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Recent Submissions
The latest research added to the repository.
ArticleSpatial Distribution, Bioaccessibility, and Human Health Implications of Potentially Toxic Elements in Mining‑Impacted Topsoils in Obuasi Municipality of GhanaPotential toxic elements emanating from
extracted ores during gold processing present occupational
and unintentional health hazards in communities,
the general populace, and the environment.
This study investigated the concentrations and potential
health effects of metal content in the topsoils of
Obuasi municipality, which has been mined for gold
over the past century. Surface topsoil samples, sieved
to 250 μm, were initially scanned for metals using
x-ray fluorescence techniques, followed by confirmation
via ICP-MS. In vitro bioaccessibility assays were
conducted using standard methods. The geoaccumulation
indices (Igeo) indicate high enrichment of As
(Igeo = 6.28) and Cd (Igeo = 3.80) in the soils, especially
in the eastern part of the municipality where
illegal artisanal mining is prevalent. Additionally, the
southern corridor, situated near a gold mine, exhibited
significant levels of As and Mn. Results obtained
for the total metal concentrations and contamination
indices confirmed the elevation of the studied potential
toxic elements in the Obuasi community. A hazard
index value of 4.42 and 3.30 among children and
adults, respectively, indicates that indigens, especially
children, are susceptible to non-cancer health effects.ArticleContamination Status of Residential and Farmland Surface Soils within the Sunyani Municipality of GhanaExposure to heavy metals poses serious human health and ecological threats, especially in developing countries where ecological risk assessment and remediation are often ignored. While many studies have reported heavy metal toxicities in rapidly urbanizing cities with increased anthropogenic activities, limited information exists on metal toxicities and their ecological risks in soils within the Sunyani Municipality. Top soils were sampled from residential and farmland surface soils and analyzed for the concentration and potential risks for nine heavy metals within Sunyani Municipality. Apart from As and Mn, the two study sites generally recorded elevated levels of all metals than the pristine soil samples from the University of Energy and Natural Resources botanical garden. Levels of chromium, copper, lead, and zinc were however marginally higher in residential surface soils than in the farmlands. The soil contamination factor and geoaccumulation index both revealed moderate As, Hg, and Mn contamination at the two study locations. Furthermore, the soil enrichment factor showed significant enrichment for arsenic and moderate enrichment for cadmium
in residential soils, while the farmland soils revealed moderate enrichment of As, Hg, and Mn. The potential ecological risk indices also showed considerable risk at both study locations, while the pollution load index revealed higher cumulative pollution in residential areas (PLI = 0.48) compared to the farmland surface soil (PLI = 0.40). The study therefore recommends the regulation of human activities and the use of chemicals that are possible sources of metal contamination
to maintain the metals’ baseline levels in the soil, and reduce their health and environmental impacts.ArticleHeavy Metal Levels and their Ecological Risks in Surface Soils at Sunyani Magazine in the Bono Region of GhanaThe study investigated the level of seven heavy metals, arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), cop- per (Cu), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), titanium (Ti), and zinc (Zn), in surface soils at three different sam pling points, namely, General overhauling (GO), Oil exchange (OE), and Spray- ing (SP) shop in the Sunyani magazine in the Bono region of Ghana. The ecological risks for the various metal were also measured. Generally, the metal levels were alarming as compared to the reference sample and they followed the decreasing order: Pb, Mn, Zn, Ti, Cu, Cr, As at GO shop; Mn, Pb, Cr, Ti, Zn, Cu, As, at OE shop; and Mn, Pb, Zn, Ti, Cr, Cu, As at SP shop. The contamination factor evidenced Pb as the most polluted metal and Mn as the least polluted metal in the surface soil of all sampling points in the Sunyani Maga- zine. The PLI results also suggested GO as the most polluted location followed by SP and then OE. I-geo values clearly confirm the heavy contamination of the surface soils with Pb, Zn, Cu, and As in all sampling locations, except at OE, where there was no contamination with arsenic. Practically, the surface soils at all sampling points were unpolluted (I-geo < 0) with Cr, Mn, and Ti. The potential ecological risk index (PERI) also showed a consider- able risk for surface soil at OE shop and a very high risk for GO and SP shops. Pearson product moment correlation matrix suggested a significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) among As, Cu, Pb and Zn, in the surface soils. Statistical analyses employed in various haz- ard indices such as contamination factor, pollution load, geo-accumulation, and potential ecological risks all indicate elevated levels of Pb, Zn, Cu, As, and hence contamination of the surface soil due to anthropogenic influence but background levels of Cr, Mn, and Ti, which can be attributed to geological factors.ArticleDistribution and in‑Vitro Bioaccessibility of Potentially Toxic Metals in Surface Soils from a Mining and a Non‑Mining Community in Ghana: Implications for Human HealthThe concentration and bioaccessibility
of potentially toxic metals, including As, Cd, Cr,
Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, were determined in surface
soil samples from a mining community (Kenyasi)
and a non-mining community (Sunyani) in Ghana, to
investigate the contribution of mining activities to the
environmental burden of potentially toxic metals. The
study found significant differences in metal concentrations
(p < 0.05) in As, Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zn, but no
significant difference (p > 0.05) in Pb and Cr between
the two communities. The study found a moderate
correlation between pH and metal concentrations in
the mining community and a moderate positive correlation
with As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn in the nonmining
community. The distribution pattern revealed
elevated levels of toxic metals in the southeastern
corridor of the mining community, which is close to
a gold mine. Most heavy metals were concentrated
in the commercial community’s southern zone, with
more residents and private elementary schools. Metal
bioaccessibility was variable, and except for Cu and
Zn, the mean bioaccessibility was less than 50% for a
given metal. Contamination factor, geoaccumulation
index, and soil enrichment factor suggested very high
contamination of Cd, and a considerable to moderate
contamination of As, Ni, Zn, and Cu at both the mining
and non-mining communities. The above observations
and the pollution and risk indices employed
in this study confirmed that the mining community
was more polluted (PLI = 2.145) than the non-mining
community (PLI = 1.372). The total metal hazard (HI)
exceeded thresholds by three and four times at nonmining
and mining sites. Regular monitoring is necessary,
especially in the mining community, to prevent
soil metal accumulation.ArticleSpatial Distribution, Bioaccessibility, and Human Health Implications of Potentially Toxic Elements in Mining‑Impacted Topsoils in Obuasi Municipality of GhanaPotential toxic elements emanating from
extracted ores during gold processing present occupational
and unintentional health hazards in communities,
the general populace, and the environment.
This study investigated the concentrations and potential
health effects of metal content in the topsoils of
Obuasi municipality, which has been mined for gold
over the past century. Surface topsoil samples, sieved
to 250 μm, were initially scanned for metals using
x-ray fluorescence techniques, followed by confirmation
via ICP-MS. In vitro bioaccessibility assays were
conducted using standard methods. The geoaccumulation
indices (Igeo) indicate high enrichment of As
(Igeo = 6.28) and Cd (Igeo = 3.80) in the soils, especially
in the eastern part of the municipality where
illegal artisanal mining is prevalent. Additionally, the
southern corridor, situated near a gold mine, exhibited
significant levels of As and Mn. Results obtained
for the total metal concentrations and contamination
indices confirmed the elevation of the studied potential
toxic elements in the Obuasi community. A hazard
index value of 4.42 and 3.30 among children and
adults, respectively, indicates that indigens, especially
children, are susceptible to non-cancer health effects.ArticleHeavy Metal Levels and their Ecological Risks in Surface Soils at Sunyani Magazine in the Bono Region of GhanaThe study investigated the level of seven heavy metals, arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), cop- per (Cu), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), titanium (Ti), and zinc (Zn), in surface soils at three different sam pling points, namely, General overhauling (GO), Oil exchange (OE), and Spray- ing (SP) shop in the Sunyani magazine in the Bono region of Ghana. The ecological risks for the various metal were also measured. Generally, the metal levels were alarming as compared to the reference sample and they followed the decreasing order: Pb, Mn, Zn, Ti, Cu, Cr, As at GO shop; Mn, Pb, Cr, Ti, Zn, Cu, As, at OE shop; and Mn, Pb, Zn, Ti, Cr, Cu, As at SP shop. The contamination factor evidenced Pb as the most polluted metal and Mn as the least polluted metal in the surface soil of all sampling points in the Sunyani Maga- zine. The PLI results also suggested GO as the most polluted location followed by SP and then OE. I-geo values clearly confirm the heavy contamination of the surface soils with Pb, Zn, Cu, and As in all sampling locations, except at OE, where there was no contamination with arsenic. Practically, the surface soils at all sampling points were unpolluted (I-geo < 0) with Cr, Mn, and Ti. The potential ecological risk index (PERI) also showed a consider- able risk for surface soil at OE shop and a very high risk for GO and SP shops. Pearson product moment correlation matrix suggested a significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) among As, Cu, Pb and Zn, in the surface soils. Statistical analyses employed in various haz- ard indices such as contamination factor, pollution load, geo-accumulation, and potential ecological risks all indicate elevated levels of Pb, Zn, Cu, As, and hence contamination of the surface soil due to anthropogenic influence but background levels of Cr, Mn, and Ti, which can be attributed to geological factors.
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