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From the ground up: Unveiling Ghana's soil quality crisis and its ecological and health implications

Author

Listed:
  • Amuah, Ebenezer Ebo Yahans
  • Fei-Baffoe, Bernard
  • Kazapoe, Raymond Webrah
  • Dankwa, Paul
  • Okyere, Isaac Kwaku
  • Sackey, Lyndon Nii Adjiri
  • Nang, Douti Biyogue
  • Kpiebaya, Prosper

Abstract

This study reviews the sources and factors impacting soil quality in Ghana and the associated health and environmental implications. After sourcing 386 materials from different search engines, these were subjected to content evaluation and novelty/concept analysis with a score of 100% and 146 were retained for this study. From this review, agricultural, mining, urban, and industrial activities, poor waste disposal, and vehicular and road traffic were the main sources/factors influencing the levels/distributions of soil contaminates in Ghana's pedological system. Pesticides including chlorpyrifos, β-hexachlorocyclohexane, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, hexachlorobenzene and heptachlor have also been identified in elevated levels. Also, heavy metals have been detected in dumpsites and e-waste disposal sites. HMs such as Zn (558), Cr (77), Cu (347), As (4.2), and Pb (288) (mg/kg) dominated waste disposal sites in Ghana. Extremely low levels of macro-nutrients and soil organic carbon with high metals/metalloids contents including Hg, Zn, Pb, Cu and As prevail in mining areas in Ghana. It is concluded that Ghana's pedological system is threatened by anthropogenic activities resulting in the detection of above-threshold levels of contaminants including agrochemicals, PAHs, HMs, and metalloids. These contaminants pose deleterious environmental and health implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Amuah, Ebenezer Ebo Yahans & Fei-Baffoe, Bernard & Kazapoe, Raymond Webrah & Dankwa, Paul & Okyere, Isaac Kwaku & Sackey, Lyndon Nii Adjiri & Nang, Douti Biyogue & Kpiebaya, Prosper, 2024. "From the ground up: Unveiling Ghana's soil quality crisis and its ecological and health implications," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(1).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ingrde:v:3:y:2024:i:1:s2949753123000656
    DOI: 10.1016/j.igd.2023.100097
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. K. Agyarko & E. Darteh & B. Berlinger, 2010. "Metal levels in some refuse dump soils and plants in Ghana," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 56(5), pages 244-251.
    2. Nesta Bortey-Sam & Shouta M. M. Nakayama & Osei Akoto & Yoshinori Ikenaka & Elvis Baidoo & Hazuki Mizukawa & Mayumi Ishizuka, 2015. "Ecological Risk of Heavy Metals and a Metalloid in Agricultural Soils in Tarkwa, Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-18, September.
    3. Diao, Xinshen & Sarpong, Daniel Bruce, 2007. "Cost implications of agricultural land degradation in Ghana: An economywide, multimarket model assessment," GSSP working papers 3, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    4. Nesta Bortey-Sam & Shouta M. M. Nakayama & Osei Akoto & Yoshinori Ikenaka & Julius N. Fobil & Elvis Baidoo & Hazuki Mizukawa & Mayumi Ishizuka, 2015. "Accumulation of Heavy Metals and Metalloid in Foodstuffs from Agricultural Soils around Tarkwa Area in Ghana, and Associated Human Health Risks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-17, July.
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