impact of vehicular fallout on the Pra estuary of Ghana (a case study of the impact of platinum group metals (PGMs) on the marine ecosystem)

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment 2008-10, Vol.145 (1-3), p.283-294
• Main Authors: Essumang, D. K, Dodoo, D. K, Adokoh, C. K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Akotokyir; Applied sciences; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Beposo; Bosomdo Krobo; Brackish; Canberra Multi-Channel Analyzer (MCA); Carbon monoxide; Case studies; Catalytic converters; Chemistry; Contamination; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Ecology; Ecosystem; Ecotoxicology; Emission control equipment; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental monitoring; Estuaries; Exact sciences and technology; Ghana; Heavy metals; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Impact analysis; Kakum; Marine ecology; Marine ecosystems; Metals; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Natural water pollution; Nitrogen; Outdoor air quality; Palladium; Palladium - analysis; Platinum; Platinum - analysis; Platinum group metals (PGMs); Pollutants; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Pra estuary; Rhodium; Rhodium - analysis; River banks; River ecology; River flow; Rivers; Seawater; Seawaters, estuaries; Sediments; Shama Beach; Studies; Vehicle Emissions; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water treatment and pollution
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-007-0037-0

It is increasingly being recognised and environmental measurements have demonstrated that Platinum (Pt) (and potentially Rhodium (Rh) and Palladium (Pd)) is released with the ageing of catalytic converters. Platinum is a particular concern as it has a known mutagenic and toxic effect, even at exceedingly low concentrations, in urban air (affecting human health) and urban water (affecting ecosystem health). In the context given above and given the still keen lack of reliable experimental data on the levels of Pd, Pt and Rh in water and sediment, this study determined the concentration of such elements in water and sediment of the Pra estuary in the Western Region of Ghana where it is estimated that more than two thousand cars pass over the bridge under which the river flows to join the sea each day. Elevated concentrations of platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) and Rhodium (Rh) were found to be associated with water and soils from areas of high traffic densities (Beposo) suggesting that vehicles also contribute heavy metals (PGMs) to the environment. The result showed elevated levels of these metals in river bank, waterbed and in the water. There is therefore the tendency of possible accumulation of these metals in plant and animals along these areas.