Abstract:
An environmental pollution investigation was
carried out to determine the concentrations of aluminum
(Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) (heavy
metals) in the surface water and river water bed sediments of
lagoons and estuaries along the coastal belt of Ghana. The
study assessed the environmental pollution situation and
evaluated their sources and distribution of these metals. The
total concentrations of Al, As, Cd, and Hg were determined
by the neutron activation analysis technique. Water and
sediment samples were collected from the Benya, Fosu, and
Narkwa lagoons in the Central Region and from the Pra
estuary in the western part of Ghana. Some indices, such as
contamination factor, pollution-load index, contamination
degree, and geoaccumulation index, were used to assess eco-environmental quality of the sampling sites. The anal ysis indicated that the Fosu lagoon was fairly polluted with
Cd. The investigation indicated a highly localized distribu tion pattern closely associated with the two pollution sources
(garbage/solid waste dumps and industrial activities) along
the coastal belt. The resulting environmental deterioration
required a concerted evaluative effort by all stakeholders
