Knowledge and practice of environmental sanitation and personal hygiene by traders. A case study of Tamale Central Market

Tamale is one of the rapidly growing cities in Ghana which is faced with numerous sanitation and hygiene problems. Markets generate large volumes of wastes due to their functions. Poor waste management in markets poses a threat to public health. This study sought to assess traders’ knowledge and practice of environmental sanitation and personal hygiene. It also sought to identify the environmental sanitation challenges in the market. Questionnaire surveys, interviews, and personal observations were employed for data collection. The traders demonstrated fair knowledge on environmental sanitation but most did not practice recommended sanitation practices. Moreover, both males (50.1%) and females (49.9%) demonstrated good knowledge of personal hygiene and practiced it. The study identified poor drainage systems, lack of potable water, inadequate waste bins, littering, pilling of wastes, poor wastewater handling as major environmental challenges in the market. The findings of this study underline the need for bolstering up environmental education and hygiene promotion activities in public places like markets. It is also recommended that the toilet facility within the market get replace or renovated. The need for sanitation equipment and tools like waste bins should be met by the Metropolitan Assembly, as well as supports from NGOs and other bodies.

Wildlife species diversity indices and seasonal distribution assessment in road-side markets of South-west Nigeria

Wildlife species are under serious exploitation by the rural populace in Nigeria because hu­man beings have understood their ecology. The need to update the existing knowledge of wildlife population is therefore essential. Twenty-three games markets along five Roads in South-west Nigeria were visited to document the wildlife displayed for sale. Two hundred and fifty copies of structured questionnaire were administered using systematic random sampling (odd) method for wildlife species information from market stakeholders. Direct method was counting for species and their numbers. Data generated were analysed through Species Diver­sity Indices Assessment. All emergent species were compared with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) abundance rating. Road seasonal distribution of the marketed wildlife was determined by percentages, standard deviation, standard error of mean, mean differences, t-test, and tests of significance and Diversity Indices. Results revealed that 69,398 wild animals were displayed. Also more wildlife were sold during rainy than dry seasons. Appropriate recommendations of government sensitization of rural and urban settlers against over-utilization of wildlife resources, encouragement of the public towards animal domesti­cation and others were made.

Prevalence of parasitic infections on cultured Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) In Bong County, Liberia

This study investigated the prevalence rate, relative abundance and mean intensity of par­asites infecting cultured Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L. in three fish farms, Gbarnga, Warta and CARI in Bong County, Liberia. Organs from thirty fish samples were exam­ined from September 2016 to February 2017, along with water quality parameters. Results showed the occurrence of seven parasites including protozoans, monogeneans, digeneans, cestodes, hirudineans, nematodes and crustaceans which were organ specific in terms of infection. The prevalence of the parasites varied seasonally, with the highest numbers oc­curring in November-January. The low prevalence rate, relative abundance and mean in­tensity of the parasites showed no threat to fish farmers in Liberia. All the water quality parameters were at desirable levels for the culture of the fish except nitrite, which was beyond the threshold for sustainable fish culture. It is therefore concluded that although parasitic infections in the three farms in the Bong County were low, best farm management practices are essential.

Perceptions of workers on the benefits of institutional source sorting: A case of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Institute of Industrial Research (CSIR-IIR), Accra, Ghana

The management of solid wastes at the workplace in Ghana is characterised by mixed wastes pickup delays, dustbin overflows and leakage of plastic bags into the environment. Benefits from the pilot of source sorting as a mitigation measure at the workplace are unavailable in literature. Hence, the study employed descriptive statistical tools to assess the advantages of a piloted source sorting system at the CSIR-IIR. The sampled size was 100 staff with an 80% questionnaire recovery rate. The analysis of data showed that, the implementation of segregation at source transformed the social approach of workers towards waste management. Most workers (97.7%) preferred sorting their wastes at source irrespective of the location of the generation point. A congenial environment was created by the source separation infra­structure, which made staff worked better, (70% responses). The majority of staff (95.2%) confirmed the savings made by the Institute on the cost of landfilling. The sorting at source improved cleanliness of the compound (97.6% responses) and eliminated open-air burning of wastes (95.1% responses). In all, the source segregation was beneficial to the social, economic and environmental well-being of staff and management of the Institution.

Exploring the ethical dilemmas of afro-centric social media use through agent-based modeling: A review

Social media (SM) has become indispensable for individuals and workplaces/organizations in Africa and beyond. Therein, ethical concerns are posed due to the inability to create virtual boundaries (VM), the intractability of guidelines for managers and other unintended risks/con­sequences. Operations research was used for modeling ethical concerns but have been defeated due to reasons of several ethical values and various assessment criteria for stakeholders. Conse­quently, this review paper initially x-rays the import of ethical dilemmas in older studies so as to conceive a strategy characterized by engaging stakeholders that utilize SM via Agent-Based Modeling (ABM), in such a manner that ethics can be evaluated. Additionally, it presented the rudiments of social media ABM explorations and the peculiarities of Africa. Finally, the review provided a suitable methodology and sheds light on the possible challenges of ABM implementation. Besides the benefit of increased patronage, the agent technology may also constitute a pedagogical tool for learning ethical behavior. Moreover, it is our hope that with the involvement of experts of related disciplines in Africa, attendant theories are formalized and used for building agent models that allows ethical decision making, weighing of pros and cons, analyzing differences and dimensions inherent in VM creation.

Assessment of trace metal contamination by geochemical normalisation in sediments of two lagoons: A comparative study of the Kpeshie and Muni lagoons, Ghana

Heavy metal contamination status of bottom sediments of two lagoons was compared by the employment of Enrichment Factor (EF) analysis for Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Cupper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Silver (Ag), Zinc (Zn) and Mercury (Hg). Kpeshie Lagoon recorded enrichment (EF ≥ 1) for Cd, Pb, Ag, Hg and Zn, whilst Muni Lagoon recorded enrichment for Cd, Mn, Ag, Hg and Zn as metals of anthropogenic influence. Kpeshie, situated in a highly urbanized area, has 75% spatial distribution of Pb enrichment. The assessment shows that Ag and Hg are the most enriched metals in the sediments of both Lagoons, reaching extremely severe levels. Only Mn showed statistically significant difference in mean concentration of metals for both Lagoons. Pearson correlation matrix indicated that Pb had a strong relation with Ag, Hg and Zn (r = 0.956; p < 0.05) which is significant in Kpeshie. It also had a strong association with Ag and Hg but not with Zn (r = 0.240) in the Muni. The study clearly delineates Pb as a pollutant that designates the urban status of Kpeshie. Its associated metals; Ag, Hg and Zn which may be coming from a common source are from industrialized zones.

Influence of salicylic acid and potassium nitrate on plant height and flowering time of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under varying salinity and drought-induced stresses

This study was conducted to examine the effects of Salicylic acid (SA) and Potassium nitrate (KNO3) on plant height and flowering time of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) under induced stresses of salinity, drought and combined salinity and drought. Three watering regimes namely; normal, moderate and severe were used. For salinity stress, 50 mM NaCl, 100 mM NaCl, 150 mM NaCl and combination of water and salinity regimes were used. 50 μm KNO3 and 50 μm SA were separately applied to plants under water, salinity and combined water and salinity stresses. The mean plant height at 100 mM salt concentration were 42.29 cm for KNO3, 42.27 cm for SA, compared with 40.98 cm for control (F = 2.73; P ≤ 0.008). In combined severe watering and 150 mM NaCl treatment, flowering time was 57 DAP (days after planting) compared to 34 DAP in control plants. When KNO3 and SA were applied to severe watering and 150 mM NaCl combined stress induced plants, flowering time was 51 DAP and 53 DAP for KNO3 and SA treated plants respectively. In conclusion, the exogenous application of plant growth regulators such as SA and KNO3 reduce impact of water stress on groundnut and effectively improve yield.

A simple method for the extension of shelf life of cultures of Phytophthora species causing black pod disease of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.)

Black pod disease of cacao caused by Phytophthora palmivora and Phytophthora megakarya in Ghana take heavy toll of cacao production in the field. Intensive research has been carried out worldwide on these pathogens. However, viability of the cultures during prolonged storage has remained a major challenge in the research. This paper reports findings of assessment of six storage media viz sterilised distilled water (SDW), sterilised and unsterilized soil suspension (SSS and USS), vegetable 8 juice broth (V8JB), Oat Meal Agar slant under mineral oil (at 4°C) and empty tube. Viability of the cultures was assessed on V8JA and in tetrazolium chloride test. Ability of zoospores of the cultures to infect cacao leaf discs was used to assess growth vigour and pathogenicity. Phytophthora cultures stored in SDW (26 ± 2°C; alternating day light and night) were preserved for 60 days (5 years). Both P. palmivora and P. megakarya performed better on SDW and SSS than on USS due to removal of staling substances in the soil medium by the sterilisation. Vigour of growth and pathogenicity of the stored cultures required re-inoculation of host tissue (cacao pod) in order to maintain potency to continually infect host.

Characterization of the Geophagic Materials and Their Associated Rocks and Soils from Anfoega, Ghana

This study was conducted to examine the physico-chemical and mineralogical properties of geophagic materials and their associated rocks and soils from Anfoega, Ghana. The geophagic materials were sampled from pits >10 m deep overlain by massive sandstones and shallow soils which were also sampled. The pH of the geophagic materials was strongly acid. The pH of the soils from the three sites was slightly to moderately acid, that of the fourth site was moderately acid in the surface but strongly acid in the lower layers. While the geophagic materials were enriched with clay, the soil samples contained high amounts of sand. The CEC of the geophagic materials (18.0 to 23.2 cmolc kg-1) was higher than that of the soils (5.3 to 22.6 cmolc kg-1). Thin sections of the rocks showed high amounts of quartz and accessory feldspars and sericite. The geophagic materials contained high amounts of clay (with >79% SiO2), quartz, feldspars and sericite. X-ray diffractograms of the geophagic materials, rocks and soils were dominated by quartz, kaolinite, muscovite and feldspars. The sialic minerals in the geophagic materials (shales) were probably leached from the overlying sandstones. The mineralogy of the soils indicated that they were formed in-situ from the underlying sandstones.

Processing and Characterization of Activated Carbon from Coconut Shell and Palm Kernel Shell Waste by H3PO4 Activation

Palm kernel shell and coconut shell are used as a precursor for the production of activated carbon, a way of mitigating the tons of waste produced in Ghana. The raw Palm kernel shell and coconut shell were activated chemically using H3PO4. A maximum activated carbon yield of 26.3 g was obtained for Palm kernel shell and 22.9 g for coconut shell at 400oC, an impregnation ratio of 1.2 and 1-hour carbonization time. Scanning electron microscopy reveals well-developed cavities of the H3PO4 activated coconut shell and Palm kernel shell compared to the non-activated carbon. Iodine number of 743.02 mg/g and 682.11 mg/g, a porosity of 0.31 and 0.49 and the electrical conductivity of 2010 μS/cm and 778 μS /cm were obtained for the AC prepared from the coconut shell and Palm kernel shell respectively. The results of this work show that high-quality activated carbon can be manufactured locally from coconut shell and Palm kernel shell waste, and a scale-up of this production will go a long way to reduce the tons of coconut shell and Palm kernel shell waste generated in the country.