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University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH UNIVERSITY OF GHANA ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATIONS IN SEDIMENT, WATER AND FISH FROM THE ANKOBRA AND TANO RIVER BASINS IN GHANA BY GILBERT KOFI AWUAH 10109143 THIS DISSERTATION IS SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSIRTY OF GHANA, LEGON IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTERS OF SCIENCE IN OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE DEGREE JULY, 2016. University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DECLARATION 1, Gilbert Kofi Awuah, hereby declare that apart from references to other peoples’ work, which have been duly acknowledged, this dissertation has been written independently by me and has not been submitted for the award of any degree in any institution. …………………………………… ………………………………… GILBERT KOFI AWUAH DATE (STUDENT) ……………………………………. ………………………………… DR. JOHN ARKO-MENSAH DATE (ACADEMIC SUPERVISOR) …………………………………….. ………………………………… PROFESSOR JULIUS FOBIL DATE (ACADEMIC SUPERVISOR) ii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DEDICATION To my wife Mrs. Catherine Elizabeth Awuah, with whose immense love, prayer and support I dare to dream, while making sure of the more important things in life! To my lovely children Kwaw Awuah, Kojo Awuah and Elizabeth Fiba Awuah for giving me the strength to face each day. To Mr Tuomo Pikkarainen of Aquaminerals Finland Ltd, for the encouragement throughout the entire programme. iii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I wish to thank Dr John Arko-Mensah and Prof. Julius Fobil for their advice and tremendous support during the course of this work. Further appreciation goes to Mr. Prince Owusu of the Ecological Laboratory at the Department of Geography and Resource Development, and Mr. Emmanuel Klubi of the Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences. Funding support for this study was provided by the West Africa-Michigan Collaborative Health Alliance for Reshaping Training, Education and Research in Global Environmental and Occupational Health (WEST AFRICA-MICHIGAN CHARTER II). iv University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ABSTRACT Background: Arsenic (As), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) are toxic heavy metals that occur naturally in the environment. However, their levels are on the rise due to anthropogenic activities posing threat to aquatic wildlife and humans. Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess As, Hg and Pb concentrations in sediment, water and fishes from the Ankobra and Tano River in the Western Region of Ghana, where human activities; especially the artisanal gold mining have been suspected of grossly polluting the drainage systems. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the concentration of As, Hg and Pb in fish and aquatic media (water and sediment) from the Tano and Ankobra River basins of Jaway Wharf – Ellenda and Sanwoma respectively. As, Hg and Pb levels in the tissues (muscles) of different fish species “Ekpoke” Ctenopoma kingsleyae, “Ekpoke” Sarotherodon galilaues, “Ekpoke” Sarotherodon melanotheron, “Adwene” Clarias gariepinus, “Nzerma” Pomadasys jubelini, “ Bile” Parachanna obscura, and “Senzeke” Parapenaeus longirostris (n=53), water samples (n=30) and sediment samples (n=25) were measured using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) Pinnacle 900T (Perkin Elmer, USA). Statistical analysis was done using Microsoft version 10 excel spread sheet and STATA software version 13 (StataCorps LP, Chicago, USA). Results: Heavy metal concentration was in the order; Hg>As>Pb across the study sites. Overall, the mean concentrations of Hg and As were highest in fish (2.09 ± 1.29 mg/Kg) and (2.80 ± 1.52 mg/Kg), followed by sediment (1.40 ± 1.78 mg/Kg) and (0.61 ± 0.40 mg/Kg), and water (0.09 ± 0.36 mg/L) and (0.06 ± 0.05mg/L) respectively. Pb levels were highest in sediment (1.46 ± 4.26 mg/Kg), followed by water (0.14 ± 0.10 mg/L), and then fish (0.11 ± 0.11 mg/Kg) respectively. However, v University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh the variability of overall HM levels in sediment, water and fish were not significantly different (p=0.828, 0.570 and 0.978 respectively). Generally, there were no significant differences in all the levels of As, Hg and Pb in water, sediment and fish in both Ankobra and Tano Rivers. Conclusion: As and Hg levels in both Tano and Ankobra were above the WHO recommended levels for pristine freshwater ecosystems and may therefore pose a threat to aquatic wildlife and human health. vi University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh TABLE OF CONTENTS Content Page DECLARATION ............................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION .................................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................... iv ABSTRACT........................................................................................................................v TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................ vii LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... ix LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.......................................................................................... xi CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................1 1.0 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................1 1.1 Background...............................................................................................................1 1.2 Statement of the Problem ........................................................................................5 1.3 Justification...............................................................................................................6 1.4 Objectives .................................................................................................................7 1.4.1 General Objective .............................................................................................7 1.4.2 Specific Objectives ...........................................................................................7 CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................8 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................8 2.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................................8 2.1.1 Sources of heavy metals release into the aquatic ecosystems........................8 2.1.2 Acid mine drainage as source of heavy metals release into aquatic ecosystems ..................................................................................................................9 2.1.3 Fate of heavy metals in aquatic ecosystems..................................................11 2.1.4 Impact of heavy metals on aquatic ecosystems ............................................12 2.1.5 Effect of heavy metal contamination on aquatic organisms ........................13 2.1.6 Effect of heavy metals on humans via intake of contaminated fish ............13 2.1.7 Health implication of mining in Ghana .........................................................14 2.2 Heavy metals and their toxicity .............................................................................15 2.2.1 Mercury ...........................................................................................................15 2.2.2 Lead (Pb) .........................................................................................................16 2.2.3 Arsenic.............................................................................................................17 CHAPTER THREE ..........................................................................................................19 3.0 METHODOLOGY .....................................................................................................19 3.1 Type of study ..........................................................................................................19 3.2 Study area ...............................................................................................................19 3.3 Variables of interest ...............................................................................................22 3.4 Fish Sample Collection ..........................................................................................23 3.5 Sampling Method ...................................................................................................23 vii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 3.6 Data collection techniques and tools.....................................................................24 3.7 Laboratory Procedures ...........................................................................................25 3.7.1 Fish Sample Preparation.................................................................................26 3.7.2 Sediment Sample Preparation ........................................................................27 3.7.3 Water Sample Preparation..............................................................................28