Deposition of platinum-group metals in sediment and water bodies along the coastal belt of Ghana

Water and sediment samples from seven water bodies along the coastal belt of Ghana were assessed for the deposition of platinum-group metals (PGM), i.e. platinum, palladium and rhodium. Source analysis of the results indicated probable anthropogenic origins which had a strong linkage to automobile and marine vessel emissions. In the sediment samples, pollution indicators revealed that all the seven water bodies along the coast had elevated levels of PGM above the background values. Significant correlation between the metals indicated a common anthropogenic origin of the PGM. Rhodium metal measured at Pra River estuary demonstrated opposite correlation with PGM to the other six sampling sites, which indicated another source other than automobile and marine vessel emissions of rhodium