Daniel Naghavi
DARE Project: Pathogenic Microorganisms in Our Food Chain: Wastewater as Primary Irrigation Sources in Urban Vegetable Farming. A Ghana Case Study
Program(s) of Study: Psychology & Political Science
Project Supervisor: Jeffrey Squire
I hope my research will contribute to making wastewater reuse in urban agriculture both safer and more sustainable.
Project Description:
My DARE research project investigated the public health risks associated with wastewater irrigation in urban agriculture, with Ghana as a case study. The project was prompted by my supervisor’s field findings, which revealed alarming levels of pathogenic bacteria in wastewater samples used for vegetable irrigation. Building on this, I conducted systematic and scoping literature reviews using PRISMA guidelines to synthesize global evidence, narrowing to Sub-Saharan Africa and Ghana. I examined key contaminants—E. coli, Salmonella, Coliforms, Enterococci, and heavy metals (Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Copper, Cadmium, and Lead)—and their pathways from wastewater to crops, as well as their impacts on human health (e.g., diarrheal diseases, kidney and neurological damage) and plant health (e.g., reduced yields and soil fertility degradation). The project also assessed regulatory guidelines, risk reduction strategies, and public health interventions to inform safer wastewater reuse in urban agriculture. My work contributes to understanding how wastewater irrigation can support food security while posing significant health risks if unmanaged.The Dean’s Award for Research Excellence (DARE) - Undergraduate enables our students to meaningfully engage in research projects supervised by LA&PS faculty members. Find out more about DARE.