Worldwide, the number of years that a newborn is expected to live, if current mortality patterns remain constant in the future, exceeded 71 years in 2015 and the life expectancy at birth is still growing. The history of increasing life expectancy at birth, however, is not long. In most countries, it started only after the Second World War. The fast increase of life expectancy at birth reflects the success of human development. Yet remarkable differences exist in mortality levels, age patterns and time trends between countries and regions. The socioeconomic implications of the diverse mortality levels and age patterns, their dramatic changes and their potential future trends are critical for understanding the implementations of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Sustainable Development Goal 3, "Global Health and Well-Being", comprises targets that contribute directly to rising life expectancy. However, progress towards each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals contributes to longer and healthier lives by improving living conditions for all. In 2015, the average life expectancy at birth for Africa, where 16 per cent of the world's population lived, was 61 years; and the average life expectancies for the other five regions, where 84 per cent of world's population lived, varied between 70 and 80 years. Across regions, the highest life expectancy at birth was 80 years in Northern America, where 5 per cent of the world's population lived, followed by Europe and Oceania with 78 years and 11 per cent of the world's population, Latin America and the Caribbean with 75 years and 8 per cent of the world's population, and Asia with 72 years and 60 per cent of the world's population. Life expectancy at birth (both sexes) and percentage of the world's population by region, 2015In 1990, the average life expectancy at birth for the world was about 64 years. Life expectancy at birth was below 60 years in 55 countries (in orange to red on the map), most of which were in Africa, between 60 and 69 years in 64 countries (yellow to light blue), and 70 years or higher in 82 countries (medium to dark blue). No country had yet reached a life expectancy at birth above 80 years in 1990 (darkest blue).
The Birimian and Tarkwaian aquifer systems are the main sources of water supply for the Bosome Freho District and Bekwai Municipality inhabitants in the Ashanti region of Ghana. A hydrogeochemical assessment was carried out to ascertain the natural baseline chemistry of the groundwaters and the factors influencing groundwater chemistry in these two areas. A multivariate statistical tool consisting of principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) together with hydrochemical graphical plots was applied on 64 groundwater samples. The Q–mode HCA results were used to explain the changes in groundwater chemistry along the flow paths where three spatial groundwater zones and water types were delineated. The first type consists of Ca–Mg–HCO3 freshwater (recharge zone), which transitions into Ca–Na–HCO3 or Na–Ca–HCO3 mixed waters (intermediate zone) and finally evolves to the third type of Na–Ca–Mg–HCO3–Cl water (discharge zone). The study also reveals that the natural process influencing water chemistry is groundwater–rock interaction from carbonate and silicate weathering/dissolution, aided by carbonic acid from precipitation and releases concentration of Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and HCO3− into the groundwaters significantly. The chloro-alkaline indices also reveal cation exchange as the principal natural factor that controls groundwater chemistry in the area. Inverse geochemical modelling shows the dissolution of primary minerals such as dolomite, plagioclase, halite, gypsum, and precipitation of calcite and chlorite along the groundwater flow path. Anthropogenic activities have little influence on groundwater chemistry. The quality of groundwater in the Bosome Freho District and Bekwai Municipality is suitable for irrigational use and drinking water consumption. The results obtained so far will contribute to research paucity in the study area and serve as a guide for decision-makers for improved water resources management.
Determining pollution load is not a common practice in most Ghanaian industries. This paper is aimed at providing a comprehensive picture of the environmental impacts on the Sisai River as a result of the pollutant loads from a Brewery X located in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The effluent flow rate, effluent parameters concentrations and pollutant loads were determined using standard procedures. The effluent from Brewery X had a mean daily flow rate of 1035.85 m 3 /day, mean Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of 1800.70 mg/l, chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 2844.33 mg/l, TSS of 129.32 mg/l, respectively and p values/rating for all effluent parameters of (p < 0.0001***). The presence of the effluent in the Sisai River will lead to oxygen depletion, increase in plant and animal biomass, reduction of the amount of light available for aquatic vegetation, decrease in species diversity and changes in the dominant biota.
The 'Tamnean' Plutonic Suite aquifer is the main public water supply for the Garu-Tempane District. Thus, hydrogeochemical characterization is essential to provide valuable insights into pollution sources and the main controls on groundwater chemistry. In this regard, multivariate statistical methods, conventional hydrochemical graphical methods, and various ionic ratios complemented with PHREEQC geochemical modelling were carried out using 38 groundwater samples collected from the Tamnean Plutonic Suite aquifers, Ghana. The ionic ratio plots, the chloro-alkaline indices, and the graphical diagrams indicate that the major sources of groundwater chemistry are silicate mineral dissolution and cation exchange coupled with the leaching of domestic solid waste and nitrogen-based fertilizers. The Q-mode hierarchical cluster analysis reveals three spatial groundwater zones. Groundwater from recharge areas consists of Ca–Na–HCO3 water types in cluster 1. The intermediate zone is characterized by Ca–Mg–Na–HCO3 water types of moderate ionic compositions in cluster 2, and this evolves into a discharge zone in cluster 3 mainly of Ca–Mg–Na–HCO3–NO3 water types. The principal component analysis (PCA) reveals three factors, which account for 81% of the total variance, and this suggests most of the groundwater chemistry had longer interaction with the lithological materials. The PHREEQC geochemical modelling consisting of mineral saturation index indicates that groundwater is mostly supersaturated with respect to dolomite and undersaturated with respect to calcite, anhydrite, fluorite, gypsum, and halite. Based on the water quality index, the groundwater in the district is generally suitable for drinking water purposes. All the samples are within the World Health Organization acceptable limits for drinking water except for lower pH, elevated nitrate and bromide concentrations in some of the wells. About 10.5% of the groundwater samples are contaminated with nitrate, which may pose a health danger to the inhabitants in the communities. The finding of this study will not only contribute to solving the research paucity regarding the Tamnean Plutonic Suite aquifers in the Garu-Tempane District but will serve as a valuable document for water managers and decision-makers in Ghana.
This paper evaluates the performance of a subsurface flow constructed wetland at Worms Germany used for the treatment of black and grey water from a non-residential facility. Snap black water samples from four wells made up of a clarifying unit, an activated carbon unit and an aeration unit were analysed insitu using the HACH HQ40d multimeter and exsitu using Sensafe water metals check strips for preliminary metal detection onsite. HACH bar code reagents, a HACH Digital Reactor Block 200 (DRB200) and a HACH DR 3900 Spectrophotometer were subsequently used for the analysis of lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen demand (COD), Ammonium (NH4-N) and Nitrate (NO3-N) in the lab. The removal efficiency for the constructed wetland was in the order BOD > Cr > COD > NH4-N > NO3-N > Pb. The 57.90% removal efficiency of COD for the constructed wetland was due to the higher fractions of inert COD which constitutes a part black water. This makes the use of the BOD/COD ratios of 0.69 and 0.5 for wells 1 and 4 an unreliable index for the determination of amenability of COD in black water with regards to microbial activity at the wetland at Worms. The pH range of 7.2–8.4 of the blackwater is conducive for the growth microbes necessary for the breakdown of organic matter in the black water. Further investigation including plant and sediment analysis over different seasons has to be undertaken if the efficiency of the constructed wetland for nutrients and metals removal is to be optimized.
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