Human health risk assessment of artisanal engineering in Suame industrial area, Ghana

Patrick Osei

doi:10.17918/00010952

Back

Human health risk assessment of artisanal engineering in Suame industrial area, Ghana

Dissertation

Open access

Human health risk assessment of artisanal engineering in Suame industrial area, Ghana

Patrick Osei

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University

May 2025

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17918/00010952

Files and links (12)

pdf

Osei_Patrick_20255.48 MBDownload View

PDFDissertationOpen Access (License Unspecified), Open Access

xlsx

Osei_Patrick_2025_Suppl018.03 MBDownload View

Spreadsheet (supplemental)Monte Carlo raw data soil residentialOpen Access (License Unspecified), Open Access

xlsx

Osei_Patrick_2025_Suppl028.04 MBDownload View

Spreadsheet (supplemental)Monte Carlo soil industrial raw dataOpen Access (License Unspecified), Open Access

xlsx

Osei_Patrick_2025_Suppl037.97 MBDownload View

Spreadsheet (supplemental)Groundwater risk sensitivityOpen Access (License Unspecified), Open Access

xlsx

Osei_Patrick_2025_Suppl04178.94 kBDownload View

Spreadsheet (supplemental)Soil and water quality dataOpen Access (License Unspecified), Open Access

Abstract

Artisanal engineering

Environmental contamination

Human health risk assessment

Sociocultural assessment

Suame (Ghana)

Environmental Law

This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the environmental, health, and socio-economic impacts of artisanal engineering activities in the Suame industrial area of Ghana by integrating Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), Risk Analysis and Health Impact Assessment (RAHIA), and socio-economic and cultural factor analysis. The objectives include identifying the current and past uses of the area, locations of chemical spills, and potential contaminants in soil and groundwater; determining possible pathways for human health risk exposure and developing a risk assessment model for artisanal engineering workers; and evaluating socio-economic and cultural factors, government policies, and laws affecting the environmental quality of artisanal engineering sites. Methods involved data collection through soil and groundwater testing, a three-part survey/questionnaire approach, statistical analysis using Python for risk assessment modeling, and qualitative analysis for socio-economic factors. The findings revealed significant contamination in soil and groundwater due to past and current uses, with identifiable chemical spills contributing to pollution. The risk assessment model highlighted various pathways for human health risk exposure, particularly for artisanal engineering workers. Socio-economic and cultural analyses underscored the influence of local practices, government policies, and regulations on environmental quality. The study suggests the need for enhanced regulatory measures and targeted interventions to mitigate health risks and improve environmental quality in artisanal engineering sites, emphasizing the integration of socio-economic and cultural considerations into environmental management strategies for sustainable development.

Metrics

121 File views/ downloads

9 Record Views

Details

Title: Human health risk assessment of artisanal engineering in Suame industrial area, Ghana
Creators: Patrick Osei
Contributors: Mira S. Olson (Advisor)
Joseph B. Hughes (Advisor)
Awarding Institution: Drexel University
Degree Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Publisher: Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Number of pages: ix, 326 pages
Resource Type: Dissertation
Language: English
Academic Unit: Civil (and Architectural) Engineering [Historical]; College of Engineering (1970-2026); Drexel University
Other Identifier: 991022054940304721

Human health risk assessment of artisanal engineering in Suame industrial area, Ghana

Files and links (12)

Abstract

Metrics

Details

Drexel University Social media