Godfred Darko

• Ph.D
• Professor at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Biochar is a stabilised, carbon-rich material created when biomass is heated to temperatures usually between 450 and 550 °C, under low-oxygen concentrations. This study evaluated the effectiveness of sawdust, cocoa pod ash and rice husk biochars in remediating metal-contaminated paddy soil in Nobewam, Ghana. Biochar was applied 21 days before culti...

The inappropriate disposal of medications, including antibiotics, analgesics, and antimalarials, significantly contributes to pharmaceutical contamination in the environment, posing threats to aquatic life and public health. This study assesses the presence and potential ecotoxicological risks of nine commonly used pharmaceuticals—metronidazole, am...

Despite the growing concern for food safety and environmental conservation, empirical studies on public awareness and perception concerning heavy metal poisoning are limited. This study examines the awareness, perceptions, and factors influencing awareness of heavy metal contamination in rice (Oryza sativa L.) among farmers and consumers in Ghana....

Groundwater security is threatened by human activities and climate change, especially in developing nations where artisanal and small-scale mining are pervasive. This chapter examines the dual impacts of artisanal small-scale mining and climate change on groundwater resources by focusing on two aspects: quality and availability. Most artisanal smal...

Cocoa-growing areas in Ghana have experienced a rise in mining activities affecting cocoa cultivation and increased concentrations of potentially toxic metals in the soil, which can accumulate in cocoa beans. This study evaluated potential toxic metal contamination in cocoa beans and soils from cocoa farms in mining and non-mining areas in Ghana. W...

This study assessed the occurrence of nine pharmaceuticals (caffeine, ibuprofen, metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin, chloramphenicol, diclofenac, doxycycline, and paracetamol) in leachate and soil samples from eight dumpsites within the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. It evaluated the ecotoxicological risk posed by...

Consuming plant products containing potentially toxic elements can have adverse health effects. This study aimed to assess the carcinogenic risks of lead, arsenic, and cadmium, as well as the non-carcinogenic risks associated with lead, arsenic, copper, cadmium, and mercury, by analyzing metal concentrations in medicinal plants collected from Ghana...

In Ghana, widespread backyard farming on arable land with refuse waste is driven by the enriched physicochemical properties of dumpsite soils, supporting crop growth. However, the enhanced levels of heavy metals have raised concerns among policymakers focusing on the environmental challenges posed by dumpsites soil. The purpose of the study was to...

The use of smokeless tobacco has increased, particularly among Ghana's youth, due in part to perceived medicinal benefits and the belief that it is less harmful and non-addictive. In response to this trend, we systematically classified 51 different tobacco products based on their potential toxicity as determined by potentially toxic elements, addic...

Potential toxic elements emanating from extracted ores during gold processing present occupational and unintentional health hazards in communities, the general populace, and the environment. This study investigated the concentrations and potential health effects of metal content in the topsoils of Obuasi municipality, which has been mined for gold...

The rapid spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria has led to an increased risk of infectious diseases. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in particular, poses a significant obstacle due to its propensity to rapidly acquire resistance to conventional antibiotics. This has resulted in an urgent need for the development of new classes of antibiotics that do not i...

Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease (CD). So far, nifurtimox and benznidazole are currently approved to treat CD in acute and chronic phases. To mini mize the danger of disease transmission and as a therapy, new compounds that are safer and more effective are required. It has been demonstrated that plants in the Amaryllidacea...

Metal exposure through cereal-based breakfasts was studied in humans of varied ages (infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly) to assess the potential health risks metals in food pose to consumers. The total concentrations of As (0.59–0.69 mg/kg), Cd (1.27–1.41 mg/kg), Cr (4.66–9.85 mg/kg), Mn (8.26–9.73 mg/kg), Ni (5.01–5....

The concentration and bioaccessibility of potentially toxic metals, including As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, were determined in surface soil samples from a mining community (Kenyasi) and a non-mining community (Sunyani) in Ghana, to investigate the contribution of mining activities to the environmental burden of potentially toxic metals. The st...

Rapid urbanization and uncontrolled industrial activities in developing countries have raised concerns about potentially toxic metal contamination of the environment. This study assessed the levels of potentially toxic elements in soil and airborne particulate matter in the Suame and Asafo areas in the Kumasi metropolis, characterized by a high con...

Purpose This study aims to synthesize pigment and resin from agro-wastes and use them in the formulation of eco-friendly surface coatings. Design/methodology/approach The pigments and resin were synthesized through a chemical modification of agro-wastes. The pigments were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and were screened for their an...

Wastewater from the pharmaceutical industry is a significant source of contamination in the aquatic environment. Due to the absence of appropriate legislation, or challenges in the enforcement of existing legislation in many developing countries, many pharmaceutical companies employ improper disposal strategies for liquid and solid waste. As such,...

The presence of mercury in soils has become a concern as artisanal gold mining activities in Ghana have increased significantly. This study assessed mercury concentration, spatial distribution, and potential ecological effects in surface soils throughout Ghana. Mercury concentrations were analyzed in 327 soil samples collected at 25 km by 25 km gri...

Vitex doniana (West African plum or black plum) is a plant with varying phytoconstituents and biological activities across di3erent countries. In this study, essential oils extracted from the leaves and fruits of Vitex doniana cultivated in Ghana were investigated for their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. -e antioxidant actions of the ess...

Food additives are used to enhance freshness, safety, appearance, flavour, and texture of food. Depending on the absorbed dose, exposure method, and length of exposure, heavy metals in diet may have a negative impact on human health. The X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Analyzer from Niton Thermo Scientific (Mobile Test S, NDTr-XL3t-86956, com 24) was used...

Agbogbloshie in Accra, Ghana, was a center for informal e-waste recycling until it was closed recently. This study investigated the potential health risks of toxic metals (including As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Zn) found in the surface soils based on their concentrations and in vitro bioaccessibility. Mean concentrations at the burning sites were As...

Pesticides are widely used in Ghana, especially in cocoa farming. However, the practice is suboptimal and unsupervised. Incorrect use of these chemicals can seriously harm human health, the environment, and economies that rely on these farmers' output. The study assessed cocoa farmers' pesticide knowledge, practices, and risk perception. Four hundr...

The dramatic upsurge of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) activities in Ghana has resulted in environmental degradation, water pollution and human exposure to mercury—the main hazardous element used in gold extraction. This study evaluated the degree of human exposure to mercury based on the concentrations found in the air and soil sampl...

The increase in human activities in urban areas resulting from the urbanisation process continues to put immense pressure on urban ecological resources including water bodies. This study seeks to assess the relationship between the various categories of human activities within the 100 m buffer of the major water bodies in the Kumasi Metropolis and...

Electronic waste (e-waste) contains heavy metals, which pose enormous human health risks if not properly handled. Evidence shows that the unsafe and crude practices at recycling sites expose workers to several short-and long-term health risks. Considering that different activities pose different risks, this paper examined the health perceptions and...

The study aimed to ascertain the levels of trace elements present in the face powders marketed in Ghana. Fifteen different brands of facial makeup powders were purchased from a local market in Ghana. The samples were analyzed using an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer to determine the concentrations of 16 elements (Pb, As, Hg, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cr, Ti, C...

This work focused on characterizing the chemical constituents and evaluating the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the essential oils obtained from the fruit and leaves of Spondias mombin—a flowering plant of the Anacardiaceae family. Essential oils were extracted through steam distillation and characterized by gas chromatography-mass spe...

The extent of mercury contamination in soils and sediments of an artisanal gold mining community (Mpatasie) was found and the inhabitants’ awareness of the risks posed by mercury was determined using a structured questionnaire. The mean concentration of mercury in soil from the community and mining fields was 0.26 mg/kg and 6.80 mg/kg in hotspots w...

West Africa accounts for over 70% of the world’s cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) beans exports, of which Ghana contributes about 21%. Nonetheless, the region experiences a significant threat from insect pests, which are primarily mitigated using insecticides. However, the extensive use of these insecticides leads to harmful environmental and human healt...

Milled flours have been a prominent component of most cuisines. Roots, tubers, and grains are cultivated and processed using technologies that might load them with toxins, including heavy metals. This investigation aimed to determine the concentration of metals in some locally milled flours of different foods in Kumasi.

Mercury usage in Artisanal Small Scale Gold Mining is a major anthropogenic source of mercury in the environment. In this study, mercury pools and fluxes have been established for Ghana, which has a large ASGM sector, based on estimated losses of mercury to the environment, deposition calculated with GLEMOS, a global long-range transport model for...

The presence of five antibiotics (metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin, doxycycline, and chloramphenicol) and four analgesics (diclofenac, ibuprofen, paracetamol, and caffeine) were investigated in water and soil samples from the Sunyani municipality, Ghana. Liquid samples were collected from hospital effluents, sachet drinking water, municipa...

This study investigated mercury pollution at two e-waste recycling sites in Ghana—Dagomba Line in Kumasi and Agbogbloshie in Accra. A total of 129 soil samples taken at 100 m and 50 m resolutions, respectively, for Dagomba Line and Agbogbloshie, were analysed for mercury using a Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometry. Mercury concentrations from the...

The occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the environment is a global challenge. Pharmaceuticals such as antibiotics and analgesics have been reported in various environmental matrices at varying concentrations. The major disposal route for unused and expired pharmaceuticals in Ghana is throwing them into dustbins. Although there are laws on the proper...

The presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment is undesirable since their biological activity may impair ecosystem health of reservoirs that receive inflows from other water sources. This work determined the concentrations of analgesics and antibiotics, and the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance among microbes in water and sediment samples...

There has been a concern of metal contamination from the mining areas which could expose the population to toxic metal through consumption of food products in the regions. Therefore, the study was conducted to analyze 18 elements using X-ray fluorescence analyzer and to assess for metal exposure through dietary intakes. Dietary recall survey instru...

The depletion of fossil fuels, high environmental pollution due to the release of toxic organic compounds, and high cost are some of the challenges regarding the reliance on petroleum-based resins. Natural polyhydroxy resins (from cashew nutshell liquid, castor oil, tannins, among others) are readily available, eco-friendly, low cost, and biodegrad...

The emission of potentially toxic metals from both anthropogenic and natural sources into the ecosystem has resulted in the contamination of soils. This study evaluated the levels of potentially toxic metals accumulation and enrichment in soils supporting medicinal plants in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Soil physical characteristics (pH), cation ex...

Abstract Over 1000 people make a living by processing electronic and electrical waste (E-waste) and scrap metals for the recovery of valuable metals and integrated circuits at Dagomba Line, Kumasi, Ghana. The processing includes activities such as dismantling, open burning and open dumping of E-waste which can potentially release toxic metals into...

The effects of urbanization such as population upsurge, increased industrialization, urban agriculture, and rural–urban migration of persons exert pressure on the limited water resources in most cities. This study investigated the impact of human activities on the water and sediment quality of the three main rivers (Wiwi, Subin, and Suntre) in Kuma...

The River Subin, which serves as a source of direct drinking water downstream, flows through the Metropolis of Kumasi in Ghana, making it vulnerable to pollution due to human activities. In this study, we assessed the heavy metals content in the sediment of the Subin river as well as the physicochemical properties and microbial load in the river. W...

This study sought to determine the influence of commercial milling machines on metal contamination of locally produced groundnut paste, and the potential risk associated with consumption. A total of 30 groundnut paste samples were collected from 9 markets within the Kumasi Metropolis and 1 nearly district market. Metal content was determined with X...

The use of principal component analysis (PCA) for soil heavy metals characterization provides useful information for decision making and policies regarding the potential sources of soil contamination. However, the concentration of heavy metal pollutants is spatially heterogeneous. Accounting for such spatial heterogeneity in soil heavy metal pollut...

Biochar is a promising material for facilitating the remediation of aqueous phase contaminated with toxic trace metals. However, biochar properties from lignocellulosic biomass such as giant reed is underexplored. The sorption of Pb 2+ by biochar produced from giant reed at different temperature profiles were studied. Two biochar of temperature 300...

The chemical composition, antimicrobial, anti-biofilm and antioxidant activities of fruit and leaf essential oils of Averrhoa carambola were investigated in this study. Terpenoids (~ 46%) and esters (~ 18%) were dominant in the leaf essential oil whereas alcohols (~ 28%), esters (~ 27%) and terpenoids (~ 18%) were present in the highest quantities...

Food safety concerns associated with radiotoxicity risks among consumers are widespread in areas with human activities such as mining. Therefore, the study was carried out to determine natural radioactivity levels in total diets in an area with excessive mining activities. Using validated models, the committed effective dose and excess cancer risk...

Biochar is a promising material for facilitating the remediation of aqueous phase contaminated with toxic trace metals. However, biochar properties from lignocellulosic biomass such as giant reed is underexplored. The sorption of Pb 2+ by biochar produced from giant reed at different temperature profiles were studied. Two biochar of temperature 300...

PurposeCocoa consumption, driven by the health benefits of mineral nutrients, is surging globally though, emerging evidence indicates anthropogenic contaminants. Thus, this study set out to conduct a health benefit-risk assessment of the trace elements in cocoa beans and derived products. Methods Cocoa beans sampled from aggregation sites in four m...

The use of mercury in small-scale gold mining is globally the largest anthropogenic source of mercury in the environment. In countries like Ghana, where small-scale gold mining is a highly important economic sector, the activity is also expected to cause local pollution. This study is based on a hypothesis that the mining activity in Ghana is causi...

While occupational inhalation exposure to gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) has decreased in many workplaces as mercury is being removed from many products and processes, it continues to be a concern for those engaged in artisanal and small-scale gold mining or in recycling mercury-containing products. Recently, stationary and personal passive air sa...

Background Plant phenolics, commonly present in legumes, leafy vegetables, fruits, grains are a key source of bioactive nutrients existing as flavonols, flavanones, flavanols, phytosterols, among others. Peanuts, being crops of high commercial use, undergo processing that generates voluminous agro-wastes. The waste comprises both the shells and ski...

The use of veterinary drugs on farm animals has the potential of generating drug residues in edible animal products that may affect public health. Veterinary drug residues in 144 samples including beef, chicken, and egg were measured using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography in tandem with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Sixty-three...

The occurrence of heavy metals in urban soils is of great environmental concern due to the unwanted health effect associated with their excessive exposure. The study assessed levels of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, V, and Zn) in peri-urban communities of the Kumasi metropolis and evaluated sources and potential health risk assoc...

Consumption of food of animal origin or animal proteins has been associated with many perceptions about the quantity and quality consumed and the related health effects on the consumer. Several investigative methods including a food frequency questionnaire have been used to confirm or disprove these perceptions. This study investigated the consumpt...

This study investigated the heavy metal content and the extent of pollution in soils from abandoned dump sites in Kumasi, Ghana. Concentrations of heavy metals in the 70 soil samples were determined using a Niton XL3t GOLD field portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and confirmed on an Agilent 7800 inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer. M...

Medicinal plants form the basis for many medical treatments and a precursor for most drugs. This study examined the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the root and bark extracts of Vitex grandifolia. Soxhlet extraction was used to obtain the crude extracts. The 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide...

Mercury pollution has pervaded many artisanal gold mining communities in the world, especially in developing countries. This study aimed to evaluate the potential risk of mercury pollution in soils in Gbani, an artisanal gold mining community in Ghana. Two hundred and thirty-seven soil samples were collected from within 0–10 cm depth, from active m...

The proliferation of illegal mining in Ghana, coupled with its environmental impacts, especially on water bodies has compelled the government to ban all artisanal small-scale mining (ASM) activities in the country. The ban is intended to promote environmental sustainability while the government takes steps to provide sustainable health, and environ...

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are present and pervasive in the environment. Handling of the foods by the vendors is therefore likely to introduce PAHs into the meals. Quantification of PAH was made using HPLC-FID and consumption data by face–face interviews with 188 regular consumers for the vendors. Data obtained were iterated 10,000 time...

The purpose of this study was to assess the contamination levels and human health risk that heavy metals in the dust from transport stations pose to the inhabitants of the Kumasi metropolis, Ghana. Dust samples were collected from 18 transport stations and analyzed for metals including As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Fe, Sb, Ni, and Zn using X-ray fluorescence...

A model for predicting the uptake of tetracycline and amoxicillin by vegetable plants using STELLA® was developed. Simulations were performed for a 30-day period during which lettuce and carrot were irrigated with the two antibiotics of known concentrations. The model predicts antibiotic concentrations in several compartments, including porewater,...

The presence of metal contaminants in agricultural soils and subsequent uptake by food crops can pose serious human health risk. In this study, we assessed the levels of toxic metals – arsenic, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, and zinc – in soils and some edible root tuber crops from two gold mining and two non-mining communities in Ghana...

The WHO/FAO have requested data on food consumption to better understand the increasing toxicological results of foodstuffs. The aim of this study was to determine the food consumption characteristics of the consumers living in small-scale mining areas. Commonly consumed food crops of each category: fruit, cereals, vegetables, legumes and root tube...

Peanut skin extract, an agro-waste and a source of flavonoids has been extracted from peanut skin and employed as a precursor for the synthesis of novel azo compounds and metal complexes. The new ligand, peanut skin extract azo compound, was synthesized under suitable experimental conditions by diazotization of aniline and coupling with an alkaline...

The preparation practices, handling and source of raw materials for street food vending could be sources of toxic metals in street food vending business which is yet to be explored in-depth as microbial contamination. The concentrations and dietary risk of the toxic metals Al, Fe, and Pb were assessed in fufu and fried-rice, two commonly consumed s...

There has been a global concern about the use of tributyltin-based coatings in combating biofouling in the marine industry. Although there have been alternatives to tributyltin in preventing biofouling, the emphasis is now on the use of nontoxic and/or ecofriendly natural materials which do not negatively affect the environment upon application. Na...

In this study, cashew nut shell liquid has been extracted from cashew nut shells using an accelerated solvent extraction technique and was employed as a precursor for the synthesis of cashew nut shell liquid resin. The extract was a dark brown viscous liquid with an average yield of 30.61±0.200%. Results of the physical analysis showed a moisture c...

The incidence of antimicrobial resistance among microbial communities is a major threat to global health care and security. Landfills, which are reservoirs for many pharmaceuticals, provide a conducive habitat for antimicrobial-resistant microbes and resistant gene transfer and are therefore a major contributor to the phenomenon of antimicrobial re...

Background. Anthropogenic activities such as artisanal mining pose a major environmental health concern due to the potential for discharge of toxic metals into the environment. Objectives. To determine the distribution and pollution patterns of arsenic (As), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and zinc (Z...

Background The World Health Organization has expressed concern about arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury as potentially harmful to human health. As such, the world body has called for appropriate preventive and interventionary measures. In response, food regulatory bodies including European Food Safety Authority are monitoring the levels of these h...

The objective of this study was to determine health risks associated with consumption of cabbage and lettuce sampled in an urban industrialized study area. Samples were initially digested in Teflon vessels using HNO3 and H2O2, homogenized in Na2SO4, agitated in a mixture of hexane/acetone, cleaned-up and analyzed in ICP - MS in order to quantify tox...

Birim river is one of the main tributaries of the Pra River, which ranks among freshwater bodies of economic importance in Ghana. The Birim river serves as a source of water for domestic water supply, irrigation and commercial/industrial activities in south-eastern Ghana. Artisanal mining activities along river bodies promote continual introduction...

Physicochemical properties, nutrient concentrations, microbial properties and concentrations of heavy metals in water and sediments from the Owabi reservoir and its tributaries, namely Atafua, Sukobri and Owabi rivers as well as the outflow of the reservoir, were determined as indicators of the extent of pollution of the reservoir. The samples were...

Sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine are often formulated together and used in the treatment of malaria especially in pregnant women serving as a prophylaxis. A new simple, precise and accurate reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method has been developed for simultaneous identification and quantification of sulfadoxine and pyri...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of selected heavy metals/metalloids in filling station dust from the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana. A total of forty (40) dust samples were analysed for Fe, Ti, Zn, Zr, Mn, Sr, Ba, Cr, Pd, Ni, Cu, As and Mo using X-ray Fluorescence technique. Mean concentrations of Ba, As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sr,...

Hospital wastewater and effluents from waste stabilization ponds in Kumasi, Ghana, are directly discharged as low quality water into nearby streams which are eventually used to irrigate vegetables. The presence of 12 commonly used antibiotics in Ghana (metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, trimethoprim, ampicillin, cefuroxime, sulfamethoxazol...

Background Pesticide residue levels were determined in ready-to-eat vegetables collected from 16 sites along the food chain; which is, farms, markets, cafeterias and street food vending sites in Kumasi, Ghana. The aim of the study was to determine the concentrations of pesticides residues in two ready-to-eat vegetables and assess the health risks d...

Concentrations of pesticides residues in honey sampled from the major honey producing forest belts in Ghana were determined. Samples were purposively collected and extracted using the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) method and analysed for synthetic pyrethroids, organochlorine, and organophosphate pesticide residues. Aldr...

Abstract: Inflammation is one of the means the human body uses to defend itself in the event of infection, trauma, or exposure to toxic substances and it is closely associated with a number of disease symptoms. Steroidal and non-steroidal antiinflammatory agents have been the drugs of choice for managing inflammation. However, reports of unpleasant si...

The distribution, and ecological risks due to toxic metals in topsoils of an urban commercial centre of Kumasi metropolis were determined. Concentrations of heavy metals in the samples were initially screened using field portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer prior to confirmation on an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer. The results fr...

Spices are generally consumed because of the taste and flavor they add to food. Some are also consumed because of their medicinal properties. We herein report on the nutrient and antinutrient compositions of five Ghanaian spices namely Xylopia aethiopica, Piper guineense, Monodora myristica, Aframomum melegueta and Parkia biglobosa. Nutritional com...

To assess the potential risk associated with incidental ingestion of metal contaminants in soils from areas where most of the commercial activities are concentrated in Kumasi, Ghana, total and bioaccessible concentrations of metals were determined in surface soil samples. Arsenic, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn in some of the samples exceeded international env...