Nesta Bortey-Sam, PhD

My research focuses on understanding many aspects of environmental toxicology, including the fate, bioaccumulation, phase I & II metabolism, excretion, and effects of toxic substances such as metals/metalloids, PCBs, and pesticides, and assessing the effects of air pollution. Other research areas include isotope ratios and epidemiological studies investigating the association between exposure to Pb, As, Cd, Al, and PAHs, and occurrences of lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, chronic kidney disease, myalgia, and respiratory outcomes, while also studying the association between smoking/vaping and birth defects/fetal growth restriction.

2007 Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology   BS Chemistry

2012 Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology  MS Environmental Chemistry

2016 Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan  PhD Toxicology

Chemical/Environmental Toxicology

Chem Toxicol in the Age of Green Chemistry

Environmental Health & Disease

Chemistry

Risk Assessment

Epigenetics & Epigenomics of Env. Hlth.

Environmental Exposures

Foundations in Public Health

1. Bortey-Sam N, Jackson R, Gyamfi A.O, Bhadra S, Freeman C, Mahon B.S, Brenner M, Rockwood R.G, Logue A.B. Diagnosis of cyanide poisoning using an automated, field-portable sensor for rapid analysis of blood cyanide concentrations. Analytica Chemica Acta 1098: 125-132 (2020)
2. Gyamfi O.A, Bortey-Sam N, Mahon S.B, Brenner M, Rockwood G.A, Logue BA. Metabolism of cyanide by glutathione to produce the novel cyanide metabolite, 2-aminothiazoline-4-oxoaminoethanoic acid. Chemical Research in Toxicology (2019).DOI:10.1021/acs.chemrestox.8b00384 
3. Nakayama S.M.M, Nakata H, Ikenaka Y, Yabe J, Oroszlany B, Yohannes Y.B, Bortey-Sam N, Muzandu K, Choongo K, Kuritani T, Nakagawa M, Ishizuka M. Effects of 1 year exposure to Cd- and Pb-contaminated soil on metal accumulation and alteration of global DNA methylation in rats Environmental Pollution 252: 1267-1276 (2019)
4. Bortey-Sam N, Ikenaka Y, Akoto O, Nakayama S.M.M, Asante A.K, Baidoo E, Obirikorang C, Mizukawa H, Ishizuka M. Association between human exposure to heavy metals/metalloid and occurrences of respiratory diseases, lipid peroxidation and DNA damage in Kumasi, Ghana. Environmental Pollution 235: 163-170 (2018).

5. Thompson L.A, Ikenaka Y, Yohannes Y.B, Ichise T, Ito G, Bortey-Sam N, Van Vuren J.J, Wepener V, Smit N, Darwish W.S, Nakayama S.M.M, Mizukawa H, Ishizuka M. Human Health Risk from Consumption of Marine Fish Contaminated with DDT and its Metabolites in Maputo Bay, Mozambique. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 100(5): 672-676 (2018).

6. Ogbomida E.T, Nakayama S.M.M, Bortey-Sam N, Oroszlany B, Tongo I, Enuneku A.A, Ozekeke O, Ainerua O.M, Fasipe I.P, Ezemonye L.I, Mizukawa H, Ikenaka Y, Ishizuka M. Accumulation patterns and risk assessment of metals and metalloid in muscle and offal of free-range chickens, cattle and goat in Benin City. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 151: 98-108 (2018).
7.  Bortey-Sam N, Ikenaka Y, Akoto O, Nakayama SMM, Asante KA, Baidoo E, Obirikorang C, Saengtienchai A, Nimako C, Ishizuka M. Oxidative stress and respiratory symptoms due to human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) Kumasi, Ghana. Environmental Pollution 228: 311-320 (2017).
8. Saengtienchai A, Ikenaka Y, Bortey-Sam N, Jermnark U, Mizukawa H, Kawai YK, Nakayama SMM, Ishizuka M. The African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris): low phase I and phase II metabolism activities. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology-Part C Toxicology and Pharmacology 190: 38-47 (2016).

9. Yabe J, Nakayama SMM, Ikenaka Y, Yohannes YB, Bortey-Sam N, Oroszlany B, Muzandu K, Choongo K, Kabalo AN, Ntapisha J, Mweene A, Umemura T, Ishizuka M. Lead poisoning in children from townships in the vicinity of a lead-zinc mine in Kabwe, Zambia. Chemosphere 119: 941-947 (2015).

10. Bortey-Sam N, Ikenaka Y, Nakayama M.M.S, Akoto O, Yared YB, Baidoo E, Mizukawa H, Ishizuka M.^. Occurrence, distribution, sources and toxic potential of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface soils from the Kumasi metropolis, Ghana. Science of the Total Environment 496: 471-478 (2014).