A Preliminary Assessment of the Effect of Urban Waste Pollution in the Korle Lagoon Area of Accra, Ghana, on Nutrition and Growth of Maize (Zea mays L.) Plants

Disposal of domestic and industrial waste into the Odaw River and Korle Lagoon in Accra, Ghana, has led to pollution of the lagoon and surrounding soils. This study compared the elemental concentrations of heavy metals (lead and zinc) and essential plant macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) in soils from the Korle Lagoon Area to those in baseline soils from the University of Ghana Agricultural Farm (UG Farm), also in Accra. A comparative pot experiment, using maize (Zea mays L.) as test plant, was conducted to assess the effect of each soil type on plant growth. Soil samples from the Korle Lagoon Area were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) concentrations than samples from the UG Farm. Mean plant height and mean leaf width of maize plants harvested 7 weeks after planting (WAP) were both significantly higher (P < 0.003) for samples from the Korle Lagoon Area soil compared to those from the UG Farm soil. Higher accumulation of Zn (448.3 ± 45.5) in maize shoot within 3 weeks of planting in the Korle Lagoon Area soil had phytotoxic effects on growth, resulting in shoot growth inhibition and reduced uptake of P and K in 11-week-old plants. The findings indicate that though nutrient enrichment due to sewage disposal into the lagoon may increase crop production, the nutritional quality of the crop produced could be compromised by heavy metal accumulation in the soil and subsequent uptake by the plant.

Source Assessment and Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH’s) in the Oblogo Waste Disposal Sites and Some Water Bodies in and around the Accra Metropolis of Ghana

The study looked at the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in leachates from a solid waste disposal site and an effluent from an oil refinery in some water bodies around Accra. Sixteen (PAHs) were extracted simultaneously by solid phase and analysis by gas chromatograph. The results of this study gener-ally demonstrated that there were elevated levels of PAHs in the water sample of the Densu River, Chemu, Korle and Kpeshi Lagoons. The average concentration of PAHs in the water ranged from 0.000 of many of the PAHs to 0.552&#181;g/L, for Acenapththene to 11.399&#181;g/L for Benzo (ghi) perylene of the Chemu Lagoon, 0.00&#181;g/L for Benzo (a) Pyrene to 8.800&#181;g/L for Benzo (ghi) perylene (Korle Lagoon) and 0.052&#181;g/L for Pyrene to 4.703ug/L for Acenaphthylene of the Kpeshi Lagoon and 0.00&#181;g/L for pyrene to Acenaphthylene 2.926&#181;g/L of the Weija Dam. Concentrations ranging from below detection level to 14.587&#181;g/L were also recorded at the Oblogo solid waste dump and it’s environ. The Weija dam supply over two million gallons of portable water daily to the people of Accra and the levels of the PAH determined is worrying, as a result, the Oblogoh disposal site ought to be re-located to avert any possible epidemic.

Assessment of Platelet Numbers and Prevalence of Thrombocytopenia among Children with Severe Malaria at a Tertiary Teaching Hospital

Background: Thrombocytopenia plays an important role in the diagnosis of malaria in most countries because of the rapid decrease of platelets during malaria onset and also in severe forms of the disease. The study sought to assess platelet numbers and determine the prevalence of malarial thrombocytopenia among children with febrile malaria at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH). Methodology: It was a cross-sectional study carried out in the Department of Child Health and the Polyclinic of KBTH from April to July 2018. A total of 100 children aged from 1 to 12 years who tested malaria positive for both thick and thin blood film and Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) were recruited into the study. Venous blood sample was obtained from the children and analyzed for platelet count using a haematology auto analyzer. Parasite speciation and quantification was used to classify the disease into mild, moderate and severe, and platelet numbers were also categorized into low, normal and high. Data obtained was then analyzed for prevalence of malarial thrombocytopenia in severe malaria. Results: The total studied participants were 100, 61 (61%) were males whiles 39 (39%) were females. Both severe malaria and thrombocytopenia were mostly seen in children less than 5 years of age and the males recorded more thrombocytopenia (66%) and normal platelet numbers 34 (64.2%) than the females. There was a significant higher percentage of malaria children with thrombocytosis being females (64%) as compared to those being males (36%). 53 (53%) children had normal platelet numbers, 33 (33%) had thrombocytopenia, and 14 (14%) had thrombocytosis. The prevalence of uncomplicated malaria and complicated malaria were 80% and 20% respectively. The overall prevalence of thrombocytopenia was 33%, and the prevalence of thrombocytopenia in uncomplicated and severe malaria was 18.8% and 90% respectively. The prevalence of malaria types among children with thrombocytopenia was assessed. Out of the 33 (33%) patients who had thrombocytopenia, 15 (45.5%) of them had uncomplicated malaria and 18 (54.5%) of them had complicated or severe malaria. No child was found to have thrombocytosis during complicated malaria. Conclusion: The study indicates a significant higher prevalence of thrombocytopenia in severe malaria among children at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, and this could be used as a useful indicator to investigate malaria or as a diagnostic clue for malaria in children.