ALBERT OFORI

@ucc.edu.gh

CHEMISTRY
University of Cape Coast

https://researchid.co/albertof

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

General Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Scopus Publications

133

Scholar Citations

Scholar h-index

Scholar i10-index

Scopus Publications

The Association Between Occupational Smoke Exposures and the Prevalence of Eye and Respiratory Health Conditions Among Commercial Fish Smokers in Abuesi, Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Self-Reported Study
Charity Owusu, Albert Ofori, Frank Adusei-Mensah, Carl Halladay Abraham, Samuel Kyei, Reginald Quansah, and David Kofi Essumang
SAGE Publications
Biomass smoke exposure represents a critical health concern, especially for those in occupational settings such as fish smoking. While substantial research has addressed indoor air pollution from domestic cooking, the specific risks faced by fish smokers have received insufficient attention. This study sheds light on the alarming relationship between smoke exposure and health issues among commercial fish smokers in Abuesi, Ghana. Through a comprehensive cross-sectional analysis involving 302 participants, we utilized structured questionnaires and expert eye assessments to gather vital data. Our statistical evaluation, including descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and chi-square tests, revealed a troubling prevalence of respiratory symptoms such as cough, asthma, and breathlessness, all significantly linked to prolonged smoke exposure. Eye health findings were equally concerning, with distant vision impairment affecting 26.37%, eye discomfort reported at 53.02%, and notable rates of cataracts (28.6%) and refractive errors (17.9%). For those suffering from breathlessness, asthma, and pneumonia, the data indicated that longer exposure durations correlated with more severe health outcomes. Specifically, subjects without breathlessness had an average smoking duration of 14.84 years (SD = 12.29) compared to just 10.26 years (SD = 11.15) for those with the symptom—a statistically significant P-value of .014. Asthma and pneumonia exhibited similar trends, highlighting a distressing reality: shorter smoking histories align with more severe health conditions, suggesting that such symptoms might drive smokers to abandon their practices prematurely. Given the serious health risks tied to traditional fish smoking practices, this study strongly advocates for the implementation of improved smoking technologies, better ventilation systems, and comprehensive health education initiatives. These measures are essential to safeguard the health of those involved in this vital industry and reduce exposure to hazardous smoke.

Isomerism in Phenyl 2-Pyridyl Ketoxime Metal Complexes
Pipsa Hirva, Sirpa Jääskeläinen, Meeri Ollikainen, Albert Ofori, and Igor O. Koshevoy
Wiley
AbstractThe octahedral complex [RhCl2(ppkoH)(ppko)] (1) was obtained from the reaction between RhCl3 and phenyl 2‐pyridyl ketoxime (ppkoH). Attempts to prepare the corresponding octahedral platinum compound from K2PtCl6 gave instead the square planar [Pt2+(ppko)2] (2), but when the halogen was changed to bromine, the octahedral [Pt4+Br2(ppko)2] (3) was formed. The crystal structures were determined by X‐Ray crystallography. All the compounds have two N,N‐chelating oxime ligands. In 1, one of them is deprotonated, while in 2 and 3 both ligands are deprotonated. Compounds 1 and 3 have two halogen ligands in trans position. In 1 the oxime groups are situated mutually in cis position with an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the two N−O(H) groups. The formation of 2 involves reduction of the platinum metal and the complex has oximes in trans position to each other. Compound 3 has an all‐trans geometry. Since octahedral and square planar compounds have a possibility to isomerism, we studied the relative stability of different geometries by DFT calculations. A mixture of isomers is likely to be formed in the reactions, but the most stable form was found to crystallize. The properties of the electron density in the preferred isomers were also investigated via QTAIM methods.

Water quality, physicochemical, heavy metal content, and health risk assessment of borehole-water from selected mining communities in Ghana
Charity Owusu, Albert Ofori, Frank Adusei-Mensah, David Kwesi Dodoo, and David K. Essumang
Elsevier BV

Health Risk Assessment of Occupational Exposures of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Phthalates, and Semi-Volatile Chlorinated Organic Compounds in Urine of Commercial Fish Smokers, Ghana
Charity Owusu, Albert Ofori, Frank Adusei-Mensah, Joseph Kweku Adjei, George Yaw Hadzi, John Kwesi Bentum, Reginald Quansah, and David K Essumang
SAGE Publications
Occupational exposure to smoke and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) poses significant health risks, especially for commercial fish smokers who are regularly exposed to high levels of smoke and particulate matter. This study aimed to evaluate the exposure levels and assess the health risks associated with PAHs, phenols, phthalates, and substituted benzenes among 155 fish smokers in Ghana. A total of 155 urine samples from fish smokers across selected coastal regions in Ghana were collected and analyzed. The sample preparation was conducted using the Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERs) method, as standardized by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (A.O.A.C.). Analysis was performed utilizing the Shimadzu GC-MS QP 2020. The type of firewood used by fish smokers significantly influenced the levels of PAHs detected in the urine samples. Hardwoods such as odum, acacia, and cocoa, with their dense structures and combustion characteristics, were found to produce higher levels of PAHs. In contrast, softer woods like sugar cane and palm kernel released lower PAH levels during combustion. The findings indicate that fish smokers utilizing various wood types and unfiltered ovens, specifically the “Chorkor Oven,” are exposed to elevated levels of PAHs, phenols, phthalates, and substituted benzenes through inhalation during work hours. Cancer risk assessments revealed risk levels for PAHs ranging from 6.00E−04 to 4.14E−01, phenols from 0.00E+00 to 3.70E−01, substituted benzenes from 9.04E−08 to 1.99E−01, and phthalates from 3E−04 to 2.09E+04. These values exceed the limits by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.E.P.A.) of 10E−06. Furthermore, the estimated non-cancer hazard quotient values for hydrocarbons ranged from 8.42E+00 to 1.99E+01, all exceeding the threshold of 1, as outlined by both the U.S.E.P.A. and the World Health Organization (WHO), indicating substantial potential health risks for commercial fish smokers.

Modification of kaolinite/muscovite clay for the removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous media
Samuel Tetteh, A. Ofori, A. Quashie, S. Jääskeläinen and S. Suvanto

Abstract Natural clay extracted from the Central Region of Ghana was used for this study. Energy dispersive X-ray and powder X-ray diffraction analysis showed the composition of the clay to be 67.5% kaolinite and 32.5% muscovite. The samples were successfully modified by H2SO4 and NaOH activation. They were also characterized by scanning electron microscopic and Fourier transformed-infrared spectrophotometric techniques. Batch adsorption studies revealed that the samples are effective adsorbents for the removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueous media. Factors studied include contact time, pH, effect of ionic strength and the mass of adsorbent. Generally, the alkali activated samples had the highest adsorptive capacity followed by the acid activated clay. The kinetics of the adsorption process fitted the pseudo-second order model and the adsorption isotherm conformed to the Langmuir as well as the Freundlich models. All the experiments were carried out at room temperature (303 K).

Modification of kaolinite/muscovite clay for the removal of Pb(II) ions from aqueousmedia

Effect of delocalization of nonbonding electron density on the stability of the M-C<inf>carbene</inf>bond in main group metal-imidazol-2-ylidene complexes: a computational and structural database study
Samuel Tetteh and A. Ofori

Abstract The M–Ccarbene bond in metal (M) complexes involving the imidazol-2-ylidene (Im) ligand has largely been described using the σ-donor only model with donation of σ electrons from the sp-hybridized orbital of the carbene carbon into vacant orbitals on the metal centre. Analyses of the M–Ccarbene bond in a series of group IA, IIA and IIIA main group metal complexes show that the M-Im interactions are mostly electrostatic with the M–Ccarbene bond distances greater than the sum of the respective covalent radii. Estimation of the binding energies of a series of metal hydride/fluoride/chloride imidazol-2-ylidene complexes revealed that the stability of the M–Ccarbene bond in these complexes is not always commensurate with the σ-only electrostatic model. Further natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses at the DFT/B3LYP level of theory revealed substantial covalency in the M–Ccarbene bond with minor delocalization of electron density from the lone pair electrons on the halide ligands into antibonding molecular orbitals on the Im ligand. Calculation of the thermodynamic stability of the M–Ccarbene bond showed that these interactions are mostly endothermic in the gas phase with reduced entropies giving an overall ΔG > 0.

Health risk and source assessment of semi-volatile phenols, p-chloroaniline and plasticizers in plastic packaged (sachet) drinking water
J. Adjei, Albert Ofori, H. K. Megbenu, Thomas Ahenguah, A. Boateng, George Adjei, J. K. Bentum and D. Essumang

Effect of delocalization of nonbonding electron density on the stability of the M-Ccarbene bond in main group metal- imidazol-2-ylidene complexes: A computational and structural database study

Deciphering the role of the cation in anionic cobaltabisdicarbollide clusters
Adnana Zaulet, F. Teixidor, P. Bauduin, O. Diat, P. Hirva, Albert Ofori and C. Viňas

Pyrazole and Pyrazolate as Ligands in the Synthesis and Stabilization of New Palladium(II) and (III) Compounds
F. Estevan, P. Hirva, Albert Ofori, M. Sanaú, T. Špec and M. Úbeda

The versatility of pyrazole/pyrazolate as ligands has allowed the synthesis and the structural characterization of four different types of new orthometalated palladium compounds, for which DFT calculations have been performed in order to investigate their relative stabilities. [Pd2{μ-(C6H4)PPh2}2{μ-(R,R'2pz)}2] (R = R' = H, 2a; R = Br, R' = H, 2b; R = CH3, R' = H, 2c; R = H, R' = CH3, 2d; R = Br, R' = CH3, 2e) compounds with exo-bidentate pyrazolatos are the first paddlewheel dinuclear palladium(II) compounds with pyrazolato bridging ligands described and characterized in the literature. In the process of the synthesis of 2a, a new tetranuclear intermediate compound, [Pd4{μ-(C6H4)PPh2}4(μ-pz)2(μ-OH)2] (3a), has been isolated and structurally characterized. Compounds of the general formula [Pd2{μ-(C6H4)PPh2}2Br2(R,R'2pzH)2] (R = R' = H, 4a; R = Br; R' = H, 4b; R = CH3; R' = H, 4c; R = H; R' = CH3, 4d; R = Br; R' = CH3, 4e) with pyrazoles as monodentate ligands have also been obtained, in which, according to the QTAIM analysis, additional Br···HNpz weak interactions stabilize their structure. The tetranuclear Pd2Ag2 compounds, [Pd2{μ-(C6H4)PPh2}2{μ-(R,R'2pz-Ag-R,R'2pz)}2] (R = R' = H, 5a; R = Br; R' = H, 5b; R = CH3, R' = H, 5c), showed a distorted tetrahedron disposition of the metal atoms. The QTAIM analysis revealed an enhanced stability because of additional metal-metal interactions. New palladium(III) compounds, [Pd2{μ-(C6H4)PPh2}2{μ-(R,R'2pz)}2Cl2] (R = R' = H, 6a; R = Br, R' = H, 6b) were also synthesized by oxidation of compounds 2 with PhICl2. DFT calculations highlighted their greater stability compared to that of similar compounds with N,N-donor ligands, such as formamidinatos and triazenidos.

Versatile Coordination Modes in Silver-Imidazolecarbaldehyde Oxime Complexes: Structural and Computational Analysis
Albert Ofori, Sonja Suvanto, S. Jääskeläinen, L. Koskinen, I. Koshevoy and P. Hirva

Silver imidazolecarbaldehyde oxime complexes [Ag(1-methyl-1H-imidazole-2-carbaldehyde oxime)2][NO3] (1), [Ag(1-methyl-1H-imidazole-2-carbaldehyde oxime)2][ClO3] (2), [Ag(1H-5-methylimidazole-4-carbaldehyde oxime)]2[NO3]2 (3), [Ag(1H-imidazole-2-carbaldehyde oxime)]n[NO3]n (4), [Ag(1H-4-methylimidazole-5-carbaldehyde oxime)]n[ClO3]n (5), and [Ag(N-hydroxy-1-methyl-1H-imidazole-2-carboximidamide)2]2[CF3SO3]2 (6) were structurally and computationally analyzed. Weak intramolecular interactions were found to play the main role in determining the most favorable structure of the free ligands, therefore controlling the final coordination mode, and the nuclearity of the complexes. Further information on the nature of the intra- and intermolecular interactions were provided utilizing computational density functional theory calculations and topological charge density analysis according to the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules. The efficient control of the structure of the complexes also results in a better contro...

Benzoato and thiobenzoato ligands in the synthesis of dinuclear palladium(III) and -(II) compounds: Stability and catalytic applications
F. Estevan, S. Ibáñez, Albert Ofori, P. Hirva, M. Sanaú and M. Úbeda
Wiley
AbstractNew palladium(III) compounds of formula Pd2[(C6H4)PPh2]2[OXC(C6H5)]2Cl2[3a(X = O);3b(X = S)] were obtained by the oxidation of the analogous palladium(II) ones with PhICl2and were characterized by31P,1H, and13C NMR spectroscopy at 223 K. Compound3awas also structurally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction methods, which revealed a Pd–Pd distance of 2.5212(10) Å. DFT calculations were conducted to study the stability of all of these new palladium(III) and ‐(II) compounds with focus on the influence of the O↔S substitution of the donor atom in the ligand. The palladium(II) compounds Pd2[(C6H4)PPh2]2[OXC(C6H5)]2[2a(X = O),2b(X = S)] were also tested as precatalyst in two reactions: (1) the acetoxylation of 2‐phenylpyridine and (2) the room‐temperature 2‐phenylation of indoles. Compound2bis a better precatalyst than2ain the first reaction (4 h; isolated yield, 67.5 vs. 50.4 %). In the second catalytic reaction, isolated yields of 97 (10 h, substrate: 1‐methylindole) and 99 % (24 h, substrate: indole) were obtained with2aas the precatalyst, whereas2bgave low or no conversion.

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

The Association Between Occupational Smoke Exposures and the Prevalence of Eye and Respiratory Health Conditions Among Commercial Fish Smokers in Abuesi, Ghana: A Cross
C Owusu, A Ofori, F Adusei-Mensah, CH Abraham, S Kyei, R Quansah, ...
Environmental Health Insights 19, 11786302251317056 2025

Isomerism in Phenyl 2‐Pyridyl Ketoxime Metal Complexes
P Hirva, S Jskelinen, M Ollikainen, A Ofori, IO Koshevoy
European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry 27 (36), e202400523 2024

Health risk assessment of occupational exposures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalates, and semi-volatile chlorinated organic compounds in urine of commercial fish
C Owusu, A Ofori, F Adusei-Mensah, JK Adjei, GY Hadzi, JK Bentum, ...
Environmental Health Insights 18, 11786302241306932 2024

Water quality, physicochemical, heavy metal content, and health risk assessment of borehole-water from selected mining communities in Ghana
C Owusu, A Ofori, F Adusei-Mensah, DK Dodoo, DK Essumang
Groundwater for Sustainable Development 26, 101230 2024

Modification of kaolinite/muscovite clay for the removal of Pb (II) ions from aqueous media
S Tetteh, A Ofori, A Quashie, S Jskelinen, S Suvanto
Physical Sciences Reviews 8 (10), 3577-3593 2023

Effect of delocalization of nonbonding electron density on the stability of the M–C_carbene bond in main group metal-imidazol-2-ylidene complexes: a computational
S Tetteh, A Ofori
Physical Sciences Reviews 7 (7), 727-739 2022

Health risk and source assessment of semi-volatile phenols, p-chloroaniline and plasticizers in plastic packaged (sachet) drinking water
JK Adjei, A Ofori, HK Megbenu, T Ahenguah, AK Boateng, GA Adjei, ...
Science of the Total Environment 797, 149008 2021

Kinetics and equilibrium thermodynamic studies of the adsorption of phenolphthalein and methyl orange onto muscovite clay
S Tetteh, R Zugle, A Ofori, JPK Adotey
University of Cape Coast 2020

Deciphering the role of the cation in anionic cobaltabisdicarbollide clusters
A Zaulet, F Teixidor, P Bauduin, O Diat, P Hirva, A Ofori, C Vinas
Journal of Organometallic Chemistry 865, 214-225 2018

Inter-and intramolecular interactions in the stabilization and coordination of palladium and silver complexes: DFT and QTAIM studies
A Ofori
It-Suomen yliopisto 2016

Pyrazole and pyrazolate as ligands in the synthesis and stabilization of new palladium (ii) and (iii) compounds
F Estevan, P Hirva, A Ofori, M Sanau, T Spec, MA Úbeda
Inorganic Chemistry 55 (5), 2101-2113 2016

Versatile coordination modes in silver-imidazolecarbaldehyde oxime complexes: structural and computational analysis
A Ofori, S Suvanto, S Jääskeläinen, L Koskinen, IO Koshevoy, ...
Crystal Growth & Design 16 (1), 255-264 2016

Benzoato and Thiobenzoato Ligands in the Synthesis of Dinuclear Palladium (III) and‐(II) Compounds: Stability and Catalytic Applications
F Estevan, S Ibez, A Ofori, P Hirva, M Sana, MA beda
European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry 2015 (17), 2822-2832 2015

Tricapped triangular cobalt carbonyl clusters with chiral sulphur ligands
A Ofori
It-Suomen yliopisto 2013

The development of Pentecostalism in Ghana and its effect on Churches of Christ
AD Ofori
2009

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

Deciphering the role of the cation in anionic cobaltabisdicarbollide clusters
A Zaulet, F Teixidor, P Bauduin, O Diat, P Hirva, A Ofori, C Vinas
Journal of Organometallic Chemistry 865, 214-225 2018
Citations: 45

Kinetics and equilibrium thermodynamic studies of the adsorption of phenolphthalein and methyl orange onto muscovite clay
S Tetteh, R Zugle, A Ofori, JPK Adotey
University of Cape Coast 2020
Citations: 9

Modification of kaolinite/muscovite clay for the removal of Pb (II) ions from aqueous media
S Tetteh, A Ofori, A Quashie, S Jskelinen, S Suvanto
Physical Sciences Reviews 8 (10), 3577-3593 2023
Citations: 5

The development of Pentecostalism in Ghana and its effect on Churches of Christ
AD Ofori
2009
Citations: 1