Institute of Environmental Management and Quality Control

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://dspace.njala.edu.sl/handle/20.500.144402/148

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Impact of Tailings on Surrounding Streams at a Mining Area in Sierra Leone
(Science Publishing Group, 2018) Sheriff, Ishmail
Access to clean water and sanitation is the centerpiece of Africa water vision 2025 and Goal six (6) of the 2030 UN agenda for Sustainable Development. Considering the current national WASH regulatory structures in Sierra Leone, meeting these targets enshrined in the policy documents would be a critical challenge for the government. The overarching objectives sought by the study were to determine the available composition of physio-chemical parameters and evaluate impact of mine tailings on nearby water bodies within the operational areas of Sierra Rutile Mining Company Limited. Twenty-four (24) water samples obtained from six (6) streams were tested for seventeen (17) physical and chemical parameters. About 30% of the indicators were noted to be above the permissible limit of water quality standard in almost all of the sampling sites. A pattern of decrease concentration downstream for Zn, Pb and Cu was observed but those at the tailing points were noted otherwise. The results revealed that mining activities have to an extent negative impact on the local water sources. Consequently, certain indicators were considered to be of public health concern considering their baseline levels. It would be necessary for the company to examine the mechanism of discharge of tailings and strengthen the environmental surveillance within its concessionary areas to enhance sustainability with the ultimate goal to improve environmental performance.
Investigation into the Impacts of Artisanal Gold Mining on the Livelihood Foundation of Baomahun Community in Southern Sierra Leone
(Scientific Research Publishing, 2018) Sheriff, Ishmail
Artisanal gold mining has a long history in Sierra Leone. Mining is the most important economic activity in the communities endowed with minerals. Many people who are often disadvantaged in the labour market are engaged in this sector. The poor implementation of mining laws and regulations is fueling the rate of involvement in the sector. In-depth studies of the effect of artisanal mining activities on the livelihood strategy of non-miming population in Sierra Leone are rare. The overarching objective of this work is to bring to light the effect of artisanal gold mining on the environment and livelihood of local resident with a case study of Baomahun, Delenga Section of Valunia Chiefdom, Bo District, Southern Sierra Leone. The study population comprised of people residing at the study area as at 2015. The primary sampling units included elements from the Baomahun vicinity such as miners, mines monitors, conservation agents and local residents of the village. The sample frame employed in this study was the random selection of artisanal miners at each site where mining was being undertaken, mines monitoring officers, conservation agents and local residents. Sample size was 76 people. This was done to indicate proper representation of the study area. And also 76 questionnaires were administered to miners, mines monitors, conservation agents and local residents. Both primary data and secondary data were used in the study. Detailed explanation of the analyses was accomplished by both qualitative and quantitative methods. The study revealed that there are varied degrees of visible impacts of artisanal mining on the environments. They include soil depression; creation of water pools in abandoned unfilled mines and diversion, and turbidity of local streams. Artisanal mining as an economic activity has imparted both positively and negatively on the livelihood of resident. Significant gaps and disparities exist in the implementation of the current Mines and Minerals Act of 2009 on the artisanal mining sector.
Microplastics in manure: Sources, analytical methods, toxicodynamic, and toxicokinetic endpoints in livestock and poultry
(Elsevier BV, 2023-04-29) Sheriff, Ishmail
Microplastics are pollutants of serious environmental and public health concern. Although predominantly known to occur in environmental and biological matrices, emerging scientific evidence has indicated that they can also occur in fecal matter. Animal manure, both raw and treated, is usually applied on farmlands as organic fertilizer, serving as an entry point of microplastic particles into agricultural soil. The present study analyzes the literature on the occurrence of microplastics (sources and analytical methods of detection in livestock and poultry manure), their toxicodynamic, and toxicokinetics endpoints in farm animals. Based on the studies examined herein, there is a lack of harmonization in the sampling, digestion, and extraction procedures for microplastics in animal manure. Microplastics abundance was 9.02 × 102 ± 1.29 × 103 particles/kg-1 in pig, 7.40 × 101 ± 1.29 × 102 particles/kg-1 in cow, 0 to 5000 particles/kg−1 in sheep, and 129.8 ± 82.3 particles/g−1 (0.1298 particles/kg) in chicken manure. Microplastics that have been found in farm animal manure were primarily ingested from microplastics-contaminated feed and plastic mulching film attached to crop residues. However, there are other likely sources (e.g., water, soil, and air) that need to be studied carefully. Despite the limited studies on the fate of microplastics in raw manure, the weight of the currently available scientific evidence shows that they exhibit different characteristics during the treatment of manure. The previous studies were all based on composting experiments. Therefore, research on different treatment methods is required to have a profound sense and a better understanding of the influence of physicochemical properties (shape, size, type, and composition) of microplastics on their fate during manure treatment. Moreover, exposure of animals to microplastics revealed several toxicological effects but more research is needed to clearly understand the dose-response relationship, and absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination mechanisms with respect to other factors (microplastic sizes, shapes, polymers, types of additive, and co-contaminants).