Socio-Environmental Effects of Commercial Explosives in Ghana

The commercial explosives industry, along with its transportation routes, poses a unique multifaceted occupational, public health, and environmental risk in Ghana. The study assessed the health of workers, community impacts and ecosystem susceptibilities to the use of commercial explosives. A pragmatic exploratory-experimental mixed-methods design was employed, consisting of 298 respondents randomly sampled from 13 communities, along with spatial mapping of an additional 38 areas characterised by quarry and military ordnance disposal sites, explosive manufacturing sites, storage magazines, and transportation. Results revealed that 60% of participants were exposed to explosives and their related activities daily, with the risk of respiratory disease more than quadrupled (OR=4.3, p < 0.001). The risk of hearing loss remained undetermined. Among neighbouring communities, 76% of respondents had experienced explosive-related incidents, and more than 80% reported significant socio-economic and psychosocial impacts. These communities were often located near transportation routes within 100-400m, thus increasing risk. Environmentally, 96% had observed environmental degradation; dust pollution (89.6%), water pollution (72.3%), and habitat destruction (73.7%). The study concluded that mandatory medical examinations of workers in the explosives industry should be enforced in Ghana.