7th Call - Dr. (Mrs.) Regina Appiah-Oppong
Project Title: Crude Oil Drilling: Onshore Environmental Assessment of the Jubilee Oil Field of the Western Region of Ghana
Principal Investigator: Dr. (Mrs.) Regina Appiah-Opong (Department of Clinical Pathology, NMIMR, University of Ghana)
Email Address: rappiah-opong@noguchi.ug.edu.gh
Award Amount: GHC 79,833.00
Project Status: On-going
Summary:
The industrialization of our society, including drilling of oil and mining of coal and some metals has led to an increased production and emission of both xenobiotic and natural chemical substances. Many of these chemicals end up in the soil. The constant leaching of heavy metals from mining or drilling activities leads to bioaccumulation in plants and animals, creating the danger of toxicity. Heavy metal toxicity can result in damaged or reduced mental and central nervous function, lower energy levels, and alter or damage the blood composition, lungs, kidneys, liver, and other vital organs. In Ghana, oil drilling is currently ongoing at the Jubilee oil fields in the Western region, however, onshore baseline environmental assessment required for monitoring of pollution of the districts bordering the oil fields have not yet been performed. In this study, an environmental assessment will be performed on some communities bordering the oil drilling field to establish (1) levels of heavy metals in soil, plants, water and fishes using atomic absorption spectroscopy, (2) levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil, plants, water and fishes using high performance liquid chromatography, (3) levels of fish hepatic enzymes and determine DNA adduct formation in fishes, (4) the physicochemical properties of water samples.
The outcome of this study will provide a baseline for future assessment of the impact of oil drilling activity on the districts bordering the Jubilee oil field. The results will support the Environmental Protection Agency not only in monitoring the impact of the Jubilee oil fields on the surrounding communities, but will also provide a basis for similar studies in mining areas prior to the mining activity. This research outcome will also contribute significantly to the University of Ghana’s mission, since world class human resources and capacities will be developed to meet this and other national developmental needs and global challenges.