The pollution status of the Tendo Lagoon, the upstream section of the Aby Lagoon System, was investigated. The water temperature, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity (EC), nitrates (NO3-), and phosphate (PO43-) levels were evaluated using samples taken during the wet and dry seasons to assess the variabilities in water quality in the area. The water quality data was subjected to paired t-test, One-way ANOVA, Factor Analysis, Cluster analysis (CA) as well as a Water Quality Index (WQI) evaluation using the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) model. The paired sample t-test confirmed that the surface water quality varies significantly between the wet and dry season samples (p < 0.05) except for phosphate loads which may be contributed largely by year-round municipal waste discharges. The results of the ANOVA showed that the variation of the water quality parameters among sampling stations was not statistically significant except for turbidity which was relatively higher in the upstream sections where the Tano River enters the lagoon. The results of FA indicated that three significant factors–relating to the degradation of organic materials, suspended solids (turbidity) and nutrients- accounted for 73.65% of spatio-temporal variations in the water quality. The CA showed that the eight sampling stations can be grouped into four distinct clusters based on their water quality. The source of pollution in the demarcated sections of the Aby Lagoon was concluded to be largely due to the result of localized anthropogenic inputs of domestic waste and sediments carried from the upstream in the Tano River. An evaluation of the CCME WQI for the sampling stations revealed that all the sampling stations showed marginal water quality relative to the target water quality range recommended by the Water Resources Commission (WRC) of Ghana for domestic use and protection of aquatic life. Monitoring programs were recommended with effective management measures instituted and implemented for the sustainability of the lagoon and the Tano River Basin.

The points of zero charge (PZC) of manganese oxide (MnO₂), titanium dioxide (TiO₂), aluminum (Al) laterite, ferruginous (Fe) laterite, aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), and a commercial activated carbon sample (AC001) were determined using acid-base potentiometric (PT) and mass titration (MT). The MT technique has been used extensively for carbonaceous materials but less for soils. In addition, little work has been done on the PZC of these metal oxides and carbon materials under similar experimental conditions concurrently. Our aim is to buttress the ease of MT usage over PT in routine laboratory analysis. The experimental PZC measured by acid-base potentiometric and mass titrations respectively were 4.97 and 4.11 for MnO₂; 5.38 and 5.74 for TiO₂; 4.19 and 4.08 for Al laterite; and 4.45 and 4.10 for Fe laterite. For Al₂O₃ and activated carbon, mass titration gave 7.53 and 8.41 respectively. Calculated standard deviations between the means of PT and MT were less than 1, and Student’s t-test at 95% confidence interval (CI) gave a P value of 0.135, suggesting that there is no significant difference between PT and MT and buttressing the reliability of the experimental procedures. In routine laboratory work, mass titration should be preferred for PZC measurement of (hydr)oxides and soil materials because it saves time.

The present study assessed the pollution fingerprints of two estuaries (Pra and Ankobra) in the Southwestern region of Ghana. Contaminations of sediments in the two estuaries were evaluated for particle size distribution, total organic matter, microplastics, nitrate-nitrogen, phosphorous, and metals. The results revealed the mean concentration of microplastics particles in Pra as follows: fibre (14.22 ± 4.99); sheet (24.44 ± 13.21); fragment (38.00 ± 25.47); bead (4.22 ± 4.84); and in Ankobra as follows: fibre (13.00 ± 7.56); sheet (20.60 ± 12.59); fragment (8.70 ± 11.22); bead (3.30 ± 4.14). Metal concentrations were in the order Fe > As > Zn > Cu > Pb; concentrations of Cd and Hg were below the detection limit. Pb, Cu, and Zn were within Interim Marine Sediment Quality Guidelines except for Fe and As. The respective order of contamination factor and geo-accumulation index of the metals were As > Fe > Zn > Pb > Cu and As > Fe > Pb > Cu. The pollution load index recorded for Pra and Ankobra estuaries were 1.94 and 2.71, respectively, suggesting deterioration of the estuaries due to metal pollution. The principal component analysis indicated that pollution fingerprinting is strongly influenced by Fe, Cu, As, Zn, silt, and sand associated with illegal artisanal gold mining activities. Thus, the findings from this study imply that the levels of pollution recorded could have deleterious impact on human health and the communities that depend on the services rendered by the estuaries. There is the need to adopt strategies for pollution control to protect these fragile ecosystems that support livelihoods.

Water quality improvement, sanitation, and hygiene have been demonstrated to have positive impacts on health, social, and economic development. However, global understanding of water quality, sanitation, and hygiene is limited. The study extracted data from the Joint Monitoring Programme (WHO/UNICEF) and the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) to estimate global water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) levels. Statistical tools of univariate and multivariate analyses were used to process global access to WASH. Results show that men (53%) had access to safe water compared to women. Women (67%), on the other hand, demonstrated better hygiene practices than men (33%). In addition, adults had access to safe water compared to children, the elderly, and strangers. Globally, there is low water quality in landlock developing countries compared to small island developing states. The categorisation of countries into economic states of low, upper-middle, and high-income countries directly affects water quality, sanitation, and hygiene. Continentally, Africa recorded the least water quality, sanitation, and hygiene levels. Thus, African countries must learn from the best practice in governmental policies and management systems from other continents regarding water improvement, sanitation, and hygiene.

A survey was conducted to investigate farmers’ knowledge, attitudes towards pesticide use, storage/disposal, exposure risks and health symptoms in one of the eight cocoa growing regions in Ghana. A considerable proportion of the farmers (32%) used the bush as a storage facility for pesticides, 17% of the farmers stored chemicals in their living rooms, 3% of the farmers stored chemicals in their kitchen, 15% in their food storeroom, and 4% in the animal house. Personal protective equipment (PPE) use was positively associated with advice obtained from agrochemical shops (OR = 1.735, p < 0.01) and extension services (OR = 1.643, p < 0.01) as sources of information for PPE use. Female farmers (OR = 0.481, p < 0.01) were less likely to use PPE. With respect to location, farmers in Suaman district were less likely to use PPE (OR = 0.56, p < 0.010) compared with farmers in Wassa Amenfi. It is recommended that these factors should be considered for policy intervention. Reinforcement of appropriate pesticide storage and PPE education are necessary for securing safety in pesticide use.