Comparative Assessment of Heavy Metals in Drinking Water Sources in Two Small-Scale Mining Communities in Northern Ghana

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Samuel J CobbinaNoel Bakobie

Abstract

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), 0.034 and 0.002 (Zn), and 0.534 and 0.023 (Cd), respectively, for each community. Generally, levels of Hg, As, Pb, Zn, and Cd in water from Nangodi exceeded the World Health Organisation (WHO) stipulated limits of 0.010 for Hg, As, and Pb, 3.0 for Zn and 0.003 for Cd for drinking water, and levels of Hg, Pb, and Cd recorded in Tinga, exceeded the stipulated WHO limits. Ingestion of water, containing elevated levels of Hg, As, and Cd by residents in these mining communities may pose significant health risks. Continuous monitoring of the quality of drinking water sources in these two communities is recommended.

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Citations

Sep 24, 2015·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Niladri BasuRachel N Long
May 18, 2016·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Jauhar KhabibiRita Kartika Sari
Nov 2, 2019·Biological Trace Element Research·Francis GbogboWinfred-Peck Dorleku
Aug 18, 2017·Environmental Monitoring and Assessment·Samwel Maina NjugunaJun Wang
Jan 10, 2018·Chemistry : a European Journal·Louisa J Esdaile, Justin M Chalker
Apr 21, 2021·Environmental Health Perspectives·Michael B FisherJamie K Bartram
Jun 30, 2021·ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·Krishnendu PramanikPriyabrata Sarkar
Jul 3, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Nur Adila AdnanMohd Yunus Abd Shukor
Nov 5, 2021·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Ramin NabizadehZahra Mokhtari

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
PCA

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