Education and Qualification

Education:                                                                                             Qualification

Stockholm University, Stockholm, SWEDEN                                           PhD

Stockholm University, Stockholm, SWEDEN                                           Lic.Phil

University of Ghana, Accra, GHANA                                                       MPhil

University of Ghana, Accra, GHANA                                                       BSc. Hons

Working Experience

Senior Lecturer: Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences

School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana

Lecturer: Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences

School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana

Post-Doctoral Fellow: NIH, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Post-Doctoral Fellow (Short term):  Karolinska Institute, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden

Chief Research Assistant: Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), University of Ghana

Teaching/Research Assistant Deans Office, Faculty of Agric, University of Ghana

Publications

Issah I, Arko-Mensah J, Rozek LS, Rentschler K, Agyekum TP, Dwumoh D, Batterman S, Robins TG, Fobil JN. Association between global DNA methylation (LINE-1) and occupational particulate matter exposure among informal electronic-waste recyclers in Ghana. Int J Environ Health Res. 2021 Aug 17:1-19. doi:10.1080/09603123.2021.1969007. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34404291

Agyekum TP, Botwe PK, Arko-Mensah J, Issah I, Acquah AA, Hogarh JN, Dwomoh D, Robins TG, Fobil JN. A Systematic Review of the Effects of Temperature on Anopheles Mosquito Development and Survival: Implications for Malaria Control in a Future Warmer Climate. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jul 7;18(14):7255. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18147255. PMID: 34299706; PMCID: PMC8306597.

Issah I, Arko-Mensah J, Rozek LS, Zarins KR, Agyekum TP, Dwomoh D, Basu N, Batterman S, Robins TG, Fobil JN. Global DNA (LINE-1) methylation is associated with lead exposure and certain job tasks performed by electronic waste workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2021 Jun 20. doi: 10.1007/s00420-021-01733-8. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34148106.

Lin N, Kwarteng L, Godwin C, Warner S, Robins T, Arko-Mensah J, Fobil JN, Batterman S. Airborne volatile organic compounds at an e-waste site in Ghana: Source apportionment, exposure and health risks. J Hazard Mater. 2021 Jun 10;419:126353. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126353. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34175701.

Fobil J, Abotsi P, Acquah AA, Arko-Mensah J, D'Souza C, Martin B. Occupational and Environmental Health Effects of Informal Electronic Waste Recycling - A Focus on Agbogbloshie, Ghana. Proc Congr Int Ergon Assoc (2021). 2021;222:746-752. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-74611-7_102. Epub 2021 May 8. PMID: 34263269; PMCID: PMC8277146.

Acquah AA, D'Souza C, Martin B, Arko-Mensah J, Quakyi IA, Basu N, Robins TG, Fobil JN. Work-Related Exposures and Musculoskeletal Disorder Symptoms among Informal E-Waste Recyclers at Agbogbloshie, Ghana. Proc Congr Int Ergon Assoc (2021). 2021;222:677-681. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-74611-7_93. Epub 2021 May 8. PMID: 34308445; PMCID: PMC8301232.

Takyi SA, Basu N, Arko-Mensah J, Dwomoh D, Houessionon KG, Fobil JN. Biomonitoring of metals in blood and urine of electronic waste (E-waste) recyclers at Agbogbloshie, Ghana. Chemosphere. 2021 Oct;280:130677. doi:10.1016/j.2021.130677. Epub 2021 Apr 27. PMID: 33964762; PMCID: PMC8287752.

Oloruntoba E, Gurusa O, Omokhodion F, Fobil J, Basu N, Arko-Mensah J, Robin T. Spatial Distribution of Heavy Metals and Pollution of Environmental Media Around a Used Lead-acid Battery Recycling Center in Ibadan, Nigeria. J Health Pollut. 2021 Mar 2;11(29):210304. doi: 10.5696/2156-9614-11.29.210304. PMID: 33815902; PMCID: PMC8009648.

Acquah AA, D'Souza C, Martin BJ, Arko-Mensah J, Botwe PK, Tettey P, Dwomoh D, Nti AA, Kwarteng L, Takyi S, Quakyi IA, Robins TG, Fobil JN. A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF PHYSICAL WORK EXPOSURES AMONG ELECTRONIC WASTE WORKERS AT AGBOGBLOSHIE, ACCRA GHANA. Int J Ind Ergon. 2021 Mar;82:103096. doi: 10.1016/j.ergon.2021.103096. Epub 2021 Feb 23. PMID: 33767518; PMCID: PMC7986988.

Acquah AA, D'Souza C, Martin B, Arko-Mensah J, Nti AA, Kwarteng L, Takyi S, Botwe PK, Tettey P, Dwomoh D, Quakyi IA, Robins TG, Fobil JN. Development of an observation-based tool for ergonomic exposure assessment in informal electronic waste recycling and other unregulated non-repetitive work. Proc Hum Factors Ergon Soc Annu Meet. 2020 Dec;64(1):905-909. doi: 10.1177/1071181320641216. Epub 2021 Feb 9. PMID: 33731982; PMCID: PMC7963395.

Acquah AA, D'Souza C, Martin BJ, Arko-Mensah J, Dwomoh D, Nti AAA, Kwarteng L, Takyi SA, Basu N, Quakyi IA, Robins TG, Fobil JN. Musculoskeletal Disorder Symptoms among Workers at an Informal Electronic-Waste Recycling Site in Agbogbloshie, Ghana. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Feb 19;18(4):2055. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18042055. PMID: 33669889; PMCID: PMC7923259.

Laskaris Z, Batterman SA, Arko-Mensah J, Mukherjee B, Fobil JN, O'Neill MS, Robins TG. Opportunities and challenges in reducing personal inhalation exposure to air pollution among electronic waste recovery workers in Ghana. Am J Ind Med. 2021 May;64(5):381-397. doi: 10.1002/ajim.23229. Epub 2021 Feb 1. PMID: 33522624; PMCID: PMC8046737.

Takyi SA, Basu N, Arko-Mensah J, Dwomoh D, Nti AAA, Kwarteng L, Acquah AA, Robins TG, Fobil JN. Micronutrient Status of Electronic Waste Recyclers at Agbogbloshie, Ghana. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Dec 21;17(24):9575. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17249575. PMID: 33371401; PMCID: PMC7767402.

Abaka-Yawson A, Sosu SQ, Kwadzokpui PK, Afari S, Adusei S, Arko-Mensah J. Prevalence and Determinants of Intestinal Parasitic Infections among Pregnant Women Receiving Antenatal Care in Kasoa Polyclinic, Ghana. J Environ Public Health. 2020 Sep 8;2020:9315025. doi: 10.1155/2020/9315025. PMID: 32963559; PMCID: PMC7495234.

Bawua ASA, Ichihara K, Keatley R, Arko-Mensah J, Dei-Adomakoh Y, Ayeh-Kumi PF, Erasmus R, Fobil J. Establishing Ghanaian adult reference intervals for hematological parameters controlling for latent anemia and inflammation. Int J Lab Hematol. 2020 Dec;42(6):705-717. doi: 10.1111/ijlh.13296. Epub 2020 Sep 3. PMID: 32881316; PMCID: PMC7754426.

Kwarteng L, Baiden EA, Fobil J, Arko-Mensah J, Robins T, Batterman S. Air Quality Impacts at an E-Waste Site in Ghana Using Flexible, Moderate-Cost and Quality-Assured Measurements. Geohealth. 2020 Aug 1;4(8):e2020GH000247. doi: 10.1029/2020GH000247. PMID: 32832821; PMCID: PMC7431652.

Takyi SA, Basu N, Arko-Mensah J, Botwe P, Amoabeng Nti AA, Kwarteng L, Acquah A, Tettey P, Dwomoh D, Batterman S, Robins T, Fobil JN. Micronutrient-rich dietary intake is associated with a reduction in the effects of particulate matter on blood pressure among electronic waste recyclers at Agbogbloshie, Ghana. BMC Public Health. 2020 Jul 6;20(1):1067. doi:10.1186/s12889-020-09173-8. PMID: 32631289; PMCID: PMC7339459.

Amoabeng Nti AA, Arko-Mensah J, Botwe PK, Dwomoh D, Kwarteng L, Takyi SA, Acquah AA, Tettey P, Basu N, Batterman S, Robins TG, Fobil JN. Effect of Particulate Matter Exposure on Respiratory Health of e-Waste Workers at Agbogbloshie, Accra, Ghana. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Apr 27;17(9):3042. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17093042. PMID: 32349371; PMCID: PMC7246629.

Adusei A, Arko-Mensah J, Dzodzomenyo M, Stephens J, Amoabeng A, Waldschmidt S, Löhndorf K, Agbeko K, Takyi S, Kwarteng L, Acquah A, Botwe P, Tettey P, Kaifie A, Felten M, Kraus T, Küpper T, Fobil J. Spatiality in Health: The Distribution of Health Conditions Associated with Electronic Waste Processing Activities at Agbogbloshie, Accra. Ann Glob Health. 2020 Mar 18;86(1):31. doi:10.5334/aogh.2630. PMID: 32211301; PMCID: PMC7082828.

Acquah AA, D'Souza C, Martin B, Arko-Mensah J, Nti AA, Kwarteng L, Takyi S, Quakyi IA, Robins TG, Fobil JN. Processes and Challenges associated with informal electronic waste recycling at Agbogbloshie, a suburb of Accra, Ghana. Proc Hum Factors Ergon Soc Annu Meet. 2019 Nov;63(1):938-942. doi: 10.1177/1071181319631219. Epub 2019 Nov 20. PMID: 33664560; PMCID: PMC7928434.

Arko-Mensah J, Darko J, Nortey ENN, May J, Meyer CG, Fobil JN. Socioeconomic Status and Temporal Urban Environmental Change in Accra: a Comparative Analysis of Area-based Socioeconomic and Urban Environmental Quality Conditions Between Two Time Points. Environ Manage. 2019 May;63(5):574-582. doi: 10.1007/s00267-019-01150-1. PMID: 30790032.

Amoako-Sakyi D, Adukpo S, Kusi KA, Dodoo D, Ofori MF, Adjei GO, Edoh DE, Asmah RH, Brown C, Adu B, Obiri-Yeboah D, Futagbi G, Abubakari SB, Troye-Blomberg M, Akanmori BD, Goka BQ, Arko-Mensah J, Gyan BA. A STAT6 IntronicSingle-Nucleotide Polymorphism is Associated with Clinical Malaria in Ghanaian Children. Genet Epigenet. 2016 May 29;8:7-14. doi: 10.4137/GEG.S38307. PMID: 27279750; PMCID: PMC4887113.

Chauhan S, Ahmed Z, Bradfute SB, Arko-Mensah J, Mandell MA, Won Choi S, Kimura T, Blanchet F, Waller A, Mudd MH, Jiang S, Sklar L, Timmins GS, Maphis N, Bhaskar K, Piguet V, Deretic V. Pharmaceutical screen identifies novel target processes for activation of autophagy with a broad translational potential. Nat Commun. 2015 Oct 27;6:8620. doi: 10.1038/ncomms9620. PMID: 26503418; PMCID: PMC4624223.

Mandell MA, Jain A, Arko-Mensah J, Chauhan S, Kimura T, Dinkins C, Silvestri G, Münch J, Kirchhoff F, Simonsen A, Wei Y, Levine B, Johansen T, Deretic V. TRIM proteins regulate autophagy and can target autophagic substrates by direct recognition. Dev Cell. 2014 Aug 25;30(4):394-409. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2014.06.013. Epub 2014 Aug 7. PMID: 25127057; PMCID: PMC4146662.

Dupont N, Chauhan S, Arko-Mensah J, Castillo EF, Masedunskas A, Weigert R, Robenek H, Proikas-Cezanne T, Deretic V. Neutral lipid stores and lipase PNPLA5 contribute to autophagosome biogenesis. Curr Biol. 2014 Mar 17;24(6):609-20. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.02.008. Epub 2014 Mar 6. PMID: 24613307; PMCID: PMC4016984.

Bradfute SB, Castillo EF, Arko-Mensah J, Chauhan S, Jiang S, Mandell M, Deretic V. Autophagy as an immune effector against tuberculosis. Curr Opin Microbiol. 2013 Jun;16(3):355-65. doi: 10.1016/j.mib.2013.05.003. Epub 2013 Jun 18. PMID: 23790398; PMCID: PMC3742717.

Castillo EF, Dekonenko A, Arko-Mensah J, Mandell MA, Dupont N, Jiang S, Delgado-Vargas M, Timmins GS, Bhattacharya D, Yang H, Hutt J, Lyons CR, Dobos KM, Deretic V. Autophagy protects against active tuberculosis by suppressing bacterial burden and inflammation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Nov 13;109(46):E3168-76. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1210500109. Epub 2012 Oct 23. PMID: 23093667; PMCID: PMC3503152.

Pilli M, Arko-Mensah J, Ponpuak M, Roberts E, Master S, Mandell MA, Dupont N, Ornatowski W, Jiang S, Bradfute SB, Bruun JA, Hansen TE, Johansen T, Deretic V. TBK-1 promotes autophagy-mediated antimicrobial defense by controlling autophagosome maturation. Immunity. 2012 Aug 24;37(2):223-34. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2012.04.015. PMID: 22921120; PMCID: PMC3428731.

Dinkins C, Arko-Mensah J, Deretic V. Autophagy and HIV. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2010 Sep;21(7):712-8. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2010.04.004. Epub 2010 Apr 18. PMID: 20403451; PMCID: PMC3108047.

Arko-Mensah J, Rahman MJ, Dégano IR, Chuquimia OD, Fotio AL, Garcia I, Fernández C. Resistance to mycobacterial infection: a pattern of early immune responses leads to a better control of pulmonary infection in C57BL/6 compared with BALB/c mice. Vaccine. 2009 Dec 9;27(52):7418-27. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.06.110. Epub 2009 Sep 5. PMID: 19735756.

Arko-Mensah J, Rahman MJ, Julián E, Horner G, Singh M, Fernández C. Increased levels of immunological markers in the respiratory tract but not in serum correlate with active pulmonary mycobacterial infection in mice. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2009 Aug;15(8):777-86. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2009.02734.x. Epub 2009 Apr 23. PMID: 19392884.

Arko-Mensah J, Julián E, Singh M, Fernández C. TLR2 but not TLR4 signalling is critically involved in the inhibition of IFN-gamma-induced killing of mycobacteria by murine macrophages. Scand J Immunol. 2007 Feb;65(2):148-57. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.2006.01888.x. PMID: 17257219.

Arko-Mensah J, Bosompem KM, Canacoo EA, Wastling JM, Akanmori BD. The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in pigs in Ghana. Acta Trop. 2000 Jul 21;76(1):27-31. doi: 10.1016/s0001-706x(00)00085-1. PMID: 10913762.

Ongoing Projects

Completed Projects