Opoku Gyamfi’s research while affiliated with Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development and other places

Hookworm infections present a major health risk to dogs, especially in areas characterized by warmer climates and poor sanitation. This cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of hookworm infections and the efficacy of anthelmintic treatments in dogs from the Bono East Region of Ghana. Four hundred and ninety-one (491) canine stool samples were examined using the McMaster technique to ascertain the prevalence of hookworms. Using in vivo and in vitro techniques, the efficacy of three anthelmintics (albendazole, pyrantel, and niclosamide) was assessed in an experimental control trial involving dogs naturally infected with hookworms. The effects of the drugs on hematological and biochemical parameters were measured within a 14-day period to assess changes over time. The study found a total prevalence of 54.2% (266), with significantly higher infection rates in puppies (69.8%, 97), hunting dogs (64.1%, 91), and rural dogs (84.2%, 160). Logistic regression identified age, purpose, and settlement type as risk factors for infection. Of the three treatments, niclosamide was the most efficacious, reducing egg counts by 95%, while albendazole was the least efficacious (−69%). In vitro tests confirmed the superior performance of niclosamide, with the lowest IC50 value of 29.19 μg/mL. Hookworm-infected dogs exhibited anemia, eosinophilia, hypoalbuminemia, and hypoproteinemia. There was significant improvement in the hematobiochemical parameters after treatment, particularly in niclosamide-treated dogs. Veterinarians can consider niclosamide, especially in resource-limited settings, due to its affordability. The findings emphasize the importance of regular monitoring and treatment of hookworm infections to improve the overall health and well-being of dogs in the region. Herein, we report for the first time on reduced efficacy of albendazole and pyrantel against dog-related hookworms 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 small-scale mining is done without considering any regulatory requirements, and results in the contamination of the groundwater. Simultaneously, climate change is increasing the rates of groundwater depletion due to increasing droughts, altering precipitation patterns, and reduced rates of groundwater recharge. Study cases in the Global South illustrate the point of artisanal small-scale mining and climate change: degradation of groundwater is very rapid. This chapter, therefore, underlined the imperative need for integrated management, much firmer regulation, and sustainable mining that could reduce adverse impacts on groundwater security in precarious regions. Future trends have also shown that the activities and impacts related to ASM, as well as those due to climate change, may increase due to unending economic pressures, population growth, and the global precious minerals demand, especially in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Climate models similarly predict more frequent and severe droughts that stress groundwater systems even further. These parallel trends may result in more acute water shortages that undermine livelihoods and intensify conflicts over water resources. The international community and agencies like the United Nations and the World Bank have much to do in the area of capacity building, policy advocacy, and facilitating access to technology that moderates environmental damage to ensure the best sustainable practices that would improve the monitoring and management of groundwater in developing nations for groundwater security future generations.

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. We used X-ray fluorescence and an ICP-MS to determine metal concentrations, and a Zeeman mercury analyzer to determine mercury. The farm soils exhibited a pH range of 4.08 – 6.86, electrical conductivity between 29.16 and 870.50 μS/cm, and soil organic matter content ranging from 4.78 to 7.38%. Generally, metal concentrations in the soil were within the Canadian Soil Quality Guidelines for Agricultural soils, Dutch Target and Intervention Values, and the world average world soil for unpolluted soils but varied between study areas. Arsenic (1.20 – 1.33 mg/kg), cadmium (2.68 – 3.16 mg/kg), chromium (9.31—11.73 mg/kg), copper (59.69—70.88 mg/kg), mercury (0.008—0.017 mg/kg), manganese (18.90—23.68 mg/kg), nickel (10.19—11.76 mg/kg), lead (1.71—1.86 mg/kg), and zinc (80.20—87.34 mg/kg) were found in cocoa beans. The mean bioaccessibility for metals in cocoa beans, except for As, Cu, and Pb, was greater than 60%. Cadmium had high contamination in soil; geoaccumulation (Igeo > 3), contamination factor (CF > 18), and enrichment factor (EF > 70.21), while Cu and Zn had high bioaccumulation (BF > 4). The target hazard quotient value for metals in all farms showed no potential health risk (THQ < 1) for both children and adult consumers. The cocoa beans produced have low risk upon consumption.

Anthropogenic activities release potentially toxic elements into the environment, which contaminate the food chain. The main objective of this research was to analyze the concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Hg, and Pb in rice grains and soils, establish their correlation and transfer factors between soil and rice grains as well as evaluate their human health risk from consumption of rice cultivated in the Asante Akim area. The levels of As, Cd, Cr, Hg, and Pb in soil and rice samples were assayed using an Agilent 7700 Series inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrophotometer. The mean heavy metal content in soil was 7.5, 0.52, 0.47, 1.30, and 8.69 mg/kg for As, Cd, Cr, Hg, and Pb, respectively. Mean levels of the potentially toxic elements in rice were 0.082, 0.27, 0.48, 0.028, and 0.14 mg/kg for As, Cd, Cr, Hg, and Pb, respectively. Soil pollution indices showed that the soils were unpolluted with the potentially toxic elements studied. The concentrations of the potentially toxic elements in rice were below the maximum allowable concentration (MAC) recommended by the Codex Alimentary Commission except Cd which was marginally higher than the MAC. Dietary exposure to the elements to consumers was assessed by comparing the estimated daily intake (EDI) to the provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI). The estimated daily intake values for As, Cd, Cr, Hg, and Pb were 1.45 × 10⁻⁴, 4.8 × 10⁻⁴, 8.5 × 10⁻⁴, 4.95 × 10⁻⁵, and 2.4 × 10⁻⁴, respectively. The HQ for all the potentially toxic elements was less than the permissible value of 1, suggesting that the consumption of rice from the study area constitutes no potential non-carcinogenic health risk to the population. This study is unique because the risk is evaluated from rice that is directly consumed, and this gives a clearer picture of the risk to humans. Regular monitoring studies should be conducted to ascertain the levels of heavy metals in rice cultivated in the area since heavy metals can accumulate and the concentrations could increase to toxic levels with time.

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, addiction potential, and nicotine delivery capability. Moisture, pH, and percentage-free base nicotine were measured using certified methods. X-ray fluorescence techniques were used to determine tobacco products' concentrations of target elements (Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Rb, Sr, Mo, V, S, U, Zr, Tl, and Zn). Locally produced snuff products had the highest nicotine delivery capacity, with a pH of 9.73 and 96.98% freebase nicotine. Dried tobacco leaves followed closely, with a mean pH of 7.39 and percentage free base nicotine of 25.93%, whereas cigarette products had the lowest nicotine delivery capability (mean pH: 5.49; percentage free base nicotine: 0.33%). In the snuff category, menthol-flavored products delivered more nicotine (pH of 9.96; percentage free base nicotine of 98.8%) than moringa-flavored alternatives (pH of 9.77; percentage free base nicotine of 98%). Users of the smuggled cigarette product C6 were found to be susceptible to increased non-carcinogenic health effects, as indicated by a hazard index (HI) value of 1108.35, while C4, with the highest pH of 5.58 and a corresponding %A (addiction potential) of 0.70, demonstrated the greatest addiction potential among the examined cigarette products. Our findings indicate that locally produced snuff and dried tobacco leaves have potentially high addictive properties, emphasizing the risk of tobacco dependence. Furthermore, these products may have non-carcinogenic health effects, as indicated by elevated hazard quotients and hazard indices. These findings provide important insights into the various characteristics of tobacco products in Ghana, which may aid in developing targeted public health interventions.

Background: Globally, the consumption and use of cosmetics have increased exponentially. The presence of hazardous metals raises worries about their potential long-term impacts on human health. Objective: This review's primary goal is to shed light on the presence and ranges of heavy metal concentrations in diverse cosmetic samples as well as the instrumental techniques used by various authors to analyse the hazardous metals in the articles under evaluation. Methodology: This analysis concentrated on 16 publications that measured the levels of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, iron, nickel, chromium, and mercury in various cosmetic samples that were published between the years 2012 and 2020. Results: The study's findings support the existence of these metals as pollutants or components in cosmetics, both of which pose substantial health hazards. The regulations and acceptable limits vary across different countries, which is a significant challenge for the cosmetic industry. Conclusion: Therefore, there is a pressing need to standardise the acceptable limits of these toxic metals in cosmetics. Instrumental techniques such as AAS, GFAAS, ICP-OES/ICP-AES, and ICP-MS were employed by Researchers to analyse the toxic metals in cosmetics.

This study assessed the contamination and human and ecological risk of potentially toxic elements in soils from automobile workshops in Asante Mampong, Ghana. Concentrations were determined using a Varian Spectra AA220 Zeeman atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Mean potentially toxic elements concentrations in soils from the automobile workshop Centre had the order: Hg < Cd < Cr < As < Pb < Mn < Cu < Zn < Fe. The mean concentrations of Cd and Pb exceeded the EU guideline limit for Cd (0.35 mg/kg) and Pb (7.2 mg/kg) in soils whereas the mean Hg content was lower than the soil quality criteria limit of 0.3 mg/kg set to protect fauna and flora. The study revealed that the automobile workshop centre is moderately polluted with Cd and highly contaminated with Zn. The Cd levels recorded could pose considerable risks to the ecological environment whilst the other PTEs pose no ecological risks. Cd showed a strong correlation with Pb, Mn and As. Principal Component analysis classified the PTEs into two groups with their sources being the natural geology and vehicle repair activities undertaken at the centre. The concentrations of PTEs measured are not likely to pose non-carcinogenic adverse health effects as the hazard quotients and hazard index computed are all less than unity.

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 concentration of auto mechanic workshops and residential settlements. X-ray fluorescence analysis and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry were used to determine the metal concentrations in the samples. The results showed high concentrations of potentially toxic elements in the soil and air samples, indicating contamination from automotive activities. Metals such as Co, Ni, Pb, and Zn were found to be present at concentrations (13.42–6101.58 mg/kg and 14.15–11.74 mg/kg for Suame and Asafo respectively) that pose potential health risks to exposed populations. Mathematical models such as pollution indices were used to assess the extent of contamination and determine the potential sources of the metals - the automotive repairs. The findings highlight the urgent need for environmental management and remediation strategies to mitigate the health risks of exposure to potentially toxic elements in the Kumasi metropolis automotive hub.