Heavy Metal Concentration in Drinking Water Sources Affected by Dredge Mine Operations of a Gold Mining Company in Ghana (original) (raw)
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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2015
The study assessed levels of heavy metals in drinking water sources in two small-scale mining communities (Nangodi and Tinga) in northern Ghana. Seventy-two (72) water samples were collected from boreholes, hand dug wells, dug-out, and a stream in the two mining communities. The levels of mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Mean levels (mg/l) of heavy metals in water samples from Nangodi and Tinga communities were 0.038 and 0.064 (Hg), 0.031 and 0.002 (As), 0.250 and 0.031 (Pb),
Diyala Agricultural Sciences Journal
Over the decade many villages in Zamfara State Nigeria were known for artisanal gold mining which caused pollution of vast water bodies and area of land. This makes it imperative to analyze heavy metal contamination in wells and surface water. The present study evaluated the concentrations of heavy metals (iron, lead, cadmium, zinc, nickel, and chromium) in the ore processing water and well-water in some selected villages of Anka local government area in Zamfara State where mining is taking place. Anka town served as control due to absence of mining activities. The concentrations of heavy metals in the water samples were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The concentration of Fe, Pb, and Cd ranged from 23.3 – 921.46, 0 – 132.8, and 3.3 – 4.1 ppm respectively. While Zn, Ni, and Cr were not detected in the water samples. Virtually all the detected heavy metals in the water samples exceeded the international organizations (WHO, USEPA, and EPA-EUC) maximum permissible l...
A survey was conducted on the levels of trace metals (Ni, Cu, Hg, Pb, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cr, Cd, Mg and Ca) in ground and surface water sources from the northern parts of the Ashanti gold belt. Water samples were collected from 67 boreholes, 24 wells, and 10 streams during dry and wet seasons for trace metal analyses using Philips PU 9200 atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The main objective was to determine whether trace metal contamination in the study area was as a result of mining or geochemical and biochemical processes within the aquifer. The results showed that ground water (pH range 4.09-7.29 and mean 5.87 pH units) was slightly acidic (low pH) than surface water (pH range 5.81-7.74 and mean 7.12 pH units). The ground waters (with conductivity range 96-1553 μS/cm and mean 407.7 μS/cm) in the study area were also more mineralized than surface waters (with conductivity range 113-540 μS/cm and mean 323.30 μS/cm). Correlations between the trace metals revealed expected process-based ...
Physico-Chemical Quality of Water in the Gold Mining areas of Bibiani , Ghana
2015
Physico-chemical quality of waters sources from Bibiani and its environs was conducted between November, 2009 and April, 2010. This study was undertaken to determine whether physical, chemical and trace metal contamination of water sources in Bibiani is as a result of mining or geochemical and biochemical processes within the environment. Levels of trace metals (Arsenic (As), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), and Copper (Cu)), physical parameters (pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Electrical Conductivity and Temperature) and chemical parameters (Alkalinity, Hardness, Phosphate and Cyanide) in water sources were determined. Water samples were collected from ten sampling points: four surface waters (SW1, SW2, SW3, and SW4) and six groundwater points (GW1, GW 2, GW3, GW4, GW5 and GW6). Mining related contaminants detected in water samples were As (<0.001 to 0.002 mg/l), CN (0.002 to 0.036 mg/l), Mn (0.1 to 0.72 mg/l) and Fe (0.32 to 3.035 mg/l). Groundwater (GW3 and GW4 samples had more Mn...
Journal of Health and Pollution, 2015
Background. Ghana, like many countries in Africa, has a history of heavy metal pollution largely emanating from industrial effluent discharges and anthropogenic deposits on prevailing winds of pollutants from industrial activities. One of the biggest contributors to pollution in the Ghanaian environment is mineral mining. Objectives. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution and health risks of heavy metals in surface water from both pristine environments and major mining areas in Ghana. Methods. A total of 32 composite samples were collected between September and October, 2014 to assess concentrations of heavy metals and pollution levels, as well as cancer and non-cancer risks to human health from exposure to heavy metals from four major mining regions and four rain forest reserves in the Western, Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern regions of Ghana. Samples were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry. Results. The mean concentrations (mg/L) of heavy metals at the pristine sites ranged from 1.747 for iron (Fe) to 0.001 for mercury (Hg) and 0.453 for Fe to 0.002 for Hg at the mining sites. All the metals were found to be below World Health Organization (WHO) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recommended limits except for Hg, which was at the USEPA guideline limit. However, the concentrations of the metals from the mining sites were found to be slightly higher than those from the pristine sites. Conclusions. The concentrations of heavy metals in the Nyam, Subri, Bonsa and Birim Rivers from the mining sites and the Atiwa Range, Oda, Ankasa and Bosomkese Rivers from the pristine sites were found to be either below or within the USEPA and WHO's recommended limits for surface water. The health risk assessment values for the hazard quotient for ingestion of water (HQing), dermal contact (HQderm) and chronic daily intake (CDI) indicated no adverse effects as a result of ingestion or dermal contact from the rivers. However, arsenic (As) in both the pristine and mining sites and chromium (Cr) in the pristine sites pose a carcinogenic threat to the local residents.
African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 2016
This study assessed the seasonal variation in heavy metal contamination of stream water and sediments in the gold mining area of Atakunmosa West local Government, Osun State, Nigeria. Twelve villages of prominence in illegal gold mining were selected for the study covering dry and wet seasons of 2012. Stream water and sediment samples were randomly sampled for both seasons. Samples were analyzed with atomic absorption spectrometric method (AAS) and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) for Cd, Zn, Pb, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu and As. The trend observed for the metals analyzed in the stream water for both seasons are Cu > Zn > Fe > Cd > Pb > As. In stream sediments, higher mean concentration values were generally recorded in the dry season than in wet season. Four metals (Cd, Pb, Cu and Fe) in stream waters and sediments were found to be higher than allowed limits both by the World Health Organisation (WHO, 2004) and the Nigerian standard for drinking water quality (NSDWQ, 2007)...
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In Nigeria, artisanal mining has become a serious issue. In the Nigerian mining region of Arufu Pb–Zn–F, this study assessed the level of pollution, ecological hazards, and health risks related to the presence of metals in the water. In the dry and rainy seasons, 36 water samples (20 from the ground, 10 from the surface, and six from the mine) were gathered. Samples were examined for the presence of heavy metals such as Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb. Other than Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Sb, and Cd (surface water, dry season), which were below the acceptable norm, all water samples had metals over the suggested limits. Heavy metals from nearby mining activities polluted the water, according to contamination evaluations utilizing the contamination factor (CF). Metals in the water may pose very significant ecological dangers, according to ecological risk assessments. The evaluation of human health risks revealed that both adults and children in the region are susceptible to carcinogenic and...
Environmental Systems Research, 2015
Background: Surface water represents significant source of fresh water for irrigation and drinking purposes and therefore preserving the availability and quality of this resource is extremely important. Surface water samples within the catchment area of the Obuasi mine were analysed to assess dissolved concentrations, hydrochemistry, risk evaluation of selected metals and their effects on drinking water quality. Water samples were collected from the Jimi River and its tributaries and analysed for physico-chemical parameters and heavy metals using standard analytical methods. Health risk assessment of As, Pb, Fe, Cd, Ni and Zn based on the average daily dose, hazard quotient and cancer risk was also determined. Results: The results indicated that, most of the physico-chemical parameters are within WHO guidelines except conductivity, turbidity, alkalinity and total hardness. The mean concentrations of heavy metals and ionic dominance pattern follow the order: Cd < As
Health and Environment
The level of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As, Cr, Ni, Co, Zn) and physicochemical parameters in borehole water sources within selected mining sites in Ebonyi State, Nigeria were determined using FS240AA Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) according to the method of American Public Health Association (APHA). Water samples were collected from Enyigba mining site, Ikwo mining site, Ameri Amekamining site, Izza mining site, Mkpume Akwatakwa mining site and Mpume Akwaokuku mining sites. Composite water samples were collected within the mining locales and 500 metres away from the mining locations using two liters plastic jars. Similarly, the control samples were taken from Abakaliki (about 15 km away from mining area) where there was no evidence of mining activity. A total of 14 sub-samples were collected for this study. Generally, the levels of heavy metals in the borehole water samples were higher than the values recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). This however suggests a...