Analysis of ecological health status of the Muni Lagoon: Evidence from heavy metal content in its water and fish samples
Analysis of ecological health status of the Muni Lagoon: Evidence from heavy metal content in its water and fish samples
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Date
2022-12
Authors
Boateng, Isaac
Yeboah, Okyere Emmanuel
Kofi, Adu-Boahen
Ishmael, Yaw Dadson
Nelson, Yeboah Boanu
Sender, Kyeremeh
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Publisher
Royal Geographical Society
Abstract
The study examined the ecological health status of the Muni lagoon amidst
increasing development in and around its catchment using a concentration of
heavy metals in its water and fish samples as a proxy. Flame atomic absorp tion spectrophotometer (FAAS) laboratory analysis was employed to determine
heavy metals (cadmium [Cd], lead [Pb], iron [Fe], manganese [Mn] and zinc)
present in water and fish samples within the Muni Lagoon. The study revealed
that the Muni Lagoon and feeder rivers were polluted with heavy metals
(Fe = 0.453, Cd = 0.201, Mn = 0.105 and Pb = 0.024) comparing their concen trations with the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and Water
Resources Commission (WRC) limit. Fish within the lagoon were found to pose
no harm to consumers as traces of heavy metal concentrations were below the
Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations/World Health Organ isation maximum permissible limit. The study further revealed that the appli cation of agricultural inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides and domestic waste as
well as unregulated gutter channels were the major source of heavy metals. A
paired sample t-test showed a statistically significant difference between the wet
and dry season's concentrations of cadmium and lead. For cadmium, the t-test
found t(5) = −7.265; p =.001 between the wet season's concentration and the
dry season's concentration and for lead, the t-test found t(5) = 5.061, p =.004
between the wet and dry season concentrations in the lagoon. It is therefore
recommended that the Forestry Commission, Municipal Assembly and the
local leaders should collaborate in regulating activities occurring in and around
the catchment of the lagoon.
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Citation
Okyere, E. Y., Adu‐Boahen, K., Boateng, I., Dadson, I. Y., Boanu, N. Y., & Kyeremeh, S. (2023). Analysis of ecological health status of the Muni Lagoon: Evidence from heavy metal content in its water and fish samples. Geo: Geography and Environment, 10(1).