Browsing by Author "Ssebugere, Patrick"

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    A two-decade review of human exposure to legacy and emerging organic pollutants in Sub-Saharan Africa: Current status, exposure pathways, challenges and recommendations
    (Elsevier, 2026-06) Ssebugere, Patrick; Miiro, Ashirafu; Odongo, Silver; Muhwezi, Godfrey; Nabuuma, Josephine; Abayi, Juma John Moses; Matovu, Henry
    Rapid urbanization, industrialization, and continued pesticide use have intensified human exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). POPs are highly stable, bioaccumulative, and toxic, posing chronic reproductive, endocrine, and developmental risks. This review synthesized studies (2005–2025) that assessed legacy and emerging POPs—including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—in human fluids and tissues across SSA. Blood and serum (⁓48%) and breast milk (⁓38%) were the most analyzed matrices, followed by urine, placenta, and cord blood (<10%). Total dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (∑DDT) in milk samples from South African mothers were in the range of 9500–140,000 ng/g lw—the highest globally—linked to malaria vector control. Mean total PCBs reached 160 ng/g lw in Ghanaian and Nigerian mothers, while ∑PBDEs were up to 786 ng/g lw in exposed Tanzanian populations. Dioxin toxic equivalents in Ghanaian serum (4.2 pg WHO 2005-TEQ/g lw) and South African milk (1.6–9.1 pg TEQ/g lw) were within global mid-range values. PFAS levels in South African and Ethiopian serum (0.6–2.5 ng/mL) confirmed emerging fluorinated exposure. Although health risk assessments were limited, some exceeded FAO/WHO thresholds, suggesting potential endocrine and developmental effects. Median POP levels in SSA populations were lower than the global averages but exhibited localized exceedances. Strengthened biomonitoring, harmonized QA/QC, and inclusion of short-chain PFAS, novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs), and bisphenol analogues are essential to implement the Stockholm and Basel Conventions.
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    Anthropogenic footprint and ecological risk assessment of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in sediments from Lake Victoria, East Africa
    (Elsevier, 2025-12-15) Kagoya, Afuwa; Arinaitwe, Kenneth; Odongo, Silver; Sifuna, Douglas; Matovu, Henry; Matsiko, Julius; Muhwezi, Godfrey; ˇSp´anik, Ivan; Kato, Charles Drago; Sillanpa, Mika; Ssebugere, Patrick
    Lake Victoria, the world’s second-largest freshwater lake, continues to face pressure from anthropogenic activities in its catchment area, releasing pollutants, which are ultimately trapped in the sediment core, thereby posing threats to aquatic organisms. This study quantified thirteen organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and ten polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediments from the Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania sides of Lake Victoria using soxhlet method, fractionation column and GC–MS/MS analysis. Total (∑13) OCPs levels were up to 412, 148, and 522 µg kg-1 dry weight (d.w), and 12.1, 8.69 and 9.87 µg kg-1 dw for total (∑10) PCBs for sediments from Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, respectively. Diagnostic ratios suggested past and ongoing use of OCPs while principal component analysis confirmed that OCP profiles were mainly due to their application in controlling pests in agriculture and public health programs, and PCB congeners were largely due to volatilization, degradation of higher PCBs into lighter PCBs, improper waste disposal of old transformers, hydraulic fluids, plasticizers, and capacitors. Ecological risk assessment highlighted that the PCB levels in sediments were below threshold effect and probable effect levels, but p,p′-DDD, and lindane were likely to pose adverse effects to sediment-dwelling organisms in Lake Victoria. These results imply persistent pollutant loads in Lake Victoria, and consequently, a need for its enhanced management.
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    Legacy and emerging organic pollutants in indoor and outdoor environments in africa: contamination levels, health risks, and analytical techniques
    (Elsevier, 2025-01-02) Muhwezi, Godfrey; Kyarimpa, Christine; Gumula, Ivan; Nagawa, Christine Betty; Omwoma, Solomon; Matovu, Henry; Matsiko, Julius; Odongo, Silver; Sifuna, Douglas; Špánik, Ivan; Kato, Charles Drago; Ssebugere, Patrick
    The World Health Organisation reported that over 20% of the global disease burden and deaths are caused by environmental factors such as air and dust pollution. Legacy organic pollutants (LOPs) and emerging organic pollutants (EOPs) are among the biggest contributors to this burden. Herein we reviewed literature published for the period 2000-2023 on selected LOPs and EOPs in indoor dust and outdoor air in Africa to understand the occurrence, associated human health risks and common analytical techniques used to identify and quantify these contaminants. The findings revealed generally lower contamination levels for most pollutants than that in most regions outside Africa except for PCBs in outdoor air and OCPs in indoor settled dust. Apart from a few studies for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), most studies reported hazard index (HI) values less than 1 for outdoor air and indoor dust exposure, which suggested negligible non-carcinogenic risks in children and adults. Gas Chromatography and mass spectrometry were the most frequently used analytical techniques for both air and dust probably due to their sensitivity and selectivity in detecting chemical traces at the pg m-3 and ng g−1 levels. Although the current contamination levels are generally low, their synergistic and cumulative effects may in the long run affect the environment and human health. There is also a paucity of data on most contaminants, especially for PCNs, and PFASs in both outdoor air and dust. Coordinated efforts are needed to limit the trade, importation, and disposal of products containing LOPs and EOPs in Africa.