Human health risk associated with metal exposure at Agbogbloshie e-waste site and the surrounding neighbourhood in Accra, Ghana (original) (raw)
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Emerging Science Journal
The objective of this study is first, to investigate the level of heavy metals in soils from Agbogbloshie e-waste processing site (AEPS), the degree at which these heavy metals contaminate the area and finally, to assess the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk of heavy metals on workers and residents in around the AEPS. 132 soil samples were collected from the study area and the samples analyzed for Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn heavy metals after appropriate preparations were made. Results of the analysis showed mean concentrations of Cd, Cr and Ni considered as carcinogenic were lower than permissible levels of Dutch and Canadian soil standards. Mean concentrations however of Cu, Pb and Zn were between 100% and 500% higher than the permissible levels. Assessment of the degree of Contamination indicated Ni<Ba<Co<Cr<Zn<Hg<Cu<Cd<Pb in an increasing order as contributing to the degree of contamination with according to the degree of contaminat...
Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 2020
Over 1000 people make a living by processing electronic and electrical waste (E-waste) and scrap metals for the recovery of valuable metals and integrated circuits at Dagomba Line, Kumasi, Ghana. These processing include activities such as dismantling, open burning and open dumping of e-waste which can potentially release toxic metals into the environment and thus impact the health of recyclers and nearby residents. This study investigated the distribution of toxic metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Zn) in surface soils at the e-waste recycling sites and determined the associated human health risk via ingestion incorporating bioaccessibility measurements. Metal concentrations in the activity sites were highly elevated, significantly higher than those in the surrounding area and exceeded international soil quality guidelines such as the Canadian soil quality guidelines for residential use and the Dutch Intervention Value. Bioaccessibility was high for Pb (70.8%), Cd (64.1%), Cu (62.3%) and Ni (53.6%) which could be credited to the existence of oxidized species as a result of the e-waste burning. Noncarcinogenic effects were unacceptably high (hazard indices > 1) at 14 out of 31 sites and the cancer risk for arsenic for adult workers was greater than 1 × 10 −5 at five of the sampling sites.
The effect of e-waste recycling activities on soil quality was assessed for four e-waste sites in Ghana. Samples of top- and sub-soil were collected from dismantling and burning sections and prevalence and distribution of selected metals were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The concentrations of the metals analysed were above the background concentrations except Cd, which was detected at the same level as the background levels. Levels of Cu and Pb increased with increasing soil depth. Levels of Cd, Zn, As, and Ni decreased with increasing soil depth. Hg levels showed no recognizable trend in its distribution relative to soil depth. The pollution indices evaluated revealed deterioration of the soil quality at the e-waste sites. Geo-accumulation indices suggest that the soil is very highly polluted with Pb, highly polluted with Cu, and moderately polluted with As, Hg, Cd, and Zn. The enrichment factor values indicate that soil from the studied sites was very highly en...
This study was aimed at assessing the loss of secondary metals from informal recycling of e-waste at Agbogbloshie, where primitive methods are used for e-waste processing. Samples were collected from fourteen (14) locations within Agbogbloshie including the dismantling site and burning site of the scrap market. The X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) was used to evaluate the concentrations of the heavy metals and other elements in the sample. Non-ferrous metals such as Zn, Cu and Pb gave concentrations in the range of (422.54 – 181752.94mg/kg), (101.83 – 9144.50mg/kg) and (117.03 – 14448.46mg/kg), respectively. All these concentrations those of ferrous and specialty metals exceeded the New Dutch List Action Values over thousand times. The highest index of geoaccumulation (Igeo) value of 9.589 was recorded at the dismantling site and 8.597 at the burning site for Pb. High Igeo values of 5.07, 5.34 and 4.36 were also recorded for Zinc in road dust, Domod office and store in the mark...
Distribution and bioaccessibility of metals in urban soils of Kumasi, Ghana
To assess the potential risk associated with incidental ingestion of metal contaminants in soils from areas where most of the commercial activities are concentrated in Kumasi, Ghana, total and bioaccessible concentrations of metals were determined in surface soil samples. Arsenic, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn in some of the samples exceeded international environmental soil quality guidelines. The use of geoaccumulation and enrichment factor indices also indicated high contamination in select areas of the commercial hub. Multivariate analyses of the data suggested that As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were mainly derived from anthropogenic sources whereas Al, Cd, Hg, and Fe were attributable to either soil parent materials or atmospheric deposition. Based on the total metal concentrations, the risk associated with exposure to metals in the contaminated soils was found to be high; the hazard quotient based on the mean concentration for a child receptor was greater than 1 for As, Cr, and Pb. Metal bioaccessibility was variable; decreasing in the order Zn (73 ± 15%) > Pb (62 ± 16%) > Cu (47 ± 14%) > Co (28 ± 11%) > Ni (24 ± 11%) > As (14 ± 13%) > Cr (2.8 ± 2.6%). Incorporation of the bioaccessibility data in the risk characterization resulted in hazard quotients of less than 1 indicating that the general risk associated with incidental ingestion of metals in the soils for both children and adults is low except for the contaminated hotspots. Lead and As contributed most to the overall risk.
Soil Pollution by Toxic Metals near E-waste Recycling Operations in Ibadan, Nigeria
Journal of Health and Pollution
Background. Unsound recycling of e-waste releases toxic metals into environmental media and has deleterious health consequences to humans as the metals transfer to humans through the food chain, direct contact and inhalation. Objectives. This study assessed soil contamination with lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni) and cadmium (Cd) arising from crude e-waste recycling. Methods. Forty-eight soil samples were collected from the vicinity of high-, medium- and low-activity recycling operations in Ogunpa in Ibadan, Nigeria as well as from the botanical garden of the University of Ibadan for background samples. Total extractable metals were leached with aqua regia and the leachates were analyzed using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Speciation analysis was also conducted on soil samples that showed high concentrations of metals to determine the distributions in various phases. Results. All soil samples were determined to be sandy loam in composition with pH and organ...
Environmental monitoring and assessment, 2016
Recycling of e-waste using informal or crude techniques poses serious health risk not only to the workers but also to the environment as whole. It is against this background that this paper sought to measure health risk faced by informal e-waste workers from exposure to toxicants such as lead, cadmium, chromium, copper, arsenic, tin, zinc and cobalt via oral and dermal contact with bottom ash and soil. Using random sampling techniques, 3 separate sites each (where burning and manual dismantling of e-wastes are usually carried) were identified, and a total of 402 samples were collected. The samples were analysed using standard methods for chemical analysis prescribed by the American Water Works Association (AWWA). Concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, As, Sn, Zn and Co in bottom ash samples from location ASH1 are 5388 ± 0.02 mg/kg (Pb), 2.39 ± 0.01 mg/kg (Cd), 42 ± 0.05 mg/kg (Cr), 7940 ± 0.01 mg/kg (Cu), 20 ± 0.07 mg/kg (As), 225 ± 0.04 mg/kg (Sn), 276 ± 0.04 mg/kg (Zn) and 123 ± 0.04 m...
Heavy metal contamination of urban soils and it possible detrimental effects to both environmental quality and humans have gained significant attention for decades. However, data on the ecotoxicological status and health implication of heavy metal pollution of soils in Tarkwa remains vague. Herein, nine heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Pb, Ni, and Zn) were analyzed in 20 urban soils, of typical artisanal mining communities in Tarkwa, using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS VARIAN AA240FS). Multivariate statistical analysis as well as ecotoxicological indexes were employed to identify pollution sources of metals and possible ecotoxicological effects, respectively. In addition, non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for residents’ exposure through oral, dermal, and inhalation were estimated. The mean concentrations (mg/kg) of the nine metals followed a decreasing order: Fe > Mn > Zn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Co > Ni > Cd. Results on principal componen...
Journal of Health and Pollution
Metals found in the environment generally originate from natural processes such as weathering of rocks, atmospheric deposition, or from anthropogenic sources, but their distributions are influenced by the properties of the metals and physicochemical factors of soil such as organic matter content and pH. The widespread distribution of metals in the environment is explained by the stability of the forms in which they occur. Whereas low concentrations of essential metals such as copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) are beneficial for the growth and maintenance of the human body, toxic metals (cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb)) can have harmful effects on animal and plant life, as well as the environment. 1-3 Some toxic metals such as Cd, Pb, and Hg are widely used in the manufacturing, mining, agricultural and medical fields and are eventually discharged into the environment. 4-6 Accumulation of excess amounts of metal contaminants in the environment threatens the health of plants and animals because these metals exert biological effects on all life forms. 7,8 Metal pollution in soils is of concern to researchers and regulatory agencies because most metals have adverse health effects. 9 Long term exposure to metals can result in reduced intelligence in humans, DNA damage, and memory impairment. 10,11 The toxic effects of metals are normally defined by their nature. For example, mercury and lead affect almost every human organ, arsenic is known to be a human Background. Anthropogenic activities such as artisanal mining pose a major environmental health concern due to the potential for discharge of toxic metals into the environment. Objectives. To determine the distribution and pollution patterns of arsenic (As), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in the topsoil of a mining community in Ghana, along with potential human health risks and in vitro bioaccessibility. Methods. Concentrations of metals were determined using X-ray fluorescence techniques and validated using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Results. Concentrations of the metals in topsoil were in the order of magnitude of Cu (31.38 mg/kg) < Ni (45.39 mg/kg) < As (59.66 mg/kg) < Cr (92.87 mg/kg) < Zn (106.98 mg/kg) < Mn (1195.49 mg/kg) < Fe (30061.02 mg/kg). Geo-statistical and multivariate analyses based on hazard indices including contamination, ecological risks, geo-accumulation, and pollution load suggest that the topsoils are contaminated in the study area. The potential ecological risk index (PERI) showed high ecological risk effects (PERI=269.09), whereas the hazard index (1×10 −7) and carcinogenic risk index (1×10 −5) indicated low human health risks. Elevated levels of As, Cr, Ni, and Zn were found to emanate from anthropogenic origins, whereas Fe, Mn, and Cu levels were attributed mainly to geological and atmospheric depositions. Physicochemical parameters (pH, electrical conductivity and total organic carbon) showed weak positive correlations to the metal concentrations. Elemental bioaccessibility was variable, decreasing in the order of Mn (35±2.9%) > Cu (29±2.6%) > Ni (22±1.3%) > As (9±0.5%) > Cr (4±0.6%) > Fe (2±0.4%). Conclusions. Incorporation of in-vitro bioaccessibility into the risk characterization models resulted in a hazard index of less than 1, implying low human health risks. However, due to accumulation effects of the metals, regular monitoring is required.
Heliyon, 2023
E-waste processing sites abound with potentially toxic elements (PTE) that negatively affect the environment and human health. The study determined the presence of selected PTE (Cu, Zn, Pb, Hg, and Al) and their spatial distribution in an e-waste processing site in a developing country setting. pH, moisture, organic matter/carbon, and particle size were determined in 30 soil samples. The spatial position of each sampling point was picked with a GPS device, and the area was mapped in a GIS environment. The concentrations of PTE were determined with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Findings from the study indicate that the soil is polluted with PTE, rich in organic carbon/matter but has low pH. The Geoaccumulation Indices ranged from unpolluted (Al) to strongly/extremely polluted (Cu). Pollution Load Index showed about 77 % of the samples as extremely/heavily polluted, 10 % as heavily polluted, and 13 % as moderately polluted. Contamination Factors of Zn, Pb, and Cu were very high but considerably low for Hg and Al. Regular monitoring and remediation are required for the soil to be restored and put into productive use.