JOSEPH RICHMOND FIANKO - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by JOSEPH RICHMOND FIANKO

West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 2020

The environmental and health impact of urban and peri-urban irrigated agriculture in Ghana was as... more The environmental and health impact of urban and peri-urban irrigated agriculture in Ghana was assessed by analyzing irrigation water samples for both physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics. The measured data was used to evaluate comprehensive pollution index and sodium adsorption ratio. Water samples used for informal irrigation in urban and peri-urban agriculture in Ghana were found to contain significant levels of microbial load which is an indication of pollution. The total coliform levels ranged between 25 x 102 – 1209 x 102 cfu/100ml while that of E coli was 2 x102 – 651 102 cfu/100ml. The mean value for of the total coliform detected in the samples (517.917 x 102 cfu/100ml) far exceeded the recommended maximum allowable guideline value of 5000 cfu/100ml and 1000 cfu/100ml for irrigation water. The CPI values were found to vary in the range of 0.16 to 0.43 with an average CPI value 0.27 which is an indication of moderate pollution of the irrigation water. About 4...

In many developing countries, the resource potential of solid waste is not harnessed. However, it... more In many developing countries, the resource potential of solid waste is not harnessed. However, it is known that recovery of solid waste for reuse and recycling can greatly reduce the pressure on meager waste management infrastructure. The focus of this research was to gather information which could be used to increase and expand the rate of material recovery from solid waste generated in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis of Ghana. This paper therefore presents a broad understanding of the key waste management processes, especially those related to recovery, reuse and recycling of solid waste. A detailed analysis of waste generation, recovery, reuse and recycling was done. The informal recycling market in Sekondi-Takoradi was also captured. Based on the findings of the research, it is possible to design waste recovery strategy for higher income and middle income communities where greater volumes of dry recyclable waste fractions are generated.

Health Education Research, Oct 1, 2020

Hand washing is effective for the prevention and transmission of pathogens but washing with water... more Hand washing is effective for the prevention and transmission of pathogens but washing with water only is not effective at reducing contamination. The study focussed on the evaluation of hand washing behaviour in Basic schools (Primary and Junior High Schools) in Ghana. Results of the study revealed that 75% of responding schools have hand washing stands to promote hand washing with soap. Sixty percent of the hand washing facilities were functional at the time of the study in the schools. Hand washing facilities were found to be inadequate as most of the schools lacked running water and soap for hand washing. The school children (72%) were found to have knowledge on hand hygiene. The school children were aware that they can get cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, diarrhoea, stomach cramps and pains when they do not wash their hands with soap. Majority (68.2%) of school children reported that washing hands after defecation is important but only 17.5% reported actually follow this practice. The school children (51%) reported washing their hands before eating. Many of the schools did not have toilet facilities for the school children. The school children (35%) learnt hand washing from their parents and 60% from the teachers.

Environmental Earth Sciences, Jul 29, 2023

Population and waste generation is increasing exponentially in the city of Sekondi-Takoradi. The ... more Population and waste generation is increasing exponentially in the city of Sekondi-Takoradi. The city is growing at a rate of 3.2%. A recent oil industry, booming economic activities and ruralurban drift has increased demand for housing and waste infrastructure. The resulting waste from households outstrips waste bins and collection trucks. Wastes overflows at various collection points within the metropolis. The type of waste disposed indicates that residents now consuming various sorts of packaged food items compared to the previous habits of cooking raw vegetables. The complexity of waste is becoming difficult for the existing systems to accommodate. It is seen that households rely heavily on communal collection bins to dispose their waste. More than 36% of all collection is done with communal bins, which is less efficient compared to kerbside systems. The waste is usually abrasive, with a lot of sand, silt and gravel which wears sliding parts of compaction vehicles and machines. This discourages investors from deploying kerbside compaction trucks for waste collection. The results of this research highlights several instances of uncollected waste, overflowing of bins and unsightly conditions which are threats to public health of the people of the metropolis.

Beni-Suef University Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, Jan 29, 2022

Background: Trace metals pollution in the coastal and estuarine sediment could harm water quality... more Background: Trace metals pollution in the coastal and estuarine sediment could harm water quality and aquatic organisms, leading to potential long-term health risks on the environment and humans. Thus, the purpose of this study was to conduct an assessment of selected trace metals in surface sediments of the coastal and in four rivers estuary in the Sarawak State of Malaysia to investigate their distribution, environmental risk, and potential source distribution. Results: Average concentrations of trace metals in sediment increased in the following order: Cd ˂ As ˂ Co ˂ Cu ˂ Ni ˂ Cr ˂ Zn ˂ Mn ˂ Mg ˂ Fe. The enrichment, contamination, and geo-accumulation index results showed that surface sediments were polluted with Zn and Mg. In contrast, the other metals (i.e., As, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cr, Cu, Co, and Cd) indicated background concentration to minor contamination. Generally, the pollution load index values showed that almost all the sampling sites were unpolluted with the selected trace metals. Sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) and risk indexes were employed to assess the ecotoxicological risk of trace metal contamination in the sediments. The results proved that studied trace metals are not likely to have a deleterious impact on bottom-dwelling organisms. Still, a further accumulation of trace metals such as Zn, Ni, and Cr with time may adversely affect bottom-dwelling organisms. The risk index results showed a low ecological risk to the study sites. The correlation analysis and principal component analysis indicated that nine studied trace metals have strong interrelationships, suggesting common pollution sources or similar geochemical characteristics. Conclusions: The study highlights the need to make tremendous efforts to monitor and control trace metal pollution in the coastal and estuarine areas.

Research journal of environmental and earth sciences, Aug 10, 2011

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Jul 12, 2008

The chemical quality of groundwater in six district of the eastern region beneath the different t... more The chemical quality of groundwater in six district of the eastern region beneath the different types of land use areas of Ghana was examined to evaluate the effects of human activities on groundwater. Analyses indicate that groundwater in the studied area is fresh and generally suitable for most uses. The groundwater is generally characterised by a chemical facies of Ca-HCO 3 − , Na-Cl and mixed Na-Ca-HCO 3 types and is weakly mineralised. Anthropogenic disturbances have had and continue to have an impact on the aquatic ecosystem of Ghana. High concentration of Cl − and TDS were found in wells in high residential areas while the highest levels of Na, Ca, SO 4 2− and NO 3 − were found in agricultural and high density residential areas. About 50% of boreholes sampled have elevated level of NO 3 −-N emanating from agricultural runoff.

Journal of Environmental Protection, 2011

The Densu River Basin constitutes one of the largest agricultural areas in Ghana. The practice of... more The Densu River Basin constitutes one of the largest agricultural areas in Ghana. The practice of using pesticides such as organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids and several others in agriculture and public health programs has raised concerns about potentially adverse effects on human health and the environment. In this study, a field survey was conducted to assess farmers' knowledge of safe handling and use of pesticides. Residues of pesticides in fish samples as well as the potential health risk associated with exposure to these pesticides were also evaluated. Data obtained from the field survey indicate that a very high proportion of farmers are at high risk of pesticide poisoning from occupational exposure. More than 90% of farm workers do not practice safety precaution during pesticide formulation and application leading to considerable prevalence of pesticide related illness in this agricultural community. Pesticide residues in fish samples varied greatly; from 0.10 µg•Kg-1 to 30.90 µg•Kg-1 , consumption of fish and fisheries product from the basin was no zero risk. The estimated dose for aldrin, methoxychlor, γ-chlordane, endrin aldehyde, endrin ketone, endrin, p'p'-DDT and δ-HCH do not pose a direct hazard to human health, although present in fish samples since the values were lower than toxic thresholds as well as reference dose. However, γ-HCH, heptachlor, α-endosulfan, endosulfan Sulphate, p'p'-DDE and dieldrin levels exceeded the reference dose, indicating a great potential for systemic toxicity in children who are considered to be the most vulnerable population subgroup.

The objective of this research was to determine the current pollution status of the Sakumo wetlan... more The objective of this research was to determine the current pollution status of the Sakumo wetland with the aim of identifying factors affecting the long-term integrity of the wetland ecosystem. Sediment samples from the Sakumo wetland were analysed for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Mn and Zn using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) coupled with the conventional counting system. The sediment materials exhibited higher concentrations of trace elements Cd (maximum; 0.041 mg/kg), Co (maximum; 0.64 mg/kg), Cr (maximum; 30.73 mg/kg), Cu (maximum; 22.89 mg/kg), Ni (maximum; 11.69 mg/kg) and Zn (maximum; 6.52 mg/kg). In some of the lagoon sediments compared with their levels in world average soils, the average concentrations of the trace elements in general are below or within levels in world average soils/uncontaminated soils. Concentrations of Ni showed positive correlation with Cr whilst Co correlated positively with Cr and Zn. However, lack of correlation between Fe and Cd, suggests that the influence of these parameters on the distribution of trace metals is not important.

Journal of Asian Ceramic Societies, Jul 3, 2018

A novel hydroxyapatite [HAp: Ca 10 (PO 4) 6 (OH) 2 ] material for defluoridation was prepared fro... more A novel hydroxyapatite [HAp: Ca 10 (PO 4) 6 (OH) 2 ] material for defluoridation was prepared from Achatina achatina (AA) snail shells using a modified chemical precipitation method. X-ray diffractometry and atomic absorption spectrometry revealed carbonate substitution as a function of stirring conditions. Stirring time was varied to control crystallite size and trace element concentrations. In addition, Infrared spectra, cyclic voltammograms, and ion exchange profiles confirmed the functional groups, the surface mass concentration and the fluoride removal efficiency, respectively. It was observed that the samples prepared after 1 hr optimal stirring times reduced fluoride concentration from 20:00 to 1:59 AE 0:06mgL À1 without affecting the overall pH conditions of the water, whereas beyond this time frame, low uptake of the fluoride ions was obtained with increasing pH conditions. It was also observed that crystallite size did not affect the removal capacity of the samples. The results demonstrated herein the possibility of using locally prepared AA shells for water purification and other environmental remediation applications.

Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 2010

Major ions and stable isotopes of groundwater in the Cape Coast granitoid complex (G1) and Lower ... more Major ions and stable isotopes of groundwater in the Cape Coast granitoid complex (G1) and Lower Birimian (LB) formations in the Eastern Region of Ghana were evaluated to establish the source of recharge to the groundwater system. Five major hydrochemical facies were identified in the various rocks in the study area. They are calcium-magnesium-bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride and calcium chloride waters and mixed or non dominant water type. Sodium chloride and calcium chloride waters dominate aquifers of the Cape Coast granitoid complex whereas calcium-magnesium-bicarbonate is the dominant hydrochemical facies in the Lower Birimian aquifers. The most probable geochemical process responsible for the evolution of these hydrochemical facies is dissolution of minerals in the various rock types. Stable isotope composition of the groundwaters established that the recharge to the groundwater system is derived from rainfall.

Poster presentations, Oct 22, 2021

The Environmentalist, Jan 16, 2010

The impact of anthropogenic activities on the fluctuation of nutrients along the Densu River and ... more The impact of anthropogenic activities on the fluctuation of nutrients along the Densu River and its tributaries was studied. High concentrations of nutrients were observed in the study area but the river was found to be circumneutral and fresh with pH ranging between 6.54 and 7.84. The levels of NH 4 ?-N ranged between 0.21 and 2.1 mg L-1 with mean concentration of 1.19 ± 0.02 mg L-1 while that of nitrate is between 0.13 and 5.21 mg L-1 with a mean concentration of 2.07 ± 0.01 mg L-1. The levels of PO 4 3-P fluctuated within the range 0.54 and 1.04 mg L-1 with a mean of 0.84 ± 0.01 mg L-1. The Densu River Basin was also found to be with organic matter with depleted dissolved oxygen. The river recorded high BOD values ranging from 6.91 to 18.8 mg L-1. Concentration of nutrients and organic pollutants increased as a consequence of anthropogenic inputs particularly from domestic, agricultural and municipal sources. The highly impaired sites were those located close to the urbanized, agricultural and high-density residential areas. The relatively high concentration of nitrate and phosphate in the river indicated that it was quite eutrophic.

African Journal of Food Science, Sep 30, 2009

Food is the primary source of essential nutrients for man. Vegetables are essential part of the G... more Food is the primary source of essential nutrients for man. Vegetables are essential part of the Ghanaian diet; therefore the nutritional status of vegetables is of importance. Vegetables that constitute an esse- ntial part of the Ghanaian diet have been analyzed for essential elements content (Ca, Mg, K, Co, Br, Mn, and Na) using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). The

West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 2019

This study on the Songor Ramsar and UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve in Ghana seeks to investigat... more This study on the Songor Ramsar and UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve in Ghana seeks to investigate the factors that contribute to degradation of Songor Ramsar and UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve in Ghana through the administration of structured questionnaires using the drop-and-collect approach, face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions. The study revealed that the ranking of natural resources and occupation of the area are based on the demarcated zones within which the community is situated. Salt, fisheries and arable lands were identified as the most important natural resource in the wetland. The results on environmental degradation of the wetlands in the Songor Ramsar site in Ghana made it clear that the underlying causes of environmental degradation in the Songor Ramsar site are mainly a combination of Institutional and policy failures. It was revealed that the problem of environmental degradation is a consequence of ineffective enforcement of bye-laws. A combination of several factors such as improper waste disposal, poor attitude of residents toward environmental conservation, wildfires and shoreline recession, inadequate public education on the impact of environmental degradation, fishing and farming activities were identified during the administration of structured questionnaire, face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions. The other factors include overgrazing, over exploitation of mangroves, Predation, poaching and over fishing, uncontrolled sand and salt winning. Constraints and weaknesses to the implementation of regulations and laws with respect to conservation and protection of the wetlands identified during the study are lack of public education on the economic importance and the need to conserve the wetland, encroachment by developers, lack of enforcement of bye-laws, over-exploitation of mangroves and waste management.

Journal of African Earth Sciences

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, 2020

This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

Communications Earth & Environment, 2021

Remediation of nitrate pollution of Earth’s rivers and aquifers is hampered by cumulative biogeoc... more Remediation of nitrate pollution of Earth’s rivers and aquifers is hampered by cumulative biogeochemical processes and nitrogen sources. Isotopes (δ15N, δ18O) help unravel spatiotemporal nitrogen(N)-cycling of aquatic nitrate (NO3−). We synthesized nitrate isotope data (n = ~5200) for global rivers and shallow aquifers for common patterns and processes. Rivers had lower median NO3− (0.3 ± 0.2 mg L−1, n = 2902) compared to aquifers (5.5 ± 5.1 mg L−1, n = 2291) and slightly lower δ15N values (+7.1 ± 3.8‰, n = 2902 vs +7.7 ± 4.5‰, n = 2291), but were indistinguishable in δ18O (+2.3 ± 6.2‰, n = 2790 vs +2.3 ± 5.4‰, n = 2235). The isotope composition of NO3− was correlated with water temperature revealing enhanced N-cascading in warmer climates. Seasonal analyses revealed higher δ15N and δ18O values in wintertime, suggesting waste-related N-source signals are better preserved in the cold seasons. Isotopic assays of nitrate biogeochemical transformations are key to understanding nitrate p...

Sustainable Water Resources Management, 2017

representing 26.46 and 25.06% of annual rainfall for CMB and δ 18 O shift methods, respectively. ... more representing 26.46 and 25.06% of annual rainfall for CMB and δ 18 O shift methods, respectively. Rainfall stable isotopes from Kpando and Amedzofe gave an altitude effect of 0.17/100 m and altitude of recharge of the springs from +724.00 to +788.61 m amsl. The stable isotopes data identified two distinct moisture sources, isotopically enriched local moisture (evaporated surface water bodies and evapotranspiration water vapour flux from vegetation) and isotopically depleted moisture source from the Atlantic Ocean. The results further showed that significant groundwater recharge in the study area takes place in the months of March, June and August.