About

Dr. Ibrahim Issah’s research and teaching interests focus on occupational health and safety, environmental exposure assessment, toxic metals, and environmental epigenetics. His work bridges theoretical frameworks and applied field studies, particularly in understanding how occupational and environmental exposures affect human health. He is dedicated to improving methods of exposure measurement that support risk assessments and epidemiological studies, with a special emphasis on metal toxicology and workplace hazards. Dr. Issah’s research is applied to contemporary public health challenges, including occupational safety, environmental justice, and emerging issues in workplace-related chronic diseases. His international collaborations include academic training and research engagements in environmental health sciences, with experience as a visiting scholar at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. He is committed to advancing occupational health education and safety standards in Ghana and across the region.

Education and Qualification

• PhD, Public Health (Occupational and Environmental Health), University of Ghana
• MSc, Occupational Hygiene, University of Ghana
• BSc, Nursing, University for Development Studies
• Diploma, Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Training College, Tamale

Working Experience

Lecturer, Department of Biological, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health

Affiliate: West Africa Center for Global environmental and Occupational Health (WACGeoHealth), School of Public Health, University of Ghana.

Contact Information:

Email: iissah@ug.edu.gh
Phone: +233 543 237 538/ +233 209250537
Office Address: School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon

WACGeoHealth: Center Faculty Room B3 

Courses Taught:

• BEOH 613: Basics of Health Hazards
• GSPH 207: Introduction to Microbiology
• BEOH 608: Principles of Occupational Hygiene
• BEOH 632: Process Safety Management

Research Interests/Areas of Expertise:

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Workplace Exposure Assessment
• Toxic Metals Exposure and Health Outcomes
• Occupational/Environmental Epigenetics
• Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology

Publications

• I Issah*, John Arko-Mensah, Laura S Rozek, Katie R. Zarins, Thomas P. Agyekum, Duah Dwomoh, Niladri Basu, Stuart Batterman, Thomas G. Robins, & Julius N. Fobil (2021). Global DNA (LINE1) methylation is associated with lead exposure and certain job tasks performed by electronic waste workers, International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-021-01733-8 

• I Issah*., Arko-Mensah, J., Agyekum, T. P., Dwomoh, D., & Fobil, J. N. (2021). Electronic waste exposure and DNA damage: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Reviews on Environmental Health. https://doi.org/10.1515/reveh-2021-0074 

• I Issah*., Arko-Mensah, J., Rozek, L. S., Rentschler, K., Agyekum, T. P., Dwumoh, D., . . . Fobil, J. N. (2021). Association between global DNA methylation (LINE-1) and occupational particulate matter exposure among informal electronic-waste recyclers in Ghana. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/09603123.2021.1969007 

• I Issah*., Arko-Mensah, J., Rozek, L. S., Zarins, K. R., Dwomoh, D., Agyekum, T. P., . . . Fobil, J. N. (2022). Association between toxic and essential metals in blood and global DNA methylation among electronic waste workers in Agbogbloshie, Ghana. Environmental science and pollution research, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-20954-z

• TP Agyekum, PK Botwe, J Arko-Mensah, I Issah, AA Acquah, JN Hogarh, …Fobil J. N.. (2021). A systematic review of the effects of temperature on Anopheles mosquito development and survival: implications for malaria control in a future warmer climate, International journal of environmental research and public health 18 (14), 7255, 5. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147255 

• TP Agyekum, J Arko-Mensah, PK Botwe, JN Hogarh, I Issah, D Dwomoh ...Fobil J. N. (2022). Effects of Elevated Temperatures on the Growth and Development of Adult Anopheles gambiae (sl)(Diptera: Culicidae) Mosquitoes, Journal of Medical Entomology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjac046. 

• I Issah*., J Arko-Mensah, TP Agyekum, D Dwomoh, JN Fobil (2022). Health Risks Associated with Informal Electronic Waste Recycling in Africa: A Systematic Review, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19 (21), 14278. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192114278

• D Dwomoh, I Yeboah, R Ndejjo, SN Kabwama, JM Aheto, A Liu, S Lazenby, F Ohemeng, SA Takyi, I Issah, … J Fobil (2022). COVID-19 Outbreak Control Strategies and their Impact on the Provision of Essential Health Services in Ghana: An Explanatory-Sequential Study, medRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.12.12.22283342 

• Issah, I*., Duah, M. S., Arko-Mensah, J., Bawua, S. A., Agyekum, T. P., & Fobil, J. N. (2024). Exposure to metal mixtures and adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes: A systematic review. Science of the total environment, 908, 168380. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168380

• I Issah*, Duah, M. S., Arko-Mensah, J., Bawua, S. A., Agyekum, T. P., & Fobil, J. N. (2024). Assessing the combined effect of multiple metal exposures on pregnancy and birth outcomes: Methodological insights in systematic review research. MethodsX, 12, 102558. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2024.102558

• Issah I*., Roberts S, Kritz J, Bawua SA, Commeh MA, Fobil JN (2024) Increasing burden of chronic diseases in the Ghanaian population: need for behavioural interventions with effective implementation to support the WHO PEN programme. HSI Journal 5 (1):686-688. https://doi.org/10.46829/hsijournal.2024.6.5.1.686-688

Ongoing Projects

Current project