The distribution and toxic equivalents (TEQs) of brominated and chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PBDD/Fs and PCDD/Fs) in soils from Agbogbloshie e-waste site (Ghana) were investigated. The composition of brominated/chlorinated dibenzofurans (PXDFs) and diphenyl ethers (PBDEs, PCDEs, and PXDEs) was examined using two-dimensional gas chromatography−time-of-flight mass spectrometry to elucidate possible formation pathways of dioxins from e-waste recycling. The highest concentrations of PCDD/Fs and PBDD/Fs were found, respectively, in the open burning (1.3−380 ng/g dry weight) and dismantling areas (11−1000 ng/g dry weight) and were comparable to the highest reported for informal e-waste sites. PXDFs and PXDEs were detected at up to the range of hundreds of nanograms per gram. The homologue profiles suggest that PXDFs were formed mainly from PBDFs through successive Br-to-Cl exchange. However, monobromo-PCDFs were also derived from de-novo-generated PCDFs in open burning areas. PBDFs contributed similar or higher TEQs (7.9−5400 pg/g dry weight) compared with PCDD/Fs (6.8−5200 pg/g dry weight), whereas PXDFs were also substantial TEQ contributors in open burning areas. The high TEQs of PBDFs in the dismantling area (120−5200 pg/g dry weight) indicate the need to consider brominated dioxins besides chlorinated dioxins in future studies on health implications for e-waste workers and local residents.

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Multivariate statistical techniques including principal component and factor analyses were applied in this study to assess the quality of surface water from Tano basin in Ghana. The water samples were obtained from three monitoring stations from January to October 2016. The obtained data set was analysed using multivariate statistical methods. The results obtained from Rho Spearman's correlation revealed that at P < 0.05 two-tailed, a positive correlation between pH and total dissolved solids, pH and alkalinity, pH and electrical conductivity, pH and major anions and cations such as SO4, F, Ca, K, Na and Mg was established. However, negative correlation existed between pH-colour, pH-turbidity and total suspended solids. The results of the principal component analysis show that the five principal components explain more than 91.57% of the total variance and hence can be relied upon for identification of the main sources of variation in the physicochemical properties of the water samples. Principal component 1 embodies about 54.26% of the variance and possesses a high loading for electrical conductivity, Na, Ca, K, Mg. Principal component 2, which also explains 33.94% of the total variance, holds high loadings for pH, SO4, HCO3, and total alkalinity. Component 3 also shows high loadings for TDS, TSS and conductivity, which account for 3.378% of the variation in the hydrochemistry. Components 4 and 5 show a joint influence of anthropogenic activities and partial ecological recovery system of the river and its basin which influence the overall water quality within the basin.