in Siwdu, Cape Coast Oppong, Elvis Occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their metabolites have been linked to increased risk for a suite of negative health outcomes such as lung, skin, bladder, kidney, and liver cancers and other diseases. This study sought to conduct a health risk assessment of urinary-PAHs and their metabolites among artisanal auto-mechanical workers from the Siwdu auto-mechanical workshops in Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana. A total of 59 urine samples from three different artisanal groups namely: auto-mechanics, auto-sprayers, and plastic welders, were extracted in replicates (n = 3) for PAHs and its metabolites using solid phase extraction (SPE) protocol followed by HPLC-UV/RF instrumental analysis. The mean total metabolites and parent PAHs ranged between 490759.50 - 1869.00 ng/L, 129819.00 - 1752.00 ng/L, and 45613.50 - 2020.00 ng/L and 71916.36 -1382.73 ng/L, 12268.80 - 1703.04 ng/L, and 62936.82 -3862.41 ng/L for AM, AS and PW artisans respectively. About 80% of the samples had elevated levels of mean total PAHs (> 200.00 ng/L) set by NIOSH. Statistically, there were significant difference among the artisan group samples analysed with respect to analyte levels (p < 0. 05). The cumulative non-cancer risk and cancer risk upon exposure ranged between 4.0 × 10-6 - 6.0 × 10-4 and 4.0 × 10-7 - 1.0 × 10-4 for PAH metabolites and 2.0 × 10-6 - 2.0 × 10-5 and 1.0 × 10-6 - 2.0 × 10-5 for parent PAHs for AM, AS and PW artisans respectively. About 70% of the samples had both elevated non-cancer and cancer risk (> 10-6). The study showed that the artisanal auto-mechanical workers were exposed to elevated levels of PAHs due to poor safety culture, which may pose health risks to them. xv, 125p:, ill.

Assessment Of Residual Chlorine And Its Decay In Stored Water From Communities In Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Assessment Of Residual Chlorine And Its Decay In Stored Water From Communities In Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana OHENE-KWAYISI, OBED FRED OHENEKENA Residual chlorine in tap water has been of great concern worldwide especially in developed countries, as disinfected water at the water treatment plant may be polluted again when the water is being transported. The residual chlorine content in tap water samples distributed through pipeline by the Ghana water company limited Brimsu Headworks, to the populace of Cape Coast Metropolis was assessed for residual chlorine in eight weeks. This study ascertained the residual chlorine content of the tap water and its safety level for human use; the similarity in the residual chlorine contents. Samples were collected weekly from eleven suburbs and the residual chlorine analysed by spectrophotometric method using diethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPD) regent. Two sets of distinct residual chlorine concentrations were observed; with means (mean ± CV) 0.199±1.833 ppm for samples from Abura, Pedu, Brafoyaw, Duakor, University of Cape Coast Lec Village; and 0.317±1.208 ppm for samples from Elmina, UCC Campus, Kotokoraba, Kwaprow, Amamoma and Akotokyir. The highest residual chlorine content was found at Amamoma, and the lowest at Pedu. Even though the tap water was from the same source, it had varying levels of residual chlorine. One-way ANOVA revealed that there was statistically significant difference in residual chlorine levels in tap water at each community (p = 0.00 < α = 0.05) and (Fcrit = 1.876 < Fstatistic = 1946.976). The pH ranged from 6.50-7.20, and showed no significant difference. The was no significant correlation between the pH and the residual chlorine content. A hierarchical cluster analysis showed 50 % similarity for Akotokyir and Kotokoraba, Abura and Elmina, 58%; Brafoyaw and UCC had similar levels of 65%. No sample had similarity level above 70 %. The residual chlorine decay in stored tap water kept in different storage conditions over the 8 days revealed that, for water stored in a room, the level of residual chlorine reduced by 65.38% for tap water stored in covered container and 64.23% for tap water kept in uncovered container. For tap water kept outdoor, residual chlorine reduced by 65.02% for tap water kept in uncovered container and 63.6% for tap water in a covered container. All the tap water sampled had residual chlorine within the 0.2- 0.5 ppm guideline set by World Health Organization (WHO). The free chlorine and bacterial should be assessed concurrently. xvi,146p:, ill.

Synthesis, Characterization And Application Of Novel Metal-Organic Frameworks For Photo-Transformation Of Organic Pollutants In Water

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Synthesis, Characterization And Application Of Novel Metal-Organic Frameworks For Photo-Transformation Of Organic Pollutants In Water EYISON, ABA AKEBI ATTA The release of coloured organic pollutants from the production and application industries into water bodies is extremely worrying. Recently, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted exceptional attention as heterogeneous catalysts in the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants through photocatalysis. As a result of this emerging technique, research to synthesize MOFs with photocatalytic functionalities to efficiently transform coloured organic pollutants found in water was studied. Six MOFs namely Zr-BTC, Zr- 5abdc, Ce-BTC, Ce-5abdc, Cu-BTC and Cu-5abdc were synthesized using the solvothermal synthetic technique. The synthesized MOFs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) to investigate the bond formation between metals and organic ligands, by X-ray diffraction (XRD) to assess their crystallinity, by Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) to investigate their morphology, by Single crystallography to evaluate their topology and by Thermogravimetric analysis to assess their thermal stability. The photocatalytic activity of MOFs to transform Lissamine green SF (LGSF), Tetraethylrhodamine (TeRh), and Remezol Brilliant Violet 5R (RBV5R) into less toxic compounds was investigated. The photoactivity was subjected to three parameters which included the pH, dye concentration and catalyst loading. Various intermediates were detected from the breakdown of LGSF, TeRh, and RBV5R during their transformation using the GC/MS. The kinetics and isotherms of LGSF, TeRh, and RBV5R adsorption by the MOFs were studied. The removal activity, kinetics and isotherm study of mixed textile dye by Zr-BTC MOFs was also investigated. Conclusively, the MOFs were proven to be effective catalysts in transforming the pollutants into less toxic compounds. xxvii,335p:, ill.

Applications Of Cellulose-Based Fibres, Functionalised With Zinc Phthalocyanine, As Photosensitisers For Gas Sensing, Degradation And Bacteria Inactivation

Sat, 01 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Applications Of Cellulose-Based Fibres, Functionalised With Zinc Phthalocyanine, As Photosensitisers For Gas Sensing, Degradation And Bacteria Inactivation ANUKWAH, GLORIA DAISY Zinc phthalocyanine complex was synthesised and incorporated into natural cellulose-based fibres extracted, from oil palm mesocarp fibres and pineapple leaves wastes, with the view of producing ZnPc-functionalised fibres, to compensate for its’ aggregation challenge in most solutions and for easy recovery from reaction solutions, easy disposal after use and for repeated use. The ZnPc-functionalised fibres were characterised by different spectroscopic, thermal and microscopic methods. The results suggested that, the free zinc phthalocyanine dye was indeed embedded and well dispersed within the cellulose-based fibres. The physico-chemical properties of the functionalised cellulose-based fibres were also assessed and found to exhibit the same fluorescence behaviour, that is characteristic of zinc phthalocyanine in solution. This makes them promising for qualitative detection of gases by fluorescence quenching. The photoactivity and singlet oxygen production effects of zinc phthalocyanine were also preserved within the fibre matrices, making them promising photosensitisers for photo-oxidation and photodynamic applications. When applied for optical detection of nitrogen dioxide gas, photodegradation of crystal violet dye and invitro photodynamic antibacterial susceptibility tests, they showed promise for qualitative detection of nitrogen dioxide gas by fluorescence quenching, for the conversion of an organic pollutant, crystal violet in aqueous solutions and as a topical antibacterial agent against methicillin/multidrug-resistant strains, Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa under day/sunlight and redlight radiations. xxvi,265p:, ill.