Groundwaters typically have a large range in chemical composition. This large range is attributed to differences in their a) origin i.e. marine, meteoritic, connate, metamorphic, magmatic, volcanic, plutonic and juvenile. b) rate of recharge c) interaction with atmosphere, biosphere and lithosphere d) pollution resulted by human activity and e) pressure and temperature. The chief parameter responsible for variation of chemical load on the water is controlled by groundwater flow. This acts as a carrier and a driving force to posses variation in the chemical ionic concentration in groundwater and surface water. Further the groundwater flow is considered as a major erosion agent, may also accentuate the differences or add to the diversity by sequential leaching or reactive phases from the aquifer matrix. The main focus of this study is to show how groundwater quality is controlled by various litholigical formations and how they are varied in an complicated geological formation.

Accidental oil spill has been a global problem especially the oil producing developing countries. Bioremediation remains the best and safest option for eradicating these toxic substances from the environment. In this study, petroleum hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria associated with crude oil contaminated soils were investigated. Samples were taken from 3 different garages at 3 different soil depths (5, 10 and 15 cm) in Suame, a suburb of Kumasi and analyzed microbiologically. Colonies were isolated and cultured on nutrient agar covered with used engine oil to check for their hydrocarbon-degrading ability. The enumeration of the microbes for sites A, B and C were 1.695 × 107, 1.817 × 106 and 1.511 × 105 CFU/g respectively. Pseudomonas spp., Acinetobacterium spp., Bacillus spp., Aeromonas spp. and Micrococcus spp. were found to possess hydrocarbon-degrading ability. Thus, in this study, bacteria with hydrocarbon-degrading ability were found to inhabit engine oil-contaminated soils at Suame magazine in Kumasi, Ghana. Key words: Petroleum hydrocarbons, Pseudomonas spp., Acinetobacterium spp., Bacillus spp., Micrococcus spp

The spatial and seasonal variations of the diatoms communities were examined during four marine cruises conducted between years 2011 and 2012 on 12 stations at the north (restored) and south (not yet restored) coasts. Results revealed a striking difference between the two coasts regarding pH, with strong acidification of seawater in the south, likely caused by industrial activity. Suspended matter was higher in the north than in the south may be reasonably attributed to the recently added soil not yet fully stabilised. The low concentrations of orthophosphate as well as their low values relative to total phosphate show that restoration of the northern part of Sfax coast had positive effects on dissolved inorganic phosphate concentrations. Orthophosphate and total phosphate concentrations were still important in the southern coast. Inverted microscopy analysis of diatoms resolved 31 and 29 taxa in the north and south Sfax coasts respectively. Diatoms dominated community composition in the northern coast (65%), contrary to the southern coast, diatoms do not exceed 40%. Diatoms was characterised by the proliferation of pennate diatoms species (Amphiprora sp., Nitschia longissima, Nitschia sp., Nitschia ventricosa, Plagiotropis sp. ..) in northern part contrasting a progressive augment of centric diatoms species (Biddulphia sp., Leptocylindricus danicus, Leptocylindrus sp., Skeletonema costatum, Rhizosolenia stolforthii ..) in the southern part of the coast. The results confirm that restoration had positive effects on the abiotic variables and diatoms assemblage of the north coast. The case for restoration of the city’s south coast is also reinforced.

Strictly observed realistic safety standards are more helpful for the public health than excessive restrictions that would be disregarded. Today’s radiation safety standards are based on the linear no-threshold theory (LNT): extrapolation of dose-response relationships down to low doses, where such relationships are unproven and can be inverse due to hormesis. Hormesis is theoretically founded for environmental factors causing adaptation to a background level or some average from the past when the natural background was higher. According to this concept, the harm caused by anthropogenic radiation would tend to zero with a dose rate decreasing down to a wide range level of the natural background. Hormesis concept should be applied with caution as hormetic stimuli may act without threshold on pre-damaged or atrophic tissues or act synergistically with other noxious agents. Experimental evidence in favor of hormesis is considerable but further studies are needed. Low doses should be analyzed separately from higher doses, which would prevent unfounded LNT-based extrapolations. Some reviews and metaanalises have analyzed studies of uneven quality. Questionable data on Chernobyl accident, Techa river and Mayak workers cohorts are discussed here along with motives to exaggerate consequences of low-dose low-rate exposures. Among the biases of epidemiological research, dose-dependent self-selection and recall bias are pointed out. In conclusion, current radiation safety standards are excessively restrictive and should be revised to become more realistic and workable. Revision of the limits should be based on reliable experiments and accompanied by measures guaranteeing observance.

An assessment of radiological activity levels of Qua Iboe River Sediments was carried out. A total of ten sediment samples were obtained and analysed using a gamma ray spectrometer with a high purity germanium detector. The samples were also subjected to total organic carbon (TOC) content and pH determinations. The result of TOC ranged from 1.60 to 6.50% with a mean value of 4.93%. The pHranged from 4.12 to 4.86 with a mean value of 4.93 was obtained. The activity concentration of 40K ranged from 69.44 to 306.71Bq/Kg with a mean value of 206.02Bq/Kg. 232Th ranged from 12.56 to 26.09Bq/kg with mean value of 18.34Bq/Kg. 238Uranged from 20.58 to 38.61Bq/kg with a mean value of 28.14Bq/Kg while 137Cs values ranged from 1.41 to 1.76Bq/Kg with a mean value of 0.92Bq/Kg. Pearson and Kendall correlation matrices employed on this study showed positive and negative correlation among variables with the sediment. Estimation of radiological hazard was also calculated and the mean result obtained for the representative level index (Iy), external hazard index (Hex) and internal hazard index (Hin) were 0.52, 0.19 and 0.27 respectively. The results obtained from the present study revealed that the sediment is safe for building materials and the aquatic organisms are not exposed to infused radioactive radiation. Keywords: Radiological, Sediments and Qua iboe River.