Water quality of fresh water bodies in the lower Volta Basin: A case study of lakes Kasu and Nyafie

The study was carried out on water from lakes Kasu and Nyafie, two of the fresh water bodies situated near Asutsuare, an agricultural town in the lower Volta basin of Ghana to determine the level of water quality  parameters. To be able to this, water samples were taken from designated points in both lakes. Sampling was done over a period of seven months (January to July) and the determination of the water quality parameters was carried out using GEMS Water Operational Guide as well as APHA’s Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater. The parameters measured were; temperature, pH, dissolve oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), conductivity, turbidity, suspended solids, dissolved solids and total solids. Others were nutrients and ions such as; nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, chlorides, sodium and potassium. The rest came under hardness of water, such as calcium, magnesium and total hardness. Though most of the values of the parameters fall within the acceptable limits of WHO values for potable water, turbidity values i.e. 68.0 NTU (Kasu) and 25.2 NTU (Nyafie) as well as BOD values of 73.8 mg/L for Kasu and 49.7 mg/L for Nyafie, were far beyond the WHO guideline limits (5 NTU – turbidity and < 3 mg/L – BOD) for drinking water, thereby reducing the potability,  recreational and aesthetic values of the water in these lakes. Also, despite the fact that the mean DO values for the lakes (5.4 mg/L for Nyafie and 7.0 mg/L for Kasu) fall short of the WHO minimum value of 8.0 mg/L, the lakes cannot be said to be polluted to signal the unset of eutrophication.Keywords: water quality parameters, runoff water, fresh water bodie

Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: Many patients with COVID-19 have been treated with plasma containing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]) is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 177 NHS hospitals from across the UK. Eligible and consenting patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either usual care alone (usual care group) or usual care plus high-titre convalescent plasma (convalescent plasma group). The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936. Findings: Between May 28, 2020, and Jan 15, 2021, 11558 (71%) of 16287 patients enrolled in RECOVERY were eligible to receive convalescent plasma and were assigned to either the convalescent plasma group or the usual care group. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality between the two groups: 1399 (24%) of 5795 patients in the convalescent plasma group and 1408 (24%) of 5763 patients in the usual care group died within 28 days (rate ratio 1·00, 95% CI 0·93–1·07; p=0·95). The 28-day mortality rate ratio was similar in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including in those patients without detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at randomisation. Allocation to convalescent plasma had no significant effect on the proportion of patients discharged from hospital within 28 days (3832 [66%] patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 3822 [66%] patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·94–1·03; p=0·57). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at randomisation, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients meeting the composite endpoint of progression to invasive mechanical ventilation or death (1568 [29%] of 5493 patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 1568 [29%] of 5448 patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·93–1·05; p=0·79). Interpretation: In patients hospitalised with COVID-19, high-titre convalescent plasma did not improve survival or other prespecified clinical outcomes. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Tocilizumab in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of tocilizumab in adult patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 with both hypoxia and systemic inflammation. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. Those trial participants with hypoxia (oxygen saturation <92% on air or requiring oxygen therapy) and evidence of systemic inflammation (C-reactive protein ≥75 mg/L) were eligible for random assignment in a 1:1 ratio to usual standard of care alone versus usual standard of care plus tocilizumab at a dose of 400 mg–800 mg (depending on weight) given intravenously. A second dose could be given 12–24 h later if the patient's condition had not improved. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, assessed in the intention-to-treat population. The trial is registered with ISRCTN (50189673) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04381936). Findings: Between April 23, 2020, and Jan 24, 2021, 4116 adults of 21 550 patients enrolled into the RECOVERY trial were included in the assessment of tocilizumab, including 3385 (82%) patients receiving systemic corticosteroids. Overall, 621 (31%) of the 2022 patients allocated tocilizumab and 729 (35%) of the 2094 patients allocated to usual care died within 28 days (rate ratio 0·85; 95% CI 0·76–0·94; p=0·0028). Consistent results were seen in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including those receiving systemic corticosteroids. Patients allocated to tocilizumab were more likely to be discharged from hospital within 28 days (57% vs 50%; rate ratio 1·22; 1·12–1·33; p<0·0001). Among those not receiving invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline, patients allocated tocilizumab were less likely to reach the composite endpoint of invasive mechanical ventilation or death (35% vs 42%; risk ratio 0·84; 95% CI 0·77–0·92; p<0·0001). Interpretation: In hospitalised COVID-19 patients with hypoxia and systemic inflammation, tocilizumab improved survival and other clinical outcomes. These benefits were seen regardless of the amount of respiratory support and were additional to the benefits of systemic corticosteroids. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research

Physico-chemical analysis of municipal solid waste(MSW) in the Accra Metropolis

No Abstract

Effects of small-scale gold mining on heavy metal levels in groundwater in the Lower Pra Basin of Ghana

Abstract The effects of small-scale gold mining activities on heavy metal levels in groundwater were determined for the Lower Pra Basin of Ghana. Sixty five boreholes in 45 communities were analysed between January 2012 and April 2012 for the dry season and June and October 2012 for the wet season. The test for significance and the use of cluster analysis, a multivariate approach, clearly delineate Cu, Zn, Cd and Hg as possible anthropogenic contributors, whilst As, Se and Pb could be both anthropogenic and natural geochemical process contributors of metal level concentrations in the groundwater. The analysis shows generally low pH values in the basin with more than 95% of dry season and almost all wet season values being acidic or slightly acidic. Approximately 35% of boreholes in the wet season recorded values for cadmium above WHO guideline value of 3.0 µg/l with almost all dry season values falling below 3.0 µg/l except for two boreholes. Generally, high values were recorded for iron, manganese, lead, Al and Hg. In general, lead, copper, cadmium and manganese showed higher wet season values than dry season suggesting anthropogenic influence

Heavy metal levels and physical parameters of drainage ways and wells in three mining areas in Ghana

Levels of heavy metals (mercury, arsenic, cadmium, iron, zinc and manganese) and physical parameters (total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, conductivity and hydrogen ion concentration) of water sources (drainage ways and wells) associated with mining of gold, diamond and quarrying of granite were assessed for contamination. The results show that in the gold mining area of Tarkwa, Hg levels decreased downstream from 5.40 (x10-3) mg/l to 2.80 (x10-3) mg/l. Arsenic levels, in contrast, ranged from 6.70 to 9.00 mg/l with no indication of any gradient. Iron levels, like Hg, decreased downstream, varying from 6.25 through 5.38 to 3.50 mg/l. In the diamond mining area of Akwatia, no Hg was found in the water samples. Arsenic levels were quite high with a mean value of 10.20±1.70 mg/l. The stream sample registered the highest level of iron at 18.0 mg/l. At the quarry site in Accra, contrary to expectation, Hg was detected in an appreciable concentration of 5.20 (x10-3) mg/l in one of the water samples. Arsenic levels were also high ranging from 9.10 to 19.10 mg/l. On the physical parameters analysed, the total suspended solids measured were low for the three locations with no significant variation (65.2±7.6 mg/l) except one sample from the quarry area which recorded 124 mg/l. Conductivity was highest in the quarry samples (331-11,450 mS/cm) followed by the gold mining area (164-188 mg/l), and then the diamond mining area (30-111 mg/l). Hydrogen ion concentration (pH) were normal for all the samples ranging between 6.05 to 7.79 indicating a generally neutral aquatic environment for the three mining areas studied. JOURNAL OF THE GHANA SCIENCE ASSOCIATION Volume 1 Number 1, July (1998) pp. 113-11

Simultaneous cloud point extraction of low levels of Cd, Cr and Hg in seaweed species prior to neutron activation analysis

A one-step preconcentration cloud point extraction (CPE) method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of Cd, Cr, and Hg using a mixture of 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) and 1-(2-thiazolylazo)-2-naphthol (TAN) chelating agents and polyoxyethylene nonylphenylether-20 (PONPE-20) surfactant. The pH, concentration of PAN and TAN, concentration of PONPE-20, ionic strength and temperature affecting the sepa-ration were optimized. The recoveries of each of the elements under the optimum conditions of pH 8.6, [PAN/ TAN] = 1 x 10-4 M, [PONPE-20] = 0.1 % (m/v), ionic strength = 0.05 M KNO3, and temperature of 41 oC were > 98 %. The concentrations of the elements were determined by neutron activation analysis using the Dalhousie University SLOWPOKE-2 reactor (DUSR) facility. The detection limits of Cd, Cr, and Hg were 6.0, 3.6 and 1.2 ng g-1 respectively, and precision and accuracy of measurements were evaluated. The method was success-fully applied to the simultaneous determination of Cd, Cr, and Hg in fifteen Ghanaian seaweed species. Journal of Applied Science and Technology Vol. 13 (1 & 2) 2008: pp. 48-5

Spurenanalytische Multielementbestimmungen mit Hilfe der Neutronenaktivierungsanalyse und Untersuchungen ueber Anwendungsmoeglichkeiten makrocyklischer Polyether in der Kern- und Radiochemie Abschlussbericht

SIGLETIB: AC 5858. / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman

Entwicklung eines Verfahrens zur Anreicherung und Abtrennung von Tritium aus Purexloesung mit Hilfe makrocyklischer Polyether Sachlicher Abschlussbericht zum Foerdervorhaben

SIGLETIB: AC 8224 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDEGerman

Entwicklung eines Verfahrens zur Anreicherung und Abtrennung von Tritium aus Purexloesung mit Hilfe makrocyclischer Polyether Schlussbericht

Available from TIB Hannover: F95B1464 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEBundesministerium fuer Forschung und Technologie (BMFT), Bonn (Germany)DEGerman