Vehicular influence on atmospheric concentrations and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in some major cities in three regions of Ghana using epiphytic lichens
The present study employed epiphytic lichens as biomonitor and passive air sampler for the assessment of fifteen (15) atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in some major cities in three regions of Ghana. A total of 36 composite lichen samples were collected and analysed using Gas Chrom...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Toxicology Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214750022001743 |
| _version_ | 1811295172128931840 |
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| author | Nathaniel Thompson Joseph Kweku Adjei John Kwesi Bentum David Kofi Essumang Godfred Odame Duodu George Hadzi George Alimo Adjei |
| author_facet | Nathaniel Thompson Joseph Kweku Adjei John Kwesi Bentum David Kofi Essumang Godfred Odame Duodu George Hadzi George Alimo Adjei |
| author_sort | Nathaniel Thompson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The present study employed epiphytic lichens as biomonitor and passive air sampler for the assessment of fifteen (15) atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in some major cities in three regions of Ghana. A total of 36 composite lichen samples were collected and analysed using Gas Chromatography - Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS-MS). The total PAH recorded ranged between 1909.9 ng/kg (A36) and 250,091.4 ng/kg (W15). Due to the inherent deficiencies in using a single source apportionment tool, multiple source apportionment methods including diagnostic ratios, principal component analysis/absolute principal component scores (PCA-APCS) and APCS with automatic linear model (APCS–ALM) were used to ascertain the source of PAHs in the lichens. The diagnostic ratios revealed a mix source of wood/grass and petrol/petroleum fuel combustion, with the major source ascribing to wood/grass combustion. The source apportionment confirmatory statistical test conducted with the PCA-APCS and APCS–ALM, were in good agreement with the diagnostic ratio. Both PCA-APCS and APCS–ALM suggested two significant sources (p < 0.0), with wood/grass combustion as the major (contributing 77.8%) and mix petroleum related sources being the other with 22.2% contribution of PAHs to the receptor sites. The study found PCA-APCS and especially APCS–ALM to be an effective statistical tool for PAH source apportionment in passive air samplers. To our knowledge, this is the first use of lichens for PAH monitoring in the country. Therefore, this study could serve as an inexpensive and real time bio-monitoring tool for air quality assessment in the African sub-region and the world at large. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T05:29:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-641d62ae218a4589998ceb970ab8944b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2214-7500 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T05:29:24Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxicology Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-641d62ae218a4589998ceb970ab8944b2022-12-22T03:00:30ZengElsevierToxicology Reports2214-75002022-01-01916911699Vehicular influence on atmospheric concentrations and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in some major cities in three regions of Ghana using epiphytic lichensNathaniel Thompson0Joseph Kweku Adjei1John Kwesi Bentum2David Kofi Essumang3Godfred Odame Duodu4George Hadzi5George Alimo Adjei6Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Coast, GhanaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Cape Coast, GhanaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Cape Coast, GhanaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Cape Coast, Ghana; Correspondence to: Department of Chemistry, School of Physical Sciences, College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), Legon, Accra, GhanaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Cape Coast, GhanaDepartment of Chemistry, University of Cape Coast, GhanaThe present study employed epiphytic lichens as biomonitor and passive air sampler for the assessment of fifteen (15) atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in some major cities in three regions of Ghana. A total of 36 composite lichen samples were collected and analysed using Gas Chromatography - Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS-MS). The total PAH recorded ranged between 1909.9 ng/kg (A36) and 250,091.4 ng/kg (W15). Due to the inherent deficiencies in using a single source apportionment tool, multiple source apportionment methods including diagnostic ratios, principal component analysis/absolute principal component scores (PCA-APCS) and APCS with automatic linear model (APCS–ALM) were used to ascertain the source of PAHs in the lichens. The diagnostic ratios revealed a mix source of wood/grass and petrol/petroleum fuel combustion, with the major source ascribing to wood/grass combustion. The source apportionment confirmatory statistical test conducted with the PCA-APCS and APCS–ALM, were in good agreement with the diagnostic ratio. Both PCA-APCS and APCS–ALM suggested two significant sources (p < 0.0), with wood/grass combustion as the major (contributing 77.8%) and mix petroleum related sources being the other with 22.2% contribution of PAHs to the receptor sites. The study found PCA-APCS and especially APCS–ALM to be an effective statistical tool for PAH source apportionment in passive air samplers. To our knowledge, this is the first use of lichens for PAH monitoring in the country. Therefore, this study could serve as an inexpensive and real time bio-monitoring tool for air quality assessment in the African sub-region and the world at large.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214750022001743LichensBiomonitoringPassive air sampler, PAHsSource apportionmentPCA-APCS, APCS–ALM |
| spellingShingle | Nathaniel Thompson Joseph Kweku Adjei John Kwesi Bentum David Kofi Essumang Godfred Odame Duodu George Hadzi George Alimo Adjei Vehicular influence on atmospheric concentrations and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in some major cities in three regions of Ghana using epiphytic lichens Toxicology Reports Lichens Biomonitoring Passive air sampler, PAHs Source apportionment PCA-APCS, APCS–ALM |
| title | Vehicular influence on atmospheric concentrations and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in some major cities in three regions of Ghana using epiphytic lichens |
| title_full | Vehicular influence on atmospheric concentrations and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in some major cities in three regions of Ghana using epiphytic lichens |
| title_fullStr | Vehicular influence on atmospheric concentrations and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in some major cities in three regions of Ghana using epiphytic lichens |
| title_full_unstemmed | Vehicular influence on atmospheric concentrations and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in some major cities in three regions of Ghana using epiphytic lichens |
| title_short | Vehicular influence on atmospheric concentrations and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in some major cities in three regions of Ghana using epiphytic lichens |
| title_sort | vehicular influence on atmospheric concentrations and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in some major cities in three regions of ghana using epiphytic lichens |
| topic | Lichens Biomonitoring Passive air sampler, PAHs Source apportionment PCA-APCS, APCS–ALM |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214750022001743 |
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