Extraction and Determination of Phthalates Content in Polyethylene Food Contact Materials on the Ghanaian Market

The use of polyethylene food packages in the food industry in Ghana as opposed to the traditional forms of packages is increasing with different designs and compositions. These materials contain compounds such as phthalates which have the tendency to leach into food during storage or processing. Phthalates are widely used in industry as plasticizers in everyday products like personal care products and food packages. These compounds, however, can be present in high concentrations in some materials.  Thus, the determination of phthalates in polyethylene food contact materials was investigated using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Five different polyethylene food contact materials were purchased from markets within the Accra Metropolitan Assembly domain. These were soxhlet extracted and identified by a GC-MS instrument. Four phthalates at varying concentrations were detected in the five categories of the polyethylene food contact materials analysed. Benzyl Butyl phthalate (BBP) was detected in only one out of the 25 samples analysed with a concentration of 1.43mg/kg. Dibutyl phthalates (DBP) was detected in all samples analysed ranging from 3.59mg/kg to 15.45mg/kg. Diethyl phthalates (DEP) was detected in trace amounts ranging from not detected to 5.32mg/kg. Di 2-(Ethyl Hexyl) phthalates (DEHP) which is one of the common and most widely phthalates detected in food contact materials was detected in large amounts ranging from not detected to 14.30mg/kg. In conclusion, all the four phthalates under investigation were detected in the selected polyethylene food contact materials. Keywords: Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Contact Materials, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Leaching, Soxhle

Noise Pollution in Teshie-Nungua Schools

Schools located in the Teshie-Nungua area a suburb of Accra, have their background noise levels above 55 dB, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended noise level in educational facility. A maximum noise level (Lmax) value of 95.8 dB and a minimum noise level (Lmin) value of 51.6 dB were recorded. In this paper, a Quest Technologies 210 Model sound level meter equipped with a microphone had been used to measure noise levels in schools around the Teshie-Nungua area. It has been shown that about 90 % of the measured schools presented equivalent noise levels (Leq) above 72.5 dB. Pupils were exposed to a high noise pollution level (LNP) value of 95.8 dB and the day and night noise levels (Ldn) in and around the target schools were all above 72 dB. About 98% of schools in the Teshie-Nungua area do not have acoustic materials to minimize noise levels has been established. It was observed that schools in the study area are located in mixed commercial and semi-commercial areas. Nearly 80 % of survey respondents ranked Constant Traffic as number one source of noise. These measured noise levels have the potential to adversely affect the hearing of the pupils in these schools if the required sound proof mechanism is not put in place. Keywords: Equivalent noise level, Noise level, Noise pollution, Teshie-Nungua

Migration of Inorganic Antimony into Polyethylene Terephthalate Bottled Water Marketed in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

The migration of inorganic antimony from polyethylene terephthalate plastic bottles into waters stored in them was investigated using hydride generation atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Six popular brands of bottled water marketed in the greater Accra region of Ghana were used. These were held under various storage conditions and their dissolved Sb monitored over a period. In addition, the Sb in the plastic containers and some physicochemical properties of the waters were determined. The determined Sb in the plastic containers revealed amounts ranging from 123.46 to 146.45mg/kg. The determined physicochemical properties were pH (6.78-7.43); Ca2+ (1.61-12.39mg/L); Mg2+ (1.00-4.96mg/L); HCO3− (6.18-55.41mg/L); and total dissolved solids (8.70-70.40mg/L). Differences in the residual amounts of Sb showed dissimilarities existed in the quality of the plastics used in packaging. The physicochemical properties were seen to have no effect on migration. Sb levels in the water stored in the plastic containers were observed to increase with time under all the storage conditions for all the brands of plastic bottled water. The plastic bottled waters were, however, found not to have Sb exceeding the world health organisation maximum contaminant level within the period taking into consideration the specified limited time of expiry. Keywords: Migration; physicochemical properties; plastic bottles; spectrophotometry; storage conditions

A study of autopsy procedures in Ghana: Implications for the use of autopsy data in epidemiological analyses

Fobil JN, Kumoji R, Armah HB, et al. A study of autopsy procedures in Ghana: Implications for the use of autopsy data in epidemiological analyses. Journal of Public Health in Africa. 2011;2(1):e7.The study of cause of death certification remains a largely neglected field in many developing countries, including Ghana. Yet, mortality information is crucial for establishing mortality patterns over time and for estimating mortality attributed to specific causes. In Ghana, in deaths occurring in homes and those occurring within 48 hours after admission into health facilities, autopsies remain the appropriate option for determining the cause of death. Although these organ-based autopsies may generate convincing results and are considered the ‘gold standard’ tools for ascertainments of causes of death, procedural and practical constraints could limit the extent to which autopsy results can be accepted and/or trusted. The objective of our study was to identify and characterise the procedural and practical constraints as well as to assess their potential effects on autopsy outcomes in Ghana. We interviewed 10 Ghanaian pathologists and collected and evaluated procedural manuals and operational procedures for the conduct of autopsies. A characterisation of the operational constraints and the Delphi analysis of their potential influence on the quality of mortality data led to a quantification of the validity threats as moderate (average expert panel score = 1) in the generality of the autopsy operations in Ghana. On the basis of the impressions of the expert panel, it was concluded that mortality data generated from autopsies in urban settings in Ghana were of sufficiently high quality to guarantee valid use in health analysis