Browsing by Author "Yohannes, Yared Beyene"

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    Exposure levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals in wild rats in Kumasi, Ghana
    (Peer reviewed and revised papers, 2015-08-31) Bortey-Sam, Nesta; Ikenaka, Yoshinori; Akoto, Osei; Nakayama, Shouta M.M.; Yohannes, Yared Beyene; et. al
    Wild rats were trapped from communities in Kumasi, Ghana, to determine the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals. The results of the study showed that phenanthrene (0.51 ± 0.08 ng/g dw) was the most abundant individual PAH in the liver of wild rats. The ΣPAH concentrations in liver ranged from 0.05 to 1.64 ng/g dw in Bomso (a community) and city centre, respectively. Abundance of individual PAHs in the liver of wild rats decreased in the order: phenanthrene > pyrene > acenaphthene > naphthalene > fluoranthene and > anthracene. Levels of phenanthrene and pyrene detected were significantly higher than other PAHs. Naphthalene and fluoranthene were detected in 80% and 78% of the samples collected respectively. Heavy metals in the liver of wild rats in Kumasi decreased in the order Zn > Cu > As > Ni > Pb > Co > Cd > Cr.